BMW Motorrad USA and BMW XPLOR are pleased to welcome off-road riders Gordon Crockard and Glen Kearney to the BMW XPLOR Race Team. The riders will pilot BMW’s all-new sports enduro – the G 450 X – in the XC1 Class in the 2008 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Racing Series.
BMW’s XPLOR Race Team is led by Scott Summers, a pioneer of professional off-road racing, who recently joined BMW for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons, after racing very successfully for American Honda for nearly two decades.
“The 2008 season holds a lot of challenges for me as a professional racer,” observed Crockard. “I will be learning an entirely new style of racing, on a brand new motorcycle. In the past months, I've been able to spend time with Scott Summers riding the new BMW 450 bike and I'm confident in both the motorcycle and Scott's ability to help me make the transition a success. As a competitor, I've always enjoyed challenges and never been afraid of hard work. I know how important physical conditioning, mental strength and proper equipment is to succeed in off-road racing. I know that Scott Summers and the entire team will support me 100%, and along with my new BMW motorcycle, I know I'll have one of the best programs in the paddock in ‘08 and the rest will be up to me.”
“I'm looking forward to working with Scott on a professional level; we have been friends for a number of years now and get along great,” added Kearney. “I'm looking forward to racing the new BMW and making the transition from 2 stroke back to 4 stroke machines where I feel comfortable and aboard which I had some of my best success in Australia before leaving for the US. The BMW I feel will help make this transition an easy one because it is designed to be so user friendly.”
“We are very excited to welcome Gordon and Glen to our race team. They are tremendous competitors, and will definitely make BMW a formidable contender in the GNCC race series,” said Arturo Pineiro, head of BMW Motorrad USA.
“Scott Summers has played a significant role in making the GNCC what it is today – the most competitive cross country class in the world. Now, with the addition of these accomplished riders, BMW XPLOR Race Team is certain to energize the 2008 GNCC series, and make us even more competitive,” added Dirk Biehler, Manager of Marketing at BMW Motorrad USA.
BMW Motorrad’s sports enduro prototype made its first U.S. appearance at the GNCC (Grand National Cross Country) race in Crawfordsville, Indiana October 27-28. Former motocross world champion Simo Kirssi – the lone BMW entrant – unfortunately, crashed 30 minutes into the 3-hour race on Sunday, October 28. The talented Finn rode the sports enduro to its first-ever victory in the final round of the 2007 European Cross Country Championship, held in Schefflenz, Germany, October 6-7.
“I could not be more excited about being given the opportunity to introduce the new BMW 450 off-road motorcycle into competition in North America,” commented Scott Summers. “I also take the responsibility of BMW North America’s first entry into national championship off-road racing very seriously. I know that a great deal of the commercial sales success of the bike in the coming years will be determined by my team’s results on the track. When looking at potential racers for my team, I focused on looking for true professionals who would be just as serious about the success of the program as I was. Results are what matters the most in any form of competition and GNCC racing is the highest form of off-road motorcycle racing in the world in my view. I truly believe Glenn and Gordon will bring a lot of different skill sets and experiences to the team. I feel the combination of these two riders and the new BMW 450 will be a recipe for success during the 2008 GNCC Series.”
The AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. For more information about the Grand National Cross Country Series, visit www.gnccracing.com.
XPLOR (www.bmwXPLOR.com) is a cutting-edge community and web-based initiative created exclusively for BMW motorcycle owners. The ultimate online resource covering everything to do with BMW motorcycles – from tech tips to featured rides to owner galleries and event updates – XPLOR offers a wide range of user-generated content, provided by BMW riders and enthusiasts, and is an invaluable resource for everyone who owns a BMW motorcycle. XPLOR is free and open to new and current BMW owners, who register with their VIN numbers.
Information about Scott Summers or Summers racing can be obtained by contacting OMS Sports LLC 714-538-1803 and asking for Sharon Richards.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:
www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorcycles.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com
Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.
BMW’s XPLOR Race Team is led by Scott Summers, a pioneer of professional off-road racing, who recently joined BMW for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons, after racing very successfully for American Honda for nearly two decades.
“The 2008 season holds a lot of challenges for me as a professional racer,” observed Crockard. “I will be learning an entirely new style of racing, on a brand new motorcycle. In the past months, I've been able to spend time with Scott Summers riding the new BMW 450 bike and I'm confident in both the motorcycle and Scott's ability to help me make the transition a success. As a competitor, I've always enjoyed challenges and never been afraid of hard work. I know how important physical conditioning, mental strength and proper equipment is to succeed in off-road racing. I know that Scott Summers and the entire team will support me 100%, and along with my new BMW motorcycle, I know I'll have one of the best programs in the paddock in ‘08 and the rest will be up to me.”
“I'm looking forward to working with Scott on a professional level; we have been friends for a number of years now and get along great,” added Kearney. “I'm looking forward to racing the new BMW and making the transition from 2 stroke back to 4 stroke machines where I feel comfortable and aboard which I had some of my best success in Australia before leaving for the US. The BMW I feel will help make this transition an easy one because it is designed to be so user friendly.”
“We are very excited to welcome Gordon and Glen to our race team. They are tremendous competitors, and will definitely make BMW a formidable contender in the GNCC race series,” said Arturo Pineiro, head of BMW Motorrad USA.
“Scott Summers has played a significant role in making the GNCC what it is today – the most competitive cross country class in the world. Now, with the addition of these accomplished riders, BMW XPLOR Race Team is certain to energize the 2008 GNCC series, and make us even more competitive,” added Dirk Biehler, Manager of Marketing at BMW Motorrad USA.
BMW Motorrad’s sports enduro prototype made its first U.S. appearance at the GNCC (Grand National Cross Country) race in Crawfordsville, Indiana October 27-28. Former motocross world champion Simo Kirssi – the lone BMW entrant – unfortunately, crashed 30 minutes into the 3-hour race on Sunday, October 28. The talented Finn rode the sports enduro to its first-ever victory in the final round of the 2007 European Cross Country Championship, held in Schefflenz, Germany, October 6-7.
“I could not be more excited about being given the opportunity to introduce the new BMW 450 off-road motorcycle into competition in North America,” commented Scott Summers. “I also take the responsibility of BMW North America’s first entry into national championship off-road racing very seriously. I know that a great deal of the commercial sales success of the bike in the coming years will be determined by my team’s results on the track. When looking at potential racers for my team, I focused on looking for true professionals who would be just as serious about the success of the program as I was. Results are what matters the most in any form of competition and GNCC racing is the highest form of off-road motorcycle racing in the world in my view. I truly believe Glenn and Gordon will bring a lot of different skill sets and experiences to the team. I feel the combination of these two riders and the new BMW 450 will be a recipe for success during the 2008 GNCC Series.”
The AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. For more information about the Grand National Cross Country Series, visit www.gnccracing.com.
XPLOR (www.bmwXPLOR.com) is a cutting-edge community and web-based initiative created exclusively for BMW motorcycle owners. The ultimate online resource covering everything to do with BMW motorcycles – from tech tips to featured rides to owner galleries and event updates – XPLOR offers a wide range of user-generated content, provided by BMW riders and enthusiasts, and is an invaluable resource for everyone who owns a BMW motorcycle. XPLOR is free and open to new and current BMW owners, who register with their VIN numbers.
Information about Scott Summers or Summers racing can be obtained by contacting OMS Sports LLC 714-538-1803 and asking for Sharon Richards.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:
www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorcycles.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com
Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.
