Welcome to Quick Fill. Welcome back, actually.

It was a long, hard week down at Loretta Lynn Ranch last week, and most of our crew is still down there. The finale to the ITP Moose ATVA Motocross Championship, Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn Ranch, is coming this weekend. If you’re in the Tennessee area, check it out, or maybe even go out and race it (besides big names like Joe Byrd, Doug Gust, Dustin Wimmer and John Natalie, the ATVA MX races feature all of the amateur classes, too). Surely Bill Ballance and some of the other GNCCers from the area will be there to watch, although I don’t know if we’ll ever get Bill on a motocross track for a race, as cool as that would be.

Loretta Lynn Ranch one week ago. Matt Ware photo

If you’re not down there, enjoy your time off. I have my first off-weekend since May coming up this weekend and my fiancé has about 3000 things for me to do.

What news do we have this week? Not too much. Paul Whibley dropped a note saying he’s having a tough time finding any races to do this time of year, but he did find a race in Indiana. If there’s a race somewhere, anywhere, the “axeman” is going to find it. Click here to check in on Paul through his website:

http://www.paulwhibley.co.nz/news.php

Where will these Suzuki boys end up in 2009? Hooper photo

Silly season is beginning to heat up, and Whibley is right in the thick of it. Suzuki has Charlie Mullins on board in a multi-year deal, and depending on budgets, they might not have enough left re-sign their other riders, Whibley, Josh Strang and Jimmy Jarrett. Strang and Whibley’s stock has gone way up since they signed their deals last year, so it will cost big bucks to keep them around. Will another team come in and swoop up one or both of them? I wouldn’t be surprised.

I’ve once again heard that David Knight won’t be back in the GNCCs next year, but I’ve also heard that his rumored replacement on the Red Bull KTM GNCC team, Kurt Caselli, may not be his replacement after all. Kurt may be staying out west, at this stage, nothing is official.

And then there are those BMW rumors, which keep coming in hot and heavy about big names and big dollars.

But the craziest rumor of all is that 2001 AMA 125cc National Motocross Champion Mike Brown is looking for a ride for the GNCCs, and a few teams are very interested.

A lot of the 2009 machines are beginning to surface, although all the big news doesn’t usually hit until after the manufacturers host their dealer shows at the end of this month or the beginning of September. Can-Am has released info on their 2009 DS450s, and they’ll have MX and cross-country specific versions of the machines available this year. The XC model looks ready to race”¦oh wait, isn’t that what KTM says? Check it out here:

Also, Suzuki has made some changes to the venerable Z-400 Quad Sport, including adding EFI. The Z-400 still has a class, the sport class in the afternoon, and this new model should be even better for it. Click here.

No word on a much-rumored “woods oriented” LT-R450 for ’09. We’ll just have to wait. Also, Bill Ballance himself said Yamaha had some major changes planned for the ’09 Yamaha YFZ450. But then the machine popped up on Yamaha’s website with nothing but the classic Bold New Graphics. I think Yamaha has something else up their sleeve, and I think we’ll see it soon.

Meanwhile, I got this KTM press release. KTM is sending their GNCC boys, Taylor Kiser, Adam McGill and Tim Farr to race in France in two weeks!

KTM ATV GNCC Team to Race Pont du Vaux
Europe’s biggest and toughest ATV event

KTM, the company that is always “Ready to Race,” is planning to enter the 2008 edition of the legendary Pont du Vaux, Europe’s biggest and toughest ATV event that covers 12-hours of grueling competition.

Multi-time ATV Pro Champion, Tim Farr, has already demonstrated the success of the KTM Sport ATV XC line after stunning organizers and fans of the Erzberg Rodeo last June when he finished 2^nd in the Erzberg Iron Road Prologue. Now, Farr intends to better his results at the Pont du Vaux event alongside his teammates GNCC team riders Adam McGill and Taylor Kiser.

The race, to be held August 22-24 in France, represents the most challenging competition of its kind and is a must for enthusiasts of ATV racing. The race is twelve hours total over two days of riding. The Pont du Vaux offers unmatched thrills and competition for no less than 120 four-wheeled sport machines.

With the introduction of the KTM Sport ATV XC models earlier this year, KTM has revolutionized the ATV industry by offering two “Ready to Race” Sport ATV’s. KTM Sport ATV’s come equipped with top of the line components and more power at a lighter weight than other models in its segment. KTM most recently announced its new Sport ATV SX model line including the 450 SX and 505 SX designed for the motocross fanatic.

“Theoretically we must be on top of the podium at the end of the race. We have the best riders and we have the perfect vehicle for such a challenging 12-hour race,” stated KTM’s International ATV Product Manager Georg Winkler.

Good luck boys!

While we’re on press releases, our friends from HiPer have released a new carbon fiber 12-inch wheel which could be the hot ticket for 4x4 class GNCC Racing.

HIPER’S ALL NEW 12” WHEEL AVAILABLE FOR ORDER AUGUST 1
Shipments Scheduled Within 30 Days

LAWRENCE, Kan, July 25, 2008 ”“The much anticipated HiPer Sidewinder 12 inch diameter all carbon fiber wheel will be available for order beginning on Friday, August 1, 2008. The Sidewinder is the result of more then two years of research and development, specifically to produce the finest utility wheel available.

HiPer’s Sidewinder makes use of a new generation carbon fiber material that produces the lightest 12 inch wheel on the market at a mere 8.5lbs for an eight inch wide wheel. The wheel uses a two piece modular design with a single beadlock ring. HiPer Technology is known for having the lightest and strongest wheels on the market and is proud to provide UTV owners with the option of running a truly superior wheel.

In addition to the performance advantages, the Sidewinder will also not corrode or degrade over time. The wheel is completely serviceable without any special tools for easy maintenance and reliability. The Sidewinder will be covered by HiPer’s unconditional one year warranty.

The Sidewinder will be available for all popular utility machines, featuring multiple sizes and off-sets from four to ten inch widths. All HiPer wheels are tested to Department of Transportation standards and extensively field tested by top riders and racers. Suggested retail pricing will be $299.99.

Orders will be accepted for the Sidewinder beginning on Friday, August 1, 2008 with shipments scheduled to begin within 30 days. All orders will be filled in the order in which they are received. Please visit http://www.hiperracingwheels.com/  or contact HiPer at 877-GO-HIPER to place your pre-order.

HiPer Technology, Inc is a Kansas company specializing in carbon fiber products utilizing a proprietary injection molding process. HiPer is the industry leader in ATV and Micro Sprint car wheels. HiPer Technology has grown to be a technology leader in materials, design, and product function since its founding in 2000.

-###-

Look who is going car racing! Seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins went driving and our shooter David Scearce was there to get the shots:

Hey Jason,

I got invited to the local track here close to home Hickory Motor Speedway (Birth Place of the Nascar Stars) by Randy Hawkins and his Titan Industrial/LCT racing team that races in the Hooters Pro Cup Series. Hickory is a 3/8th mile track with plenty of room for beating and banging . It is basically a survivial race when you put a field of the Hooters cars on it. Randy ran a great race because there was plenty of action all around the track. He stayed out of trouble the whole race of 250 laps to bring home a respectable 14th place. It's only his second start in the series this year due to his demanding schedule. Now if I could just get him on the go kart track one time:) 
DAVE

Did you check out Tuesday Toolbox with Aaron Plessinger? AP is one of the top GNCC Youth racers, and he’s also an outstanding motocrosser. And his did is two-time GNCC Champion Scott Plessinger, so he has the right coaching! Aaron could be “the man” somewhere down the road. Read his interview now so you can tell everyone you knew about him way back when.

Here’s one more note to share:

Jason,

How are you sir? I would like to pass along this noteto publish in Quick Fill. GNCC Racer Wayne O'Kelley has raced in theATV Novice C Classthis year. He also raced last year in the ATV beginner class. In this GNCC summer break he has made some important life decisions. On August 6^th, he reported for active duty with the United States Army in Ft. Jackson S.C. He is very excited about the choice that he has made. His job will be a Chaplain's Assistant. Wayne will travel to hospitals, military bases, and even into the battlefield to counsel our service members. Congratulation Wayne!

Oh yes, and I almost forgot: he will still run some GNCC races in 2009 when possible! It will be very easy to pick him out on the line. He will have the US Army's new digital camouflage kit on his quad. Very cool looking and like no other. Thanks to all the racers who supported Wayne and please keep him in your prayers and he serves our country!

GNCC racer Wayne O'Kelley gets sworn in.

Don’t forget GNCC Racing rolls on the Versus Network again this weekend, with our first round of bike racing, the Triton GNCC in Florida, this Sunday, August 10^th at 2:30 p.m. Versus made an error this week and showed the re-air of the GNCC ATV race from Florida on Monday instead of Thursday, but rest assured this time GNCC bike racing will be on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and again on Thursday at 4 p.m. All times are eastern.

That’s it for Quick Fill. Hey, we’re just over a month away from racing again!