Take control, adjust your controls that is

Want to make your ATV experience more enjoyable?  Want to increase your ability to go those long rides with less fatigue in your arms?  Want to do all this for free?  Of course you do!  Adjust your controls my friend.

It seems so elementary but many people fail to do this after buying their machine.  Whether it s a new machine or a used one, adjusting the controls to fit your particular body and riding style will surely help you enjoy your riding that new machine even more. Here is how to do it.

First off think about your natural riding position. Do you sit most of the time your riding or do you stand most of the time? Put both index fingers straight out to rest on the levers. Adjust the clutch (where applicable) and brake levers to make as straight of a line from your finger up through your wrist, hand and arm. If your a standing is what you do most of the time make sure your in the “attack” position.

The wrong way

The right way

Adjusting your levers is somewhat subjective but a general rule of thumb is you should never have to reach way up or way down to pull in either lever.

AMA ATV MX Championships: Creamer Wins at Birch Creek

Josh Creamer showed why the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki race team was wise to sign him, as he won his second straight Pro class overall in the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV MX Championships series. Creamer, who took over the class points lead, also benefited from his teammate Dustin Wimmer’s second-moto seat problem to earn the win. Creamer’s 2-1 moto finishes at RV Outlet/Keystone Raptor Birch Creek ATV National in Virginia, beat Wimmer’s 1-5 score. However, Wimmer is just two points back and probably could have won the race had he not encountered the seat issue in the second moto. “In the second moto, I got off to a good start and then my seat fell off on the third lap and there just wasn’t too much I could do besides try to hang on,” Wimmer explained in a MX Sports press release.

Creamer said he was thrilled by the win, despite not winning the race to the first turn in either moto. “We didn’t get holeshots this weekend, I was actually getting too much traction leaving the gate so I was struggling keeping the power under control,” Creamer said in an MX Sports press release. “We worked our way through the pack both motos and ended up winning. Even if we don’t get holeshots we can still work our way up through. Everything on the bike was working good. I could get the bike wherever I wanted. It was hard to pass on the track so I had to stick it in there and have to make the passes happen. The second moto, we got a little bit of lead at the end of the race and that sealed the win.”

Reigning Champion Dustin Wimmer surely was pleased with his first moto results and relieved to finish where he did in Moto 2. Wimmer led every lap in Moto 1 and acknowledge the friendly competition with Creamer, saying, “I had a good first moto,” Wimmer said. “My teammate and I battled it out a little bit.”

Josh Creamer went 2-1 to earn his second consecutive AMA ATV Pro MX overall. (Courtesy of MX Sports)

Moto 2 started out great for the champ. He grabbed the MotorcycleUSA.com $250 holeshot and then led the first four laps (according to eScore) before his seat fell off. Once his seat came off, Wimmer dropped to fourth on the next lap and as far as seventh place during the race. He recovered to place in the top five and earn the No. 2 spot on the podium. “I had to stand a lot and my legs were giving out and I had to let people go by so I didn’t crash. I just tried to suck it up and get as many points as I could,” he added in the release.

Yamaha’s Thomas Brown put in his best Pro race of his young career (he took fourth overall at the opener and Round 2 in 2009). Had he finished higher in the first moto (he went from fifth to fourth during that race) or held on to the lead in Moto 2, he may have taken the second stair. Brown led laps seven and eight in Moto two before being passed by Creamer and then John Natalie Jr. Regardless of what could have been, Brown was more than pleased with the end result. “I’m super pumped about my finish,” Brown said in the MX Sports release. “We got two great starts, the second one we came out third. We led several laps in the second moto. It got us on the podium and I’m happy just to be there. Every race is getting better and better.”

The second moto was said to be one of the most exciting all year as four different riders led the second moto (Wimmer, Josh Upperman, Brown and Creamer). We can only hope the remainder of the 2010 season stays as competitive and closely contested as Moto 2 in Virginia.

Biggest MX Movers 1: Several riders deserve acknowledgment for the way they raced in Virginia. John Natalie Jr. (Warnert Can-Am) followed up his sixth-place ride in Moto 1 with an impressive second-place run in Moto 2 to snag fourth overall and earn 37 points (his most this year). Very similar to the first moto, Natalie started Moto 2 in seventh, but charged the entire race and climbed into second place (where he finished) by lap 10.

The eScore results clearly show Warnert Can-Am’s Chad Wienen’s Moto 2 effort was quit impressive. After lap 4, he was in 15th, but by the end of the event he was in seventh. His moto scores of 5-7, were good for sixth overall. Had he not dropped from third to fifth in Moto 1, he may have moved up even more.

Jeremy Lawson also gets a kudos from me for never giving up. The Walsh racer’s combined moto scores of 7-4 was good for fifth place. He gained two spots in Moto 1 and moved from sixth to fourth in Moto 2 to earn the fifth-place finish, which was his best of 2010.

Biggest MX Movers 2: Joe Byrd and Josh Upperman (Baldwin Motorsports) have to be disappointed with their Virginia results. Byrd, who finished a season-worst 18th at Birch Creek, saw Creamer gain 37 points over him after Round 3 and dropped two spots from sixth place to eighth place and trails Creamer by a whopping 60 points.

Upperman was putting in a good ride at Birch Creek before his day ended short in Moto 2. He followed up his third-place ride in Moto 1 with a unlucky 17th place in Moto 2. And as stated above, the Louisville, Ohio, rider actually led the second moto before trouble struck. Luckily for Upperman, he garnered 24 points and still sits in sixth place just nine points behind Chad Wienen, who is in third.

Harold Goodman also suffered a little in Virginia. After racing to the MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award in Moto 1, Goodman fell to sixth place by the end of the first lap. He ended up in 11th with a 14-11 moto score.

Consistency has been hurting French racer Jeremie Warnia. After finishing in eight in Moto 1, the Can-Am-mounted racer took 18th in Moto 2. Even with the last-place ride in the second moto, Warnia scored 17 total points and still sits in 10th overall after three rounds. If this guy starts putting together two decent motos, he’ll be pushing for a top five finish (at the very least).

Perfection Tracker

These eight amateur racers (down from 17 after Round 2), still remain perfect in 2010 in their class and have the early class points lead. They are:

* 4-Stroke A – Chase Henry, Petersburg, Va.

* Women – Heather Byrd, Union City, Tenn.

* Women C – Kelsey Dyer, Quincy, Ill.

* Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) – Dallas Tapscott, Scottsville, Va.

* Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) – Brent Sellers, Willis, Texas

* 90 CVT (8-15) – Tyler Mack, New Ulm, Minn.

* 50 CVT (6-8) – D.J. Bassani, Sussex, N.J.

* 50 Limited Jr. (4-6) – Ethan Ahlm, Cumming, Ga.

Round 4 is slated for May 15-16, at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Ill.

Round 3 AMA ATV MX Pro Class Results

AMA ATV MX Pro Class Points (Top 10)

For more information, log on to www.atvmotocross.com.

'ATV-24/7' Teaser Released on Vimeo

If you’re into ATV racing, specifically the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Championships presented by Parts Unlimited, then you have to check out “ATV-24/7,” the new ATV racing reality TV show.

Carey Bohn, executive producer sent me the first “ATV-24/7″ teaser and thought I should share it with you. The teaser serves as  a way to gauge viewer feedback and interest, but to also showcase some of of the footage you’ll see from the new fast-paced TV program.

Bohn said although this teaser shows many aggressive and intense situations, “ATV-24/7″ will also have a softer side, because show producers want to acknowledge ATV racing’s family makeup and its grassroots heritage. There will be shots of John Natalie holding his baby girl, scenes showing the racers interacting to capture their friendship and, of course, the family side of this sport.

Let me know your thoughts on this teaser. Thanks.

ATV-24/7 teaser from ATV-24/7 on Vimeo.

GNCC ATV Racing: Borich Wins At Muddy Loretta's

Mother Nature, mud bogs and even a class of fellow Pro Class racers couldn’t prevent Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris “Big Finish” Borich from posting his third straight Pro class victory on the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series. In using a style that has become more his trademark and not just a game of chance, the Pennyslvania-based pro came from behind and passed late in the race to secure the win the Round 5 overall at the Acerbis Loretta Lynn’s GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. GNCC Racing said the ATV racers described the course as “wet and muddy” and said an “all-day rain pummeled” the dude ranch in the middle of Tennessee. Despite the dismal conditions and three other riders contesting him, Borich proved his resiliency and also made it clear he is the man to beat in 2010.

Chris Borich was all smiles after posting his third consecutive GNCC ATV Pro class win. (Courtesy Acorn Woods)

Borich summed up his performance in a GNCC Racing press release, by saying, “I worked back up behind McGill, and I picked a line that he looked like he was going right and then he came back the other way and we kind of came together and I was able to get around him. It’s great to get another win, and I had a lot of fun battling these guys.”

Borich has now won four of the first five races and has extended his points lead over Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser by 22 points (145 to 123).

Rounding out the Pro class podium were Adam McGill (Can-Am) and Donald Ockerman (Yamaha). McGill led for two laps and held the leave before Borich passed him late in the race. Ockerman put in his best race of the year to find a spot on the podium. Kiser salvaged a fourth-place ride to stay within striking distance of Borich for the points overall and is 30 points ahead of McGill, who sits in third.

In a GNCC Racing press release, McGill summed up his day with, “It was crazy out there. Someone would go up a hill and the mud would fill in the ruts and you couldn’t tell how deep they were, so it was kind of scary, but it was good to get out front and be in the hunt.”

Biggest Movers 1:

As long as Borich keeps passing for the win on the final lap, he’ll always deserve a spot on this list. McGill deserves credit for charging from fourth place after lap one to first place during the final lap. Despite dropping a spot to Borich, he still put in one heck of a race to earn a podium visit. Two other pros get kudos from me for their late-in-the-race efforts. The first being Ockerman, who moved from fifth on Lap 2 to third on the final trip around the soaking-wet Loretta’s course. His 32:29.656 time on Lap 3 was the fastest of the day and ensured he made the podium!

Let’s not forget about Bicknell, Indiana’s Ryan Lane, who rode his Honda to fifth place in the horrible conditions. It was Lane’s first GNCC race of the year and he moved from ninth place after the second lap to fifth by the time the checkers flew. There’s one word for that: Awesome! Johnny Gallagher also gets a thumbs up for effort as he charged to sixth on his YFZ. He moved from ninth after Lap 1 to sixth place by the end of the race, which was good enough for his best finish of the season.

Biggest Movers 2:

This spot is usually reserved for those who go the other way, sadly, in the final results. Unfortunately, Can-Am’s Chris Bithell made the list. He sat in fourth place at the end of Lap 2, but couldn’t complete the final lap and had to settle for 12th in the class and 84 overall. It was his second finish out of the top 10 this year.

After putting in finishes of seventh, seventh, fifth and six in the first four races, Jeffery Pickens was in position (third place after first lap) to post his top finish of the year, but fell three places after another lap. By the end of lap three the pro dropped to eighth place, for his worse finish of the year. However, on the flip side, the Pennsylvania race has to be relieved with an eighth place (as opposed to a DNF) in a mud race. And that fact that he’s still in the top five in the Pro class points race.

5-for-5

Six racers have posted 100 points (perfect scores) by winning all five rounds in 2010. Four riders fell off the list after the Loretta’s mudfest.

• 90 Modified (12-15) – 1 PIT 003 LEVI COEN 1 1 1 1 1 100
• 4×4 Lites – 1 CAN 233 KEVIN TRANTHAM 1 1 1 1 1 100
• U2 – 1 CAN 206 CLIFTON BEASLEY 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Utility Senior (45+) – 1 CAN 709 FORREST WHORTON 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Schoolboy (13-15) A/B – 1 HON 239 BRADEN HENTHORN 1 1 1 1 1 100
• Women Novice (15+) – 1 HON 244 CHEYANNE SHADRON 1 1 1 1 80

Super Simmons

Dave Simmons just keeps impressing me. He’s in the 50+ class and has won four straight morning overall, including this sloppy race in Tennessee. And that’s with several classes of 4x4s breathing down his neck! Round 2, didn’t register because he won the Sportsman A/B class (non-points class). However, the last three event did, as the Ohio racer beat every other a.m. participant and 50+ competitor to the finish line. Had he raced in Florida, he may be on the “100 list” above. An interesting side note: Class points leader Donnie Pruett has yet to win the class in 2010, but still has 82 points and a 22 point lead over Simmons.

Another note from this class (according to Ken “Pappy” Hill on Facebook): You can help support Super Senior (50+) competitor Glen Pritchard (West Hamlin, W.Va.), who is dealing with an illness, by buying a T-shirts. They retail for $20.00. To order: Send an e-mail to: Cre8tivedesigns1@gmail.com (Brandon Sturdivant) Include: Name, quantity, sizes and shipping information. When order is received you will receive an e-mail giving you payment information. All Proceeds will go to Glen’s medical expenses.

Loretta’s XC1 Results (According to GNCCracing.com):

1. Chris Borich (Suz)

2. Adam McGill (CAN)

3. Don Ockerman (Yam)

4. Taylor Kiser (Yam)

5. Ryan Lane (Hon)

6. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)

7. Brandon Sommers (Yam)

8. Jeffrey Pickens (Yam)

9. Sloan Jackson (Hon)

10. Todd Demaree (Suz)

XC1 Standings:

1. Chris Borich (145/4 wins)

2. Taylor Kiser (123/1 win)

3. Adam McGill (93)

4. Don Ockerman (73)

5. Jeffrey Pickens (72)

6. Bryan Cook (69)

7. Johnny Gallagher (67)

8. Chris Bithell (66)

9. Bill Ballance (58)

10. Brandon Sommers (54)

Borich rode part of the three-lap race without goggles as the muddy course made for difficult racing conditions. (Courtesy of Acorn Woods)

XC2 Results:

1. Gabe Phillips (Yam)

2. Eric Hoyland (Yam)

3. Kevin Yoho (Yam)

4. Walker Fowler (Yam)

5. Josh Kirkland (KTM)

6. Mark Notman (Yam)

7. Ian Laufersweiler (Hon)

8. Blake Kramer (Suz)

9. Nathan Beyers (Hon)

10. Michael Lancaster (Hon)

XC2 Standings:

1. Brian Wolf (110/2 wins)

2. Kevin Yoho (101)

3. Walker Fowler (95/2 wins)

4. Josh Kirkland (92)

5. Gabe Phillips (88/1 win)

6. Parker Jones (68)

7. Eric Hoyland (66)

8. Blake Kramer (63)

9. Dustin Canipe (59)

10. Mark Notman (54)

On May 8, the Yadkin Valley Stomp Racetrack, in Yadkinville, N.C., will host the Round 6 of the GNCC series. For more info, visit GNCCracing.com.

Creamer Victorious At Ballance Moto-X

A few years back, someone once told me “Josh Creamer, would sign a contract for a cheeseburger.” I don’t know if they were making fun of him or just criticizing his approach to being a professional racer. Either way, that person’s opinion has proven to be erroneous. Creamer, who signed his first pro contract with Kawasaki in 2007, has more than lived up to his hype as one of the top pro ATV racers in world. First, he did very well with the Jimmy White-led Monster Kawasaki teams. Then he signed a full deal with Suzuki for 2010. This past weekend he earned his most  impressive overall at Round 2 of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV MX Championships presented by Parts Unlimited. The Pro class win was Creamer’s first of the year and, more importantly, his first career Pro MX overall and first under the Makita Rockstar Suzuki team banner.

(Courtesy of Creamer/DeBault Photography)

The victory made the Pro class points a lot more interesting as Creamer pulled to within four points of teammate Dustin Wimmer, who has 88 points and the other Pro class victory in 2010. Creamer, who also scored some bonus cash for the grabbing the Moto 2 holeshot, told me he wasn’t particularly happy with how his practice session went, but was more than thrilled with the final result. “When it came to race time, we did what we had to do,” he said.

“The second moto we just checked out. It just worked out really well. I’d like to thank my whole team under the Rockstar Makita Suzuki tent, and Yoshimura and all the sponsors we have. Everything’s just going really well this year,” he elaborated in a Racer Productions press release.

Joe Byrd finished third overall for his podium of the season, but was knows he has a tough fight against the Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates. He said in the www.atvmotocross.com release: “The race could have been better, but we had a couple gremlins bite us. My goggles broke in the first moto and I couldn’t see, so the first moto was definitely not good to me. The second moto was better. We came out second and then took the lead, and I had a good battle with Creamer but I screwed up and he passed me back.”

Chad Weinen’s 6-3 finish was good enough for fourth place and keeps him in striking distance of the points leader, just 15 points behind.

Josh Creamer leads Joe Byrd at Ballance Moto-X. (Courtesy of ATVmotocross.com/Michael Roth image)

Biggest Movers 1: Byrd, who said he’s in charge of a “true privateer program,” did well in Moto 2.  The longtime pro finished in the seventh spot in Moto 1. However, in the second moto, he challenged for the
win and actually held the lead for the first six laps before an error allowed Creamer to pass him. His 7-2 score put him on the podium.

Reigning Pro AMA ATV MX Champ Dustin Wimmer (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) also put in two impressive rides, considering he got off to sluggish starts in both motos. After lap 1 in the first moto, Wimmer was in seventh place. He recovered to move into third. In the second moto, Wimmer was in sixth place after the first lap, but moved into third place. However, this time he dropped to fourth before the flag was waved. The 3-4 finish was good enough for second overall and he retained the points lead heading into Round 3.

Also in Moto 2, Pat Brown showcased some speed on his Honda as he motored from 16th all the way to eighth place to salvaged a 12th place finish and avoid a horrible weekend. Nick Denoble and Cody Grant also deserve a little praise for their “never-give-up” attitude. Each rider gained at least five spots by the time the Moto 2 checkers flew.

Biggest Movers 2: John “Ironman” Natalie. The Can-Am/Motoworks won the Moto 1 holeshot and than went wire-to-wire to win it. That put him in position for an overall. However, mechanical trouble in the second moto hurt Natalie’s shot at the podium. He sat in fourth place after two laps, but his day ended shortly after that. Natalie’s 1-17 finish, resulted in an eighth-place overall.

Harold Goodman also had some Moto 2 trouble, dropping from seventh place after the initial lap to 13th at the end of the race.

Pro-Am 2-fer
The Kawasaki-mounted Joel Hetrick was a perfect 2-for-2 on the weekend in both his Pro-Am classes. Hetrick edged Casey Martin (Polaris) and Chase Sapp (Suzuki) in the Pro-Am Production class, notching a 1-1 moto scores for the win. He backed that up with another 1-1 moto combo in the Pro-Am Unlimited ranks to beat Jeremy Tulenchik (Honda) and Andy Travis (KTM).

Perfect Thus Far

These 17 amateur racers, who have won both rounds in 2010 and have the early class points lead, deserve a lot of praise for their early season efforts. They are:

• 450 A – Wesely Holifield, Petal, Miss.
• 450B – Bret Cusumano, Maple Shade, N.J.
• Open B – Mark Gehring, W. Springfield, Mass.
• 4-Stroke A – Chase Henry, Petersburg, Va.
• Vet 30+ – Josh Strominski, Cedar Lake, Ind.
• Vet 30+ C – Bryan Williams, New Port Ritchey, Fla.
• Women – Heather Byrd, Union City, Tenn.
• Women C – Kelsey Dyer, Quincy, Ill.
• Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) – Dallas Tapscott, Scottsville, Va.
• Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) – Brent Sellers, Willis, Texas
• 90 Modified (8-15) – Samuel Rowe, Menasha, Wis.
• 90 Production (8-15) – Clay Pearson, Cullman, Ala.
• 90 CVT (8-15) – Tyler Mack, New Ulm, Minn.
• 70 Modified (6-11) – Ryan Harness, Beebe, Ark.
• 50 Sr. (6-8) – Ethan Putty, Nortonville, Ky.
• 50 CVT (6-8) – D.J. Bassani, Sussex, N.J.
• 50 Limited Jr. (4-6) – Ethan Ahlm, Cumming, Ga.

AMA Pro ATV – Overall

Overall Nbr Name Moto 1 Moto 2 Points Earned

1. #9 JOSH CREAMER – HON, NORTH STONINGTON, CT 2-1 47

2. #1 DUSTIN WIMMER – SUZ, CENTER VALLEY, PA 3-4 38

3. #7 JOE BYRD – HON, UNION CITY, TN 7-2 36

4. #44 CHAD WIENEN – CAN, GALENA, IL 6-3 35

5. #84 THOMAS BROWN – YAM, SANGER, TX 5-5 32

6. #20 JOSH UPPERMAN – HON, LOUISVILLE, OH 4-6 33

7. #16 JEREMY LAWSON – WAL, LIVE OAK, FL 10-7 25

8. #13 JOHN NATALIE JR – CAN, HOUTZDALE, PA 1-17 29

9. #12 KEITH LITTLE – HON, SPRUCE PINE, AL 9-10 23

10. #123 NICK DENOBLE – HON, DE PERE, WI 11-9 22

11. #62 JEREMIE WARNIA – CAN, PARIS, FR 8-16 18

12. #99 PATRICK BROWN – YAM, PITTSTOWN, NJ 17-8 17

13. #708 HAROLD GOODMAN – HON, ROMULUS, MI 12-13 17

14. #18 CODY GRANT – SUZ, OAKLAND, KY 15-11 16

15. #79 CLAY HOLMES – HON, LEXINGTON, TN 14-12 16

16. #111 NATE MORELLO – KTM, PETERBOROUGH, NH 13-14 15

17. #10 GREG GEE – HON, SIMCOE, ON 16-15 11

18. #86 JUSTIN BUSH – KTM, BAXTER, TN 18-18 6

ATV Pro Class Points (For riders who competed at both rounds, Through 2 Rounds – unofficial)

Rank, rider, points (wins)

1. Dustin Wimmer, 88 (1)

2. Josh Creamer, 84 (1)

3. Chad Weinen, 73

4. Josh Upperman, 70

5. John Natalie Jr.,65

6. Joe Byrd, 61

7. Thomas Brown, 58

8. Jeremy Lawson, 53

9. (tie) Pat Brown, Jeremy Warnia, 39

11. Nick Denoble, 35

12. Harold Goodman, 33

13. Keith Little, 32

14. Greg Gee, 28

15. Nate Morello, 26

For complete Round 2 results from Ballance Moto-X, visit the Trackside RESULTS PAGE.

Get More AMA ATV MX CHAMPIONSHIP INFO HERE.

Home On The Iron Range

It’s officially late April, and it’s been a pretty excellent spring here in the Midwest. It hasn’t snowed in a LONG time, it’s not been very rainy (we could use some, actually) and it’s been warm enough that it’s hard to stay inside the office on nice days. That means I need to get out and do some riding!

We're currently testing the new Polaris RZR with power steering. So far it seems like a great upgrade!

Things are very exciting around here this time of year. Our ATV fleet is expanding, we’ve got boxes of product arriving for our mud quad project (Can-Am Outlander 650), various out-of-state trips are lined up and trails are opening up all over.

[Read more]

Bringing new riders into the sport

From time to time we all run into or meet new people that are eager to get into the sport, and because most of us are thrilled to share the joys of the sport we all know and love, we are more than happy to introduce and teach the “new blood” all there is to know about riding ATV and motorcycles.  Problem is we as the unofficial mentor of this new rider tend to get overzealous and over-estimate the new riders abilities (from our own excitement).  Over estimating this new riders abilities can either present a less than desirable outcome and in some cases present a dangerous situation for this “newb”.  Below are some considerations to keep in mind when introducing a new rider to the sport for the very first time. [Read more]

Powersports Industry News: Congrats 'Doogie'

Many things have changed in the powersports  industry over the last two years. Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can be painful (trust me, I know). Even so, American Suzuki appears to be rebounding and making every effort to regain its form and get back to its more aggressive days, especially in the ATV realm (Remember the launch of the Z400, King Quad 700 and LT-R450?). With that comes the news of some 2010 models. OK, so King Quad 400s aren’t as impressive on paper as say the QuadRacer, but they’re probably more popular to the general ATVing public.

John Howell

Also,  late last week,Suzuki sent out a press release announcing that Questus — Suzuki’s interactive marketing and research firm that specializes in developing and launching customer-centric web sites, among other things — hired John Howell as Account Director for American Suzuki.

[Read more]

Can-Am GNCC ATV Racing: Round 4 Pirelli Big Buck Breakdown

Chris Borich is at it again. The reigning Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Pro ATV Champion won his third race of the year with yet another come-from-behind win at Big Buck in South Carolina. It appeared as though Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser might post his second win of the 2010 season, but Borich, using his GNCC expertise, survived the dust and used a passing line to get by Kiser on the final lap and notch the victory.

We heard from Borich at Round 3 that he’s confident he can win every round and knows when it’s time to charge to the front. Much like Steele Creek, Borich trailed but was racing comfortable in a position that would let him take the lead once the opportunity arose. He said he basically has to wait until he finds a passing line or the other riders makes a mistake. At Big Buck, it was the former, and Borich prevailed yet again.

From Left: Taylor Kiser, Chris Borich and Adam McGill on the Big Buck podium. (Courtesy of Yoshimura)

“I’m feeling really good the bike, and the Suzuki and Yoshimura programs are clicking right now. My Suzuki worked awesome from start to finish, and the Yosh power just hooked up and went to the front,” said Borich.  [Source: Yoshimura R&D press release]

GNCCracing.com reported that Borich said he used a clever line at Big Buck to get the lead. “On the previous lap, I saw this line going down a hill and I gained a lot of ground on Kiser there. I knew if I could find it again then I could make a pass there,” said Borich. “On the last lap, I saw the line and I just held it wide open and got around him him.” [Source: GNCCracing.com]

You can’t fault Kiser, who led the race from lap one to part of lap four. The young racer put in yet another solid performance and without the presence of his teammate, nine-time champ Bill Ballance (who didn’t race due to his injuries). He finished two seconds behind Borich and had to again settle for the second stair on the podium. He trails Borich by 10 points in the race for the pro title.

Third place went to Adam McGill, who recovered from a gut-wrenching performance at Round 3, on his Can-Am. After the first lap, he was in fifth. However, by the end of the race, he had scored another valuable podium finish. Coincidentally, fellow Can-Am racer Chris Bithell fell from third place on lap three to fifth on the final lap. GNCCracing reported that Bithell “waved McGill around” or could have possibly finished third himself.

The final top five spot went to KTM’s Bryan Cook. It was his second-consecutive fourth-place finish and he tallied another $250 Motorcycle USA holeshot award. Cook lost some ground between lap two and lap three as he dropped two positions, falling from third place to fifth place.

Pro Notes:

• 14 Pro class racers competed and only a dozen completed all four laps. Brandon Sommers (one lap) and Jarrod McClure (three laps) each had issues.
• Three XC2 Pro Am class riders comprised the top 10 overall (and 11 of the top 20 overall spots) at Big Buck.

Biggest movers: Not too many racers made serious place changes at Big Buck. A few guys improved their finish by moving up a couple of spots, but there weren’t as many as we might normally see. On the positive side, Borich, who moved from third (after lap one) to first on the final lap to snag the win deserves mention. McGill (podium) and Harold Goodman (career-best ninth place) also deserve credit for charging hard to earn good finishes.

Biggest movers 2: Cook (see above) and Jeffrey Pickens (who dropped from fourth after lap one to sixth at the finish) each had a shot to challenge for a spot on the podium, but each racer missed out in S.C. However, they are fourth and fifth in the class points race, respectively. I have a feeling one of these guys in going to have a top three finish this year.

Top Four Pro Quads (After Four Rounds):

How’s this for brand diversity in in the pro class? Borich and his Suzuki lead the class. Kiser on his Yamaha is second. A Can-Am (McGill) sits in third and is followed by a KTM (Cook). The top Polaris rider (McClure) is currently in 10th. Harold Goodman is the top Honda rider and he’s in 12th in the points race.

Fowler vs. Wolf:

Walker Fowler has won two races in the XC2 Pro-Am class this year, including posting his own come-from-behind win at Big Buck. Brian Wolf has also posted two victories in the class. However, he’s also finished second twice and that trumps Fowler’s 20th at the opener and fifth-place ride at Round 3. Though winless in 2010, Kevin Yoho (second) and Josh Kirkland (fourth by 1 point) are also in contention. All four of these riders would certainly make the Pro class a lot more interesting if they decided to move up! I know that highly unlikely, but it’s worth mentioning.

Who’s Really Leading?

In the 4×4 Open class, Daryl Rath has not won a class overall in 2010, yet the Minnesota racer currently sits in first place. Rath posted his best finish and overall of the young season, earning second in the class. He’s now one point ahead of reigning champ Bryan Buckhannon, who finished ninth at Big Buck. He has 72 points to Buckhannon’s 71. It was the Can-Am rider’s worst finish since a DNF at Round 7 in 2009. Let’s remember, however, that even that year Buckhannon rebounded (I say that because he also missed two other rounds that year) to win the class crown. Round 4 went to Zach Zakowski, who also has 71 points in 2010.

Women

I can’t help saying something about this class after each round. Why? First, they’re fast female racers. Secondly, it has to be the tightest points race in the series. KTM’s Angel Atwell posted her second win of the year, yet sits in fourth place 2 points behind Yamaha’s Traci Cecco (one victory) and Kristen Atwell. Can-Am’s Lexie Coulter is the class points leader with 73 and one victory. Let’s not forget Jennifer Albright, who sits in fifth, just four points behind Coulter.

Cheyanne Shadron is another young lady to keep an eye on. The 15+ class competitor is undefeated this year and has been super fast on her Honda.

Another Bithell

College A (16-21) is another class with a tight points battle. Four different riders have posted wins at the first four rounds of 2010. Jamie Bithell currently sits atop the points race with 76 (one win). KTM rider Aarol Bright has 73 points, a win at Round 2 and is in second. Two Yamaha-mounted racers sit in third and fourth, respectively. In third is Patrick McGuire, who won the Big Buck event and is just six points behind Bithell. Zachary Strong won the opener in Florida and has 68 points. Keep an eye on these young racers.

Super Fast After 50

Anyone remember Grandpa Putt-Putt? Dave Simmons is the exact opposite and probably should be called Grandpa Speedy. He has won three GNCC morning overalls on his Yamaha, yet only has 40 total points. How? He didn’t compete in Florida. His first overall in the Sportsman A/B ranks didn’t count for points. After moving to the 50+ class, the Pennsylvanian has won two straight overalls and has proven to be super fast.

80-point Mark

Only 10 racers have posted 80 points (perfect scores) by winning all four rounds in 2010. Here they are. How many will make it to The Ironman Finale with a chance a perfection?

• 90 Modified (12-15) – 1 PIT 003 LEVI COEN 1 1 1 1 80
• 4×4 Lites – 1 CAN 233 KEVIN TRANTHAM 1 1 1 1 80
• U2 – 1 CAN 206 CLIFTON BEASLEY 1 1 1 1 80
• Utility Senior (45+) – 1 CAN 709 FORREST WHORTON 1 1 1 1 80
• Schoolboy (13-15) A/B – 1 HON 239 BRADEN HENTHORN 1 1 1 1 80
• Schoolboy (13-15) Novice – 1 YAM 505 KEVIN MCKEOWN 1 1 1 1 80
• Women Novice (15+) – 1 HON 244 CHEYANNE SHADRON 1 1 1 1 80
• Sport (15+) – 1 SUZ 265 ROMAN BROWN 1 1 1 1 80
• College B (16-21) – 1 YAM 424 AARON GRABER 1 1 1 1 80
• Senior A (40+) – 1 HON 328 TOM WRIGHT 1 1 1 1 80

For more info, see GNCCracing.com

Reality TV Takes On Quad Racing With 'ATV-24/7'

‘ATV-24/7′ To Air in May

Digby Family ‘Tickled To Death’ By TV Coverage

April 9, Long Haul Productions, in cooperation with MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc. and the ATVPG, announced the launch of “ATV-24/7.” The all-new ATV reality show premiers May 15, 2010. Show producers told me each half-hour episode of “ATV-24/7” follows three racers — in real time — as they prepare for and race in the 2010 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championships. This is good news for an sport that still seems to be viewed as the ugly, red-headed step child to dirt bike motocross (Supercross).

Not since the WPSA Powersports ATV Championship Tour, circa 2007, has the ATV motocross scene been so well represented on TV. At least that’s what I think the producers of “ATV-24/7″ are hoping to achieve. Sure, it’s a different approach to race coverage and it could be one that appeals to wider viewing audience. “We think ‘ATV-24/7’ will be watched not only by racing enthusiasts, but also reality TV viewers who, coincidentally, share similar demographics with powersports owners,” said John Daniels, Long Haul Productions president.

Dustin Wimmer (Courtesy of Yoshimura)

Think “Madhouse” meets “24” and you can figure out just what sort of feel the producers are trying to create. They want some “in your face moments” and real drama to convey just how competitive and authentic ATV motocross can be. It’s not just hicks riding four-wheelers, folks! Clearly, it will show just how competitive and challenging the pro ranks are. Yet, it won’t lose sight of the grassroots and amateurs by covering the youth racer, too.

“It’s sun up to sun-down coverage,” notes Executive Producer, Carey Bohn. “We are capturing what it takes to compete on — and off — the track…the gritty and the glamorous side of the sport…it’s a reality show that is truly ATV racing 24/7.”

Bohn reported that his camera men (Joe Harewicz and Brandon Boulay) are experts at capturing the essence of a scene and those “special moments.” These two photojournalists will use a combination of hand-held video cameras and steady cams to follow three ATV racers at seven different racing venues in 2010. The press release said the show could include split-screen edits with a digital clock ticking in the lower right corner and the compelling racers’ stories will be supported by a powerful, driving soundtrack.

Two-time Defending AMA ATV Pro MX Champion Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Dustin Wimmer, Motoworks Can-Am’s John Natalie Jr. and youth rider, Jordan Digby (see sidebar below), will each share the spotlight in this reality show.

The Episodes

“ATV-24/7” will being May, 15, an d run to the end of October and include seven episodes, according to producers. Six rounds will showcase the high-speed and thrilling action of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV MX Nationals. Another episode will feature a stop on the ITP/BRP/CMR Championship Mud Races. Supporting sponsors of “ATV-24/7” include BRP/Can-Am ATVs, ITP Tires and Wheels and Amsoil, Inc. The promo PDF included with the press release said the a new episode will “air a minimum of three times per month” (or a total of 21 individual airings).

John Natalie Jr. (By Jerrod Kelley)

The show can be viewed on Direct TV (Channel 344 [ICTV]), Dish Network (Channel 230 [ICTV; MAVtv]. Other locations for the “ATV-24/7” include,  America One Networks, AMGTV Family Networks, Tuff TV Networks, Untamed Sports Networks and other regional sport networks to be determined. Airtimes and other viewing information will be released in early May, 2010.

Distributed nationally, the show will be on the top 100 DMAs through a comprehensive network of regional cable sports channels (Comcast, Cox and Time Warner), Dish and Direct TV, plus Fox Sports Net Regional Sports networks. It’s estimated that the “national footprint” (total households served) for “ATV-24/7″ will be in the 65 million HH range.

2010 Race & Telecast Schedule

SIDEBAR: The Digbys

Stan Digby, Jordan’s father, said the news that his son was selected for the show made all of them feel great. “We were at the Indy trade show and Carey Bohn walked up and told me about the show and that it may cover a couple pros and an amateur racer. I jokingly said ‘I knew where a good youth rider was’ and that’s when he pulled out a flyer that had a picture of Jordan and me on it. He then said, ‘that’s what I wanted to talk to you about [using Jordan].’ Finally, [In March] we got a phone call saying they were definitely doing the TV deal and that they definitely wanted to film Jordan. We were tickled to death. The exposure we can get out of it would be great for the sport and our son,” he added.

I asked Stand Digby if the family was at all suspicious of the coverage and how it could portray the sport and his family. He explained that they discussed the positives and negatives and know what to expect. “Me and my wife sat down in February and talked about the pros and cons. We understand that some folks — I call ‘em haters — may have bad things or whatever to say,” he explained. “I learned that from my daddy, when he ran for senate in the state of Mississippi, that even though you’re a decent person and doing good things, people can say bad things. The reception we’ve gotten since Saturday [when the news broke] has been 98 percent positive. Jordan deserves it no matter what anyone else says.”

Jordan Digby (Courtesy of Stan Digby)

Will the cameras make the Digby’s approach racing and parenting any differently? That’s a big, fat no! “We said we’re going to be real about this and not put on any phony story. The good Lord put us in this situation for a reason and we’ll go with it from there and hope for the best.”

When we discussed what this TV exposure meant to Jordan, Digby answered honestly and said, “He’s a little timid. But you have to know him. If he knows you, he’ll talk and kid and punch ya and hit up on you,” he explained. “He was worried about getting to the races and not being able to play with his friends and being interviewed all the time. He started racing the MX Nationals since he was four-years old, so we’re all familiar with how things work. We told him it’s not all about the cameras and said, ‘If we don’t need you to talk to us about bike setup, go do what you do, be yourself — ride bikes, play with your friends .’ He’s pretty excited about it. He has a little bit of this stage fright, like he’s going to be asked to go on stage and sing. However, he’s training his butt off right now. It’s a lot of roughness that goes behind the scene that people don’t see. He just wrecked hard yesterday on a big tabletop — did and end-over-end.”

Papa Digby said more on the subject of youth racing and parenting and how they interact. “The one rule is we never make him practice. He wants to win races and he wants to practice. Let me be honest, after a hard day’s work, I would rather come home and sit on the couch, but he comes in and says, ‘Daddy, I wanna practice, so that’s what we do.”

“Listen, I raced, I know how bad you can get hurt doing this, but I was never nervous when I did it. But watchin’ my  son race, that scares me. I’m proud of him, we put the time in and run the best of the best in terms of safety equipment. I can’t hold him back and I can’t prevent something from happening. We just put in 100 percent and if something’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. I’ll never say he can’t do what he loves,” Digby added.

“I see too many parents who make their kid do this or that, like ‘try that triple’ for example. I don’t want to walk out on the track and see him hurt or paralyzed because of something I made him do that he wasn’t comfortable with,” he said.

Just speaking with Digby over the phone gives me the sense that the producers picked the right amateur rider and family for its “ATV-24/7″ show.

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