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/422367
IN THE WIND P28 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEREMY S even-time Supercross champ Jeremy McGrath celebrated his 43rd birthday by hosting a ride day at Southern California's Cahuilla Creek motocross cir- cuit. The event was co-hosted by Spy Optics and was open to Mc- Grath's friends, fans, and anyone that wanted to swing a leg over their dirt bike. McGrath also had a big sur- prise announcing his new part- nership with Kawasaki as its Brand Ambassador, ending his long-time affiliation with Honda. "Obviously it's exciting for me to get back to Kawasaki. This is where it all started," said Mc- Grath, who spent his early years on green bikes, first with Team Green, before graduating to a Pro Circuit-prepped KX125 in the 125cc class in Supercross. He went on to win two back-to-back West Coast championships. "We have some big projects in the works for Team Green and on the amateur side of things," he revealed. "And if I can be any as- sistance or mentor the PC or pro riders then I'm there for that, too." Kawasaki welcomed McGrath by handing over a fresh No. 2-adorned KX450F. The racing legend put in a couple motos on his new KX-F before showing off during the NacNac content— an ode to McGrath's signature move that boosted his popular- ity amongst fans during his race career. Other privateers and local pros joined in on the fun but no one can truly emulate his style. "Today's the first day of the new deal and man I'm happy to be a part of the team. I can do many different things in my new role and this structure is right up my alley. It's my time to give back to the sport," he concluded. Adam Waheed Jeremy McGrath announced his new deal with Kawasaki during a ride day to celebrate his 43 rd birthday. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM WAHEED BAYLOR HEADS TO YAMAHA Y amaha announced its 2015 off-road bLU cRU team and the biggest news is the signing of GNCC XC2-class Champion Grant Baylor and Australian star Daniel Milner. Baylor and Milner will join return- ing rider Jordan Ashburn on the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha bLU cRU Team, which will again be guided by seven-time AMA Enduro Cham- pion Randy Hawkins. The team will contest the AMSOIL GNCC Se- ries, Kenda AMA National Enduro Championship Series and select rounds of the GEICO Motorcycle EnduroCross Series. Ashburn, who finished third in the 2014 GNCC Champion- ship, will return on the Yamaha YZ450F in the premier XCI class along side fellow YZ450F riders Milner and Baylor. Milner and Baylor will also compete in the National Enduro series. The team will also field two Women's-class entries, Becca Sheets and Jessica Patterson, who will both race the all-new Yamaha YZ250FX in the GNCC Championship. Yamaha will also support the Raines Riding University/Atlas Ya- maha/bLU cRU/OffRoadViking. com team. Established by Six- Time AMA National Hare Scram- bles Champion Jason Raines and off-road enthusiast Dwayne Leon- ard of Atlas Yamaha, the team will focus exclusively on GNCC's XC2 class with riders Ricky Russell and Austin Lee on the YZ250FX. Grant Baylor will leave KTM for the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha bLU cRU in the GNCCs and enduros.