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
Steve Hatch 4 . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . .Steve Hatch 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . .Mike Kiedrowski 31 • . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • .Rodney Smith This year, Suzuki is running two separate factory race teams within its offroad program, with the same riders comprising both. When Steve Hatch, Mike Kiedrowski and Rodney Smith campaign the new western WORCS circuit, they will do so aboard Yoshimura DR-Z four-strokes, whereas they'll race FMF RM250s in the GNCC Series. Since the RM is all-new this year, the team has been doing some pretty involved testing in Texas, where they've found that the new motor (which was criticized for a lack of top end in MX) is ideally suited for off-road thanks to its good bottom end and midrange, as well as its tractability. In addition, the flickability afforded by the many weight-saving changes are said to be much appreciated by the riders - Kiedrowski in particular. The RMs' motorwork is being performed by Terry Varner, while RG3 handles suspension duties. By the way, in case you're wondering why Smith is running number 31 despite finishing eighth in points last year, it's because he used to run that number in the MX GPs. 14 , Scott Summers Following his disappointing past few years, some have likely written off Scott Summers' chances of adding a sixth GNCC title to his collection. But don't count the Kentucky resident out just yet. After five surgeries and major rehab with renowned physical therapist Dr. Jeff Spencer, Summers is said to finally be 100-percent recovered from the lingering effects of the horrible leg injury that ruined his 2000 season, and he's spent the winter months training in south Texas with moto legend Kent Howerton. Summers will campaign a Shawn Wilcox-tuned Honda XR650R. 5 Doug Blackwell 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . .Barry Hawk 9 • . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jason Raines 10 • . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robbie Jenks 11 Randy Hawkins Over the past few seasons, Yamaha has qUietly built up a surprisingly strong off-road program, and the manufacturer has about the largest GNCC effort out there for 2001. Last year's highest-finishing Yamaha rider was Doug Blackwell, who this year will be running out of Ohio's Competition Accessories (the same shop that backs Honda motocrosser Mike LaRocco and Ducati road racer Aaron Slight), while Barry Hawk and Randy Hawkins will ride for Hawk Racing (since no rounds overlap with the National Enduro Series this year, Hawkins should be able to contest the entire series). Riding for Ohio's Sportcycles will be Jason Raines and Robbie Jenks. Everyone but Hawkins will be on YZ250 two-strokes, while the Javelin will be riding the WRF four-strokes (the 250 and the 426, depending upon the course). Missouri hotshot Steve Leivan will also hit selected rounds, and western aces Ty Davis and Russ Pearson will ride the opener. access. But others feel that a few concessions will be welcome. For example, whereas throw-away rides were utilized for all riders in the past, 2001 will see every round counted for the Pro class, a change that will make following the points chase easier for die-hard fans and TV viewers alike (amateurs will still have their worst three results thrown out). And with old-school'hero Jeff Russell (a former National Enduro champ in his own right) continuing to head up Racer's GNCC effort, chances are good that the needs of all parties concerned will be met. Other changes include the adoption of two new race sites (St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Taylortown, Pennsylvania, both of which should include some good, Virgin trail), and the shortening of the series by one round to 13 (TV packages are generally sold with race blocks of a baker's dozen). But no matter what technical updates are made to the periphery of GNCC racing, its core will remain the same - the best offroad riders in the country (and in some cases, the world) going bar to bar through the woods of the eastern United States. Which means that the question is not so much whether or not the off-road world will be prepared for television when the riders line up for the start at the first round in Okeechobee, Florida, on March 6 during Daytona Bike Week, but whether television is ready for the excitement of offroad. eN Round 1 March 6 Okeechobee, Florida Round 2 March 11 Macon, Georgia Round 3 March 25 Morganton, North Carolina Round 4 April 8 ........•.... Cross Keys, South Carolina Round 5 April 22 Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Round 6 May 6 Sparta, Kentucky Round 7 May 20 Clarksburg, West Virginia Round 8 June 3 Uhrichsville, Ohio Round 9 June 17 Taylortown, Pennsylvania Round 10 September 9 Millfield, Ohio Round 11 September 23 Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania Round 12 October 7 St. Clairsville, Ohio Round 13 October 21 Crawfordsville, Indiana For more information, log on to www.gnccraclng.com. cue I • n e _ s: • FEBRUARY 28. 2001 13