#JohnnyGallagher

Yamaha Racing’s GNCC University will return this year at the Snowshoe Campus. Yamaha’s top off-road ATV and motorcycle racers will be on hand as instructors of this two-day riding school, beginning on Wednesday, June 26 just three days before the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC, Round 9 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series.

Led by Dean of motorcycles, seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins, this year’s Yamaha Racing bike instructors include five-time AMA National Hare Scramble Champion Jason Raines, reigning XC1 Champion Paul Whibley, XC1 rider Jordan Ashburn, XC2 riders Brad Bakken and Jedediah Haines, and Women’s class rider Becca Sheets.

Professor of ATVs, XC1 Pro Class rider Johnny Gallagher, will lead this year’s Yamaha Racing ATV instructors, including XC1 riders Walker Fowler, Jeff Pickens, Gabe Phillips and nine-time GNCC Women’s Class Champion Traci Cecco.

GBC Motorsport riders put together another strong day of ATV racing at what might be the most difficult stop on the GNCC Series – Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia.

Bryan Buckhannon started things off by leading much of the morning race in both the 4×4 Open class and the overall position. A last lap issue would drop Bryan from the leader board; fortunately his fifth place finish combined with his six wins keep him firmly atop the points standings.

Forrest Whorton continued his domination of the 4×4 Senior class this season with his seventh win, as well as scoring a season high ninth overall. BNR’s Ryan Smith earned his second consecutive 4×4 Novice class win, and Scott Day put in his best race of 2012 with a second place in the U2 class good for fifth overall. Kylie Ahart is quickly proving to be a threat in the Pro Women’s class after moving up this season, and her third place finish this weekend marked her second podium appearance.

The Ironman GNCC has long been known as the largest and most prestigious event on the series schedule. However, for the second year in a row this stop on the tour has been about something bigger than racing itself.

The weekend started off with GBC team riders Johnny Gallagher and Jeff Pickens making a special visit to a local Indiana elementary school where the riders spoke to hundreds of fifth- and sixth-grade students about Breast Cancer Awareness. The two racers even helped the students fashion pink ribbon pins that would allow them free entry to the Ironman festivities for the weekend.

“I really enjoyed spending time with the kids, and it was great to see many of them actually make it out to the race wearing their pins and cheering us on,” says Jeff Pickens after his grueling two-hour race on Saturday afternoon.

“I couldn’t believe how many of the students knew all about our racing, and it felt good to see them so enthused about learning more about such an important cause,” commented Johnny Gallagher upon leaving New Market Elementary on Friday.