Husky To Make U.S. Off-Road Racing Comeback
Press Release | February 26, 2008
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC – part of BMW (US) Holding Corp. – will return to off-road racing competition March 4 after reaching an agreement with Scott Summers, Inc. to provide a two-man professional race team to compete in the opening round of 2008 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Racing Series in Melbourne, FL. The riders will pilot 2008 Husqvarna off-road models in the GNCC’s XC1 class.
“I’m very happy to expand my existing relationship with BMW to provide Husqvarna with a professional race team,” said Scott Summers, whose father, Wade, raced Husqvarna motorcycles years ago. “March 4 will mark the first time in many years that there has been a full factory-backed off-road Husqvarna motorcycle in the GNCC series. I cannot think of a better venue for relaunching the factory Husky Team than in GNCC racing. Husqvarna off-road icons like Eddie Lojak dominated the GNCC series in the early years, and I’m looking forward to writing a new chapter in off-road racing history for Husqvarna.”
Scott Summers, one of the most celebrated off-road racers of our time, is partnering with Husqvarna after racing very successfully for American Honda for nearly two decades. During his time with Honda, he earned nearly 100 overall National off-road event wins, as well as 9 AMA Championships (five in the brutally competitive GNCC series and four in the far-reaching National Hare Scrambles Series. During his career, Summers did much more than win races and titles. He successfully transitioned from his role as a professional athlete to that of a businessman and the owner of his own race team. Since then, Summers has mentored other young up-and-coming racers, helping them understand what it takes to win at the highest level of the sport. During the 2007 GNCC Series, the most competitive Off-Road Championship in the world, Summers Racing earned podium finishes in 25% of the championship rounds.
“We are very excited to utilize Scott’s expertise to reintroduce the Husqvarna brand to off-road racing,” said Dirk Biehler, President of Husqvarna NA, LLC. “This is a historic moment for the GNCC series and off-road racing,” he added. “Scott Summers has played a significant role in making the GNCC what it is today and this announcement will ignite the 2008 GNCC series and make it even more competitive.”
