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Yamaha’s Ballance, Cecco and Ockerman Dominate
at Ironman
Cecco Takes
Record Seventh Women’s Title with Thrilling Win
at GNCC Finale
CYPRESS, Calif. – October 27, 2008 – Team
Yamaha Factory Racers dominated the Grand
National Cross Country Championship (GNCC) ATV
field in Crawfordsville, Ind., this past weekend
with Bill Ballance celebrating his record ninth
consecutive ATV XC1 Pro championship, Donnie
Ockerman enjoying his 2008 GNCC XC2 Pro Am
championship, and Traci Cecco capturing her
unprecedented seventh Women’s ATV championship.
Both Ballance and Ockerman had their titles
wrapped up coming into the weekend, so the big
news was the heated women’s race. Cecco
entered the weekend’s event with a single series
point lead and a win would secure her title.
That’s just what she produced after pushing her
YFZ450 through tough, cold, muddy trails.
This was a special win for Cecco, not only
for her seventh title but also for the year’s
heated competition. She fought back
emotion on the podium while describing her win
and season as: “… the hardest championship
ever.” As the end of the season
approached, Traci had predicted she would need
to win the final four GNCC stops to capture the
series title again this year, and that’s exactly
what happened – an impressive accomplishment in
itself.
Ballance continues to be considered by many
as the best ATV racer of all time, now with nine
consecutive professional championships. He
had secured the ATV XC1 Pro championship two
weeks before the Ironman but still raced hard
swapping the lead several times before finishing
third on the day just behind teammate Donnie
Ockerman.
Ockerman, who had wrapped up the 2008 GNCC
XC2 Pro Am championship two stops earlier, raced
the professional class again this weekend and
showed he’s ready for prime time. He
battled with the leaders all race and finished
in an amazing second place.
Brandon Sommers, last year’s XC2 Pro Am
champion, finished sixth in the Ironman and
fifth overall in this year’s XC1 Pro class.
Yamaha representatives were on hand to
support their race team and the GNCC series,
which attracted approximately 10,000 spectators
to the Ironman Finale. Yamaha celebrated
its weekend of championships with fans at the
Yamaha hospitality area handing out free
popcorn, hot chocolate and commemorative Bill
Ballance nine-time championship T-shirts.
Yamaha employees also joined Ballance and Cecco
on the podium congratulating them with special
trophies for their unprecedented
accomplishments.
About Yamaha
Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation,
U.S.A. (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports
market, makes the toughest, most capable and
versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The
company’s ever-expanding product offerings also
include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal
watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power
equipment, race kart engines, accessories,
apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold
through a nationwide network of more than 4,000
dealers in the United States.
Headquartered
in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in
1977, YMUS also has facilities in Wisconsin and
Georgia, as well as factory operations in
Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on
Yamaha, visit
www.yamaha-motor.com
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