GNCC Pro ATV Results: 2010 Round 2

Well, two rounds are complete and the points race is extremely tight in the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Pro ATV class. With the action from the opening weekends of racing in Florida and Georgia, which saw Chris Borich win the opener and follow that with a second at Round 2 in Georgia, I’d bet the entire season goes this way. As expected, reigning champion Chris Borich is on top on his Suzuki, but Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser has the same amount of points (55), but is listed in second. Kiser, who ended Borich’s nine-race win streak, won for the first time since the 2009 Florida opener (13 races).

Right in the mix are Can-Am’s Adam McGill and multi-time GNCC champion Bill Ballance, who is racing what is said to be his final full season. McGill, his first season on the DS450, is 16 points behind and made the podium in Florida. For McGill, he hasn’t won a pro overall since Round 10 of 2008, but continues to challenge for the podium. Ballance reached the final stair of the pro podium in Georgia and now trails by 18 points. Can-Am’s other pro, Chris Bithell, sits comfortably in fifth, is just three points back of Ballance and 21 behind Borich after his twin top five showings.

Round 2 Movers:

Up: was stuck in eighth place after the first lap and still in sixth with one lap to go. However, the highly skilled racer kicked it into another gear and moved into fourth.

Down: Bithell led the race for the first three laps, but fell fell to fifth on Lap 4 and could not regain any positions. Brent Sturdivant dropped from ninth to 15th and then couldn’t finish the final lap.

Biggest news to me thus far:

1. The biggest surprise is seeing less than 20 pros line up for the races. There were 16 in Florida and just 15 in Georgia. Meanwhile the Pro-Am class has had 23 and 24, respectively.

2. I guess this one shouldn’t be a surprise, but … Walker Fowler might want to move to the Pro ranks now! The proven racer may be young, but he finished eighth overall and beat 8 pros in the process. Sure, in Florida he had a rather uneventful ride, but that’s racin’.

3. Brandon Sommers, currently in 11th, is out of the top 10 in points. I know he has the skills and I expect him to climb the ladder and get back in the top six.

4. Jeffrey Pickens has been a pleasant surprise on his Yamaha with two seventh-place runs. He’s a crafty GNCC vet, has the speed, but can he remain consistent?

5. Where are all the Hondas? Four pros ride “Red,” but have failed to crack the top five at either event.

Top 10 XC1 Pro  Points (2 Rounds complete)

Rank, make, number, name, total points (wins)

1. SUZ 001 CHRIS BORICH, 55 (1)

2. YAM 002 TAYLOR KISER, 55 (1)

3.  CAN 003 ADAM MCGILL, 39

4. YAM 004 BILL BALLANCE, 37

5. CAN 013 CHRIS BITHELL, 34

6. YAM 015 JEFFREY PICKENS, 28

7. POL 010 JARROD MCCLURE, 27

8. KTM 005 BRYAN COOK, 26

9. YAM 012 JOHNNY GALLAGHER, 26

10. YAM 007 DONALD OCKERMAN, 23

For complete results and individual classes, visit www.gnccracing.com.

Say It Ain’t So, Digger

I knew one day it could happen. I expected there would be a time – obviously – when “Digger” Doug Gust would retire (hang ’em up, walk away, call it quits). While I don’t know the real reasons behind Digger’s rumored retirement, I doubt it had anything to do with old age. An ATV legend and legitimate hero like Gust can’t stop racing —it’s not fair to the fans or me!

I’ve always been impressed with a guy, from the Midwest, who could whip other MX riders, many of which are half his age, and remain the constant professional and all-around good guy. Cockiness was always a trait foreign to him. And talk about approachable! While other past GNC Champions like Tim Farr and Shane Hitt left the game several years ago, Gust continued to pound the dirt and help raise ATV racing to another level. Sure, in recent years Gust has lost out to a the more youthful riders like Dustin Wimmer, Chad Wienen and Josh Creamer, but he still was a threat to podium and challenge for a spot in the top three at the end of the year.

What I find the most shocking about Gust’s retirement is that fact that no manufacturer or major aftermarket companies gave him a good enough deal to keep him on the track — at least to my knowledge. Suzuki went with Wimmer and Creamer and rumors of Polaris deal have yet to pan out. Like I said, I don’t know all the details and whether or not Gust has officially turned down any companies, but it will be disappointing not to see him race if that’s how it plays out.

I know Gust has the right to end his career. Clearly it’s his body, his time and his choice, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be saddened by it. Believe me, if I had the resources and funding, he’d be on my race team. His leadership, popularity and professionalism make him invaluable in my opinion.

If we don’t see No. 55 on the track in 2010, he will be missed. Oh, and I beg Doug to prove me wrong. If this is the end, he put on quite a show, deserves recognition for his contributions to this sport and a round of applause.

2010 GNCC ATV Pro Class Results – Round 1

It looks like Chris Borich is still the rider to beat in the GNCC XC-1 Pro ATV ranks, as the Sunbury, Pa., racer won the opening round of the 2010 GNCC series in River Ranch, Fla on his Suzuki.  Mounting a come-from-behind charge, Borich passed his way into the lead on the final lap and never looked back. Out of 16 pro riders, Borich was in fifth place after lap one and still “stuck” in fourth place as late as lap three. However, the reigning champ kick it up a notch after that moving to second place and then first on the final lap.

Multi-time champion Bill Ballance earned fifth aboard his Yamaha. Ballance’s teammate, understudy and Florida-native, Taylor Kiser finished second on the YFZ450X (roughly a second behind).  The Can-Am tandem of Adam McGill and Chris Bithell finished in third and fourth, respectively.  McGill ran a great race aboard his DS450, leading the first four laps and earning the third stair of the podium.

Other notables: The top Polaris rider was Jarrod McClure in sixth. KTM’sBryan Cook, in his debut race on orange, earned 10th. The top Honda rider was Brent Sturdivant, who took 11th. Brandon Sommers – overcoming his sickness, earned  12th in front of Harold Goodman, who has said he compete at all the GNCCs this season. The biggest position changes during the race were recorded by Johnny Gallagher (from 14thto eighth) and Donald “Big D” Ockerman (Holeshotwinner; third place on lap one and ninth at the end). For the complete Round 1 wrap-up, click here!

For complete 2010 Can-Am GNCC ATV racing results, visit GNCCRacing.com

Westgate River Ranch

River Ranch, FL – Round 1

XC1 Pro – Class Results

Place Nbr Name Hometown Brand Laps Elapsed

1 001 CHRIS M BORICH SUNBURY, PA SUZ 5 02:05:14.437

2 002 TAYLOR M KISER ALVA, FL YAM 5 02:05:15.843

3 003 ADAM K MCGILL WEST UNION, WV CAN 5 02:05:17.656

4 013 CHRIS P BITHELL IRWIN, PA CAN 5 02:06:10.359

5 004 BILL V BALLANCE SMITHS GROVE, KY YAM 5 02:09:51.953

6 010 JARROD M MCCLURE KASKA, PA POL 5 02:13:55.171

7 015 JEFFREY E PICKENS UNIONTOWN, PA YAM 5 02:14:44.359

8 012 JOHNNY F GALLAGHER AURORA, OH YAM 5 02:15:28.515

9 007 DONALD S OCKERMAN MARSHALL, IL YAM 5 02:17:04.171

10 005 BRYAN COOK CASAR, NC KTM 5 02:17:44.203

11 149 BRENT STURDIVANT MONTROSE, WV HON 5 02:22:06.937

12 006 BRANDON SOMMERS MILLERSBURG, OH YAM 5 02:24:09.250

13 708 HAROLD L GOODMAN ROMULUS, MI HON 5 02:36:00.484

14 040 CRAIG A BOWMAN LEBANON, IN HON 5 02:39:50.875

15 023 TODD S DEMAREE VERSAILLES, IN SUZ 5 02:40:01.093

16 330 SLOAN JACKSON LEBANON, IN HON 3 01:33:47.140

The morning podium consisted of two women and one talented Super Senior class racer. Lexie Coulter won the overall on her Can-Am. The Suzuki mounted Glenn  Pritchard took second ahead of another Women’s class racer in Jennifer Albright. See more Amateur results. Levi Coen (90 Mod 12-15) won the youth division.

Fan of GNCC Racing? Off-RoadFantasy is Your Answer

GNCCracing.com let its visitors know of a cool Web site where ATV and off-road fans can play their friends and foes in a “fantasy league.” Off-RoadFantasy.com presented by SCOTT USA lets you choose 10 riders and score (earn) points based upon their finishes. The site says you can modify your “roster” (race team) for each race and it encourages you to “Compete against your friends, family and other fans for cash and prizes awarded each week.”

I’ve signed up, but have not played YET. There’s a $20 sign-up fee for each series (bike or ATV) or $40 for both. Regardless of the fees, this is a cool way to connect with your pals and bench race from the confines of your humble abode.

Let me know if you’re playing and maybe I’ll see If I can beat you.

ATV Racing Sponsorship

Don’t give up hope, young racers and ATV racing fans. It’s sad to hear the news of some racers not getting factory deals or having to retire because the level of support is no longer happening. However, we must be mindful of how much support this sport still receives. Although we have less factory support this year than in previous racing seasons, it’s good to see a few positives from the ATV racing industry. To hear about sponsorship from the ATV aftermarket and ATV manufacturers is always good. And I know there are certain “contracts” and support systems we don’t get to hear about, whether secretive or not.

I recently saw on Facebook that Lone Star Racing became the title sponsor for the Media All-Stars team, which is run by ATV racing die-hard Jorge Cuartas. Both ATV pro Pat Brown and Cody Grant will benefit from the support. This reminds me of the years before factory support, where race team names were very long and often showcased ALL the companies behind the rider. (Example: Pat Brown aboard his Lone Star Racing/Media All-Stars/XYZ/PDQ/123/ABC-backed race quad as opposed to Factory XX’s Pat Brown).

It’s also encouraging to read about Can-Am signing on with the GNCC Racing series for another three years of sponsorship and adding to its level of support. That agreement (click here) shows a level of commitment to the sport from an ATV manufacturer and also sends the message of support, the belief in ATV racing and more. In fact, any quad maker supporting the sport’s racers (like Can-Am, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Polaris and others) and racing circuits deserves credit, whether it’s on a national, regional (Yamaha with ITP QuadCross) or even a state or niche level (example: mud racing, Baja). They all should be thanked for these partnerships.

Although the support has dwindled, we still see signs of hope and a level of attention and support we should appreciate. Sure, you could say, “They sell to racers, so they should support our sport.” That wasn’t always the case, remember? Let’s keep everything in perspective and focus on the positives and opportunities we currently have, not those we’ve lost.

Mind your manners, trail etiquette

No this is not trail riding for the rich and famous.  It may seem obvious but most people (even seasoned riders) do not really know some of the basics of trail etiquette.  Etiquette means “The practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority”-OK that was helpful.  Basically, play nice and respect the trail and other users.  I leaned most of my manners as well as got most of my information from Stay the Trail.  Even though this is a Colorado based organization most (if not all) the information can be applied to every riding area in the country.  What follows are a few basic guidelines/rules to follow on the trail.

Preparation: Of course the first thing is wearing the proper safety gear, most importantly a helmet as most areas will require it.  Know where your going and a little about the area or trail your attempting.  Its the responsibility of the rider(s) to know the local regulations, restrictions and boundaries of the trail or area.  The whole “I didn’t know” excuse does not work and you may get fined if caught in restricted trails or areas.  If your new to the area or are vacationing, do your homework and find out where you can get maps or information on trail closures and restrictions.

[Read more]

So you want to go racing? Lets get started!

With the local race seasons fast approaching around the country, regulars are getting ready and kicking their training programs into high gear for the opening rounds of their respective race series’s.  How about you?  What if you have never attempted to race?  Where do you start?  What is in involved in competing in an event?  Well your in luck!  In the coming weeks I will answer these questions and more for all of those of you out there that have watched your local hero’s race and though “I would like to try that”. Now if you are thinking you have to be sponsored to start racing your wrong but if your interested in pursuing sponsorship read one of my previous blogs on the subject

Alright before you can go out and enter an event you need to first figure out what type of event you want to attempt.  There are a bunch of different types of races you could try, picking one that appeals to you is the first decision.  Next would be if the type of race is even feasible for your skill and fitness level.  And lastly if your machine is even eligible to enter into a class at the desired event.

Lets talk about what a person should expect at their first race. First off its a good idea to outline a few attainable goals. For example a primary goal would be just finishing the race/day without crashing, or set a reasonable lap time goal to reach. Its almost guaranteed that you will have no chance of winning your first race so goals like that or even top 5 or 10 is probably out of reach. Focus on riding your race and learning how to race. I cannot stress this point enough, there are many fast recreational riders out there but put them in a race and they quickly look out of place on the track. The key is don’t get too aggressive your first time out and end up making a stupid mistake that could injure you or someone else.

To find events in your area is pretty simple these days, with the internet and all the social networking sites and forums geared around ATV’s a simple search or asking a question on our own forum here at ATV Magazine can surely help.  Another place is your local dealerships usually have a bulletin board with flier’s for different races or events.  One thing I would steer clear of for your first foray into the racing world are nationally sanctioned races.  Even though most have an amateur class, they are usually for experienced amateurs and can be very expensive just to enter into one race where as a local or regional type race will be much cheaper and the competition will be a little tamer.  National type races usually require an AMA or ATVA membership or license alone with the gate or day fees.

Now mind you this is intended for the first time racer that is wanting to test the waters at a local race. The biggest thing to keep in mind is having fun, don’t take it too serious. As long as you felt you rode to your abilities and met your attainable goals.

Check back often for more in this series on how to get started at your first ever race, from setting up a basic pit to finishing the race as well as everything in between.

Talk Radio for the Masses!

Are you the type of person that drives down the road or sits in their office listening to talk radio? Are you tired of feeling stressed out by everything they seem to be saying, regardless of your political affiliation? Well then I have a treat for you! When you start feeling stressed out just turn your dial to Pit Pass Radio.  I have had the opportunity to be a studio guest on Pit Pass Radio four to five times now and I have so much fun doing it.  In case you haven’t heard of Pit Pass Radio, it’s a syndicated radio show all about racing.  They do concentrate primarily on dirt bikes and some on street bikes but they also throw in a fair amount of ATV news; they certainly respect ATV Racing.

 

Pit Pass Radio is hosted by Scott Casber, Tony Tice, Tony Wenk, and Ed Kuhlenkamp.  They have had an impressive list of guests on from Jeremy McGrath to Ben Bostrom, and Even Zac Willett and Sage Baker.  Check it out when you have a chance.  You can stream the show live Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM CST at www.pitpassradio.com or check to see if a local channel has picked it up.  If you happen to be in or around Des Moines, IA you can hear it Sunday at 8am on 1460AM.  They have listeners in over 50 countries, so there’s a good chance your local station carries it too; if they don’t, tell them too.

www.pitpassradio.com

Get podcasts of previous shows

http://www.kxno.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=ppr.xml

While you are out there on the web, go vote for the Xtremey Awards! Our new film, The Factory, was nominated for Best Quad Video of the Year.  If you liked the film, head over to http://www.xtremey.net/09nominees.html and vote for The Factory!

 

Catch you on the flip side!

Brad Phillips

Brad on Pit Pass Radio

Sponsorships the truth, myths, and legends

Sponsorships are something that seems to be everyone’s goal. No matter if your a hardcore racer or the casual weekend warrior, being sponsored seems to be the holy grail (excluding winning a championship) in the action sports genre. It is no different in the atv world. But how do you go about getting one (or many). They just aren’t being handed out at every event, nor are agents beating down your door wanting you to sign with them. You know someone is getting sponsored because you see advertisements and logos everywhere. Why get sponsored? How did they get them? Who can get them? Whats involved with being sponsored? Read on, as in this article I will let you in on some of my wisdom from being a sponsored rider as well as a sponsored team.  I will also try to break it down and answer those questions and do it in a layman’s point of view.

First we should define what a sponsorship is in its basic definition.  “To sponsor something is to support an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. A sponsor is the individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsorship)  One myth that most people think is that the word sponsorship means free, this is not entirely true.  While some types of sponsorships can have free product or services defined within the contract, most of the time sponsorship means some type of support either contingencies, monetary or discount schedules.  Sponsorships come in all shapes, sizes and colors meaning no two entities will support a rider in the same manor, but they do have a few things in common.

Application process, almost every company has an application process similar to applying to a job.

Contracts, nearly all companies will have you sign a contract.  In that contract will be all the stipulations of the sponsorship.  It will outline the responsibilities of the rider and the company sponsoring the rider.

Commitment, similar to what is outlined in a contract a company sponsoring a rider expects some commitment to attend various races or events in which there brand will get some exposure.

The following are some common misconceptions that people may have about getting and being sponsored.

Only riders that race on TV and get first place all the time get sponsored.

This is a myth.  Almost anyone with a desire to be sponsored can get some sort of sponsorship.  Whether you race in the National ATVA championships or just some local races you can be eligible for sponsorship.

Ok, I now know I can get sponsored, but why should I get sponsored?

Well the obvious reason would be to gain some support from an outside entity.  As stated before sponsorships come in all kinds.  Depending on the terms, a sponsorship can help curb costs of racing and riding events/races.  Sponsorships can also be helpful in building a resume’ for future racing endeavors.

What does it mean to be sponsored?  What are the responsibilities?

Well your specific responsibilities will be outlined in the contract you sign and or the commitments you agree upon.  There are however some common themes that all sponsorships share.  Being professional and presenting yourself in an appropriate manor, remember in most cases your part of the marketing plan for the company that is sponsoring you.  Attending many events or races.  Sponsors want their brand name out in the public, the more you do this the better you will look in their eyes and prospective sponsors eyes.  Consistency is key, you don’t have to be winning races to be consistent, even if you only place in the bottom 1/3rd as long as your always out there riding and fulfilling the commitment your sponsor will be happy.

Alright hotshot!  You make it sound so easy, how does one acquire these sponsorships?

Well not to discourage anybody but getting worth while sponsors does take some work.  As you may have already notice there are rarely any “scouts” out at the race tracks just looking for the next big thing. Rarely does anybody just pop onto the scene with a factory ride, most have to work for it, just like you.  The best places to start are with some of the sponsorship websites such as Loop’d and MXsponsor.  These are like social networking sites that companies belong to and accept applications through.  They both require a fee to apply for unlimited sponsorship requests, but what is really worth the money is you can build a page with your resume’, photos, and other media that prospective companies can view.  The key with these types of sites is you will only get out what you put in, don’t expect a company to take you seriously with just a photo and a grammatically incorrect explanation of yourself.  Take your time and really take the time to “sell” yourself with words on a page.

Not all companies register with websites such as loop’d Network or MXsponosor.  Those companies usually have their sponsorship contact information listed on their website.  Some prefer emailed resumes and some require postage mailed in resumes with photos or other media.  What ever the form of contact, be sure to do the work and provide the required material.  Also provide the best cover letter and resume’ you can.  A professional looking cover letter could be the difference between you and someone else getting the support, because most moto specific companies get thousands of applications every season.  You want yours to stand out from the rest of the applicants.  A hybrid concept of Loop’d Network is Team VRM (http://www.teamvrm.com/).  They procure the relationships with many companies and riders that get accepted into their program then get all the benefits that Team VRM has negotiated with all the companies they have relationships with.  Basically you apply with them and its like getting accepted by 15 or more companies.  In my opinion its one of the most cost effective ways to reduce the costs of racing.

One of the other ways to attract a sponsor is to do some cold calling of non-moto type companies or even local businesses.  This is by far the most work but sometimes you can reap great rewards.  When cold calling you first have to explain to the company what sponsorship is and why sponsoring a rider would benefit their business or brand awareness.  It may take several meetings with them because the company has never thought about using marketing/advertising dollars in such a way.  This is where being a good communicator and promoting yourself are key.  You have two main goals, first sell them on the idea of sponsorship, second sell them the idea that you should be the one sponsored.

Remember all those English and speech classes you took in high school and college, here is where it all can pay off.  Sometimes the non-moto companies that you cold call are the ones that will give you the best support, the one thing to remember with all of this is make sure the company gets more exposure and exceed their expectations, doing so will increase the chances of you being carried on for the next season and possibly even more active support.

 

Well now I think I have it, but what types of companies or sponsorships should I look for?

This is entirely up to you, but if your ultimate goal is to build some sort of racing career you should focus on acquiring sponsors from companies that can provide practical products or services.  For example you might want the “prestige” of say a Monster Energy or DC shoes sponsoring you but in all respects getting free or discounted drinks or shoes probably won’t offset the cost of racing too much.  Focus on companies that provide things like tires, air filters, oil, or hard parts.  Discounts with companies like those can really offset the costs of racing making it easier for you to race more events and build your resume’ as well as get the exposure you want.

Lastly, is there any other helpful advice you can give?

I think sponsorships are great motivation tools, especially for children and youths.  It can give them confidence, give them goals to work for, responsibility of representing their favorite brands as well.  They also can emulate their favorite riders by having sponsors like the big guys.

The best advice I can give is to learn to self promote.  Talk yourself up and really sell yourself.  Try to create a “hook” that can make you stand out in the myriad of other riders out there.  Be outgoing and put yourself out there, not just on the racetrack but in every aspect of your life.  Don’t be afraid to ask, you will never get anything if you don’t ask.  Be ready for rejection, face it your not Tim Farr or Bill Ballance, you ARE going to get rejected a lot in this process, don’t let it get you down.  Along the same line, be humble and keep that ego in check, sure everyone likes to think they are “hot stuff” but face it someone is always better than you.

Of course I could go on and on trying to “coach” for every type of situation but it would be impossible.  Hopefully this gives you a basic idea about sponsorships and how to go about it.  My goal is to get people who thought sponsorship was not for them, get inspired to put a resume together and put it out there.  Feel free to contact me, I would love to help you be on your way to being a sponsored rider!

For further reading checkout this link.

What is sponsorship? by Robert Villegas Jr.

Good Bye 2008, Hello ‘09

It’s the last day of the year and I can’t help but feel relieved, 2008 was a roller coaster ride that I’m glad is over, my stomach can’t handle much more. Like most roller coaster rides, it [08] left me feeling a bit queezy, yet oddly enough I’m looking forward to the next ride. I’m looking forward to a new year, new tracks, new race teams, new models, and most importantly to the new memories. ‘09 has a nice ring to it, and I think we’re in for some great racing, the GNCC side is going to get interesting with guys like McGill and Borich now pretty used to their rides, Ballance on an all new YFZ, and rookie sensation Ockerman as a full time Pro. The MX side is going to be nuts as Wimmer tries to defend his #1 plate against former teammate Wienen and his Green counterpart Creamer, Upperman is rolling, Byrd looks faster than ever, Brown is on an all new YFZ, Natalie has a year under his belt on the Can-Am, and KTM is now in the loop. The UTV thing is blowing up, and I’m predicting record numbers at the GNCC UTV rounds. Lets keep our fingers crossed, and here’s hoping that 2009 is everything we’re hoping for.

I wish you all a very Prosperous New Year.

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