Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128093
2001 AMA Grand National Cross Country Championship Series GNCC racers to invade ,our home this season Grand National Cross Country Series - which has come to be recognized as this country's premier off-road circuit - is finalizing the details on a package that would see each of its rounds broadcast on national television. Though the plan hadn't yet been completely finalized as we went to press, it currently calls for two sep- By ' T CHRIS JONNUM PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA he entrance of Supercross and motocross into the mainstream has been well-documented over the past few years, but until now, the offroad realm has been left behind for the most part. If Racer Productions has its way, however, that is all about to change. The promoter of the 2 _ Paul Edmondson __ _ Fred Andrews 3 ..........•... _ . __ 8 . _............................•......... _ .Chuck Woodford The Kawasaki squad is pretty much sticking with what worked last year, when green bikes collected two of the top three positions in the final standings. Brit Paul Edmondson is comfortable with his program, which allows him to commute back and forth across the Atlantic, so he can contest the occasional European race for KMUK. Fred Andrews is a former GNCC Champion, and Chuck Woodford is in his fourth year with the team. Also of note is 17year-old Cole Calkins, who has won the 200cc A class for the last two years, and who recently teamed with Larry Roeseler to win the 125cc A class at the Laughlin Hare Scrambles. Speaking of L.R., the off-road legend will hit the occasional GNCC round, as will fellow old-timer Jeff Fredette and western aces Destry Abbott, Brian Brown and Shane Esposito. By the way, if you'll be attending the GNCC opener in Florida, be sure and stop by the Team Green pits the night before for the team's traditional spaghetti dinner. 12 FEBRUARY 28. 2001 • cue I • n e _ !IS arate hour-long shows (one for the bikes and another for the quads) to be aired on the USA Network one week after each event. Two helmet cams are expected to be utilized (one of which will be on a top rider), as well as six cameras out on the track, allowing the viewing public to witness the feats of riders like Shane Watts and Scott Summers from the comfort of their living rooms. Of course one of the immediate concerns some traditional fans always have with such news is how the authenticity of the competition will be compromised by the introduction of a TV production company, which may push for such changes as shorter courses and good camera Shane Watts 1 _. _ _ 13 ......,................................. .Michael Lafferty The on- and off-track exploits of diminutive Australian Shane Watts have already been well-documented, but perhaps his most impressive feat thus far - one that will surely be a part of off-road folklore for years to come - was his taking of the 2000 GNCC title via scoring wins on six different KTM models. Having accomplished that goal, Watts plans to ride just a 200cc two-stroke in 2001, but don't think for a minute that he won't be challenging himself. "I'd like to win every race this year," Watts says matter.of-factly. "It's also important for me that I enjoy myself, and the 200 is the bike I enjoy myself most on in a racing situation." in addition, Watts will be campaigning the Glen Helen, Mt. Morris, Unadilla and Binghamton rounds of the 125cc National Motocross Series. Not only that, but he'll attempt to qualify for the 125cc Eastern Regional class at the Daytona Supercross (then load up and drive six hours for the follOWing day's Georgia GNCC round). Oh, and Watts is also racing the new WORCS circuit (a western series based on the GNCC), and has in fact already won the first round. Enduro champ Michael Lafferty will also race most of the GNCC rounds (no Enduro rounds conflict this year), and Hare Scrambles-focused brothers Pat and Brian Garrahan will also hit some GNCC stops.