Over 1,000 of the fastest dirt bike and ATV cross-country riders in the world will compete for glory and prize money as the 2006 Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series comes to Aonia Pass Motocross Park this weekend for the Maxxis General GNCC races.

Area merchants and organizations are racing, too, to welcome some of up. I'm so glad Washington is just up the road."

The Suzuki Grand National Cross Country series is the largest off-road racing series in the nation, says Racer Productions spokesman Jason Weigant. "Off-road racing is of the most physically demanding sports in the world, and the nearly three-hour long GNCC races lead up to 1,400 dirt bike and ATV racers through tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in length." With varied terrain including hills, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, he said, GNCC races are tests of both survival and speed.

With help from Suzuki, the GNCC Series returned to television last year on the Outdoor Life Network - cable Channel 61 in Washington. Suzuki's support brings the series back to OLN in 2006, and it also allows the series to expand through larger purses and a greater,

more professional presentation at

each race, Weigant said. the 6,000 to 7,000 visitors who will begin to arrive Friday. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Hardy said that Chamber directors will be at the track to encourage racers and their families to visit Wilkes County businesses and attractions throughout the weekend.

Last year's race brought a solid boost in sales for most local restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and other retailers, she said, "and we really want to show these folks that not only do we have a lot to offer here, we'd love to have more of them come to Washington."

For the family members who come to Aonia with their racers, there is often spare time between races, and more and more race fans are making the short drive to Washington for shopping and dining. "We could eat here in the motor home," one mother of three from Pennsylvania said last year, "but we're having steak tonight at the Jockey Club, and I don't have to cook or clean

And local riders can race along with the big names. "Local riders are invited to race the event, as GNCC racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels," Weigant said. Riders can sign up at the track. Four-wheeled ATVs race on Saturday and dirt bikes race Sunday. The amateur racer entry fee is $40. Details are available at www.gnccracing.com.

This is the fourth annual Maxxis General GNCC, and previous races have drawn the largest number of racers in the history of the series, with nearly 1,400 riders competing.

Spectators can check out the action from dozens of vantage points ranging from trails snaking through deep woods to water crossings that become mud-baths.

Spectator passes run $12 for the entire weekend, with access to the pro pit area included. Children six and under are admitted free. On both days, beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.

Sunday's motorcycle pro race will last a full three hours, which will make physical conditioning and fitness a major factor as the riders bounce over rough terrain at high speed for the duration of the event.

The AMA-sanctioned Suzuki Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Riders compete for over $2.8 million in series prizes and contingency money in the 13-round series. Hundreds of pro and amateur dirt bike and ATV riders will compete this weekend in "The General" Grand National Cross Country races at Aonia Pass Motocross.