Husky announcers riders for Endurocross & GNCC

Graffunder and Redmond get ready for 2012 Endurocross season

Nick Davis joins FAR Husqvarna for GNCC

New Husqvarna rider Kyle Redmond

Cory Graffunder is back with Husqvarna

Nick Davis to compete in GNCC XC2 on TC250

Husqvarna Motorcycles North America (HMNA) is proud to introduce Kyle Redmond and Cory Graffunder as members of the Husqvarna factory race team. Slated to contest the 2012 AMA EnduroCross championship, Redmond and Graffunder are counting down the days to the opening round of the eight-round series, which will once again feature the ESPN X Games.

Mounted aboard factory-backed Husqvarna TXC310s with additional backing from FMF Racing, Stillwell Performance and Dunlop, Graffunder and Redmond are ready to take on the 2012 AMA/GEICO EnduroCross series, which will kick off on May 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cory Graffunder returns in 2012 as a Husqvarna EnduroCross racer. The Canadian regrettably spent the majority of last year out with a broken wrist, which he suffered in a crash only days before the Summer X Games. Fortunately he recovered in time for the last two rounds of the series, and was able to notch a podium finish at the 2011 season finale. “It was probably the biggest disappointment of my life, getting injured and missing X Games,” Graffunder said of last year’s season. “I had a bad season last year but finished it on a good note. I just want to keep getting on the podium this year. I can’t explain how excited I am to be heading into the series on a factory Husky. I’m really looking forward to qualifying for X Games, which I’m confident I can do.”

Extreme enduro specialist Kyle Redmond is new to Husqvarna, and will be racing the AMA EnduroCross Series as well as select events such as the Tennessee Knock Out, Xtinction and Last Dog Standing. The California native is looking forward to stepping up his game on the factory-backed Husqvarna TXC310. “The TXC310 definitely has a great motor,” Redmond said. “We have a lot more power this year (as opposed to the 250F I was on last year) and we’re working with some really great sponsors. Alan Stillwell with Stillwell Performance is dialing in our suspension and the bikes are working really great. We’re ready to get the season started strong.”

“We’re all super excited about our factory Husqvarna EnduroCross team,” said HMNA Product and Racing Manager Derek Sorenson. “We have two of the best extreme enduro riders in the world, and they’ve both proven that they are among the very few riders who are capable of reaching the podium in an EnduroCross. “The new TXC310 is a great racing platform to begin with this year. Everything that was learned the last couple years in the World Enduro with the CH Racing team has been translated to the production bike, and fortunately for us here in the U.S., we’re really reaping the rewards. We’re looking forward to a landmark year for Husqvarna and can’t wait to see our guys and the TXC310 on the podium.”

On the GNCC scene, Fred Andrews Racing (FAR) Husqvarna team is proud to introduce the newest racer to join the team,  Nick Davis of Meshoppen, Pennsylvania. The 17-year-old will race the remaining Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series in the XC2 division, as well as the National Enduro Series, alongside Andrew DeLong.

“This is a dream come true,” said Davis. “I’m thrilled to get this chance to race with the FAR Husqvarna team. I had some top-five rides last year in the GNCC series, so I know I’m capable of being up front. I’ve always believed that hard work will get you where you want to go, and with the support of Husky and FAR, I know I can get on the podium.” Nick Davis is a self-proclaimed “farm boy” from Pennsylvania and was introduced to racing by his grandfather. Even at his young age, Davis is a “veteran” of the East Coast Enduro Association (ECEA), which he has been racing since he was nine years old. At the age of 14, Davis won the overall youth class title in ECA Hare Scrambles, as well as the AMA District 6 youth championship. More recently Nick overalled the Rausch Creek National Hare Scrambles in 2011.

“We’re excited to bring Nick on board with us,” said FAR Husqvarna team manager Fred Andrews. “He’s got so much potential and he’s already a great fit with the team. Someone with his positive attitude and enthusiasm is just a pleasure to be around, and we’re looking forward to finishing out a good 2012 season with him.” Davis already has one race with the FAR Husqvarna team under his belt. He contested last weekend’s National Enduro, which was more of a testing exercise than a competitive bid.

As an experienced hare scrambler, Davis admits that the enduro format will take getting used to, but he reports that he’s already synching well with his FAR Husky TC250. “I’m loving the Husqvarna, for sure,” Davis said. “It handles great. I’m looking forward to the GNCC this weekend and I’m hoping to stay consistent and run inside the top-five [of the XC2 class]. As far as the National Enduros, they’re new to me so I’m hoping to get some top-tens, and just have consistent times close to the leaders’.”