Welcome to Quick Fill. We're within three weeks of GNCC Racing once again! Awesome! But as great as that news is, the darned bad news just keeps rolling in.
Gonzalez on the podium.
Last week we reported on Josh Kirkland's condition, and our company is also reeling from the passing of Ashley Soklaski, a 19-year-old Michigan girl who lost her life in a crash at the Loretta Lynn's bike race two weeks ago. There have only been two tragedies, ever, in the 29-year history of that massive race, but the two have come in the last three years.
News like this just never seemed to happen in our sport, but now it's happening more than ever. And everytime, there are completely different circumstances. We can't find any connections, we can't find anything we can learn to make sure these bad things don't happen again--Josh, Marcus and Ashlee had totally different situations. We don't know what to do, expect just hope and pray this dark cloud passes.
Have you been filling your need for GNCC TV with Racer TV on Versus? Sure hope so. The shows keep rolling, this weekend with ATV coverage from The John Penton GNCC. Let me tell you, we've done a LOT of muddy TV shows over the last ten years, but this one was one of the toughest. It was really, realy hard to tell who was who, I hope I guessed right and the show gives you a good idea of what went down. There was some drama after the race regarding the podium finishing positions, and we did our best to explain it. Anyway, watch and enjoy this Sunday on Versus at 3 p.m.
Any ATV racers interested in racing the Baja 1000? Tom Wright is looking for teammates:
I am forming a 2010 Baja 1000 team consisting primarily of GNCC Racers. I am last years, 2009, 450 cc Pro Class Baja Champion and current senior A GNCC points leader and hold two GNCC National ClassChampionships. I was interviewed in 2008 on Tuesday Toolbox regarding my quest to attempt the Baja 1000. I was able to not only complete the race but successfully capture the win.
I am returning this November with my most qualified team ever, consisting primarily of GNCC racers, with the intent to succeed again. My team support includes approx. 20 members, including racers, mechanics, drivers, guides, nurses along with photographers and a professional film crew, Magic Hour Productions, with helicopter pilots in order to produce a film documentary on East Coast riders attempting a full out assault against the Mexican Baja Pennisula. I am working on magazine coverage with support from Harlen Foley, ATVRIDERS.COM. Our bike build being done by HMF exhaust systems along with Tiexiera components and Fox suspension. I would like to market GNCC at the Baja by promoting their riders as the best in the World. Could someone please contact me if interested?
tomwright28@gmail.comOkay, on to Shan Moore, who is becoming quite the road warrior covering events while he waits for the GNCCs to return.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Whibley seems happy with the YZ450F.
In the meantime, I talked to Paul Whibley this week, and he has really turned it on in the OMA series this summer. Paul won the Whisky Run in Kentucky back in June and then he reeled off three more wins to take control of the series point standings. He switched from his 450WR to the 2010 YZ for the final three rounds of the OMA series and he tells me Am Pro Yamaha is just waiting approval from Yamaha to ride the bike in the remaining GNCCs. The bottom line is, Whibs is on a roll and look for him to carry that into the rest of the GNCC series.
"We've spent the summer testing the YZ and we will hopefully be able to race that in the GNCC series later this year," Whibley said. "I'm pretty sure we'll get the final clearance to ride the bike at Unadilla. I feel comfortable on the YZ and I've been going good on it."
As far as the remaining GNCC rounds, Whibley is looking forward to the last leg of the series, which includes Unadilla, The Titan, The Power Line and The Iron Man.
"Unadilla has sort of a rocky base and I'm not a big fan of rocks, but I actually like that course, it gets kind of tricky and technical and I like that side of it," Whibley says. "When it's muddy at Unadilla, I seem to go good there, so we will see."
"St. Clairsville is more of a hard-packed track and it's often dusty and it's not my favorite event, but Crawfordsville is a good course and I'm looking forward to it."
As far as his preparation during the summer, Whibley has stayed busy with the OMA series and training - he's a wild man when it comes to training.
"I pretty much try to hit it hard during the summer," Whibley says. "During the racing season you can train but you still want to be fresh for the races. Last month I increased my training a bit; I still wanted to be fresh for the OMAs, but I wanted to pick it up a bit to get ready for GNCC. Any time off I take I'll take it in November when the season is finished, so for the summer I have been hitting it pretty hard."
Photo By: Shan Moore
Whibley at least looks cool on the WR.
"For the most part, the GNCCs are a motocross," said Whibley. "It's fast, its rough, and so all you do is put a big tank on it and some hand guards. So basically, the YZ is pretty much ready to go. Other than that it is just a matter of setting up the suspension to the rider."
Whibs also raced an East Region National Hare Scrambles event in Minnesota, which he led until he broke a chain.
"That was actually a fun event," said Whibley. "We stayed the week with some people up there after the OMA race and went to the Hare Scrambles. It was kind of fun to go to a fresh event and a new track. It was a pretty fun track up there."
Okay, that's it for Shan. Now onto Rodney Tomblin.
Thanks Jason! I have finally made it from the valley of death or as some of you have heard named Loretta Lynn's. I have been there when it was hot in years past, but this year it was really, really hot. According to reports, it is the hottest summer temperatures ever on record. One day the temperature was 110 or so and calculated at a 125 degree heat index temperature on the race track during the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.
This past weekend Loretta Lynn's Dirt Days and the final round ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross National Championship. Dirt Days is a race that has come to be known as the "World's Greatest ATV Motocross Vacation". Congratulations to Rockstar Energy/Makita/Yoshamira/Suzuki's Josh Creamer on capturing his first AMA Pro Racing Title. The way things look; it may not be his last! However the competition is not too far off pace so next year should present a challenge to continue his ATV MX domination. If you get a chance check out a reality based TV show called ATV 24/7 which airs on various networks and can be seen on www.vimeo.com as well. The show actually brings out all the behind the scenes drama we don't always get to see.
As I sat down I looked at my calendar and noticed that we are nearing only 3 weeks till Unadilla comes to life with the GNCC Racing Nations return to racing and though I have been out the loop in Tennessee, I have been able to uncover a few bits of bustling as everyone seems to be gearing up for return to GNCC. Ballance Racing is traveling to race the e10 Hour Heartland Challenge. I figure for sure that Walker and Taylor will participate, but I really have to question whether or not Bill will actually race it. According to the report I read it leads one to think that he will, but after speaking with him at Loretta Lynn's and seeing how much pain he appeared in from the most recent surgery on some vertebrae, I really question it. On the flipside of that though, who would have thought a few years ago after breaking the ribs that he would not only compete at Snowshoe GNCC, but finish on the podium on his way to salvaging his 9th GNCC title. And remember a few years earlier, he broke his leg doing a magazine photo shoot and still came back to score points at Unadilla and win the title!
Photo By: Shan Moore
Chris Borich has had great days mixed with heartbreak at Unadilla. We'll see what happens this year.
Congratulations also to ATV GNCC 4x4 Open racer Rick Cecco on his recent marriage to Deni. They recently tied the knot in front of family and friends. Rick has definitely had a big year and I am sure he is not done yet. Rick was named this weeks Power Bar Power to Push Athlete of the Week. Check it out here.
Brandon Sommers was the focus in this past weeks Toolbox (CLICK HERE) and seems like he may be ready to roll. It looks like it could be go time as he is moving into a new home and planning a wedding. Congratulations on that one. Good luck with the new house as well. I just completed a move myself and believe it or not, it is not fun.
I hear Thad Duvall just picked up a new 2011 Yamaha 450 on Wednesday. I have not heard how he likes it, but if I know Thad, he will be railing on it by like..last night. Another thing aside from an OMA race or two that has kept Thad busy this summer has been bow fishing. Bow fishing is kind of the impatient fisherman's way of catching fish. You hunt them down, stalk them and then strike with one big blow. Hmmm, is this maybe a formula he is working on to close out the season for GNCC? I am just waiting on Thad to start busting it loose soon.
We'll be racing and know for sure before long, but I have to mention right now that Nate Kanney may be hard to stop in New York for sure.
I got a message from Shane Watts and the DirtWise Academy. It seems they have announced the remainder of the 2010 school schedule.Follow the link below to our August "Watts Happening" Newsletter to view upcoming dates/locations open for registration, projected release of DirtWise Advanced Volume #2 DVD - How to master Cornering, Braking, and Tight Trees, and a link to our new survey for previous DirtWise attendees to provide feedback about their experience! CLICK HERE.
Reports from North Carolina say that XC1 Pro Chris Bach and 4 Stroke A Lites class rider Chris Douglas are riding and testing together. Douglass is on fire right now and sits 4th in his class. He could be a huge threat in the last four rounds training with Bach all summer. Also if you a "tweeter" you can follow Chris and his escapades on twitter at @chrisdouglas31.
One last report out of North Carolina about XC2 Pro Lites defending champion, KTM's Kailub Russell and his recent motocross summer crossover. Russell was contemplating racing the Unadilla Motocross National this past weekend, but opted to spend some time at the beach and hit the Mid East Harescramble to keep sharp and ready for Unadilla GNCC in a few weeks.That's it for me. Till next time, God Bless Your Hearts and All Your Vital Organs!
That's it from Rodney, that's it from us. Don't forget to keep watching Racer TV and keep checking this site to get your Quick Fill of GNCC Racing info. And see you at the races!
Photo By: Shan Moore
We'll be racing soon!
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