Yamaha Celebrates 2018 Championships at GNCC Ironman Finale


Yamaha Donates $3,200 to Breast Cancer Awareness as Part of Annual GNCC Fundraising

MARIETTA, Ga., Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yamaha Racing celebrated the success of bLU cRU racers Walker Fowler and Traci Pickens as they officially claimed their respective championships and topped the podium once more this past weekend at the final 2018 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series round at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. And furthering the cause in support of the GNCC’s annual breast cancer awareness efforts, Yamaha donated $3,200 to the local non-profit care and research clinic of Montgomery County.

For the fourth year in a row, Yamaha factory-supported racer, Walker Fowler, claimed the XC1 Pro ATV championship on his WFR / GBC / Fly Yamaha YFZ450R with 311 total points, capping off the season with his seventh first-place finish at Ironman. Yamaha bLU cRU racer, Traci Pickens, also won at Ironman, adding to her unprecedented 11th GNCC championship in the WXC ATV class on her YFZ450R. Including nine first-place finishes, Pickens earned a total 270 points with a nearly flawless season, never placing less than second.

“Once again, Yamaha came into Ironman strong this year, offering autograph signings, Halloween candy, Yamaha Racing beanies, Power Assist Bicycle demo rides, and more to celebrate our series champions with the thousands of racers and fans at Crawfordsville,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha’s off-road racing coordinator. “It’s additionally great to see Yamaha raise funds for GNCC’s breast cancer awareness effort – especially when the proceeds go toward the local community.”

In support of GNCC’s annual breast cancer fundraising and awareness efforts, Yamaha committed $50 for every Yamaha win at Ironman, along with $50 for each Yamaha GNCC series championship. With 25 Yamaha racers claiming championships and 39 Yamaha race-day wins over the weekend, including CJ Greaves topping the UXC2 class in his Mutant Super Soda / Maxxis / Yamalube / GYTR / Greaves Motorsports YXZ1000R, a total of $3,200 was donated by Yamaha to support local breast cancer care and research for the Montgomery County Free Clinic (MCFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free mammogram examinations across the Crawfordsville and Montgomery county region.

For more information on Yamaha’s bLU cRU program, including all guidelines and requirements for ATV and SxS racing, visit www.YamahabLUcRU.com. Follow Yamaha Outdoors at www.Facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, www.Instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors, www.Twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors, or by searching the following hashtags:  #Yamaha #YamahaRacing #bLUcRU #ProvenOffRoad #XTRChallenge #REALizeYourAdventure #REALizeYourPodium #AssembledInUSA #YFZ450R

About Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the powersports industry. The company's ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Outboard Motors, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States. YMUS has a corporate office in Cypress, California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Further U.S.-based Yamaha companies include Skeeter Boats (Texas), G3 Boats (Missouri), Bennet Marine (Florida), Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana), and Kracor, Inc. (Wisconsin).

ATVs over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Newby
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
770-420-6078
Scott_Newby@Yamaha-Motor.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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Fowler - 1 Fowler - 2 Pickens - 1 Pickens - 2