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/128309
GNCC, Texas-Size he AMA Grand Nationa l Cross Co untry Series will kick off in the Lone Star State of Texas, january 31-February I, with America's largest off-road series bringing the deepest Pro field in off-road racing to the Lone Star GNCC in Gilme r, Texas, according T to the series promoters. T he series' first-ever GN CC in Texas will take place in the Barnwell Mountain Recreation area, two hours east of Dallas. A tota l of 12 GNCC titles will be represented in the pro bike field. Defe nding GNCC Champion Barry Hawk will batt le veterans Rodney Smith (four-time GN CC Champion), Shane Watts (2000 Champion), Fred Andrews (1993 Champion) and t he ret urning five-time GNCC Champion Scott Summers. Ther e's also a pack of riders hungry to land their first GNCC title. AMA National Hare Scrambles Champion jason Raines and six-time AMA National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty want to improve on the ir second- and third-place finishes, respectively in , last year 's GNCC standings. Four-time AMA National Motocross Champion Mike Kiedrowski is focused on his first AMA offroad title, and veteran Steve Hatch has a fresh start with his new Throttlehead.com / Kawasaki Team Green squad . And do n't forget KTM's Nat ional Motocross contende r Ryan Hughes. "Ryno"· will race the opening GNCC rounds to prepare for the moto cros s nationals. He has spent the off-season riding w ith Lafferty and, as always, is expected to be hungry and in incre dible shape . Parts Unlimited will cele brate the GNCC opener with a hospita lity dinner for the racers on Saturday night. A special Industry Class race on Sunday will allow GN CC spo nsors and journalists to get a crack at the rugged Moose Racing's Dick Burleson, who will be joined by Thumper Racing's Gary Hazel to build a course that is bot h challenging and fun for all riders. The race will offer classes for riders of all ages and skill levels. Although this is a new venue for the series, it will still offer typical GNCC terrain of tight woods, mud, rocks and hills. ATVs will race Saturday, january 31, and bikes w ill race on Sunday, February I. The Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area is located five miles north of Gilmer, Texas, on Route 155. For more information, log onto www.GNCCRacing.com. Lange Takes Over b z ::J CJ Darcy Lange officially took over the points lead from the injured josh De muth and put an exclamat ion point on it by winning all four main events in Hampton, Virginia, january 2324 in the Hampton Coliseum. Lange was only briefly challenged by Tommy Hofmaster in Saturday night' s 2SOcc main event, which Hofmaste r led up until the last few laps. The sweep, along w ith some bad luck for Hofmaster ove r the weekend , put Lange 52 points ahead of josh Demuth's teammate ?;: a: >OJ o C J: a. Hofmaster in the race to crown a new Texas terrain. The Lone Star course will be designed by tw o forme r AMA Nat ional Enduro Champions: GNCC trail boss jeff Russell and Arenacro ss Champion. john Dowd turned in some impressive resu lts this weekend as we ll, winning the DFC both evenings. Stacy Smith Harley Continues To Roll Harley-Davidson , Inc. has again announced recor d revenue and earn ings for its fourth quarte r and year ending Dece mbe r 31, 2003. Revenue for the quarter was $1.16 billion comp ared with $1.03 billion in the year-ago quart er, a 12.8 percent increase, accordin g to Harley. Harley also reports net income for the quarte r was $ 1B2.4 million com pared to $ 150.9 million, an increase of 20.9 percent Darcy Lange swept all four main events at last weekend's National Arenacross in Hampton, Virginia. over the year-ago quart er. In addition, fourth quarte r diluted earnings pe r share (EP5) was 60 cents, a 22.4 pe rcent increase compared with last year 's 49 cents . Harley also re ports that reven ue for the full year was $4.62 billion, compared with $4.09 billion in 2002, a 13.0 percent increase. Net income for the year was $760 .9 million, a 31 . 1 percent increase versus last year's $580.2 million, w hile diluted EP5 for the full year was $2 .50, a 3 I.6 pe rce nt increase compared with $ 1.90 in 2002 . "We have set a new goal for the company to be able to satisfy a yearly demand of 400,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 2007." The 2004 GNCC Series kicks off this weekend. Who can stop Barry Hawk? O PENED: Too Tech Suspension's Canadian franchise in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada . The full-service suspension facility will offer Too Tech 5uspension revalving, general suspension maintenance services, and Too Tech performance products like the "No Maintenance Air Tank System" and improved bottoming systems . Roy Borton has been appointed to run the franchise. Borton brings 30 years of off-road motor and suspension experience to the operation . For more information, call 204/633·2722 or check out http://www.tootech.ca on the web . ACCEPTI NG: Drive 5ystems U5A is currently accepting racer resumes for its line of AFAM products. Resumes can be sent to Drive Systems USA, 5953 Engineer Dirve, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. ANNOUNCED: A deal between White Brothers and Hydrapak, a manufacturer of performance-oriented personal hydration systems, that allows White Brothers to be the sale source for product distribution throughout the powersports dealer market . 10 FEBRUARY 4,2004 • CYCLE NEWS ANNOUNCED: An agreement between Lightning 5peed Products, manufacturer of the original "LSP MX Timer," and Langston Racing to distribute the LSP MX Timer in South Africa. "We have been receiving requests for the LSP Timer overseas and are very happy that Langston Racingwill now be able to provide that service," said Leon Randolph, president of Lightning Speed Products. Langston Racing will also be sellingthe LSP Timer in the U5Aat its new high-performance shop located in Lake Elsinore, California. For more information, contact Lightning 5peed Products at www.lsptimer.com or Langston Racing Products at www.langstonracing.com. APPOINT ED: Bob Ketchum to the position of motorsports division manager of Spy Optic Inc., effective immediately. Ketchum spent the last three years with Thor Motocross as brand manager and worked for six years prior to Thor as parts and accessories manager and team manager for Colorado Motorsports Group's four-store chain. Catalogs and eyewear samples are available for editorial purposes. AU TOGRAP H SIGN IN G: At Bert's Mega Mall in Covina, California, on january 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Team Yamaha's Chad Reed, David Vuillemin and Tim Ferry, Mach I 40th Anniversary - jeffrey Bleustein Motorsports' Ezra Luskand Heath Voss and Yamahaof Troy's Mike Brown, Brock Sellards, Josh Hansen , Kelly Smith and Danny 5mith are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 626/974-6600. AU TOGRAPH SIGN ING: At Mach I Motorsports in Vallejo, California, on February 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. Team Yamaha's Chad Reed, David Vuillemin and Tim Ferry, Mach I Motorsports' Ezra Luskand Heath Voss and Yamahaof Troy's Mike Brown, Brock Sellards, Josh Hansen, Kelly Smith and Danny 5mith are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 707/643-2548. AU TOGRAPH SIGN IN G: At Spectrum Honda , 45 Oldfield Road, Irvine, California, on January 31 from 12 to 2 p.rn, Factory Ducati road racer Eric Bostrom is scheduled to appear. For more information, call 949/859 3 186. MOVED: Cody Racing Products, the U.S. distributors for Jawa speedway motorcycles, parts and accessories, to 13821 West 5treet, Garden Grove , CA 92B43, 714/63B-595I, 714/63B-8237 (fax), www.codyracing .com.