Beta grabs 2 podiums in GNCC opener!

Grand National Cross Country Series Round 1 Overview:

Location: Palatka, FL

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Mike Witkowski grabbed the holeshot and finished round 1 on the XC2 Class podium in 3rd place.

Cody Barnes finished round 1 on the XC3 Class podium in 2nd place.

The next race for both riders will be at the 2nd round of the Grand National Cross Country Series on March 16th-17th in Washington, GA.

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Wild Boar GNCC is always tough on the body and bikes as it is always hot and sandy with deep sand whoops. My Beta 250 RR got off to an awesome start grabbing the XC2 holeshot and getting me into the lead. I was feeling so good all day. I should've pushed harder toward the beginning of the day because the last couple laps I still had a lot left in the tank. I was happy with the winter prep I put in and my fitness. The bike soaked up the big sand whoops really well which I was happy about. All in all, it was a great weekend for Beta! Thank you Beta Racing and everyone for all the hard work. Glad it's paying off!"

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR Race Edition

"I got off to a good start and was sitting in 3rd and then moved into the 1st place spot at the beginning of the second lap. Then I was able to pull a small gap. As I went to pit for gas on the beginning of the third lap I noticed my radiator began leaking. Everyone gave a helping hand to replace the busted radiator. I lost a lot of time from the pit stop and dropped down several spots. By the end of the third lap I was able to make it back to 4th. I knew I was in podium contention, so I put my head down and pushed as hard as I could and was able to make it to the second place spot on the podium. My Beta 125 RR was running awesome all day! I'm happy with how I rode, I just had some things that were out of my control. Looking forward to next weekend."

Photos by Ken Hill

Beta finishes 1st and 2nd in Full Gas Sprint Enduro, plus AMA East Hare Scrambles and Rev Limiter news!

Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series Round 2 Overview:

Location: Blackshear, GA

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Cody Barnes finished on the podium this weekend in 2nd place in the Pro 2 class at the second round of the FGSE series.

Mike Witkowski also ended up on the podium with a 3rd place finish in the Pro 2 class.

The next race for both riders will be at the 1st round of the Grand National Cross Country Series on March 9th-10th in Palatka, FL.

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"My weekend started off good with a good first test, but I made some mistakes in the first enduro test and dropped a few positions. After some track changes, due to the mud holes, I started making ground on the competition and worked my way into 3rd going into the last test of the day. With about three turns until the finish on the last test I had a good get-off causing me to lose a lot of time and dropping me back to 6th for the day.

On day two of racing I knew I had my work cut out for me. I was able to do very well all day in the cross test, but I was losing some time in the enduro test. I was still able to make my way to podium contention going into the last enduro test. I found where I was losing time and went into the last test knowing I had to run a perfect test. When the test was done, I was able to claim the second place spot in the Pro 2 class. My bike was working awesome all weekend and I had a blast at this event!"

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The first day of the Sprint Enduro in Georgia couldn't have went better. I stayed off the ground while riding smooth and consistent. With only a couple mistakes I was happy with my bike and riding performance. I ended up winning day 1, which I hadn't done yet. I was happy going into day two with a solid lead.

Day two started off on the wrong foot with a shoulder problem in the first test leading me to lose over 10 seconds. After the first test I was down and out of the lead. But, I charged all day despite the adversity I endured. I ended up winning test 5 for the day, but I came short of 2nd place for the weekend by less than a second due to my first test result on day two. I was pretty bummed as I wanted to win and I knew it was all mine after day one. Ready for our first GNCC next weekend in the Florida Sand. Definitely motivated after a not so good end result at this sprint enduro!"

AMA East Hare Scramble Series Round 2 Overview:

Location: Graysburg, NC

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Beta Factory Team rider; Rachel Gutish finished on top of the podium in 1st place in the Women's class at round 2 of the East Hare Scramble Series. Rachel Gutish's next race will be at the 1st round of the Grand National Cross Country Series on March 9th-10th in Palatka, FL.

Beta Support rider; Kyle McDonal also topped the podium with a 1st place finish in the Pro Class.

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"I'm very happy with how the race went! I was smart and consistent through the deep ruts and mud-holes, which was enough to give me the win! This also moves me up into first place in the series points, which I'm pretty excited about."

KYLE MCDONAL

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"Yesterday was round 2 of the AMA East Championship in Garysburg, NC and with all the rain we have been getting it made for a good mud race. Six riders showed up on the pro line and with starting so close to the corner I was last off the line. I was able to make good passes and pick a lot of good lines the first lap to put myself in 1st where I rode for the remainder of the day with a 30 second to 1 minute lead. We did 9 laps on a shortened course due to standing water with a mix of single track, clay hill climbs and open jeep roads. I was able to stay consistent throughout the race and stay out of any deep mud holes where other riders were getting stuck and that really gave me an advantage over the 2 hours. On lap 8 I smashed my shift lever, but luckily I was able to use my hand in the open section to shift and leave it in 3rd for the woods sections."

Rev Limiter Overview:

Location: Decatur, TX

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Max Gerston placed 6th at the 2019 Rev Limiter last weekend. Max Gerston's next race will be at the Wild West Extreme Enduro event on May 4th, 2019 in Sparks, Nevada.

MAX GERSTON

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"The Rev Limiter Extreme Enduro was tough! I actually had a lot of fun riding the terrain and my Beta 300 RR was finding incredible traction. Unfortunately the race was poorly organized so the scoring was confusing and rules were being changed mid race which takes away from the legitimacy of the results. I am looking forward to the next round, and I continue to fall in love with the 2019 300 RR"

Photo by Shan Moore

TREMAINE AND TANKE FINISH THE 2018 ENDUROCROSS SERIES WITH TWO 3RD PLACE PODIUM FINISHES, CULLINS WINS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP!

EnduroCross Round 6 Overview:

Location: Boise, Idaho

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Ty Tremaine finished in 3rd place at round 6 in Boise, Idaho while ending the season in 3rd place.

Morgan Tanke placed 3rd at the event and finished the 2018 series in 3rd place.

Max Gerston had an 8th place finish at round 6 of EnduroCross, and finished in 12th place in the season points standings for the 2018 series.

Mason Ottersberg placed 11th at the event, while finishing in 9th place for the series points standings.

Beta USA Support Team

Ty Cullins had a 5th place finish at round 6 of EnduroCross and finished the season in 6th place in the Pro class. Cullins also won the Junior Pro Class Championship this season, which is a class for pro riders under the age of twenty one.

For more information about the EnduroCross series go to: www.endurocross.com

TY TREMAINE

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"Coming into Boise, I was just thankful to be racing and healthy after the bad luck in Everett. Kyle Redmond had a one point advantage going into the race but I didn't even think about it. I knew what my goals were and I just raced my own race. I felt strong start to finish and managed to come away with a 3rd and couldn't be happier to put Beta on the podium. I'm happy with the year and excited for what the future will hold."

MAX GERSTON

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"Coming into the Endurocross finale in Boise, I really wanted to have a strong showing. Still struggling with the finger injury I had a hard time in hot laps and stalled my bike. I qualified straight to the main and ended up 8th in the main. Issues on the first lap set me so far back it was hard to make up ground. I am very excited to refocus and get ready for 2019."

MASON OTTERSBERG

Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition

"I qualified 4th out of my heat race and finished 11th in the main event. My speed was there and this was for sure the best I have ridden, just was too far back off of the start of the main after we all came together in the firewood. I have had many ups and downs through the season, but I finished better in the championship this year with 9th over last years 13th. There is so much more of me to give in this sport and I will not stop until I've made it to the top. Doubt me or believe in me, it's going to happen."

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"I felt a lot better going into the last round in Boise, my ankle still wasn't 100% but I was ready to give it my all. The track was really fun to ride and the firewood pit was very difficult to navigate. I started out in 3rd place and was hanging up front with the top 2 riders for most of the race. I was able to put in a smooth ride and get my Beta on the podium in 3rd. Breaking my ankle mid season was a big bump in the road, but I'm happy that I made progress each race and ended the year strong!"

TY CULLINS

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"I had around 7th gate pick in the main event, but my starts have been good all year and I was able to pull the holeshot. However, after several mistakes on the first lap I was back in 9th place. From there I just tried to ride fast and consistent and was able to make my way to 5th, getting my third top 5 of the season and winning the Junior Championship. Coming into this year I was expecting to be top 10 and finishing the year one point short of 5th and winning the Junior Championship means I surpassed all my goals. I'm excited to get back to training and come back for podiums in 2019."

National Enduro Round 10 Overview:

Location: Stanton, Alabama

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Mike Witkowski placed 9th in the Pro 1 class of the last NEPG event of the year. Witkowski ended the 2018 season in 11th place.

For more information about the National Enduro series go to: www.nationalenduro.com

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Gobbler Getter Enduro was one of the races I have never done before, and I have never raced in this state of Alabama. The soil is sandy and the trees are tight! The track conditions were near perfect. The tight trees and ever changing elevation caught me off guard. I was expecting this last National Enduro race to cap off a good end to the year since I did so well at the last GNCC event, but the race had other plans. It seemed like I couldn't get a good flow going, but talking with other riders, that seemed to be everyone's issue. On a good note, I finished the day stronger than where I started. My Beta 300 was perfect and very fun to race. I'm looking forward to working hard this winter and starting round 1 with a fresh start here in a couple months! Thanks Beta for all the support!"

Photo by Diahann Tanke

GNCC Round 11 Overview!

Location: Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania

Beta Factory Race Team Results

-Newly signed Cody Barnes raced his Beta 125 RR for the first time this season in a GNCC event. Barnes placed 4th at round 11 and is currently in 4th place in the XC3 class points standings.

-Mike Witkowski finished in 5th place aboard his 250 RR Race Edition, and is currently in 9th place in the XC2 class points standings.

The next event for the Beta USA Factory Team will be at the 12th round of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Clairsville, Ohio on October 13th. For more information on the GNCC series go to: https://gnccracing.com/

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR

"I started off with a second place start and was able to get in the lead within the first 3 corners. I lead the whole first lap and was feeling awesome on my Beta 125 RR. I was battling for first place during the second lap, but sadly on the 3rd lap after I made the pass for the lead I made a mistake. I ended up taking a bad crash on a straightaway and ended up hurting my right shoulder. By the time I got going again I was battling for third. I tried to keep pace to salvage a podium position but with my shoulder hurting I was making a lot of mistakes. I was forced to back down my pace to prevent any other injuries due to crashes. I ended up finishing 4th for the day."

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Mason Dixon GNCC track got a lot of rain during the week which made for a tough race. My Beta 250 RR handled the track with comfort all day. I ran 4th in the XC2 class most of the race until about two laps to go. I gave it 100% and didn't leave anything off the track. Some minor mistakes pushed me back to 5th in class for the day and 12th overall. One of my best rides this year. I really wanna get on the podium, I know we will get there before the year ends."

Photo by Ken Hill

Mason Ottersberg and Max Gerston at the 3rd round of the Western Hare Scrambles series; Jordan Ashburn, Mike Witkowski, and Rachel Gutish at the 3rd round of the GNCC series!

West Hare Scramble Round 3 Overview
Location: Ocotillo, California
Course Conditions: Sunny skies with loamy soil from rain the day before
Beta Factory Race Team Results: 
-Mason Ottersberg placed 4th at round 3 of the WHS series aboard his 430RR Race Edition. 
-Max Gerston caught a cold the night before the West Hare Scramble event and was unable to race at 100%, but still managed to gain some points for the series totals. 

The next race event for Max Gerston will be at the 4th round of the AMA West Hare Scramble. For more information about the WHS go to: westharescramble.com

MASON OTTERSBERG
Series: West Hare Scramble
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"On Wednesday morning I decided last minute to go race in Gorman after seeing pictures on social media about the upcoming rain. I was honestly just looking to show up to get some race seat time, and see where I stacked up. After struggling to find a flow from a dead last start, I was able to basically come from 16th all the way up to 4th place by the end of the 8 laps."

MAX GERSTON
Series: West Hare Scramble
Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition
"Gorman didn't exactly go as planned. I was hit with some sort of flu the day before with gnarly stomach pains. The next day it was all I could do to get geared up for the race. I was able to race the first two laps, but then I was hit with stomach pains super hard. I raced another few laps so I could at least card a finish. As of now I plan on resting up in preparation for the race in Idaho next weekend."

GNCC Round 3 Overview
Location: Washington, Georgia
Course Conditions: Scattered showers with occasional mud pits and loamy soil.
Beta Factory Race Team Results:
-Jordan Ashburn placed 6th in the XC1 class at round 3 of the GNCC and is currently in 12th place overall. 
-Mike Witkowski finished in 17th in the XC2 class after a freak mechanical issue forced him to pit for a repair. 
-Rachel Gutish placed 3rd in the WXC class at round 3 of the GNCC and is currently sitting in 3rd place for the season standings.

The next race for Ashburn, Witkowski, and Gutish will be Round 4 of the GNCC on April 7th in Morganton, North Carolina. For more information on the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

JORDAN ASHBURN
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"The General GNCC started off pretty well for me. I was able to make a pass for 4th going into the 3rd lap. The track was very rough and had tons of lines. There were lots of lapped riders as well. I found myself in 5th place on the 4th lap just 21 seconds from the leader. We were all really close all day but the leaders were able to sneak away the last two laps. I finished 6th place for the day. I'm definitely gonna build on this and reach that podium!"

MIKE WITKOWSKI
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"I got off to a near holeshot on my Beta 250 RR. I went into the woods 2nd. Then a little bit later my bike started to bog. I was trying to figure out the problem but couldn't diagnose it. Once I got back to the pits and we got the bike fixed I was about an hour down from the lead group and dead last overall. I charged on and didn't give up. I came back to 17th in my class."

RACHEL GUTISH
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 350 RR Race Edition
"I am happy to have repeated last round's performance, earning another WXC podium finish for Beta. I have always enjoyed The General, and I'm glad that the series returned to the property and reestablished the round. Despite a bad start and some issues throughout the day, I was able to quickly recover to a 4th place finish by the end of the first lap. From there I continued to charge and on the final lap moved into 3rd place. The course was a blast and I am looking forward to the next round in a few weeks!"

Photos by Kato and Ken Hill

Fullerton and Tanke take 1st in their classes at the 2nd round of the National Hare and Hound series!

National Hare & Hound Round 2 Overview
Location: Ocotillo, California
Course Conditions: Dry and dusty desert terrain.
Beta Factory Race Team Results: 
-Chance Fullerton placed 1st in the Pro 250 class at round 2, and after his second place finish in round 1 he is currently leading the Pro 250 class with by nine points. 
-Morgan Tanke is back racing after an injury earlier this year. Tanke placed 1st in the Women's Open A class and is currently tied for 1st place in the series standings. 
-Joe Wasson placed 9th in the Pro class at the event aboard his Beta 430 RR while riding with stiches from a freak accident the week before. Wasson is currently seated in 6th place in the Pro class and overall in the series standings.

The next race event for all three riders will be at the 3rd round of the National Hare and Hound series. For more information about the NHHA go to: nationalhareandhound.com

CHANCE FULLERTON
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"My race went well this past weekend running top 5 overall most of the race. I ended up getting lost for awhile and finishing 8th overall and first Pro 250 Class. I can't thank everyone enough who helped me get comfortable on the bike, and I plan on being on the top spot a lot more."

MORGAN TANKE
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"I had a great time at the 2nd round of the National Hare and Hound series. The dust was really bad for the first 30 miles and it was super fast which I don't have much experience in. After a speedy pit stop I went on to the second loop and that's where it got more technical. I was able to keep a good pace for the rest of the race and took home the win! It feels great to be back racing after an injury!"

JOE WASSON
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"Did some bomb run practice Saturday morning, had a good line, but unfortunately didn't get the jump. I was about 20th off the start and made a lot of passes in the first 20 miles. Then there were some very high speed whoops for a long ways and I wasn't able to run the top pace. I came in the pits in 11th and was able to make one more pass. I was starting to catch the riders in front of me but ran out of time and I ended up in 10th overall."

Jordan Ashburn finishes 9th at the 1st round of the GNCC series.

GNCC Round 1 Overview
Location: Union, South Carolina
Course Conditions: Scattered Showers with occasional mud pits and loamy soil.
Beta Factory Race Team Results:
-Jordan Ashburn placed 9th in the XC1 class at round 1 of the GNCC and is currently sitting in 4th place overall in the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Endruo series. 
-Mike Witkowski received a DNF after a crash early in the race resulting in an injured shoulder. Witkowski's next race will be at round 2 of the NEPG series.

The next race event for Jordan Ashburn will be Round 2 of the GNCC on March 10th in Palatka, Florida. For more information about the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

Mike Witkowski's next race event will be Round 2 of the NEPG on March 4th in Forest Hill, Louisiana. For more information about the NEPG series go to: nationalenduro.com

JORDAN ASHBURN
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"The start of the season was a little "rough" with nearly 1000 bikes racing the track was brutal. I started out the first lap in 7th not getting a good jump off the line. I struggled battling the changing track conditions lap after lap. I was able to hang in there until lap 3 when I fell going around a mud hole. Then I lost sight of the group ahead. I ended up 9th in XC1, and I'm ready for them at the next round."

MIKE WITKOWSKI
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"The GNCC started out well with me going into the woods in about 4th place. I quickly hopped into the lead about a half a mile in the race. I ran in the lead for 2-3 miles before picking a bad line and getting passed by a couple riders. Then halfway through the 2nd lap I made a rider error and went down really hard. I got the bike up and running with thanks to a fellow Beta racer that stopped to help me. But it was to great of discomfort to proceed on with the race. I am dealing with great soreness and discomfort but nothing is broken."

Photos by Kato

Gerston takes 3rd place in the 2018 King of Motos, Wasson places 5th Overall at the First Round of the National Hare & Hound Series!

The 2018 King of Motos event took place last weekend in Johnson Valley, California. Top Enduro riders showed up to compete for the title in the two day event that went late into the night. Riding conditions were dry and navigating the course was a problem for most riders. Beta USA factory rider Max Gerston placed 3rd overall aboard his 300 RR Race Edition. This was Max's second year with a podium finish in the KOM event. For more information about the King Of Motos event go to: www.ultra4racing.com

Gerston's next event will be the 2nd round of the West Hare Scramble series on February 17th. For more information on the WHS series go to: westharescramble.com

Max Gerston: "King of the Motos was a complete cluster. Navigation errors, course workers directing in the wrong direction, confusing course crossings all made for an interesting race. Through all the confusion I just kept moving forward and ended up with Moto scores of 4-3-6 for 3rd overall."

The first round of the NEPG also kicked off last weekend in Wedgefield, South Carolina. The weather started off cold and damp making the sandy soil loamy and full of traction. By the end of the race the weather had turned to full downpours and the conditions worsened. Beta USA factory rider Mike Witkowski placed 14th in the Pro1 Class aboard his Beta 250 RR Race edition. For more information about the NEPG Series go to: www.nationalenduro.com

Witkowski's next event will be the 1st round of the GNCC series. For more information on the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

The first round of the Kenda National Hare and Hound took place last weekend in Red Mountain, California. Clear skies and moderate temperatures made for great riding conditions, minus a few dusty spots.
Joe Wasson placed 5th overall and in the Pro Class aboard his Beta 430RR 4-Stroke. Wasson was able to pull the holeshot and led the race for a while. Newly signed Chance Fullerton placed 2nd in the 250 Pro Class in the first round of the series.
The second round of the Kenda National Hare and Hound Series will take place in Ocotillo, CA on February 24th. For more info visit nationalhareandhound.com

Joe Wasson: "Weekend started off good. I pulled the holeshot over the top of the first hill and was beyond stoked at how well my 430 pulled. Led for about 15 miles then ended up losing a position, then I held second for a while after that. I was riding at a pace where I knew I was safe and wasn't going to make any mistakes but ended up losing a couple more positions which left me in 5th place. There was some good competition out there, but I was able to hold 5th and finish the race strong."

Chance Fullerton: "The race started out well getting a jump on just about everyone then later getting passed by teammate Joe Wasson about a half mile in. I kept a comfortable pace with the top guys and kept going along to the finish where I finished 2nd 250 Pro and 13th overall. I definitely have more in me and am expecting a much better finish at the next round."

Photo by Kato