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WORDS: Jared Bolton // PHOTOS: Courtesy JNCC

Masami Hoshino began promoting enduro events in the Kanton Region of Japan in 1984, with the Hurricane Enduro named in honor of his friend, Bob Hannah. Masami even convinced Hannah to try out the event himself in 1987, and this would serve as the beginning of new challenges that would lead visitors to Japan off-road racing events.

Acting on the advice from visiting American racers such as Randy Hawkins and Scott Summers, the Hurricane Enduro would transition to a cross country style format known as the Hurricane AAGP. This proved to be successful, and Masami would begin a full series dubbed the Japan National Cross Country Series. Utilizing the same format and procedures as GNCC Racing in the US, the series exploded in popularity with hundreds of amateur racers competing alongside professional riders, just like GNCC.