ATV.com is wrapping up its Year-in-Review series with a look back at the last 12 months to see all the new side-by-sides that have been released. Feel free to check out our previous articles on utility quads and sport quads.

Sure the economy is not where we’d all like it, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the ATV and side-by-side industry in 2008. Polaris came to market with the most advanced and most expensive off-road vehicle any of the major manufacturers have ever released, while also giving the Ranger a new look. Also, Arctic Cat put its powerful 951cc engine in a Prowler, while Kawasaki made significant changes to its almost new Teryx. To top it all off, Honda and Kymco have joined the side-by-side party with vehicles of their own.

Side-by-sides are still a pretty new concept, but the manufacturers have stepped up big time in the last year or so to push the envelope with new technology and features. Just look at what’s come out in the last few months.

2009 Polaris Ranger RZR S

Seeing as we are just entering the new year, ATV.com has decided to take a look back at the last 12 months to see all the new sport ATVs that have been released. We’ve already tackled utility quads and we’ll check out the latest side-by-sides in the near future.

Though the economy is struggling, ATV manufacturers did not shy away from introducing new innovations to the sport quad market in 2008. Yamaha and Suzuki made major renovations to some familiar machines, while KTM and Can-Am introduced some race-specific models. Polaris’ Outlaw family has a new look and shed some weight, while Arctic Cat has gone in a different direction. Even Honda stepped up to the plate with something completely different…sort of.

2009 Yamaha YFZ450R

As we gear up for the new year, ATV.com has decided to look back at all the new utility ATVs that have been released for the 2009 model year. We will also be looking at sport ATVs and side-by-sides in the coming weeks.

Even with a sagging economy, we saw no shortage of updated and completely new ATVs the past 12 months. Nobody did more, in fact, than the two American-based manufacturers – Arctic Cat and Polaris. Both companies made a variety of utility quads, as well as some very interesting and industry-changing side-by-sides.

As for the Japanese builders, Honda gave a major facelift to its popular Rancher, while Yamaha and Suzuki each introduced a brand new 500-class ATV. Korean-based Kymco also made a splash with a solid lightweight quad.

2009 Honda FourTrax Rancher AT

Release – On Nov. 21, 2008 the American Honda / Precision Concepts ATV team of Wayne Matlock, Harold Goodman, Marc Spaeth and Wes Miller took the Overall ATV win at the 41st annual Baja 1000 race with a time of 14:47:25 (42.69 mph).

The team headed into the Baja 1000 with Overall wins at both the San Felipe 250 and Baja 500 and was looking for another big win on the new Honda TRX700XX and a chance at the SCORE ATV Championship.

Race Report

Race morning Wayne Matlock was the seventh ATV off the line and he would ride the 700XX to race mile 120 where Harold Goodman would take over. Off the start, Matlock fought thick dust on most of his morning ride but was able to move up and hand the quad to Goodman in second place on adjusted time.

The Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show returned to the International Centre in Toronto, Ont. and ATV.com was in attendance.

Organizers were calling it the largest snowmobile and ATV show in the world and with all the vendors, vehicles, accessories and activities it was easy to see why. Being in Canada, however, there was more of a snowmobile presence than ATV.

The Ultimax Extreme Freestyle event stole the show. Some of the top snowmobile freestylers in the world were on hand pulling off some of the craziest tricks this side of the Winter X Games. A mulch track with one big ramp was set up for the freestylers. ATV races around the track were also on display as spectators could watch sport quads and utility quads kick up roost. Be sure to check out our photo gallery to see action shots from the show.

Chris Borich finished the 2008 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series the same way he started it – with a win.

Borich rode his Rockstar Yoshimura Suzuki LT-R 450 to victory at the Klotz Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind. on Oct. 25. He also won the series opener in Florida, but struggled somewhat in the middle of the season.

“We were all just battling all day, it was wide open out there,” says Borich. “We’ve got this Suzuki figured out on the muddy tracks, should be good for 2009.”

GNCC XC2 Champion Don Ockerman finished second for the second-straight race on his GT Thunder Yamaha, an impressive debut in the XC1 pro class. GNCC Champion Bill Ballance rounded out the podium on his Yamaha, edging FRE KTM’s Adam McGill by inches.

Bill Ballance dominated Saturday’s ITP Power Line GNCC at Power Line Park and, in the process, clinched his ninth GNCC ATV Championship.

Ballance took the lead early in the two-hour event en route to the checkered flag. The event was the 12th round of the 13-race Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series (GNCC).

“I got a good start, was able to get into the lead and ride away,” says Ballance. “I’m just now healed up from my injuries and it felt good to just ride without pain. My crew and all the fans were telling me where I was and I just tried to ride smooth and have fun.”

Ballance’s race was largely uneventful as he assumed the early lead and quickly established a large gap between himself and newly crowned XC2 champion Don Ockerman, who was competing in his first ever XC1 race and surprised everyone, including himself.

On a blistering hot day in Surprise, Ariz., Polaris’ Doug Eichner managed to keep his cool.

The temperatures at Arizona’s Speedworld were more than 100 degrees during the day which made for grueling practice sessions. The main events, however, were held under the beautiful night sky.

Eichner won both motos on his way to the Open Pro Class victory in Round 7 of the ITP QuadCross Series on Sept. 20 aboard his Polaris Outlaw 525 S.

Eichner equipped his Outlaw with enhanced power and exhaust from Yoshimura R&D of America Inc., Lonestar Racing’s A-arms, axle, steering stem and hubs, Maxxis tires, FOX Racing Shox suspension, and the one-of-a-kind GPR stabilizer.

KTM’s Adam McGill came back strong from the summer break, winning Round 10 of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series on Sept. 13.

It was a return to form for McGill, who won three of the first four races this season before finishing outside of the top 15 in three of his previous five starts. The win is extra sweet as the Snowshoe, W.Va. track isn’t far from where he lives.

“It was a phenomenal thing to run up front and to get a win at home,” says McGill. “We had some bad luck the whole way, but the team always stayed behind me. They kept their heads down and worked hard.”

For the last six years, ATV enthusiasts gather at Mapleshade MX in Sugar Grove, Pa. to race in memory of Matt Bartosek, the talented up and coming pro who died in early 2003.

The 88 Live to Ride organization, headed by Matt’s mother Debi Bartosek, once again put on a successful weekend of racing and raising money for ATV racing safety programs. Romney Suzuki Cycles of Romney, WV, donated a Suzuki QuadRacer R450 for a top raffle prize. The quad was signed by the entire Rockstar/MSR/ Pro Taper/Yoshimura/Suzuki team. Proceeds went to the 88 Live to Ride Foundation and the Mobile Medical Unit.

The fans that turned out in support of this year’s event were treated to some real world-class racing. Recently crowned ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Champion Dustin Wimmer and his Suzuki teammate Chad Wienen showed up for the Sept. 7 race, along with other national pro riders.

There are a lot of reasons to build, design and maintain your own private motocross practice track. First and foremost, it gives you, your young racers and your friends an opportunity to practice close to home without paying $20 or more per person – plus gas in your truck – for a day of riding. And it gives you the perfect excuse to buy some accessories for your utility quad and spend some time behind the bars of your workhorse.

But before you push that starter button there are two primary factors to consider: Have you got the land? Do you have access to heavy machinery? If you’re starting from scratch you’re going to need, at minimum, a small bobcat, skid steer or dozer.

Dirt is less of a concern because depending upon the size of your property you can dig a small pond or scrape the lot to compile enough dirt for jump faces, landings, berms and other obstacles.

Chad Wienen continued his impressive late-season run as he dominated the ATV Open Championship race on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa.

With the victory Wienen earned $5,000 and a special AMA No. 1 Plate. Second place went to Wienen’s Suzuki teammate Dustin Wimmer, while Honda’s Josh Upperman claimed third.

“This is the icing on the cake,” says Wienen. “I’m speechless. I’ve never won a championship before so this is a good start for me.”

The Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider was hampered by shoulder injuries for much of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship, but he came on strong as the season came to a close, picking up a win and a second-place finish in his previous two events.

Though much of the 2008 season has been filled with injuries, bad luck and disappointment for Chad Wienen, he certainly finished on a high note.

The Rockstar/ MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider captured the overall Pro ATV victory at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. in the season finale for the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Championship presented by Parts Unlimited on August 11.

“I’ve really been working hard to get back to winning speed,” says Wienen who fought multiple injuries this season. “I was just concentrating on the overall win out there. I’m the defending race winner here, so I was looking forward to the race. It feels great to get the monkey off my back and win again. I’d really like to thank my team for giving me such a great quad, because it was the reason I was able to win.”

Dustin Wimmer clinched his first AMA Championship after finishing fourth in the first of two motos in Round 10 of the 2008 Moose Racing/ITP Tires AMA/ATV National Championship at Red Bud Raceway in Buchanon, Mich. July 27.

“My Suzuki team members deserve most of the credit,” says Wimmer. “My bike has been just perfect all year, and that’s how you win championships.”

Wimmer entered the weekend needing at least a fourth-place finish in the first moto to clinch the championship. Not needing to go for the win, Wimmer rode a conservative race to finish in fourth.

Jeremie Warnia, a Suzuki Pro ATV racer from France, made the trip across the pond for the fifth round of the ITP QuadCross Series at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.

It was Warnia’s first time at Glen Helen and it proved to be a successful visit. He had a 2-1 victory, which was enough to clinch the overall from Polaris rider Doug Eichner.

Warnia won the race on a nearly stock Suzuki QuadRacer R450, while much of the field were running highly modified quads. Warnia’s vehicle had only minor aftermarket modifications, including Yoshimura exhaust, Fox shocks and JB A-Arms.

As the father of two boys who were born with wheels where their toes should be, I clearly understand the importance of diligent, responsible parenting.

With one son riding his bicycle without training wheels at the ripe old age of three and the other riding a toy electric quad around the backyard track by himself before he could even walk; I know the safety of my children is up to me. What I teach them now will be with them for the rest of their lives. It’s not like a video game where you can simply hit reset when you crash.

Every year off-road recreation becomes more popular as I see more families choosing to spend time in the dunes, desert and trails with their kids riding ATVs, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles. The use of ATVs in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last decade according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) annual report. As these numbers increase it becomes more important to keep our kids safe while riding ATVs, and to educate them about environmental impact and responsibility.

At a recent powersports product launch, we sat down to dinner with some engineering and marketing types who gave some interesting perspective on future powersport drivetrains.

Our conversation started out by us asking about the possibility of electric or hybrid drivetrains and was that realistic for powersport vehicles like ATVs. We fully expected the question to get blown off. To our surprise, not only was our question taken — and answered — seriously, but the engineers and marketing/sales types at the dinner table seemed much more than casually informed on the subject.

Our engineer dinner companion seemed versed as to the efficiencies of a hybrid (gas motor combined with electric motor) versus direct electric motor drive system. It was his contention that a hybrid system seemed most likely. He also discussed the use of internal combustion engines that might use fuels other than gasoline.

JP-8 Fuels

US military specifications require vehicles such as Polaris’ Ranger MVRS800 to run on JP-8 military fuel (JP for “jet propellant”), which is a kerosene-based fuel specified by the US military in 1990 and also used by NATO allies. A similar fuel is used in commercial aviation under the name Jet-A. Because the fuel doesn’t gel at low temperatures, JP-8 fuel can be used at science stations at the South Pole.

William Yokley and co-pilot, Mark Notman rode their Polaris Ranger RZR to victory in a Can-Am GNCC Series UTV race in Somerset, Pa. on July 5.

The UTV race was run immediately after the two-hour Pro ATV race that both Yokley and Notman competed in.

Despite having to run back-to-back races, Yokley and his Army National Guard teammate got off to a quick start and led the 42-vehicle field for the first four laps of the ten-lap race.

Yokley says he and Notman got into some trouble when they came upon a lapper and he took what he calls a ‘questionable line’ through some trees to get around.

“We nailed some trees that threw us on our side,” says Yokley. “I had the RZR pinned in forward and reverse, and we finally got back on four wheels and under way.”

Suzuki’s Chris Borich picked up his second win of the season with a come-from-behind victory in Round 9 of the Can-Am GNCC Series in Somerset, Pa. on July 6.

After a mid-pack start, Borich started his move through the field of pro racers. He was in seventh place after the first lap worked his way into the lead one lap later – a lead he would never relinquish.

“The race went pretty good,” says Borich. “We had a mid-pack start but got to the lead on the second lap and just held onto it from there.”

The win is the first for Borich since he took top spot four months ago in the first GNCC race of the season. The win moves him up to fifth in the standings with 158 points. He is now 33 points behind Yamaha’s Bill Ballance and just two points out of second place.

Bryan Cook didn’t let his home state fans down when he grabbed the win at the Elka Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC in Yadkinville, NC on June 21.

The privateer Team Excell Motorsports Honda rider been running strong all year, but this was the first time he was able to pick up a victory, outlasting Yamaha’s Bill Ballance and ATVRiders.com’s Jarrod McClure.

“Man it feels so good,” says Cook. “I heard the fans cheering all day, every time you came around a corner there were people cheering.

“You know, it gives you some motivation over the winter when everyone is talking about everyone else, and they’re not talking about you. I wanted to get back up there and get my name back out there. Today I had a good start, and then Branden (Sommers), something must have happened and his engine just quit. I got lucky and I was able to get around. After that, I just kept my head down. I got a little fatigued but not too bad, and I held on.”

Wayne Matlock, Mark Spaeth and Wes Miller rode the new Honda TRX700XX to a very exciting victory in the Baja 500 on June 1, a 500-mile race that begins and ends in Ensenada, Mexico.

Matlock and his team completed the race in 10 hours, 10 minutes and 40 seconds, edging out the team of Javier Robles, Adolfo Arellano and Cesar Lopez on their Honda TRX450R by just 21 seconds. Danny Prather, Mike Cafro, Chad Prull and Levi Marana, also on a TRX700XX, finished eight minutes and 35 seconds behind the leaders in third place.

Though they did pick up the victory, the race was not without its challenges for Matlock, Spaeth and Miller.

“At one point I handed the bike over to Mark Spaeth and the (Robles/Arellano/Lopez) team was just mere seconds behind us,” Matlock tells ATV.com. “Mark was pushing really hard and came into a turn. There were some rain ruts that were about two to three feet deep and one of the tires got stuck into the rain rut and it hooked a hard right and hit a bush and flipped the quad over.

“He landed in a ditch upside down and he was pinned underneath the quad. It took him a while to get out from underneath the quad. He had to break a fencepost off an old barbwire fence and pry the quad out of the ditch. “

Suzuki’s Dustin Wimmer dealt his fellow competitors another blow by winning his fourth race of the season in the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship in New Berlin, NY on June 8.

Wimmer finished second in both motos to secure the victory. Team Epic’s Jeremy Lawson was second, while Honda’s Joe Byrd was third.

Race day saw muddy conditions at Unadilla MX and Wimmer says an intelligent strategy helped him in the end.

“In the mud, you really have to finesse the bike so it doesn’t slip out on you,” says Wimmer. “I did what I had to do to stay behind John (Natalie) in the second moto and, since I didn’t need to pass him for the win, I just stayed consistent and rode smart.”

Anybody still worrying about Bill Ballance’s poor start on the 2008 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series can probably stop. Ballance rode his Yamaha YFZ450 to his third consecutive win on June 1 in Sparta, Ky.

KTM’s Adam McGill, who was leading the XC1 Pro points chase heading into the Sparta race, had mechanical problems and failed to finish. Ballance now holds a 14-point lead over McGill.

“Man it feels good to win in front of so many friends and family,” says Ballance. “These were my type of conditions. It was hard and fast and I was able to have fun.”

Fellow Yamaha rider Brandon Sommers finished second to Ballance, while The National Guard/Honda rider William Yokley crossed the finish line in third for his second podium of the season.

Two-time defending champion Joe Byrd looks to be back in top form after picking up his second victory of the year in Round 6 of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Series, May 25 in Mount Morris, Pa.

Highpoint Raceway hosted this Showcase Event, which also featured the opening round of the ITP Tires Grand Slam.

Series leader and factory Suzuki rider Dustin Wimmer looked like the man to beat this weekend after winning the first moto. Team Epic’s Jeremy Lawson rode his Can-Am DS450 to second place, while Byrd finished third on his Honda TRX450R.

The second moto, however, was all Byrd. He got out of the gate quickly, picked up the holeshot award and held off the field for the victory.

After an uncharacteristically rough start to the season, Yamaha’s Bill Ballance is back on track, picking up his second straight win on the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at the Wiseco John Penton GNCC on May 10.

Plenty of rain the night before the race left the Millfied, Ohio track muddy and tough on the riders.

“It was a one of those days where you had to be smart and smooth,” says Ballance. “Sometimes you didn’t even want to be the guy up front, just because you knew people were going to be getting stuck, but at the same time, you didn’t want to be getting roosted.”

Ballance was fighting for top spot with KTM’s Adam McGill and Taylor Kiser and fellow Yamaha rider Brandon Sommers throughout the race and the foursome built up a big lead over the rest of the field. Ballance took control of the lead about halfway through the race and built up a bit of a gap. McGill made a late charge on the final lap, but ended up finishing four seconds behind the eight-time defending GNCC champion. With the win Ballance now trails McGill by just 12 points in the standings.

In a move that will no doubt surprise a lot of ATV racers and race fans, PowerSports Entertainment Inc. has announced that it has suspended corporate operations and as a result the WPSA 2008 PowerSports ATV Tour race schedule is now cancelled.

“All of us here at the WPSA regret that we have no choice but to suspend operations and cancel the ATV tour at this time,” says Rick Murphy, CEO of PowerSports Entertainment Inc. “We have been working diligently for many months to fundamentally improve our business model and acquire financing that would allow us to move forward, but we were not able to consummate the contemplated transactions and we foresee no significant increases in sponsorship or event revenue that would gap the projected deficits.”

ATV.com talked to PowersSports Entertainment president Scot O’Malley in February and he was excited about the ATV series expanding its footprint this year. The series opener was supposed to happen in Alvord, Tex., but that race was postponed in April.

Two-time and defending champion Joe Byrd swept both motos to win the TriangleCycles.com ATV National at Birch Creek Motorsports on April 27.

The victory was the first of the season for Honda’s Byrd in the fourth round of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Pro Championshp. This is the first time a Suzuki quad didn’t finish the weekend on top of the podium.

In the first moto, Byrd traded the lead once with Suzuki’s Dustin Wimmer before taking the checkered flag. Wimmer crossed the finish line in second, followed by East Coast ATV’s Jason Dunkelberger.

“In the first moto, I rode steady and didn’t take any chances,” says Wimmer. “It’s a narrow track and hard to pass cleanly on.”

It took a little longer than expected, but Yamaha’s Bill Ballance finally picked up his first win of the year in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series on April 27.

Ballance, the eight-time defending GNCC champion, won one of the closest battles in recent memory to claim the Acerbis Loretta Lynn’s GNCC over Rockstar/Yoshimura/Suzuki’s Chris Borich and Team Excell Motorsports’ Bryan Cook in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

“Right now it’s not even about the championship,” says Ballance. “I just need to start getting wins and then we can focus on the championship. It was a great battle today and I’m glad to come out on top of it.”

Incredibly, seven riders entered the final lap separated by just eight seconds. FRE KTM’s Adam McGill, who was riding a three-race winning streak, fought with Ballance on the last lap. The pair passed each other over and over while Borich began a steady charge from the back after getting stuck on a hill. Unfortunately, McGill ran into an electrical problem and his XC 450 quit on him. McGill’s KTM teammate Taylor Kiser, who was also among the leaders, ran into the same problem.

KTM’s Adam McGill is starting to run away from the field in the 2008 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series.

McGill rallied from a bad start at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to earn his third straight victory on April 12.

McGill won the previous two GNCCs by grabbing the holeshot and staying ahead of the all his competitors. He had to take a different approach this time around.

“I rounded the first turn in 18th,” says McGill. “I just put my head down and started to pass people.”

It had been raining hard for most of race day, but it stopped shortly before the beginning of the main event. Still, the 12-mile loop was left wet and muddy and made for some challenging riding conditions.

Dustin Wimmer continued his perfect season when he swept both AMA Pro ATV motos during the FMF Spring National at Millcreek Raceway on March 30 in Pell City, Ala.

Wimmer also swept both motos in the season-opening event three weeks ago as he has dominated the early part of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA ATV Championship Series.

After winning the first moto, the Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider started in fifth in the second moto. He quickly crawled through the field, taking the lead from Can-Am’s John Natalie on lap eight.

“This is great,” says Wimmer. “This has just been a dream weekend. We were fast all weekend and my hat’s off to Team Suzuki for all of its efforts.”

After giving KTM its first ever victory in Round 2 of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, Adam McGill made it two in a row when he won the FMF Steele Creek GNCC on March 29.

McGill pulled the holeshot in the Round 3 event in Morganton, NC and never looked back in his wire-to-wire win.

“I am so happy to be on top of the podium for the second week straight,” says McGill. “This is where I’ve known I could be for a long time, but I couldn’t have made it happen if it wasn’t for the help of my team and a great bike. My KTM is running perfect and almost makes my job seem easy.”

By the end of the first lap McGill had already pulled 20 second ahead of the field, led by Yamaha’s Bill Ballance.

After failing to reach the Pro ATV podium in the first two rounds of the 2008 WORCS Series, racing legend Doug Eichner picked up a big win in Round 3.

Eichner finished more than two minutes ahead of the field on his Polaris Outlaw 525 S in Lake Havasu, Ariz. on March 23. He finished the 14-lap race in one hour, 36 minutes and 43 seconds.

With a fantastic start, Eichner grabbed the holeshot, flew around the first corner and cruised to victory against the field of 24. The win was Eichner’s second of the weekend. He also took the checkered flag in Pro Production, which he used to test his machine for Sunday’s main event.

“I’m thrilled to have put the Outlaw back on top of the Pro podium at WORCS,” says Eichner. “But it is the team effort and personal contributions of each team member, sponsor support and Polaris Engineering team that is the most commendable part of the weekend. And, I can’t thank WORCS enough for putting on a top-notch national competition.”

Despite the fact that he’s riding a new machine and on a new team, Chris Borich looked as comfortable as ever in winning The Triton, the first round of the 2008 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at the Kempfer Ranch in Melbourne, Fla. on March 2.

This was Borich’s first race as a member of Rockstar/Yoshimura Suzuki team. He rode his Suzuki QuadRacer R450 to a commanding victory, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of Honda’s Bryan Cook. Eight-time GNCC champion Bill Ballance crossed the finish line in third.

“I came down here a few months ago to get ready, and I tried and tried to break this thing and I couldn’t,” says Borich of his new quad. “The track was much rougher than in the past. Palmetto roots everywhere, heat, holes, trees, it was a tough one.”

With the memory of his record-setting eighth straight Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series title still fresh, Bill Ballance is ready to fight for No. 9.

“We’re pretty confident again this year,” Ballance told ATV.com. “We’ve been doing a lot of riding and I feel physically ready to go and ready for the season to get started.”

Ballance broke Barry Hawk’s record of seven straight titles aboard his Yamaha YFZ450 in 2007, winning six times and reaching the podium in every race. In fact, dating back to 2006, Ballance has been on the podium for 20 straight races.

Racing four wheelers since he was just seven, the now 31-year-old Ballance has 13 years of professional racing experience under his belt. The Smith’s Grove, Ky. Native has even designed his own track, Ballance Moto X in Oakland, Ky. He’s seen and experienced just about everything in the ATV industry and is thrilled with how the sport has grown in the last few years.

“It’s incredible how the sport is growing and the attention that we’re getting now in the media coverage and TV,” says Ballance. “We want to have five different factories out there supporting race teams this year in the Pro class. That’s just incredible from the way it’s been just five, six years ago.”

When he started racing professionally in 1994, major manufacturers such as Can-Am and Arctic Cat still hadn’t build their first ATVs. Now Can-Am is the title sponsor of the GNCC and a key competitor on the track.

“The market’s growing, the racing is getting bigger all the time,” says Ballance. “A lot more people are coming out. We’re having 1,700, 1,800 participants at a race and it’s just growing crazy right now. It’s good to be a part of it and good to be where I’m at right now.”

Where Ballace is at right now is the head of the pack as far as GNCC racing goes. As he prepares to defend his title, he’ll be doing it on basically the same quad used in 2007, but there are a couple of key changes, including the wheels.

“We’ve done the deal with Hyper Wheels and made that change,” says Ballance. “I’ve been running Douglas for a long time. I feel pretty comfortable in them. I like them a little bit better than what I had last year and I think that’s going to help us out some.”

Ballance has also worked with Ohlins on the suspension and says some changes have been made with the shocks.

“That’s really made a big improvement in the performance of the quad as far as handling,” says Ballance.

Seeing as he’s already got eight titles in the trophy case and a wife and two young daughters at home, some would think he may be getting ready to call it a career. Ballance, however, isn’t really thinking about that.

“I’m just taking it one year at a time right now,” says Ballance. “I’m still enjoying what I do. Still want to get out there and win and the desire to still get out there and go fast and compete is still inside, so I’ll just keep going with it.

“We’ll just have to expand the trophy case I guess.”

Related Reading:

Can-Am returns for GNCC
It’s All About Ballance

Josh Frederick put on a performance for the ages in the second round of the 2008 WORCS Series in Mesquite, Nev. on Feb. 24.

A mechanical problem with his Motoworks/Can-Am DS 450 forced Frederick to pit on the first lap of the Pro class event, dropping him to last place. The Round 1 champion would have his work cut out form him to fight his way through the pack.

Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson, meanwhile, took the hole shot and was starting to put together a little space on the field after the first lap. Robbie Mitchell, Levi Marana and five-time champion Doug Eichner were chasing the leader.

If ever there was any doubt about just how popular the ATV, UTV and accessories markets are becoming, it should have been erased at a recent industry trade show in Indianapolis earlier this week.

Just about anything an ATV rider could ever hope for was on display at the 2008 Dealer Expo at the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome.

A massive melting pot of ideas and information exchange among powersports retailers, distributors and suppliers about, Dealer Expo displayed all the latest vehicles, products and accessories making their way to your local dealer in the near future, and ATV.com was there.

One of the major trends in the market is the increase in accessories and modifications for ATVs and side-by-sides. Indeed, many of the ‘Kickstart Winners,’ top 10 new products as chosen by show organizers to have the biggest impact on the 2008 selling season, related to this category.

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) Can-Am will return as title sponsor for the 2008 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series. Can-Am made its debut as GNCC title sponsor in 2007.

“Can-Am really helped take the GNCC Series up a notch last year,” says GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell. “They supported us on the track and off, providing great machines and equipment for our staff and building a variety of fun promotions for our fans, like demo rides. They also help fund our GNCC TV program on Versus. We’re really thankful for everything they have done to aid in the Series’ growth.”

Can-Am was eager to rejoin the GNCC Series.

“GNCC racing brings not only racers together in the spirit of competition, but friends and families together as well,” says Bernard Guy, ATV marketing director at BRP. “We are in the business of fun, and see the GNCC Series as a way to give back to those who embrace the lifestyle of off-road recreation.”

Can-Am will outfit the entire GNCC track crew with Outlander ATVs to assist in course design, maintenance and patrol. Free riding demos will be hosted by Can-Am at several events throughout the season.

“Our customers, just like GNCC faithful, are enthusiasts and we enjoy the opportunity to support this gathering,” says Guy.

The 2008 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series kicks off with the Triton in Melbourne, Fla. on March 1 to 4.

Produced by Racer Productions, the 13-round Can-Am GNCC Series has been run since 1973. Races last nearly three hours and field as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging from eight to 12 miles in length.

GNCC Racing will air weekly television shows on the Versus network starting Aug. 2.

Related Reading:
GNCC Series opts for new scoring system
Can-Am dominates 4X4

“Honey, you know how the trail to our camp is really muddy and rough, hey?”
I always add the “hey” when I’m about to ask something to which I know the answer will more than likely be negative.

“Well, I was thinking that if we had one of those side-by-side ATVs, we could go into the camp together and getting in over the trail wouldn’t be a problem.”

A moment of silence, then a reply. “Okay, maybe you should get one then.”

And so began the search for a side-by-side ATV, or UTV, or RUV, or whatever they are called. I anticipated a quick drive around to a few dealerships to size up each of the offerings from the various manufacturers, and expected I’d be in my new side-by-side before the weekend. I mean, how many options could there be in the seemingly young side-by-side market?

Well, too many to mention actually.

The UTV category continues to be one of the hottest areas of the ATV business, with technology, innovation and utility driving innovation. Here’s a rundown of what to expect from the major manufacturers for 2008.

Arctic Cat’s Prowler UTVs have been turning a lot of heads, and the 2008 models should be the best yet, with the Prowler XTX 700 H1 LE leading the lineup. An Arctic-designed 695cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke powers this Prowler. The company has invested millions of dollars in advanced design and assembly technologies, and this package shows it. The transmission is a rubber-belt high-low-reverse cvt with engine-braking built in. The Prowler is equipped to be a serious terrain conqueror, with push-button four-wheel-drive and a locking front differential.

The 26-inch tires, stunning 12.5-inches of ground clearance and independent double-wishbone suspension at all four-corners (with a swaybar on the back) will inspire confidence for almost any riding conditions. Another feature that the Prowler boasts of is an 8.2-gallon fuel tank. The big Cat has a towing capacity of 1,500 lbs. To top it all off, Arctic has some of the most advanced noise-reduction technology in the industry, and it’s used here to help the Prowler deliver all of this power and performance quietly. Other Prowler models in Arctic Cat’s lineup include the model that started it all—the 650 4×4 Automatic, the 650 XT 4×4 Auto, and the 650 XT 4×4 Auto M4 in wetlands camouflage.

A Suzuki QuadRacer LT-R450 took the checkered flag in a grueling race in the United Arab Emirates from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.

Sebastian Hussaini piloted his QuadRacer to victory in the 17th running of the UAE Desert Challenge. The event was the final round of the FIM Cross Country World Championship series.

Racing over a six-day period, it took Hussaini 20 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds to complete the 2,210 kilometer (1,373 mile) race that saw riders traverse everything from mountainous terrain to a seemingly endless stretch of sand dunes.

Hussaini’s winning QuadRacer was equipped with a stock engine and stock suspension. The key modifications dealt with fuel capacity, as an extra large main fuel tank and saddle tanks were fitted to the bike because much of the race took place over vast stretches of isolated desert.

After a rough start, Wayne Matlock and Chad Prull defended their title and won the Quad Pro championship in the Best in the Desert (BITD) Racing Association.

Riding a Honda TRX 450R, Matlock and Prull had to overcome some bad luck in the first race to pull out the win over David Scott and Jeremy Hunt by just 15 points.

“Our first race, the Parker 250, Chad was on the bike and actually got a hole in the radiator from a rock,” Matlock told ATV.com. “We had to patch that on the track and the patch came off the radiator. We ended up getting seventh in that race, so that set us back pretty far in the points right out of the gate”

The season-ending Henderson’s Terrible 400, which took place on Dec. 1, marked the end of the line for the Matlock/Prull partnership.

For all intents and purposes, I am an ATV rookie.

Fortunately for me, I was hired because of my journalism background and online production experience. If the powers that be had been looking for an experienced ATV rider, I wouldn’t be writing this article.

However, since I do, in fact, work for ATV.com, I thought it would do me some good to spend some time on the trails.

After getting in touch with Mike Carr, a Polaris district sales manager in northern California, he arranged a day of riding.

I met Carr at his house just outside of Sacramento. We hopped in his truck and headed north upstate about 85 miles and met up with the rest of our party in Chico. After gassing up the vehicles, we drove into the hills about 35 miles northeast of Chico to our starting point in a place called Butte Meadows.

Carr provided a 2008 Polaris Ranger RZR, while Gray Glende, who runs a Polaris dealership in Chico, brought a 2008 Ranger XP and a brand new Sportsman 800 EFI HO. We were also joined by Darren Ritchey, who brought a 2007 Polaris Outlaw and some of Glende’s staff and friends from Chico, who were riding motocross bikes.

On this November morning, there was still a little chill in the mountain air, but the temperature would climb to a comfortable level in short order.

I started the day on the Sportsman 800 and we headed out into the woods on some fire trails. I was a little tentative at first, but I managed to squeeze the throttle enough to reach about 45 miles an hour. This is far below the Sportsman’s capabilities, but I figured I should at least get comfortable before going all out.

About 15 minutes into the ride and before hitting the rough trails, we stopped and did a head count. It seems we were short two riders.

Glende assumed they had taken a wrong turn, but after waiting for a while with no sign of them, Carr headed back in the RZR to see what he could find. He returned a few minutes later, followed by Peter Schmitz on a bike and Ritchey, who seemed to be driving his Outlaw with one hand.

Turns out Ritchey switched off his trusty Outlaw and took a turn on Schmitz’s motocross bike. Apparently it’s difficult to make that particular transition and Ritchey crashed the bike after hitting a rock on the fire trail. His hand now resembled an inflated rubber glove and his arm was broken.

Ritchey was offered a ride back on the Ranger XP, but he said he didn’t want to ruin everybody’s day so he hopped back on the Outlaw with one hand on the throttle and the other in a makeshift sling made out of a fleece jacket and drove back. Schmitz followed on his now damaged bike to help him load up the truck and suddenly our party of eight was now down to six.

Kory Ellis has ended his racing career on a high note, winning the ITP QuadCross title.

Ellis, who is the ATV product manager and test rider for Yoshimura Research and Development of America, Chino, Calif., finished on top of the standings after the 11-round series. The circuit plays host to the top riders from California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada and Arizona.

“This series is different than the WPSA or GNC,” says Ellis. “Those are true national race series that are based in the eastern and central US. They draw the best of the best, but the ITP QuadCross is definitely the best of the west.”

Riding a Yoshimura-tuned Suzuki LT-450 QuadRacer, Ellis defeated riders such as Dustin Wimmer and Josh Creamer on his way to five first-place finishes and the ITP QuadCross crown.

When it came to 4X4 racing on the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) circuit in 2007, the Can-Am X-Team set the standard.

Can-Am X-Team riders dominated the classes, topping the points standings in 4X4 Open, 4X4 Limited and 4X4 Lites.

“Amazing success is just about the best way to describe it,” says BRP’s ATV marketing director Bernard Guy. “Every year we set out to win championships and this year it all came together. From the racers to the mechanics to the team owners, everyone involved in the racing program was committed to winning.”

Can-Am X-Team racer Rick Cecco fought off fellow Can-Am rider Bryan Buckhannon to win the 4X4 Open class aboard his Outlander 800 HO.

The ATV industry—comprising youth, sport and utility vehicles—has matured into a multi-faceted, highly competitive business. Four-wheelers were once considered a child of the motorcycle industry, but they have now grown to surpass their 2-wheeled siblings in annual sales in North America.

Several key elements are shaping it in 2008:

Trail closures

The ATV industry is under an all-out assault from ‘anti’ groups that want quads and OHVs banned from public land. In a few cases, restrictions are warranted because of abuse and riders disrespecting the property of others. The vast majority of land closures, though, are punitive in nature. ATV Riders seem to be the victim of sheer bigotry. For example, on the Roseau River Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota, four-wheel-drive trucks continue to be allowed on some roads and trails, but off-highway vehicles have been banned completely from these same trails. No evidence was presented by the DNR that OHVs were causing more damage than trucks; they simply declared OHVs mechana non grata.

All terrain vehicles built in China and Taiwan may be in for a rough ride in the US, as the machines have come under criticism that they may be unsafe and are not well made. In addition, some North American and Japanese manufacturers complain these imports don’t have to adhere to the same safety and quality standards as they do.

Established ATV OEMs also claim the foreign machines are being sold at considerably lower prices, and that many of the ATVs—some of which are smaller models meant for children as young as six years old—are being sold on the Internet for less than $500.

Beyond concerns for lost business, larger ATV producers also fear a consumer backlash against the entire industry if these imported vehicles cause any increase in ATV-related injuries.

To fight back, the major North American and Japanese ATV manufacturers have taken the bold move to ask US Congress to approve legislation that would create mandatory safety standards for ATVs.

ATV.com talked with Rod Lopusnak, ATV operations manager for Suzuki, about his company’s new focus on the ATV market and where he sees the industry going in the future.

ATV.com: Suzuki introduced the industry’s first four-wheeled ATV 25 years ago. What was Suzuki’s biggest innovation to mark the anniversary in 2008?

Lopusnak: I wouldn’t say there has been one innovation, I think what Suzuki has been trying to do in the last few years is give Suzuki dealers an ATV for every one of their customers. I think that finally, coming into 2008, we’ve been able to do that. Before, certain customers might drive past a Suzuki dealer and go to some of our competitors. You’re not seeing that anymore.

ATV.com: Why did Suzuki drop the Eiger line in favor of the KingQuad 400 series for 2008?

Lopusnak: We did that previously with our Boulevard motorcycle line. We did it to further expand our marketing and advertising abilities. KingQuad has got a great name, a huge amount of recognition and a strong brand image so we wanted to continue that. Previously there was only one KingQuad so we expanded that so now we actually have three different KingQuad models, four if you include the automatic and manual version of the 400. We took all the great things about the Eiger in that class and we updated all the things we felt it needed to be a KingQuad, along with the styling and similar features.

ATV.com: Where do you see Suzuki’s ATV business heading in the future?

Lopusnak: The key for us is we want to continue to build on that same plan to keep finding those niches where maybe we’re missing some sales for our dealers and continue to build on that. Continue to build top of the line, award-winning ATVs and give the dealers additional profit centers.

ATV.com: What is the next logical step in ATV production/technology for the industry?

Lopusnak: Safety is always a huge issue and anything we can do to make ATVs safer is going to be there. That’s the unique and great thing that really propelled the growth of ATVs over the last 10 years, because the specialization has been so key. About 10 to 15 years ago there was one ATV and I think the customer specialized it. Now you’re seeing the manufacturer really specialize them, right down to the color.

ATV.com: With fuel consumption an ever-growing concern, how does Suzuki plan to improve the fuel economy of its ATVs?

Lopusnak: We will continue to introduce Suzuki fuel injection. At some point it will be on all our models.

ATV.com: With land use for recreational ATVs becoming a bigger concern, how do you think ATV sales will be affected?

Lopusnak: You will see more and more the manufacturers fight to try and promote the areas that are open and help groom them to be better. We will work with the government and continue on education so we have the ability to get out there and ride.

Page 2

ATV.com: How does Suzuki plan to increase its ATV market share to catch up with Honda, Yamaha and Polaris in the United States?

Lopusnak: We’re going to continue with the marketing plan that we have set. We’re doing a good job. Over the last seven years we’ve basically tripled our market share. Our big losses are in areas that we don’t compete in right now. Every year we’ve kind of added a model or maybe some specialization of certain models to go after a specific segment. It’s really worked well for us. For example, last year out of all the major manufacturers we’re the only one that grew—everybody else went backwards. I think that says a lot for our plan.

ATV.com: What are the key points of differentiation in Suzuki’s ATV product or branding strategy, compared to some of the other OEMs?

Lopusnak: Everybody has their own brand image that they try to go after. That’s one of the things that we talked about earlier with the KingQuads. We’re not going to have five or six different utility models. We’ve been building over the last few years that everything utility is going to be based on a KingQuad, but there will be different levels of a KingQuad. The same thing goes for the recreational rider—it’s going to be QuadSports. When you get to the more performance-minded guy it’s going to be QuadRacers.

ATV.com: Where do you see opportunity for growth for the ATV market? Utility, Sport, or something different entirely?

Lopusnak: Utility is generally very consistent. You might not have that rapid growth in any one area unless you introduce some specific new technology or feature. Otherwise, utility is very consistent. People are finding different ways everyday to use these things, whether it’s golf courses, construction sites, just for recreation and touring, there are just so many different uses.

ATV.com: Geographically, is there a new market out there where an ATV boom is possible?

Lopusnak: There are areas in Europe that are definitely becoming more familiar with ATVs and they are using them. We’re seeing turn signals being put on them and they are actually being driven on the road in the Caribbean and some of the European countries now.

ATV.com: As UTVs/side-by-side vehicles increase in popularity, how much does this market interest Suzuki?

Lopusnak: Our heritage is definitely on the sports side and we’re looking really closely at it and we have built some prototypes. We’re just not sure if and when we’re going to jump in. We’re going to continue to research that and we’ll make a decision probably in the next year.

ATV.com: Do you think the introduction of sportier UTVs will infringe on ATV sales?

Lopusnak: I definitely do, but I don’t think it’s any different than if you introduced another unique ATV with some more specialization. Yes, I think there is going to be some crossover because you are giving people more choices, but it’s no different than if there was a different ATV out there. I really think it’s going to come down to whichever manufacturer specializes the best in the future is going to have the best reward, whether it’s an ATV or a UTV.

ATV.com: What developments and technologies have your competitors introduced to the market that you admire?

Lopusnak: There’s not one that I admire specifically, but the great thing is how good all the products have gotten in the last 10 years. That is just a huge benefit to the customer, because they are getting the opportunity to ride the best product that’s ever been made. You’ve got the best dealers now and it’s easy to get financing. The whole aftermarket world right now is as good as it can be for the customer.

And on a Personal Note:

What is your favorite ATV of all time?
Definitely the LT125, because it changed everything.

Where is your favorite place to ride?
Sport-wise, Pismo Beach or Glamis. For utility, Brimstone in Tennessee.

Your ideal riding partner is?
Somebody a little sportier and aggressive.

Related reading:
2008 Suzuki KingQuad 450
Riding with the King
2007 Suzuki Quadracer R450
The King returns for 2007

As soon as you walked through the main entrance, the 20th annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersport Show began to assault your senses.

The music was loud, the smell of food hung in the air and seemingly everything related to snowmobiles and other powersports was within your sights.

The event claims to be the biggest snowmobile and ATV show in the world and with hundreds of booths and millions of dollars worth of merchandise on display you can see why.

Looking for a new ATV? Just turn around and you’ll probably bump into one.

Eight and counting.

Bill Ballance re-wrote the history books of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series with his eighth straight championship, an all-time record.

Ballance rode his Yamaha to victory in the season-ending Ironman in Crawfordsville, Ind. on Oct. 27, 2007 to secure the championship.

“It hasn’t even hardly sunk in yet,” says Ballance. “When I first started this years ago, I was just hoping to be a top ten rider. To win eight in a row, I can’t even believe it.”

Ballance only needed to finish 12th in the finale to win his eighth GNCC crown.
“I’m just so happy, we weren’t even trying to win this one, we were trying to take it easy and make sure we didn’t have problems with the bike, and things started happening and we ended up in the lead,” says Ballance.

Chad Wienen and Chris Bithell finished off their seasons in style, winning the pro events at the Grand Championship National WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour in Boswell, Pa. in mid-September.

Wienen took the checkered flag in the SuperQuad Pro 450, but John Natalie, Jr. finished second and secured the season championship.

Natalie grabbed the lead at the beginning of the 14-lap race and appeared to be on his way to a victory. Wienen, however, got within striking distance later in the race and took over the lead on the final lap. The win was Wienen’s fifth of the season, which is the most of any rider on the WPSA Tour.

“I started pretty deep,” says Wienen. “This is why I put in all of those hours of training and it really paid off. I couldn’t thank everyone enough. We’re getting ready for next season. We’re going to win the championship in 2008.”

The season championship was the first for Natalie, who won four races and had seven podium finishes in 2007.

“We never gave up this season,” says Natalie. “We worked hard as a team. We kept plugging away at it, took the points lead a couple races ago and never looked back.”

Suzuki won its second straight manufacturers’ championship, thanks to six wins in the 10-event season. Suzuki riders finished second, third and fourth in the points standings.

In the QuadTerrain Challenge, Bithell led all 10 laps for his first win of the season. Daryl Rath and Chris Borich joined him on the podium. Fifth-place finisher Jesse West, however, did enough to clinch the season championship.

“I’m about ready to pass out,” says Bithell, who also competed the day before in a cross-country race 400 miles away. “I raced all day yesterday, and then had to go home. I was running on almost no sleep, so it feels really good to win.”

West won just a single race this season, but five podium finishes kept him on the top of the standings.
“This season has been unbelievable,” says West. “I have never worked so hard for something in my life and it feels great. This is just an amazing thing to accomplish.”
With eight wins in 10 races, Can-Am earned its second-straight manufacturers’ championship.

Electrical systems have historically been treated as many things by powersports manufacturers—a red-headed step-child, an elephant in the corner or even an afterthought. This is changing. In the 21st century, the one thing OEMs cannot afford to do is treat electrical systems as unimportant, and those that don’t will have a competitive advantage.

The following are some of the most common mistakes powersports companies make with their electronics development.

1. Insufficient charging system power.