PALATKA, Fla., March 2
- Team Green™ racers Brock Parker and Mike Penland put
Kawasaki in the series points lead by seizing first-place finishes
in their respective classes at the opening round of the Grand
National Cross Country (GNCC) ATV racing series.
Despite heavy rain and nearly six inches of mud on the course, Parker rode his all-new Kawasaki KFX700 V Force™ to first place in the ATV Utility Unlimited class, giving the V-twin-powered Kawasaki ATV its very first racing victory. Just as notable, the 20-year-old Parker and the KFX700 V Force won first overall for the morning ATV races, defeating his nearest competitor by a margin of nearly 24 minutes. Parker said the much-anticipated KFX700 V Force ATV "works great," and that it was surrounded by admirers both before and after the race.
"It's perfect," said Parker. "I love the automatic because it never misses a gear, and the V-twin has a lot of power." Penland returned to his winning ways by clinching first place in the ATV Utility Stock class aboard his Kawasaki Lime Green Prairie® 650 4x4 ATV, taking second overall in the morning ATV classes with a lead of one minute, nine seconds over the second-place finisher. Penland described the muddy Palatka course as "unbelievable,"adding that several other racers had asked the organizers to reschedule the event.
"ATVs were breaking down everywhere," said Penland, "But the Prairie never missed a beat-it just kept going." Reid Nordin, Team Green manager, was well pleased with both Parker's and Penland's victories, and noted that the KFX700 V Force continues a long tradition of new Kawasaki ATVs winning races their first time out on the race course. "Every time Kawasaki introduces a new ATV, that very same model wins the first time out on the track," said Nordin. "We expect there will be many more victories to come this season for our racers and the KFX700 V Force." Kawasaki ATVs that have won races upon their introduction include:
Despite heavy rain and nearly six inches of mud on the course, Parker rode his all-new Kawasaki KFX700 V Force™ to first place in the ATV Utility Unlimited class, giving the V-twin-powered Kawasaki ATV its very first racing victory. Just as notable, the 20-year-old Parker and the KFX700 V Force won first overall for the morning ATV races, defeating his nearest competitor by a margin of nearly 24 minutes. Parker said the much-anticipated KFX700 V Force ATV "works great," and that it was surrounded by admirers both before and after the race.
"It's perfect," said Parker. "I love the automatic because it never misses a gear, and the V-twin has a lot of power." Penland returned to his winning ways by clinching first place in the ATV Utility Stock class aboard his Kawasaki Lime Green Prairie® 650 4x4 ATV, taking second overall in the morning ATV classes with a lead of one minute, nine seconds over the second-place finisher. Penland described the muddy Palatka course as "unbelievable,"adding that several other racers had asked the organizers to reschedule the event.
"ATVs were breaking down everywhere," said Penland, "But the Prairie never missed a beat-it just kept going." Reid Nordin, Team Green manager, was well pleased with both Parker's and Penland's victories, and noted that the KFX700 V Force continues a long tradition of new Kawasaki ATVs winning races their first time out on the race course. "Every time Kawasaki introduces a new ATV, that very same model wins the first time out on the track," said Nordin. "We expect there will be many more victories to come this season for our racers and the KFX700 V Force." Kawasaki ATVs that have won races upon their introduction include:
- The Tecate® 3, ridden to victory by Jimmy White at the Santa Cruz Off-Road National in 1983.
- The Tecate 4, taken to first place by Sean Finley at the AATVA National in Raleigh, NC, in 1987.
- The Mojave® 250, raced to first place in the hands of Ron Fields at the famous Loretta Lynn's AATVA National in 1988.
- The Prairie 400, ridden to victory by nine-time Utility class champion Mike Penland at the opening round of the GNCC in 1988-the first time Kawasaki Team Green had raced ATVs after a 14-year hiatus.
- The KFX250, a custom-built Kawasaki racing ATV that William Yokley raced to victory at the Steel Creek GNCC in 2000.
-
The all-conquering Prairie 650 4x4, taken to
first place by Mike Penland at the Hi-Point GNCC in 2001.
| • Contact Information |
Freeman/McCue Public Relations
Ron Nordyke
(714) 557-3663 ext. 209
r.nordyke@freemanmccue.com
 |
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