Yamaha Racing’s GNCC University will return this year at the Snowshoe Campus. Yamaha’s top off-road ATV and motorcycle racers will be on hand as instructors of this two-day riding school, beginning on Wednesday, June 26 just three days before the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC, Round 9 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series.

Led by Dean of motorcycles, seven-time AMA National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins, this year’s Yamaha Racing bike instructors include five-time AMA National Hare Scramble Champion Jason Raines, reigning XC1 Champion Paul Whibley, XC1 rider Jordan Ashburn, XC2 riders Brad Bakken and Jedediah Haines, and Women’s class rider Becca Sheets.

Professor of ATVs, XC1 Pro Class rider Johnny Gallagher, will lead this year’s Yamaha Racing ATV instructors, including XC1 riders Walker Fowler, Jeff Pickens, Gabe Phillips and nine-time GNCC Women’s Class Champion Traci Cecco.

From this point on every Yamaha ATV Side-by-Side will be produced in its Newnan, Ga. facility. Yamaha announced that its vehicle production transfer from overseas to the United States was complete at a dealer event on June 11 in Las Vegas. The move adds hundreds of jobs to the Newnan facility.

Yamaha also announced that it has opened a second dedicated assembly plant in Newnan for the production of future SxS products, including the new Viking, an all-new vehicle that sets a new standard in the three-person multi-purpose SxS segment.

Since the ATV production transfer strategy was first announced in 2010, Yamaha has moved production of all of its models like the Grizzly 700 FI and most recently the YFZ450R. All of these ATVs, along with all of Yamaha’s SxS vehicles, are now produced exclusively at YMMC for worldwide distribution.

Already the largest employer in Newnan, Yamaha is poised to continue growing in Georgia and will add another 100 jobs to support Viking production in Plant 2 this year. Another 300 jobs could be added over the next three to five years based on forecasts. The advanced manufacturing facility covers more than 850,000 square feet and includes the latest technology, equipment and procedures in motorsports manufacturing.

Yamaha has approved more than $85,000 through its OHV Access Initiative in the first quarter of to organizations across the country.

“Yamaha has approved new GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) to support organizations that span the country, from California to Vermont, serving the mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha’s reach through the OHV Access Initiative is national, but the heart of the program resides in the local communities that enjoy increased family fun and economic development through safe, responsible OHV access.”

American Trails has given Yamaha its 2013 National Trails Corporate Award in recognition of its significant, sustained service to trails planning, implementation and recreation across the country.

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANT program recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in funding projects serving the diverse needs of the OHV community. To date, Yamaha has awarded more than 200 GRANTs and more than $2 million in funding and equipment in pursuit of the program’s mission of promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable access.

“Yamaha is truly honored to be recognized by and to have received an award from American Trails,” says Mike Martinez, general manager, Yamaha ATV and SxS division. “The goals and mission of Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative are the blueprint for the work that has been accomplished via the program. It is exciting to see the efforts of all involved recognized by an organization committed to trails on a national level. Yamaha shares this award with the more than 200 individual GRANT recipients across the country.”

Taking a break from the Grand National Cross Country Series, Walker Fowler picked up a win in the season opener of the 2013 AMA MAXC Racing Series in Canaan, Ind. at Monster Mountain XC.

Fourteen Pro AA ATV racers lined up to do battle at Monster Mountain. Among the lineup were many of the top ATV racers in the country, including Fowler, 2012 MAXC reigning Pro AA ATV Champion Ryan Lane, Kevin Cunningham, Taylor Kiser, Johnny Gallagher, Mike Pflum and Jay Humphrey.

Despite the lead changing hands many times throughout the seven-lap race, it was Am-Pro Yamaha’s #2 Fowler who crossed the finish in first aboard his Yamaha YFZ450R ATV. Fowler had a mid-pack start and made his way up from fifth place to first to earn the win.

“The track as awesome the parking lot was the muddiest spot except the creek bed we ran, it was pretty bad,” says Fowler. “You just had to play it smart but we had to submarine it a little bit and I think the motor is pretty much toast, but I had a blast doing it!”