#ForrestWhorton

Can-Am ATV and UTV racers picked up podium finishes in a variety of series this past weekend. At the Ironman GNCC, Cliff Beasley rode his Can-Am Renegade to victory in the U2 class and finished second overall in the morning session, while Tanner Bowles rode his Can-Am Outlander to a win in the 4×4 Open class and Can-Am DS 450 racer Chris Bithell finished third in the XC1 Pro ATV class.

At the final round of the New England ATV Motocross series in New York, 2012 Pro and Pro-Am class champion Josh Creamer earned two more podium finishes. In desert racing, Cory Sappington’s Desert Toyz / Can-Am team recently took a second place finish at the Best in the Desert Bluewater Desert Challenge in Parker, Ariz.

“Can-Am racers recently earned important victories and podium finishes in several events across the country. Cory Sappington’s second-place finish in the Parker, Ariz., was impressive. Josh Creamer battled through horrible mud in New York, to cap a perfect season in the NEATV Pro class,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “I was proud of the way our racers overcame the mud at the Ironman GNCC. Cliff Beasley was amazing in his U2 class win. It was also great to see 17-year-old Tanner Bowles win the 4×4 Open class.”

Can-Am X-Team racers had a very busy weekend in three different racing series, picking up wins on two of them. Competing at the inaugural Limestone 100 GNCC, Can-Am X-Team racers earned four 4×4 class overall wins. As well, Can-Am pilots won both the Pro and Pro-Am classes at round five of the Texhoma Quad Racing Association (TQRA) series. Can-Am ATV and Commander side-by-side racers also went to work in the World Off-Road Championship Series in Southern California.

“Can-Am racers had a busy weekend with mixed results. We competed in three different racing series in three different states. Chris Bithell put in a good effort to finish fourth after he started the Pro class race at the back of the pack at the Limestone GNCC,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Our Can-Am 4×4 racers tamed the new course, as Bryan Buckhannon, Cliff Beasley and Forrest Whorton each posted convincing wins their classes. In the WORCS series, Dillon Zimmerman put in another top-five performance on his Can-Am DS 450 while Josh Frederick salvaged a top-10 finish and still sits second in the points chase. And in Texas, Hunter Miller had a great weekend in the TQRA series winning two classes and finishing third on the UTV Pro class podium.”

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 racer Adam McGill finished third in the XC1 Pro class at the Powerline Park Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race held over the weekend in St. Clairsville, Ohio. In the morning session, Can-Am X-team racers Zac Zakowski, Forrest Whorton and Kevin Trantham each won their respective classes aboard Can-Am Outlander ATVs.

“McGill rode well and was actually in contention for the win a couple of times before eventually finishing third overall. I’m happy to see him on the XC1 podium again and earn a top three overall finish,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Our Can-Am X-Team racers continue to excel on their Outlander ATVs. It was great to see Zac ride so well today and earn his first win this season in the 4×4 Open class. It was also nice to see Zac’s teammate Kevin Trantham get back to his winning ways in the 4×4 Lites. I’m also really happy for Forrest Whorton as today he clinched the 4×4 Super Senior 45+ championship aboard his Can-Am.”

McGill held the early lead in the XC1 class. Just before lap two, he dropped one spot after having difficulty in one of the track’s muddy sections. However, on lap three, McGill put in the fastest lap of the day in the Pro class and was less than a second behind the leader. He then lost time on the next lap and fell to third. That’s where he stayed until the finish line. It was the third straight XC1 podium finish for McGill.