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Over 1100 Celebrate
2009 Can-Am GNCC Race Season at Annual Series
Banquet
Morgantown, W.Va. (December 7, 2009) -- Over
1100 members of the Can-Am Grand National Cross
Country Series racing community arrived at the
annual series' banquet throughout the weekend,
held at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, W.Va., to
celebrate the season's accomplishments for a
final time in 2009. The banquets--held on Friday
night for ATVs and Saturday night for
motorcycles--recognize the top-ten riders in
every GNCC class and also present a variety of
specialty awards to riders as voted on by their
fellow racers and GNCC staff.
Snow had begun to fall the day prior, and the
Lakeview resort was blanketed with a few inches
of snow, as party-goers filed into the banquet
hall. While riders, friends, fans and family
enjoyed a buffet meal, photos from the year
flashed across two projector screens until the
awards ceremony began.
On the bike side, GEICO/JG Racing Monster
Energy Kawasaki's Paul Whibley, the new GNCC
Champion, took the Rider of the Year Award after
a video highlighting exciting battles in the XC1
class was shown. Open A rider Chris Bach was
presented with the Amateur Rider of the Year
Award and Chris Meadows, the Super Mini (14-15)
champion was presented with the Youth Rider of
the Year Award.
Shock Doctor KTM's Kailub Russell was
presented with the Most Improved Rider Award.
The 2009 season saw the XC2 Pro Lites rider move
from 16th overall to number five. The
Sportsmanship Award went to Joshua Strang, who
waved Jimmy Jarrett ahead of him to take the
second place finish after the two crashed at the
General GNCC.
The Bad Ass Award went to the Wright family
whose entire family, including father, mother,
son and daughter all race in the GNCC Series.
The Hard Luck Award was presented to Thad DuVall,
who had to work through a difficult rookie XC1
season. Donna Macan was the recipient of the
Good Samaritan Award for her efforts arranging
fundraisers to send a team of medical
professionals to the International Six Days
Enduro with the American team that included GNCC
riders Nate Kanney, Cory Buttrick, Kurt Caselli
and Mandi Mastin.
The women of the JG Off Road Racing Team were
presented with the Rough and Ready Pit Crew
award. The Award of Media Excellence went to
Dave Smith and Rodney Tomblin for Track Smack
Live. Can-Am was named Sponsor of the Year for
their funding of the GNCC Television Shows on
the Versus Network.
American Suzuki won the Manufacturer's Cup
based on the finishes of each brand's top two
overall riders in each race. The state of Ohio
won the State Championship, based on winning the
most GNCC Titles of any state.
Teardrops were given In Memoriam to the
families of Blake Kelly, Cletus Kuhn and Robbin
Shaffer who were lost during the 2009 season to
the GNCC family.
The top five riders in each GNCC Class
received contingency awards and prizes from
sponsors such as Can-Am, Acerbis, Elka, FMF,
ITP, Klotz, Maxxis, Moose Racing, Parts
Unlimited, Pirelli, Wiseco, Alpinestars, BRP,
Cometic, HiPer Technology, Moto Tees, MUD,
National Guard, Ogio, Powersports Grafx, Rekluse,
Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air and Weekend
Warrior.
After the awards ceremony, the banquet moved
on to the Can-Am After Party, while the live
band Eighties Enough played tons of popular hits
from the 1980s. Guests danced until the early
hours of the morning, as they celebrated the
2009 season. XC2 Lites rider Jason Thomas was
presented with the Best Bod Award during a
spirited competition.
The 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country
Series kicks off on February 27th- March 2nd as
part of Bike Week at the Westgate River Ranch
Resort in River Ranch, Florida, ATV's racing on
Sunday, February 28, and bikes racing on
Tuesday, March 2.
For more information, check out the official
series website at
www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series
is America's premier off-road racing series.
Founded in 1973, the 13-round championship is
produced exclusively by Racer Productions.
Cross-country racing is one of the most
physically demanding sports in the world. The
grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as
1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length
from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain,
including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and
motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of
both survival and speed. Riders compete for more
than $3 million in prize money, which draws
talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia
and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and
airs every Saturday and Thursday on the Versus
Network. For more information, please visit
www.gnccracing.com.
About Racer Productions
A West Virginia-based motorcycle and ATV event
production company, Racer Productions has been a
leader in the off-road racing industry for more
than 30 years. It's repertoire of events
includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series, held since 1973; The
Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point National in
Mount Morris, Pa., held since 1977; The ATV Dirt
Days at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills,
Tenn., held since 1985; The U.S. World Motocross
Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa.
in 1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City
National, held since 1988; The ATV Stampede
National Motocross at High Point Raceway, held
since 1994; The AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City
in 2007; as well as numerous other amateur
motocross events. In addition, Racer Productions
staffs the prestigious Air Nautiques/AMA
Amateur National Motocross Championship at
Loretta Lynn's Ranch, held since 1982. For more
information, please visit
www.racerproductions.com.
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