Thad DuVall

Hometown: Williamstown, WV

Team: Am-Pro FMF Yamaha

Machine: YZ450F

Birth Date: November 27, 1989

Career Highlights: Two-Time GNCC Youth Overall Champion, GNCC 200 B Champion, 2008 GNCC XC2 Lites Champion

Mechanic: Chad DuVall

Thad DuVall has been billed as a future GNCC pro champion for a long time. But now his time has come. DuVall is the son of former GNCC ATV Pro standout Chad DuVall. Years ago, Chad went shopping for a riding gear sponsor for his talented young son (who raced motorcycles), and he met Randy Hawkins. Soon Thad was a member of Hawkins' Am-Pro Yamaha factory team, dressed as a mini version of the team's factory stars. After winning the GNCC Overall Youth Championship twice, Thad stepped into the 200 B class and dominated, and then ran strong in the 250 A class in 2006. Thad then jumped into the XC2 Lites class when it began in 2007, and he won a bunch of races but also crashed big in several others. With a win-or-crash rep, Thad went into 2008 looking to prove he could be consistent, and he did just that by dominating the tour, winning eight races and clinching the title early. Along the way he challenged David Knight for overall win at Snowshoe, and then, after clinching the XC2 Title, switched to a 450 for the last two races of challenged for a podium finish each time.

Now riding in the premiere XC1 class and riding a 450, DuVall has arrived at a place most knew he would get to all along.