by: Kayla Bolton
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 | 1:10 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kayla Bolton
[email protected]
(304) 284-0084
The World's Largest Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Racing Series
Returns to Schuyler County June 1 and 2
Local Racers Line Up to Compete Against Nation’s Best Racers
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 28, 2019) – The World’s largest off-road motorcycle and ATV racing series returns to Schuyler County this weekend, June 1 and 2, for the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC, to be held at the Seneca Highlands in Odessa, New York. This event serves as round seven of the 2019 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship.
Since its addition to the GNCC schedule in 2015, the Tomahawk GNCC has been a favorite for racers and fans alike, due in part to the challenging terrain that features anything from dense woods sections to wide trails that provide the perfect opportunity for multiple lead changes. The rest of the 10-mile racecourse consists of fun flowing trails, fast-paced grass sections, rocks and other obstacles that will make this stop a must-see on the tour.
Over 1,400 racers are expected to compete at the Tomahawk GNCC and the event will draw several thousand spectators from the surrounding community, as well as all over the U.S., ultimately bringing an estimated $1.3 million in revenue to Schuyler County and the surrounding areas. Riders will compete on highly tuned dirt bikes and four-wheeled ATVs, and the race will include top talent, such as U.S. National Champions and World Champions from Europe and Australia.
The event also offers great opportunity for local racers to showcase their talents in front of their hometown crowd. New York native Hunter Hart will ultimately be a rider to keep an eye on throughout the weekend. Hart hails from nearby Newfield, N.Y., a mere 20 minutes east of the Seneca Highlands. On Saturday, Hart will compete in the XC1 Pro class where he is ranked seventh overall in the National Championship standings. This is Hart’s first season in the XC1 Pro ranks, last year he earned the XC2 Pro-Am National Championship.
Also competing Saturday in the ATV pro division will be Greg Covert of Ithaca, New York. Covert is currently ranked 17th overall in the ATV standings, but he is hoping to improve his standings at his home state race. Marty Christofferson, from Richford, hopes to have a breakthrough race this weekend and finish inside the top five.
Racing Sunday in the premier motorcycle Pro Race will be current overall points leader and six-time GNCC National Champion, Kailub Russell. The FMF/KTM Factory Racing team member has yet to take home a win at the Tomahawk GNCC, but he will look to improve his finish and add another win to his resume in addition to extending his points lead on June 10.
Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Thad Duvall earned the win at last year’s event in Odessa, New York. Duvall currently sits second in the points championship and has two wins under his belt this year. His last win came at the previous round in Ohio, after a dominating performance throughout the three-hour race. Duvall will look to make it two-in-a-row this Sunday.
Local racers expected to compete next Saturday on ATVs will be: Thomas Barrett (Senior A 40+), Martin Christofferson (XC1 Pro), Greg Covert (XC1 Pro), Steven Covert (XC2 Pro-Am), Caleb Edwards (Junior A 22+), Wayne Edwards (Masters 50+), Devon Feehan (XC1 Pro), Hunter Hart (XC1 Pro), Boedy Lamoreaux (XC2 Pro-Am), Mikey Nickels (College A 16-21), Katelyn Osburn (WXC), Ivo Paljevic (35+ C) and Kara Short (WXC). eMTB local racers: Steve Hatch (Amateur) and Earlin Rosa (Mastesr 50+).
Also expected to compete next weekend on motorcycles will be Paul Best (85cc 12-13), Jojo Bowden (XC2 250 Pro), Thomas Bowen (YXC1 Super Mini Sr.), Marina Cancro (Women), Hunter Cleveland (4-Stroke B Lites), Toby Cleveland (YXC1 Super Mini Sr.), Joe Dennison (85cc 7-11), Andrew Gross (250 A), Hanklin Hamilton (50cc Sr 6-7), Frank Messina (Senior A 40+), Kevin Monahan (Golden Masters A 60+), Dominick Morse (200 A) and Adam Odell (Vet C 30+).
Four-wheeled ATVs will compete throughout the day on Saturday, June 1. Youth ATV racing begins at 8 a.m., followed by Micro ATVs at 9:15 a.m. and Micro bike racing at 10 a.m., then the amateurs, 4x4 pro and women at 11 a.m., and the pros and top amateurs’ race at 2 p.m. The last race of the day will be round four of the Specialized Turbo eMTB series, which takes off at 4:30 p.m.
On Sunday, June 2, the motorcycles will take to the woods of New York following the same race schedule of youth racing action starting the day off at 8 a.m., women and amateur riders race at 10 a.m. and the pros and top amateurs will start at 1 p.m.
All local riders are invited and encouraged to compete in the event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $50, and riders can sign up at the track or pre-enter. To learn more about GNCC Racing, refer to the GNCC 101 webpage.
Spectator passes run $20 for adults and $10 for children (6-11), and kids five and under are free for the full weekend (Friday through Sunday), with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge.
The 2 p.m. pro ATV race and 1 p.m. pro bike race will be broadcast LIVE on the Internet via Racer TV on www.racertv.com both Saturday and Sunday. A highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
To get to the track from route 81 turn on NYS Route 86 West and follow until turning onto Route 14 (Watkins Glenn). Then turn right onto Route 224 and proceed until turning left on Route 228 and continue until reaching a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign and go approximately one mile until making a left on Carley Road. Continue on Carley Road about 3 miles and the track entrance will be up on the left.
The GNCC Series will return to New York in the fall for round 10 of the series with the inaugural running of the Parts Unlimited Black Sky GNCC in Harpursville, New York, September 14 and 15, at the Johnson Family Farm.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.
- Facebook: @gnccracing
- Instagram: @gncc_racing
- Twitter: @gnccracing
- YouTube: @racertv
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks, and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
About eMTB Racing
The Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship brings off-road racing and pedal-assist or electric bicycles together for an eight-round championship produced by Racer Productions. Much like a typical cross-country racing event, these races feature varied terrain featuring hills, rocks, roots, and more but are limited to electric, or pedal assist model mountain bikes only. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
How to Watch
Racer TV and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) are the official homes for coverage of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opening Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in 30-minute, taped-delayed telecasts on NBCSN, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 1 p.m. ATV and motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.nbcsports.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.