Senior KX Rider
Super Power AssClown
- Nov 9, 1999
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GNCC Team Changes
Some of the top GNCC teams are making big changes in hopes of winning what has become the most prestigious title in American off-road.
The first big move came just before the season ended, when FMF Suzuki signed GNCC legend Fast Fred Andrews. Formerly of the factory Kawasaki Team Green outfit, Andrews rounds out a powerhouse squad that includes four-time GNCC Champion Rodney Smith and four-time AMA National Motocross Champion Mike Kiedrowski. Suzuki is serious about getting their GNCC title back; they are doing their winter testing in Missouri this year instead of their normal venues in California so they can find terrain more closely related to the eastern GNCCs.
In addition, Suzuki has signed former R.E.R. Motorcity privateer Doug Blackwell to a support ride, and he'll pit alongside them on his new #9 RM.
Andrews takes the place of longtime Suzuki rider Steve Hatch. Hatch wanted a new race program that would let him compete in a larger variety of races, everything from GNCC and enduros to maybe even supermoto and motocross. He found it by forming the new Throttlehead.com Kawasaki team, which will have a full semi at the races and an arsenal of factory KXs at its disposal. Hatch will have two hungry, young teammates on his side, Andy Shea and Josh McLevy. Kawasaki's other factory rider, Chuck Woodford, will also pit out of the Throttlehead.com semi. Woodford is testing the KXF250F four-stroke, and may choose it as his full-time machine.
The team everyone is chasing, Am-Pro Yamaha, remains the same. GNCC Champion Barry Hawk, GNCC runner-up Jason Raines and six-time national Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins will continue to campaign on the blue bikes. Robbie Jenks will also continue his factory Yamaha involvement through the SCR Yamaha team.
KTM has re-signed GNCC #3 Mike Lafferty for another shot at the crown (and his 7th AMA National Enduro Championship), and Shane Watts will be back on the orange bikes this year.
GNCC Team Changes
Some of the top GNCC teams are making big changes in hopes of winning what has become the most prestigious title in American off-road.
The first big move came just before the season ended, when FMF Suzuki signed GNCC legend Fast Fred Andrews. Formerly of the factory Kawasaki Team Green outfit, Andrews rounds out a powerhouse squad that includes four-time GNCC Champion Rodney Smith and four-time AMA National Motocross Champion Mike Kiedrowski. Suzuki is serious about getting their GNCC title back; they are doing their winter testing in Missouri this year instead of their normal venues in California so they can find terrain more closely related to the eastern GNCCs.
In addition, Suzuki has signed former R.E.R. Motorcity privateer Doug Blackwell to a support ride, and he'll pit alongside them on his new #9 RM.
Andrews takes the place of longtime Suzuki rider Steve Hatch. Hatch wanted a new race program that would let him compete in a larger variety of races, everything from GNCC and enduros to maybe even supermoto and motocross. He found it by forming the new Throttlehead.com Kawasaki team, which will have a full semi at the races and an arsenal of factory KXs at its disposal. Hatch will have two hungry, young teammates on his side, Andy Shea and Josh McLevy. Kawasaki's other factory rider, Chuck Woodford, will also pit out of the Throttlehead.com semi. Woodford is testing the KXF250F four-stroke, and may choose it as his full-time machine.
The team everyone is chasing, Am-Pro Yamaha, remains the same. GNCC Champion Barry Hawk, GNCC runner-up Jason Raines and six-time national Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins will continue to campaign on the blue bikes. Robbie Jenks will also continue his factory Yamaha involvement through the SCR Yamaha team.
KTM has re-signed GNCC #3 Mike Lafferty for another shot at the crown (and his 7th AMA National Enduro Championship), and Shane Watts will be back on the orange bikes this year.