#KyleChaney

It may be a new season, but Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers continue to outshine the competition in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series. Can-Am machines swept all five 4×4 class and placed two riders on the overall morning podium at the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Ga.

In the first round of side-by-side vehicle racing in Georgia, a total of 11 Can-Am Maverick 1000R racers competed with four Can-Am vehicles earning a podium finish in each of the four UTV classes.

“Having Can-Am ATV racers dominate their morning 4×4 classes and to see Kevin Trantham and Robert Smith on the morning podium was great. It was a good weekend in Georgia overall, as we had numerous podiums, including two for the new Can-Am Maverick 1000R in its GNCC side-by-side racing debut,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “It was a close finish for Kyle Chaney and his Maverick 1000R X rs in its first GNCC side-by-side event, as he narrowly missed taking the overall race win. This was a good debut for the Maverick and we fully expect to improve our results at round two in late April.”

Team ITP was out in full force at the Maxxis General GNCC, picking up four class victories and eight podiums. Leading the way was defending Super Senior (45+) class champion Dave Simmons, who won his class and also took his second straight morning overall. Team ITP racers also earned class victories in A 22+, A/B 40+ and College B (16-21).

“Team ITP had another great GNCC weekend earning four class victories. Of course class wins are wonderful, but when we consistently see many of our team riders earning podiums we’re very pleased,” says Pat McGuire, public relations and race support at ITP. “Having our racers earn podiums in different age groups, the 4×4 classes, on sport quads and in side by sides really shows that ITP is dedicated to the racer and product development no matter the vehicle.”

Simmons, who has now won 23 consecutive races since 2011, won the Super Senior (45+) class by more than 11 minutes. He also earned the top spot on the morning overall podium finishing more than a minute ahead of the second-place finisher. The other four Team ITP racers to win their class were William “Duck” Lloyd (A 22+), Brian Schmid (A/B 40+) and Justin Paul (College B 16-21). Lloyd, who also finished in the top 25 in the morning overall, is 2-for-2 in 2013 racing on ITP tires. Schmid notched his first win and climbed into the class point’s lead after Georgia. Paul, Hilltop Motorsports / ITP, is three points in front of his teammate Brigham Patterson, who took fourth at Aonia Pass.

You knew it wouldn’t take long for the new Can-Am Maverick 1000 X rs to start winning races. Team JB Off Road Racing / Can-Am pilot Kyle Chaney will go down in the history books as the first to take the checkers in a Maverick after he won the 2013 UTV Rally Raid Northern Series opening event in Oliver Springs, Tenn. Chaney pulled a commanding lead over the field of more than 30 entries to win not only the series’ premier unlimited C class, but also the overall event victory at the four-hour day / night race held at Windrock Park.

“We’re thrilled to have Kyle Chaney race the Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side vehicle to victory in the growing UTV Rally Raid series. He definitely showcased the capabilities of the essentially stock Maverick 1000R X rs in the Tennessee mountains during this rugged four-hour event,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Despite drastically changing weather and track conditions throughout the grueling endurance race, Chaney used the abilities of the Can-Am Maverick to his advantage and distanced himself from the rest of the pack at the UTV Rally Raid Northern Series opener. This was a very big victory for Kyle, the Can-Am Maverick and BRP and we will build upon this success as the season progresses.”

Can-Am UTV and ATV raced to five class victories this past weekend at the John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.

Team Travalena took the checkers in the XC2 UTV class in its Can-Am Commander 1000 X, while Motoworks / Can-Am Commander pilot Kyle Chaney picked up a second-place finish in the XC1 UTV class. Meanwhile, Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers Bryan Buchannon (4×4 Open), Clifton Beasley (U2), Kevin Trantham (4×4 Lites) and Forest Whorton (4×4 Senior) all earned class wins in Round 9 of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

“All of our riders and teams fought hard and overcame the excessive heat in Ohio. Motoworks / Can-Am Commander 1000 X driver Kyle Chaney led most of the XC1 UTV race. Unfortunately, a lapped racer caused Chaney to crash on the final lap. Thankfully, he recovered to finish a very close second and reach the class podium,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Team Travalena also had great ride, winning the XC2 UTV class. I was proud of the way all our guys raced in the brutally humid conditions, especially our Can-Am 4×4 racers, who earned four class overalls.”

In side-by-side racing action, pilot Kyle Chaney put his Motoworks-backed Can-Am Commander in the top five at the start of the XC1 UTV class race. By the second lap, he grabbed the lead and held it until the final loop. While overtaking a lapped vehicle, Chaney lost control of his vehicle and lost the lead. The team recovered quickly and ended up with a hard-fought second-place finish. In the UTV XC2 class, Team Travelena worked its way up from a top five start and took the class win by over 30 seconds. The team’s impressive charge in its Commander 1000 X also allowed them to finish in ninth overall for the day.