OCT 8–FRANCO-AMERICAN CHALLENGE

France’s leading enduro riders cross the Atlantic to see what American racing is all about.

On Sunday, October 20, 2002, three French riders, at the invitation of Ligne Racing, will line up with America’s best GNCC racers in the last race of the series in Crawfordsville, IN.

David Fretigne, is a member of the French team that won the 2001 ISDE 6 Days, won the individual title in the 250 2 stroke class and finished first in the 250 4 stroke class this year. David is a member of the winning 2001 World Championship team and a 2002 French Enduro champion. David Fretigne will ride a Yamaha 250 YZ for Yamaha France.

Sebastien Guillaume, also a member of the 2001 French team that won last year’s ISDE 6 Days. Sebastien took an individual 2nd place finish in the 2001 ISDE 6 Days and is currently riding in the 250 2-stroke class at this year’s event. Sebastien finished this year as the runner-up in the French Championship. Sebastien Guillaume is a Factory Husqvarna rider and will be supported in the USA by Cagiva USA. He will ride a Husqvarna 250 CR.

Guillaume Porte, coming back from an early season injury, just finished the French Championship Final, turning in a tough 4th place finish on the first day and moved up to 3rd on the second day. Guillaume Porte rides for the Gas Gas Factory Team and will ride Gas Gas 250 EC.

These riders are finishing the European season and jumped at the chance to ride one last race in the US – the GNCC Championships. The GNCC has a reputation in Europe as a very competitive series and a few of the European champions want to test their bikes, talent and training against the highly qualified American riders.

Guillaume Porte, Gas Gas Factory Team Rider said, ‘Riding in the US, in a series new to me, will be a challenge – a challenge I’m looking forward to as I think the American riders will be tough competitors and the course will be quite difficult.’

The Europeans will be accompanied by Bruno Pechaud, editor of Moto Crampon and Enduro magazine. In addition to reporting back on the overall results and uncovering all the latest, leading edge products, Bruno will be checking out how the exhaust systems of CRD Absolute?, a French company, perform for the riders in tough competition. CRD products used by many European champions, past and present.