First, the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country schedule is just about complete, but I also heard it was complete nearly a month ago and then had to go through some changes. I can't begin to explain how complicated it is to make this schedule. We have to weave 13 GNCC rounds through an AMA sanction, and the AMA tries very hard to make sure our dates don't conflict with AMA Enduro or Hare Scrambles. We also have to watch our ATV riders, as we try to keep too many GNCC and ATV motocross races from overlapping, so sponsors can come and visit both. Then there's our own Racer Productions crew, which works on GNCCs, but also two AMA Pro Motocross Nationals for bikes, two AMA ATV MX Nationals, and the month-long monster that is racing at Loretta Lynn Ranch in the summer.
So that's six different series that have to merge together without too many compromises. It's complicated, but they tell me we will have this schedule shortly. Sorry for the delay.
Also GNCC Final Standings and National Numbers are complete, as our comment and review segment ended on Monday. CLICK HERE for standings and CLICK HERE for Numbers.
Photo By: JR
Fresh new parking for The John Penton GNCC.
For two weeks, we ran a Tuesday Toolbox interview with noted MX trainer Robb Beams, who is breaking into the GNCC ranks. However, we erred in one way by saying Beams is the trainer for new GNCC #5 Chris Bach-turns out that they couldn't work out some of the logistics of working together, so Bach switched back to his old friend Troy Ross. Bach did work with Beams before the season began and for a time thereafter, but he's with Troy for now. On the flip side of that, I've heard that Charlie Mullins may be dialing in Beams' services for 2011.
This week Rodney diald in Jason Raines for Tuesday Toolbox. Raines is always a great interview, and his views on life and racing are must reads-click here.
Photo By: JR
More from the Penton track. Looks good!
Okay let's hand this over to our contributors, first, Shan Moore.
Thanks, Jason. By the time this gets posted I will be in Japan attending the final round of the JNCC race in Hiroshima with Cory Buttrick, KTM factory mechanic Tony Hall and Cory's main supporter and girlfriend MacKenzie. I'm sure most of Thursday will be devoted to sleep since we lose a day in travel and we'll most likely be severely jet lagged. On Friday, we're scheduled to visit a local motorcycle shop and then we attend a dinner with our host, Masami. I'm told the American contingent is treated like royalty over there so I'm looking forward to that, for sure.
A recent e-mail from Masami mentioned that Japanese #2-ranked motocross racer and factory Kawasaki rider Takase Tanaka will be racing the JNCC finale, along with top Japanese off-roader Takeshi Koikeda... should be an exciting race. Cory's coming off of a nasty crash at the ISDE in Mexico but he tells me he's fine and up for the JNCC race.
This past weekend I was in Murrieta, California, doing a story on Andrew Short and I got the opportunity to visit the KTM facility. It was quite impressive, though much smaller than, say, the Honda facility. While I was there I talked to John "JR" Boyd who'll be wrenching for Charlie Mullins this year at the GNCC races and he was getting ready to head to Baja to help the KTM team at this year's race down there. There was also a lot of activity in the engine room as the Supercross team readies for the AMA opener at Anaheim I in January. This is always an exciting time for me since there is always news breaking about what one team or the other is doing to get an edge on the competition.
Photo By: Jason Hooper
Kailub Russell won last year's JNCC in Japan. Our reporter Shan Moore is over there now to see if Cory Buttrick can do the same.
Good stuff, Shan. Now over to GNCC Announcer Rodney Tomblin.
Thanks Jason. It sure looks like winter is not far away as gray skies and cooler temperatures are starting to drive folks south or at least begin to lay plans to make the trip south for the winter in their training efforts. As always, the rumor mills continue to buzz and the excitement continues to build.
I know this is a good time of year for racers to relax and gear up for 2011 season, but for so many it is hard to relax with uncertainty looming in the air. If you read my interview with Jason Raines in this past Tuesday Toolbox you may have seen a little insight to just how much things have changed in the last 10 years of GNCC Racing, and actually how much it changed from the 10 years previous to that.
Jason Raines rode into GNCC series fame at probably the most perfect time: When riders were being paid salaries to go out and win races. Championships were goals but if you were a top five rider you were golden as far as getting paid. Things were blossoming so much from every angle of the industry and so many people were benefiting from the prosperity of the sport--from team managers, mechanics, and drivers and of course the racers. Now with the turn in the economy things have tightened and the lucrative salaries we saw top 10 riders making are becoming a thing of the past. Name recognition and past accomplishments no longer weigh in for contract negotiations as they did in the past. It is now becoming a performance driven sport and if you do not perform with wins then you stand a good chance of being out.
I am not sure how accurate the rumor mill is, but when you hear that Barry Hawk is applying for a job that is not even remotely related to off road motorcycle or ATV racing you have to stop for just one second say, "What!?" I mean, even if it is true or not, how can that even be a thought considering all that Barry Hawk has done for the sport of ATV and motorcycle off road racing? So what I am thinking is that Jason Raines' advice to not to rely on racing to take care of you forever is advice that everyone, from Josh Strang, Kailub Russell, Chris Borich, Walker Fowler and the likes needs to heed. Sad but true.
Photo By: Shan Moore
We just thought this photo was cool so we're running it. Nice holeshot for Jeff Pickens, who earned GNCC #9 this year. Nice job.
Those guys over at ORJ are really getting to the point. Keep up the good work guys.
Last week I mentioned I was heading to the Team Harescramble Championship of the world. I want to say thanks to Drew, Kyle and Ryan Wolfe of Action Sports Promotions for such a wonderful time. I have attended this event several times over the last 15 years or so and it is always a blast.
Congratulations to The King of The Black Water, Mark Hyde, who was a part of two team hare scrambles World Championship Titles in the same weekend! First, Mark rode the two-hour morning program with long time local great Gene Onail. Then Mark lined up in the afternoon with Corey Buttrick, who seemed to be 100 percent after the ISDE crash a week or so before. The duo of Hyde and Buttrick took the early lead and never looked back. Congratulations to Chris Meadows and Hardcore Youth Racing's Sam Evans on placing 2nd over all as well.
The ATV side of things also brought out some of the top GNCC talent including the new crowned Team Harescrambles World Championship Champs, Warnert Can Am's Adam McGill and "Ginger." Ginger? McGill teamed up with a former top youth GNCC ATV racer Seth Mumford-McGill calls him Ginger due to his red hair, and possibly something to do with Gilligan's Island. Regardless it was fun razzing Seth and that is what Adam had set out to do. Congrats to those guys.
Angel Atwell was there and she raced with Dallas Goins, which, by the way, is pronounced like coins with a "G". Believe me I was taken to school on that. It was also good to meet the Goins family and we had some good laughs. The team had a pretty decent day, but I can say that maybe Angel was a little faster. I'm just saying, Dallas.
This weekend I am headed out the door to the 39th annual running of the Winter National Olympics a.k.a. the Mini O's. If the past is any indication, I should see a few of the GNCC Racing Nation in the mix-for example I expect to see former GNCC Youth Standouts Cody Gragg and Aaron Plessinger racing there. I'll let you know.
Before I go a few things to think about:
Don't forget the banquet is coming up. It's a little later than normal, but get your reservation taken care of now.
Also, don't forget about the Caring Bridge site where you can keep updated on Josh Kirkland in his recovery. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshkirkland11 Josh is still fighting and prayers for he and the family are still appreciated.
Anyone wondering about the progress of Glen "Jody" Pritchard, the Super Senior phenomenon who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year here is a link http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/profile.php?id=1007050769 to keep informed on the status of Jody's fight. Jody raced a couple races at the end of the season and even pulled a hole shot at the Titan. Glen/Jody's wife Ellen set up a face book page to keep family ands friends up to date.
That's it from me. Till next time, God Bless Your Hearts and All Your Vital Organs!
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