Morgantown, W.Va. --
David Knight's return to Europe for the 2009 season puts the Can-Am
Grand National Cross Country Championship up for grabs, and next week a
huge pack of factory-supported talent will begin the fight for it. The
Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC in Lake Wales, Florida, takes place on
Tuesday, March 3, and the best off-road talent in the world knows that
race kicks off their best chance ever to conquer America's largest
off-road series.

Knight's departure creates a big hole for the Red Bull KTM team he
rode for, but the squad will remain in contention thanks to two
well-proven talents. California's Kurt Caselli, the 2007 WORCS
Champion, switches to the GNCC Series this year. The sandy GNCC opener
in Florida will lend itself to Caselli's skills. Two years ago, he
finished fourth overall at the Florida GNCC riding a 250 four-stroke,
and this time he will have his KTM 250XC two-stroke aimed for a win.
His teammate, New York's Nathan Kanney already knows what winning feels
like, as he took a dominant win at the final GNCC round last season.

The FMF Suzuki team sharpens their attack in 2009 with two riders,
Charlie Mullins and Josh Strang. "Hot Rod" Mullins' 2008 season
included ups and downs, but the man many have dubbed the future of GNCC
racing won't be satisfied unless he lands this year's title. His
Australian teammate Strang was voted "Most Improved Rider" for his
breakthrough 2008 season, where he won a race, collected seven podiums
and took third in the final standings. The 20-year-old spent this
off-season training with five-time GNCC Champion Rodney Smith.

The Am-Pro Yamaha team will run a unique strategy for the 2009
season, deploying the oldest contender in the XC1 Pro Class, 2003 GNCC
Champion Barry Hawk, as well as the youngest, 19-year-old rookie threat
"Bad" Thad DuVall. Hawk, who also notched seven GNCC ATV Championships
in the 1990s, is the most accomplished rider in GNCC history. His
experience and determination should make him a threat as he switches to
a Yamaha WR450F this season. DuVall, the 2008 GNCC XC2 Lites (250F)
Champion, enters the XC1 class with more hype than any rookie ever. The
two-time GNCC Youth Overall Champion is the son of former GNCC pro
contender Chad DuVall. He nailed a podium at the final GNCC race last
year after switching to a 450, and he also challenged Knight for a win
at the Snowshoe GNCC while riding a 250F.

Last year's GNCC runner up, Paul Whibley, switches to the GEICO/JG
Racing Kawasaki squad. The "Axeman" from New Zealand made a habit of
wearing down his competition on his way to taking three wins last
season, and he hopes to turn his incredible work ethic into a
championship. Jimmy Jarrett will also race for the team. The former
GNCC amateur standout hopes the new team will give him the focus needed
to break through and win more races.

The rejuvenated Husqvarna factory effort broke through last year
when Australian veteran Glenn Kearney put his red and white machine on
the podium. Kearney will now switch from a 450 four-stroke to a WR300
two-stroke in search of a victory.

Husaberg will also head to the front lines of GNCC competition with
last year's XC2 runner up, Dustin Gibson, at the controls of their
radical new FE450.

Even Gas Gas has gotten into the fray this season by signing 2007
GNCC XC2 Champion Justin Williamson to race the XC1 class on their
300EC two-stroke. Williamson, who has already finished on the podium in
the GNCC XC1 class, will put his work ethic to the test after two solid
seasons with KTM.

With DuVall and Gibson out of the XC2 Lites class, that championship
is up for grabs, too. KTM has two contenders in former GNCC amateur
standouts Kailub Russell and Cory Buttrick. Scotty Watkins spearheads
the effort for the GEICO/JG Racing team in XC2, and the Monster
Energy/Andrews Yamaha team features Welsh rider Jason Thomas, who won a
race last year, and Arkansas veteran Josh Weisenfels.

The bikes race as part of a full four-day GNCC weekend, with ATVs
practicing on Saturday, February 28, and racing on Sunday, March 1.
Bike riders practice on Monday, March 2, and race on Tuesday, March 3.
On race days, the pro-events begin at 1 p.m. Two-day passes, which
included full pit access, cost $15, and tickets are available at the
gate. For more information on the event, go to www.gnccracing.com

About GNCC Racing: The Can-Am Grand National Cross
Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in
1973, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer
Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically
demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead
as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to
12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks
and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and
speed. Riders compete for more than $3 million in prize money, which
draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
GNCC Racing is televised and airs every Saturday and Thursday on the
Versus Network. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

About Racer Productions: A West Virginia-based
motorcycle and ATV event production company, Racer Productions has been
a leader in the off-road racing industry for more than 30 years. It's
repertoire of events includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National Cross
Country Series, held since 1973; The Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point
National in Mount Morris, Pa., held since 1977; The ATV Dirt Days at
Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., held since 1985; The
U.S. World Motocross Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. in
1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National, held since 1988;
The ATV Stampede National Motocross at High Point Raceway, held since
1994; The AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City in 2007; as well as numerous
other amateur motocross events. In addition, Racer Productions staffs
the prestigious Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross
Championship at Loretta Lynn's Ranch, held since 1982. For more
information, please visit www.racerproductions.com.