Woodcliff Lake, NJ ”“ June 4, 2008”¦The seventh round of the 2008 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Racing Series proved to be both an exciting and historic event for the Husqvarna brand.  Husqvarna Team Rider Glenn Kearney finished on the podium in second place overall on a Husqvarna TXC 450 in the XC1 Pro Class at the Weekend Warrior Spartan held at the Lawrence Family Ranch in Sparta, Kentucky, May 31 - June 1. Team Manager and five-time GNCC Champion Scott Summers posted his fifth straight win in a row on a Husqvarna TXC 510 in the Vet A (30+) Class.

 It was the first time in 20 years ”“ since Mark Hyde piloted a Husqvarna to a podium finish at a GNCC in 1988 ”“ that Husqvarna had earned a podium position.  Now, two decades later, Glenn Kearney finished second, just 47 seconds behind the leader.  Scott Summers also proved that he still had what it takes after 20 years.  In 1988, he won his first GNCC race when he was 21 years old.  This weekend, in the Vet A Class, Summers took his fifth win in a row, competing against former GNCC Champion Scott Plessinger and past multi-time GNCC winner Duane Conner. Rider Gordon Corckard finished twelfth overall in the XC1 Pro Class. 

The pit crew of Gerald Jones (a 30-year Husqvarna retailer), Wyatt Seals (owner of Moto Works suspension) and Wade Summers (inventor of Tire Balls) had an equally impressive performance.  A lightening fast pit stop ”“ the race within the race ”“ helped Kearney gain two positions against his rivals. 

Given that both Kearney and Crockard have red hair, Summers jokingly mentioned that the first time one of his pro riders finished on the podium, he would dye his hair red to look more like the team.  Rodney Tomblin, the official GNCC announcer became aware of Summers’ offer and made it public at race.  Fulfilling his promise, Summers will enter the eighth round of the GNCC series as a redhead!  The “Redhead” Team Husqvarna will travel to Yadkinville, North Carolina, June 21”“22 for the Elka Yadkin Valley Stomp. 

Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC -- part of BMW (US) Holding Corp. ”“ announced a return to off-road racing competition earlier this year, after reaching an agreement with Scott Summers, Inc. to provide a two-man professional race team to compete in the GNCC Racing Series.  The riders pilot 2008 Husqvarna TXC 450 off-road models in the GNCC’s XC1 class. 

Crockard, of Burlington, KY, is enjoys doing battle against the best GNCC riders in the world.  The 29-year-old former World Motocross Champion contender participated with Jean-Francois Goblet and Anders Erickson in an Öhlins suspension test in southern Spain, prior to arriving in America for the start of his debut season in the GNCC series, which attracts riders from the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 

Kearney rose to prominence as an off-road racer in Australia, riding for the factory Yamaha team and earning top spots on the WR250F in several series.  In the U.S., the 26-year-old Australian Enduro Champion, has proven to be one of the hardest working riders in the GNCC series, adhering to a grueling training program and possessing considerable heart and determination on the track.  

Scott Summers, one of the most celebrated off-road racers of our time, is partnering with Husqvarna after racing very successfully for American Honda for nearly two decades. 

During his time with Honda, he earned nearly 100 overall national off-road event wins as well as 9 AMA Championships (five in the brutally competitive GNCC series and four in the far-reaching National Hare Scrambles Series.  During his career, Summers did much more than win races and titles.  He successfully transitioned from his role as a professional athlete to that of a businessman and the owner of his own race team.  Since then, Summers has mentored other young up-and-coming racers, helping them understand what it takes to win at the highest level of the sport.  During the 2007 GNCC Series, the most competitive Off-Road Championship in the world, Summers Racing earned podium finishes in 25% of the championship rounds. 

Team Husqvarna sponsors include Axo, Spectro, Pirelli, Wiseco, Tireballs, Arai, Scott, EK Chain, Twin Air, UFO, Tag, Mechanix Wear, Holeshot Motorsports, Powersports Grafx, CTI, LeoVince, DP Brakes, and Cycra.