Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Team FMF Suzuki Once again, FMF Suzuki plans on putting out the most professional and competitive team in the series. The teams' three-pronged veteran effort will pit out of a beautiful new semitruck this year, adding to the already significant presence of having the number-one plate mounted to one if its RM250 race bikes. The team leader is Rodney Smith, arguably the most accomplished racer ever in American off-road. The Antioch, California, native has a trophy case filled with AMA National off-road titles, as well as a pile of ISDE gold medals. Much of his success comes not through sheer speed but through smarts. The 39-year-old Smith knows when to tra;n and when to rest during the week and when to charge and when to lay back during the races. With Suzuki no longer competing in the West Coast-based WORCS Series, Smith will be able to focus exclusively on his RM250 and the GNCCs, and that focus might make him even stronger this year. Smith's teammate Mike Kiedrowski made his name racing motocross, as the "MX Kied" is a four-time AMA National MX champ. But he's made great progress in his three seasons off-road, and now he is a threat on any terrain. After finishing 13th in GNCC points his rookie season, Kiedrowski, now known as the "Off-Road Kied" finished sixth in 2001 and fourth in 2002. Kiedrowski's climb through the GNCC ranks mirrors his motocross and supercross success. Known more for consistency than win streaks, he is a slow starter but a strong finisher. Now that he has the off-road skills, he only needs to improve his early-race speed to start winning races. And as he has proven before, a few wins can lead Kiedrowski to a number-one plate. The third member of the FMF Suzuki squad is Arizona's Steve Hatch, a former AMA National Enduro Champion who was a perennial GNCC contender. Unfortunately, bad luck has ruined Hatch's recent efforts. After winning the second round of last year's series, the popular rider Injured his thumb and his knee, knocking him out of contention. Then Hatch broke his wrist a few weeks ago, leaVing his status for 2003 in doubt. But if anyone can overcome such setbacks, It's Hatch, who's one of the fittest riders on the tour. Team Green Kawasaki Kawasaki's main man, Fred Andrews, has been so successful over the last few GNCC seasons that it's hard to believe he's never won the title for the green team. Andrews, a former top privateer motocrosser, usually starts the season slowly but comes on strong once the races are held closer to his native Ohio. When he finished a solid second at the 2002 GNCC season opener in Florida, it looked like it might be his year. But "Fast Freddie" ended up falling into the early season doldrums again and falling back in points. Another late-season charge saw him notch two wins and nearly pull out the title, but Smith beat him at the final round in Indiana to edge him for the title. Once again, Andrews needs to be as strong in the first half of the season as he will be in the second. He's got a brand-new KX250 to work with this year, and the Cornwell Tools/Pro Circuit outfit is confident that the bike will be even better than last year's. If Andrews can't get it done, Kawasaki can now rely on his protege, fellow Ohio fiyer Chuck Woodford. Still fairly new to the Pro GNCC ranks, Woodford came into his own at midseason, reeling off the first two GNCC wins of his career, as well as a bunch of AMA National Hare Scramble wins, another victory at the torturous Moose Run, and even a National Enduro win. Woodford has been working with former National Motocross Champion Gary Semics to improve his fitness and technique, and the results are paying off. Consistency is the only ingredient missing from Woodford's arsenal, but judging by his rapid improvement in 2002, he might figure out that final part of the equation soon. KTM's factory GNCC squad is now anchored by five-time (and counting) AMA/FMF National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty. When 2000 GNCC Champion Shane Watts missed most of the season with a broken wrist, the orange squad's hopes for a championship rested on "Junior's" broad shoulders, and he nearly pulled it off. Lafferty used to struggle in the endurance-heavy three-hour GNCC format. He finally got his training program together in 2002, and his results started to climb. He won his first career GNCC at the Big Buck in South Carolina and followed that up with several podium finishes. Lafferty was resting a comfortable second in points when Raines went down at the Wisp. But disaster struck when he broke his shoulder blade at a KTM dealer demo during the series' summer break, ending his sure shot at the title. With his training program and confidence locked in for 2003 and an all-new KTM 450 underneath him, Junior wants to win what should have been his last year. As for Watts, the popular Aussie will once again watch injury sabotage his efforts. Last year he broke his wrist before the season opener; this year he's mending from a broken leg. Watts expects to miss four months of racing, which, like last season, eliminates him from title contention. KTM has a few other threats this season. California's Brian Garrahan had a strong debut GNCC season last year, nailing ninth in points. He will be back with more experience this season and joined by his brother Patrick, who missed all of last season with a broken leg. Two young guns will also join KTM's pro effort. Andy Shea, last year's top GNCC Amateur, will make his Pro debut in 2003 on a KTM; and 2001's top Amateur, Cole Calkins, will make the move from Team Green Kawasaki to KTM this year. The Rest A bunch of riders are looking to make their mark during the '03 GNCC series. RER Racing will once again back Doug Blackwell and Josh McLevy, two of the fastest privateers in the nation. Blackwell finished fifth overall in the GNCCs a few years ago, and he's trying to recapture the fire that got him there. McLevy is a young rider with plenty of speed but currently lacks the conditioning to run up front for three hours every weekend. Ohio's Jimmy Jarrett is a former Amateur Champion and GNCC winner who has watched his considerable potential wash away due to a back injury. Jarrett sat out most of last year's series to get back surgery. He may be slow getting back into shape early on, but don't be surprised if he hits the podium later in the season. The biggest question mark of all lies behind the biggest name of them all. Scott Summers, a five-time Series Champion and arguably the greatest GNCC rider ever, has hinted at a comeback for 2003. Now two years removed from a serious leg injury and retirement, Summers has been spotted at local hare scrambles all winter long, seemingly with his old fitness and speed intact. And his leg is now finally at 100 percent. Summers wants to race again, but it's up to his bosses at Honda as to if he will continue his role as a spokesperson or become a racer again. As we were going to press, a sure answer was not available. cue I • n e vv s FEBRUARV 26, 2003 51

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