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/128367
factory Suzuki squad for 'OS. Kearney not only has a full-factory ride in the United States, but he also gets the chance to work alongside Smith. Kearney has been liVing at the Smith's house since January, and the lessons paid off with a runner-up finish at the Texas opener. If Smith can instill his legendary consistency and smarts in the kid, he will be a contender all year long. turned sour in 2005. On the first lap in Texas, he crashed on a rock and kinked his throttle cable, resulting in a very costly DNF. Hawk won last year's Florida race, and he may be the most determined rider in the field. He will put in one heck of a comeback effort. AM PRO YAMAHA With Smith out, the spotlight falls on the only two riders to beat him in the races last year, the same riders that carry the GNCC number-two and -three plates: Jason Raines and Barry Hawk, respectively. After heavy rumors that one or both would jump ship for big bucks, they ended up staying under the Am Pro Yamaha factory tent for 2005. Unfortunately, the season hasn't begun on a high note. Off-season shoulder surgery kept Raines off a bike until just a few weeks before the GNCC opener in Texas, but he gutted out a solid 10th overall there. That could pay off in the championship chase a few months down the road. Hawk was not as fortunate. He ended the 2004 season on fire with five National wins, all while dialing in the a1uminumframed 'OS YZ250. That luck immediately KTM KTM's off-road squad has been rejuvenated for 2005 with an all-new semi truck in the pits, a new team coordinator in Jack Penton, and a new rider packing some serious hype: 10-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen. The whole effort has already delivered, with Salminen charging to the opening round GNCC win in Texas - and he didn't even seem to have a hard time doing it. Like many European enduro stars, Salminen has loads of speed delivered in a smooth fashion, but he also appears to have the endurance to hold on for three hours. The field is still waiting, and hoping, to find a weakness. If they don't find one soon, Salminen may just run away with the series. But he's not the only one going fast on an orange bike. Mike Lafferty is back after a tough season with injuries last year. Although rumor was he had given up on the GNCC format, he looked as strong as ever in Texas, battling with Salminen most of the way and taking a solid third. The expanded KTM effort of managers, mechanics and technicians was a happy bunch at the finish of the Lone Star event. KTM also has a support team this year as part of its expanded effort. The Fun Mart team is run by enduro vet Tim Tabor and features up-and-coming star Nate Kanney, Mexican National Champion Homero Diaz, 250cc A rider D. R. Atwood and Australian Matt Fish. Expect this team to post solid results later in the season. Two other very capable riders have KTM support rides as well: the oftinjured 2000 GNCC champ Shane Watts and former GNCC numberfour Robbie Jenks. Watts may race a limited schedule in 2005, while Jenks is taking his new KTM deal as one last shot to meet the promise he showed as an amateur. KAWASAKI Kawasaki again launches a two-pronged attack on the series, the first of which is with the satelliteThrottlehead.com/ Kawasaki Team Green effort, led by Steve Hatch. The second attack is with Team Green Kawasaki, led by Chuck Woodford. Hatch put in a solid effort in his move to the green bikes last year, finishing fourth in the series in his trademark allout aggressive style. Hatch is part of the team management of Throttlehead.com/ Kawasaki Team Green. Along with his business partner, Jon Adams, Hatch has selected two promising riders to learn and to carry the flag for the team. One is Josh McLevy, who made major strides last year by learning consistency. Unfortunately, McLevy broke his collarbone at a race before the GNCC season began, and he couldn't finish in Texas. His new teammate is Cole Calkins, a former amateur champion who finished a solid ninth overall in 2004. Calkins will benefit from the tutelage of Hatch. Team Green's Woodford leads the other end of the Kawasaki effort. Woodford is, at times, the fastest rider on the track. Those times, however, have been rare over the years. This year he looks like a whole new rider, though, winning the opening round of the AMA National Hare Scrambles Series and charging to an impressive fourth at the Texas race, his best opening-round effort ever. The Ohio-based Woodford spent his off-season training with his mechanic, Doug Duchette, in Georgia, and it's paying off. Team Green will also back first-year pro P.A. Allen, who won last year's coveted GNCC 250cc A Championship. .. ~ ~ it ~ , ~. ® ~, ~l ~ Seo" Summers HONDA Corning back " - ' Inlury is never _sy, but Jason Raines soldiered through to ca'" a ninth ot th, oP'toing round in Texas. GNCC legend Scott Summers is still at it, running the Moose/Parts Unlimited/ Honda colors. After a solid comeback last year, Summers finished up 2004 sixth overall in the GNCC points and had a podium finish in Georgia. Early in the season, he looked like a genuine title contender, but he couldn't find the extra speed needed to make a run for the top. Summers is hoping to find that extra gear in his second full-season back on the tour this season. There was a time when Summers was the one everyone was chasing, but things can change so qUickly in this sport. eN CYCLE NEWS • MARCH 2, 2005 37