|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Freeman/McCue Public Relations
Phone: (714) 557-3663
KAWASAKI TEAM GREEN™
RACERS CLINCH SIX GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY RACING TITLES
 IRVINE,
Calif. -- Despite injuries that sidelined some of its top
motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) off-road racers,
Kawasaki Team Green™
finished up the 2003 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC)
racing series with the six championships, including two
motorcycle titles and four ATV titles.
In the motorcycle Pro class, Team Green racer Fred Andrew's
injury just prior to the eleventh round meant that he would
have to sit out the remainder of the series. Team Green had
additional winners in the waiting, however, with Scott Watkins
clinching the 200A class championship title at round 12 aboard
his Kawasaki KX125. Though the competition was close --
Watkins' nearest competitor was only one point behind him in
the final standings -- Watkins closed the '03 GNCC season with
five wins and three second-place finishes.
Watkins' teammate, Heather Wilson, dominated the Women's
motorcycle class, winning 10 of the 11 races she entered on
her KX250. In fact, her "lowest" finish of the season was
third place at round three in North Carolina.
In the ATV classes, Team Green's Mike Penland clinched the ATV
Utility Stock class championship title aboard his Prairie® 700
4x4, while teammate Scott Kilby rode his Prairie 700 4x4 to
ten consecutive wins to seize the ATV Utility Modified title.
In his first year as a Team Green ATV racer, Bryan Hulsey
seized the ATV Vet class championship title aboard his KFX™700
V Force™
sport ATV. In similar fashion, Adam Howell's four wins and
consistent finishes aboard his V Force earned him the ATV
4-Stroke Stock crown.
In the
ATV Utility Unlimited class, Team Green's Brock Parker
exploded onto the scene to win the first five events of the
year on his V Force only to be sidelined by an injury in round
six in Tremont, Penn. And while the eventual class champion
was not a Team Green rider, privateer Roy Lippencott rode his
V Force to victory with seven podium finishes and a 14-point
lead over his nearest competitor. Notably, six of the top
eight points leaders in the ATV Utility Unlimited class were
racing Kawasaki ATVs.
Reid
Nordin, Team Green manager, commented that the 2003 GNCC
season was an important year for showcasing the capabilities
of the V Force.
"We said
at the beginning of the 2003 season that we expected the V
Force to set new standards in sport ATV performance, and this
year it has definitely proven to be an effective racing
machine," said Nordin. "We're very proud of the
accomplishments Team Green racers have made on these new
machines and are looking forward to doing it again next year."
Nordin
added that numerous privateers -- backed by Team Green
contingency money and trackside assistance -- have made
significant contributions to the racing success of the V
Force.
"Kawasaki put together a generous racing contingency program
this year and Team Green technicians worked hard to provide
the best possible trackside assistance for privateers," said
Nordin. "Combined with the outstanding performance of the V
Force, it's no surprise that a lot of privateers were giving
our own factory-supported racers a real
run for their money."
Nordin
also confirmed that the new four-stroke KX250F motocross bike
will be campaigned in the 2004 GNCC season.
Kawasaki
Motors Corp., U.S.A., (KMC) markets and sells at wholesale
Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, JET SKI® watercraft, MULE? utility
vehicles, power products and small engines. Kawasaki's
tagline, Let the good times roll?, is recognized worldwide for
the spirit of fun, adventure and high performance that
characterizes the Kawasaki recreational vehicle line. Kawasaki
product lines are sold through a network of more than 1,500
independent retailers. The company and its affiliates employ
nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with approximately
400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.
Talk About This In Our
Forums
|
