Yamaha Wants To School You
In the event that you’ve never happened upon our “Ask The Editors” feature here at ATVC, we fancy ourselves professors in the topic of ATVs/UTVs and all that is off-road. But even we recognize that there’s always more to learn!
To that end, Yamaha Racing is putting on the 2012 GNCC University at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort this weekend (June 20-22, 2012). Scheduled just before the eighth round of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) off-road racing series, the GNCC University will be led by the “Dean of ATVs,” Bill Ballance, and “Dean of Motorcycles,” Randy Hawkins.
Ballance, the nine-time GNCC professional ATV XC1 Champion, will lead the group of Yamaha Racing ATV instructors including Taylor Kiser, who is currently second in points in the GNCC’s XC1 pro class, 2011 XC2 champ Walker Fowler, eight-time GNCC Women’s Champion Traci Cecco and Johnny Gallagher, who is currently running 10th in the XC-1 class.
Hawkins, the seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion, will lead the Yamaha Racing bike instructors including five-time AMA National Hare Scramble Champion Jason Raines, 2009 XC1 Champion Paul Whibley, XC1 rider Jordan Ashburn, XC2 riders Brad Bakken and Jedediah Haines, and Women’s class rider Leeann Bange.
The GNCC University provides new and up-and-coming racers with two days of instruction, networking and social activities – valuable time spent with some of the series’ top racers. Students receive classroom instruction covering race preparation, sportsmanship and training, plus track time with the pros to work on specific technical skills in small groups.
“The GNCC University is a great opportunity for new and novice riders to learn directly from the pros how to set-up a machine and handle the variety of terrain and obstacles on a cross-country course,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha ATV/Off-Road racing coordinator. “Yamaha is proud to support the GNCC University and the Yamaha race team members who participate in it.”
Reservations are on a first-come first-serve basis, and more information including a full schedule and registration can be found here.