MSR/N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler proved his mettle at “The Ironman” GNCC finale this weekend. After racing his way up through the ranks for the past decade, Fowler finally won his first XC1 Pro ATV title in Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The championship came down to the wire, and a poor start just added to the drama!
After an early bobble in the sloppy track conditions, he charged through the pack making his way to fifth by the second lap. At the soggy finish he had moved up to 4th. This not only made it his 11th top-five finish of 2015, but also gave him just enough points to avenge losing the 2014 title.
“By losing the championship last year I learned a lot,” said Fowler. “I had to pick up the pieces and reset. I cannot thank my family enough, they are really the most important thing in helping me get up here. It is an honor to be the champion of this series… This is surreal.”
“We’re proud to have played a role in helping Walker win the title,” says MSR Brand Manager Nick McBride. “The messy conditions at The Ironman proved the point that our riders have the ability to ride longer in adverse weather conditions and over difficult terrain with peace of mind their riding gear won’t let them down.”
After finishing second in the XC1 Pro class three years in a row, Fowler was relieved to get the monkey off his back! “I’ve been chasing this championship for years,” he says. “It is an incredible feeling to finally top the podium with my N-Fab/Am-Pro Yamaha team and the 60th anniversary Yamaha YFZ450R.”
