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/728976
IN THE WIND P34 AUBERT SET TO TAKE ON GNCC T he 2016 Amsoil Grand Na- tional Cross Country Champi- onship will have a special guest in the upcoming rounds. Two- time Enduro World Champion and former ISDE overall winner Johnny Aubert will compete in the next two rounds of the series. The Frenchman will ride his factory-backed Beta 300 RR two-stroke and hopes to give points leader Kailub Russell, of the FMF KTM team, a run for his money. In the past, World Enduro champs have had good success in GNCC racing in the U.S., Juha Salminen and David Knight quickly come to mind. Following is a release from Beta: Beta Factory rider Johnny Aubert will come to the USA and race his Beta USA-prepped 300 RR two-stroke in rounds 11 and 12 of the GNCC series in the Elite XC1 class. Aubert is a two-time World Enduro E2-class Champion and ISDE overall winner. Aubert resides in France alongside his wife Geraldine and two children. Aubert will race round 11 on September 25 in Masontown, West Virginia, and again the fol- lowing weekend in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Aubert comments, "I am very excited and really happy to come and race in America these two races of GNCC! I can't thank enough Beta to give me this opportunity. American GNCC is very famous in Europe and I always had a secret wish to come and take part to this kind of race in the country of motor- cycles! See you soon." Beta USA team manager Zack Huberty had this to say: "We're excited to welcome Johnny Au- bert for the next two GNCCs in West Virginia and Ohio. It's great to have a veteran of off-road [rid- er] come to the U.S. to race two of the GNCC rounds. Rodney Smith [U.S. Beta team coach] and myself will work closely with Johnny during the two rounds to help him adjust quickly to the format and terrain." CN HONDA X-ADV SET FOR PRODUCTION T he bike no one asked for, the Honda X-ADV off-road scooter, will enter production. The X-ADV was unveiled at EICMA in Milan last year to a cautious but overall warm welcome from the industry, enough, it seems, that Honda is ready to pull the trigger on a motorcycle that has no class, and for that matter, no rivals to go up against. Based off the Honda City Adventure Concept, the X-ADV is expected to use the 54 horsepower, 745cc parallel-twin motor from the NC750 range with Hon- da's DCT semi-automatic gearbox, upside down forks and radial caliper brakes, as well as a high mounted exhaust that'll stay out of the way when you no doubt go jumping this thing off rocks and the like on your big adventure missions. There's no word as yet on if American Honda will be bringing this machine into the States, but, like most bikes, if there's enough of a demand there's a good chance we'll see it here. CN Frenchman Johnny Aubert, a former World Enduro Champion and ISDE overall winner, will compete on his factory-backed Beta in the next few rounds of the GNCC Series. Is it just us or does this thing look like an odd amount of fun?