National Guard / Polaris / Coastal / Yoshimura / DragonFire / Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished first overall and first in the Side by Side XC1 Modified Class at the Big Buck GNCC in Union, SC, while teammate Scott Kiger finished fourth overall and fourth in the same class. Meanwhile, National Guard / Coastal / Bowers Motorcycle Supplies / Yokley Racing Team rider Jarrod McClure finished fourth overall and fourth in the XC1 Pro ATV Class.

Summary – Side by Side

The GNCC Series moved on to the Big Buck in South Carolina for Round 2 of the Side by Side machines. Since the area has had very little rain leading up to the race, the track was very dusty. The course was rough with lots of ruts, and a good start would be very important. Other than the dry conditions, the weather was great with temps in the low 80’s.

The start flag dropped and after the first few turns, Yokley was in second place with Kiger in fifth. Yokley made a pass for the lead in the first open field section where he could really open up the Yoshimura-tuned Polaris. He then proceeded to open up a sizable gap heading into the second lap of the four-mile course. Meanwhile, Scott Kiger was mired behind a nose-to-tail group of machines which were churning up clouds of vision-blocking dust. At times, he had to come to a complete stop in order to see the course. Once he worked his way past those machines into some cleaner air, he was a considerable distance behind teammate Yokley.

Now that we’re a few races into the 2012 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, the standings and championship races are starting to take shape. Yamaha is fielding a particularly strong team this year and its Pro GNCC racers Taylor Kiser, Walker Fowler and Traci Cecco, along with Ballance Racing boss Bill Ballance, offered up some thoughts on the season so far.

Bill Ballance Question: You’re widely known as the best off-road ATV racer of all time, and while you haven’t announced any plans to officially retire from racing, you’re transitioning more into a team management role – tell us about Ballance Racing and how you approach your new job.

BB Responses:

The first priority is the race team. Our team provides full race support to Taylor Kiser and Walker Fowler in the GNCC race circuit. We also provide some support to Thomas Brown on the MX side.

The second side to Ballance Racing is aftermarket sales and support. We sell all of the race products from companies that sponsor our race program. Also, we build complete race quads.

Ballance Racing started as me competing and winning championships and has transitioned into a program that supports both riders and sponsors on and off the track.

My role as team manager includes many responsibilities and those change from day to day. I spend numerous days testing on the track, which requires me to do lots of riding – this being my favorite part! Other days my time is filled by taking orders from customers, building shocks, setting up race quads, talking to sponsors, and keeping up with what the guys are doing and needing. A big part of my job is developing and testing for companies like Lone Star, Ohlins, Maxxis, and Moto-Xperts. I even build and fine tune maps for ECUs.

The transition has been difficult in some ways. When we are at the races and the guys line up on the starting line, it is hard for me not to be a part of that. However, in some ways it has been pretty easy because of the attention to detail that I give to every working part of the race bike is natural to me. I do this just the same way I did with my own race quad. I try to give the guys the equipment they need and the knowledge I have gained over the years. I want to see them win, and I strive for nothing less.

With three rounds of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series in the books, the Parts Unlimited GNCC Dealer Challenge is well underway. Forty seven teams signed up for the program this year, which is designed to enhance the involvement of dealership support to racers in the series.

North Lima, Ohio’s BNR A Team currently leads the way with a full slate of ATV racers on board. Thomas Koontz (Junior A 22+) heads BNR with teammates Robert Smith (U2), Baby Mac (College A) and Kevin McKeown (College B) helping to put BNR on top of the leader board.

Caser, NC’s DeRisi Racing Woodhead team only trails BNR by 11 points in the overall standings with stellar performances so far by ATV riders Braden Henthorn, who secured his first win in the XC2 Pro Am class at round three, and teammates David Reeves (Junior A 22+), Brycen Neal (College A) and Kylie Ahart (Women).

In a series they regularly dominate, Can-Am X-Team racers picked up five more 4×4 class wins at this past weekend’s Steele Creek GNCC. As well, Can-Am riders earned three victories in the Texhoma Quad Racing Association (TQRA) series.

In the GNCC series, Kevin Trantham led the way, winning the 4×4 Lites class and finishing third overall on the morning podium aboard his 2012 Can-Am Outlander 500. Cody and Hunter Miller each piloted a Can-Am vehicle to victories at round two of the TQRA motocross series held in Geary, Okla.

“The Steele Creek GNCC was a brutal, challenging course, but our 4×4 class racers truly performed well aboard their Can-Am ATVs,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Michael Swift and Bryan Buckhannon are so evenly matched aboard their 2012 Outlander 800s, they really put on a show racing wheel-to-wheel with each other the entire two-hour race. I was glad to see Swift finally get his first win of 2012, but I’m sure the two riders will have another battle at the next race in South Carolina. Kevin Trantham put in one of his most impressive performances ever aboard his Outlander 500, by winning his class and earning a spot on the morning overall podium. In TQRA, I was pleased to see both Cody and Hunter Miller post some hard-fought victories over the weekend with both their Can-Am ATVs and side-by-side machines.”

History was made this year at the Mint 400, as UTV classes were included for the first time. DragonFire celebrated with wins in both the Pro SxS class and the UTV Sportsman class. Having a well-deserved reputation for being both the toughest and longest off-road race in North America, the miles of whoops, rocks, ruts and silt made for a case of survival of the fittest among the 30 UTVs to start the race.

As dirty as it was, DragonFire-equipped teams cleaned up, finishing 1-2 in the Class 1900 Pro Side By Side. Derek Murray piloting the #1917 Murray Motorsports Can-Am Commander drew the 18th starting place in Pro SxS, having to eat the dust of 150 competitors in other classes. However, by the end of the first 93-mile lap, Murray had moved up to third place, and after a quick driver swap, Jason Murray brought the 1000cc machine across the finish line in first.

ITP-sponsored riders at the Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, NC had a successful week, earning a number of podiums.

Adam McGill ( Honda) put on a come-from-behind charge on a course notorious for its narrow, hard-to-pass nature to finish second in the XC1 Pro class and second overall. The West Virginia native has now moved into third in the point standings, despite his mechanical issues at round two.

Patrick McGuire ( Yamaha) was on the course at the same time as McGill, on his way to fourth place in XC2 Pro Am. This was enough to easily keep him in the number one position in class points for the season.

National Guard / Coastal / Bowers Motorcycle Supplies / Yokley Racing Team rider Jarrod McClure finished seventh overall and seventh in the XC1 Pro Class at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC. There were 173 total entries including 16 XC1 Pro racers.

Summary

The Steele Creek race facility in Morganton is always a popular event for the racers and fans. This year was especially well attended partially due to Racer Productions partnering with the March of Dimes to promote awareness in the community for healthier babies and children. GNCC Pro racers and March of Dimes representatives visited local schools to promote the importance of good fitness and nutrition. The racers gave out autographed posters and served as role models for the students. To get into the spirit, many racers dressed in purple and had purple on their machines.

McClure walked the track on Friday and noticed that it was dusty and dry. Overnight, a steady rain gave the terrain a good soaking. Race day was very warm and clear, and the track conditions were good and tacky with no dust. At the drop of the flag, McClure’s machine did not immediately fire, and he was at the tail end of the pro class.

Can-Am DS 450 racers picked up several class victories and podiums at the opening round of the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross Championship. Leading the way was Team Motoworks / Can-Am’s John Natalie, who finished second in both Pro class motos and second overall.

Teammate Joel Hetrick won the fastest qualifier award at Aonia Pass MX aboard his DS 450 and finished eighth overall. Can-Am racers also wrapped up several amateur class wins during the opening weekend of the 10-round AMA ATV MX series.

“John battled hard in both Pro class motos and just narrowly missed taking the overall win in the final lap of moto two. He remains steadfast and determined in his title defense,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Joel Hetrick was very impressive, earning the fastest qualifying time in both Pro practices. Unfortunately, his hopes for a weekend podium were dashed after a first-moto crash occurred while he was making a pass for the lead. Both our racers were very strong and are determined to be significant contenders for the Pro class podium at every round this season.”

Defending GNCC Pro ATV champion Chris Borich ( Suzuki) is looking for this third straight victory to start the season at this weekend’s FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, NC.

The Maxxis/Yoshimura rider leads the pack and the point standings heading into round three of the 13-race Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. The Steele Creek Campground hosts a variety of rough and tumble obstacles and often times the track conditions affect the outcome of the intense two-hour races. The 10-12 mile course will feature mud bogs and creek crossings, mixed with rocky hills and the fan-famous Steele Creek bridge, where thousands of spectators gather to see racers battle their way through muddy waters.

Ballance Racing Yamaha‘s Walker Fowler, the rookie XC1 pro who many expect to challenge Borich for this year’s championship, understands just how rough racing conditions can be after one of the most intense finishes in GNCC history at round two in Georgia. Fowler experienced mechanical issues just a few turns before the finish and had to push his ATV to the checkers to hold onto a podium spot. He was exhausted, but the effort keeps him close to Borich in the series’ standings. The rookie still isn’t satisfied and will be back to avenge this weekend in North Carolina.

Can-Am X-Team racers Derek and Jason Murray piloted their Murray Motorsports / Can-Am Commander 1000 X to the UTV class victory in the 2012 Best In The Desert Mint 400 race in Las Vegas, Nev. Driving the Can-Am X-Team-supported Desert Toyz Commander 1000, racer Cory Sappington finished second and joined the Murrays on the UTV class podium. The Mint 400, dubbed the single largest off-road event in the United States, allowed side-by-side vehicles to compete along side the automotive field for the first time in the history of the race.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of our guys and the way they each drove their Can-Am Commander side-by-sides in these gruelling conditions,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “It was definitely a historic weekend of desert racing for Can-Am, the Commander 1000 and our X-Team racers. The Murrays and Sappington’s team deserve a lot of credit for all their hard work and dedication that they each put into preparing their machines and for putting the Commander on the top two spots of podium in the first ever Mint 400 UTV race.”

Team Motoworks / Can-Am racers Josh Frederick and Dillon Zimmerman recently teamed up to win the Pro class on the Can-Am DS 450 at the 2012 SCORE San Felipe 250 in Mexico. As well, Frederick won the most recent WORCS event in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., while Zimmerman finished third.

“Josh and Dillon have been working hard to put Team Motoworks / Can-Am and the DS 450 out in front of the competition whenever they compete,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We’re very pleased with the recent racing results out west. Both of them battled hard to earn the San Felipe 250 victory and followed that up with a 1-3 showing on the WORCS podium in Arizona. I’m very pleased with these guys reaching the podium and getting victories in two different series.”

With the first two rounds of the 2012 GNCC series in the books, Can-Am ATV and UTV racers are off to a roaring start.

Nobody does 4×4 ATV racing better than Can-Am and that’s showing as Can-Am X-Team racer Bryan Buckhannon dominated both 4×4 Open class races aboard his Outlander 800R, while Cliff Beasley also posted two consecutive class wins on the Renegade 800R 4×4. On the sport quad side of the coin, Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 EFI racer Chris Bithell is third in the XC1 Pro class points after two rounds.

“Cliff and Bryan are as fast as ever and are already in the driver’s seat in their respective 4×4 classes,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Even though there is plenty more racing left in the season, we’re content to have our riders positioned where they are after two rounds of Can-Am / GNCC racing. Bithell currently sits third in the XC1 class standings and I predict he’s about ready to show us what he’s made of as the series heads to some of his favorite tracks. I’m proud to see Kyle Chaney put the Commander side-by-side on the XC1 UTV Modified podium in Georgia in his first race with the Motoworks / Can-Am team.”

GNCC Racers will be working with the March of Dimes leading up to the FMF Steele Creek GNCC, held in Morganton, NC on Mar. 31-Apr. 1.

The race will serve as a fundraising platform for the off-road racing community. Professional GNCC racers and March of Dimes representatives will be visiting local schools to talk about the importance of good nutrition and fitness, the importance of setting goals, anti-bullying and tolerance of others’ differences, and becoming involved in the community through mentoring and volunteering.

“It’s the mission of the GNCC to entertain and educate youth by presenting positive role models with a passion for what they do,” says Tim Cotter, race director for GNCC Racing. “Our professional racers know firsthand the value of hard work, positive thinking, actions and goal setting, and serve as positive role models while traveling throughout the country racing.”

While some ATV manufacturers are offering less and less support for racing in recent years, Yamaha is expanding its racing support program, including adding another team rider for the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross Series.

In addition to the extra rider, Yamaha has grown its AMA trackside support program. Pro Motorsports from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, will lead this effort providing all Yamaha-mounted racers with onsite technical assistance and Yamaha Genuine Parts & Accessories at discounted prices.

Thomas Brown, who finished a strong fourth in the national MX series last year, is back and motivated to climb the podium in 2012. Chad Wienen, a veteran AMA ATV pro and multi event winner, has joined Team Yamaha this year and is excited about his new ride and the opportunity to put another YFZ450R on the podium.

In advance of the national opener this coming weekend, Brown and Wienen discussed how they have been preparing, what the team expansion means, and what they expect this weekend …

This is not the first time John Natalie has had to defend an AMA ATV MX national championship, but the Motoworks/ Can-Am rider may be a touch out of practice when the gates drop this weekend at Aonia Pass MX Park in Washington, Ga. It’s been six years since Natalie started the season with the No. 1 plate.

The pool of talent in this year’s Pro ATVMX class is setting up the 2012 season to be one of the most highly contested battles to date. Baldwin Motorports/PEP/Upperman Racing’s Josh Upperman challenged Natalie’s championship run all the way to the final round of racing, where he and the current champ went head-to-head, leaving Upperman less than ten points short of the title. Ohio’s Upperman is back with his Baldwin Motorsports team on a very familiar Honda machine and looks to continue as a heavy contender once again this season.

National Guard / Polaris / Coastal / Yoshimura / DragonFire / Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished first overall and first in the Side by Side Open Modified Class, while teammate Scott Kiger (National Guard / Polaris / Coastal / Yoshimura / Yokley Racing) finished third overall and third in the same class. Meanwhile, National Guard / Coastal / Bowers Motorcycle Supplies / Yokley Racing Team rider Jarrod McClure did not finish the ATV race after experiencing a mechanical failure.

Yokley Racing Side by Side Summary

The first Side by Side GNCC race of the season is a good way to see if all the off-season testing and preparation will produce a good finish. The team has been busy preparing its new Ranger RZR XP 900s with the goal of defending the Open Modified National Championship. Most of the sponsors remained the same with the addition of Yoshimura, Keizer and Big Country Powersports. Yoshimura supplied the motor kit that can be purchased by anyone through Yoshimura.

With a brand new machine underneath them, Matlock Racing’s Wayne Matlock, Wes Miller and Josh Caster fought their way to a second-place finish (Open Pro Quad) in the 2012 SCORE Tecate San Felipe 250. Check out the video for some great footage of the race.

“The entire Matlock Racing team prides itself on being a well prepared Championship winning team. This has been proven with four consecutive SCORE Championships in class 25, SCORE’s Open Pro Quad class,” Matlock Racing says in a release. “As the 2012 season was starting there were some major changes in store for the Matlock team. The biggest change was the help of American Honda once again. This change would require the team leave the TRX700XX behind and move to Honda’s new TRX450ER for the 2012 season. This change in quads would also require changes with other Sponsors and new testing of products.”

STI Tire & Wheel has signed on to be an official sponsor of the 2012 WORCS program, but its involvement goes much farther than just hanging banners.

STI will be providing all ATV and SxS class racers with a generous contingency program beginning with Round 3 of the series in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

“Use STI Black Diamond or Tech 4 XC tires on the way to the top of the results sheet, and you will be rewarded for your hard work,” STI says in a release.

ITP is getting behind ATV motocross racers in a big way in 2012, offering up $128,000 in contingency awards in the 2012 ATV MX Championship Series.

In addition handing out cash to racers, ITP will be in attendance at every event to provide product and technical assistance.

ITP “MX Bucks” are being offered to MX National participants who use ITP Holeshot, QuadCross MX or Turf Tamer tires on all four wheels and prominently display ITP decals on the front and sides of the ATV. Tech Inspection must be performed and signed by the ITP representative at the trackside support display. Completion of only one “MX Bucks” form is required to be eligible for the contingency program for the entire 2012 National MX season. “MX Bucks” are redeemable at full face value towards the purchase of tires direct from ITP.

The GBC Bucks Awards Program rewards ATV riders who achieve racing success while using GBC Motorsports tires. Top finishers in all classes who run GBC tires and display GBC decals will be rewarded with GBC Bucks, which they may then redeem towards the purchase of tires from GBC Motorsports.

Maxxis/Yoshimura’s Chris Borich is not just the defending champion heading into this weekend’s season opener of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at Westgate River Ranch in River Ranch, Fla. After three consecutive titles, Borich is paving his way into the GNCC record books, one race-win at a time, which means the 2012 tour could help paint an even bigger picture for the Pennsylvania native.

Since his first championship in 2009, Borich has won a staggering 30 out of 39 races in the XC1 ATV Pro class, leaving little room for his competition to shine. But domination is not new to this field. The previous GNCC ATV King, Bill Ballance, still holds the record with nine-straight titles and before Ballance, Barry Hawk won seven straight. So while Borich has a long way to go to match history, he’s ready to make some more of his own as the 2012 season gets underway.

“I’m feeling really prepared for the opening round after spending some time down here in Florida getting my program dialed in,” says Borich. “I feel good and the bike feels good so the only thing left to do is get to racing!”

If there’s one thing race fans don’t care for it’s the off-season. Fortunately, the 2012 Yamaha Quad-X Championship Series is back in action this weekend and STI Tire & Wheel has been named the title sponsor.

“Quad-X has been providing some of the best, most competitive ATV racing in the Southwest U.S. since 2003, and that reputation is sure to grow during this year’s 10-event schedule,” STI says in a release.

There’s a class for everyone, from Pee Wee/Youth and Amateur to 450 Production Pro-Am and Pro. UTV competitors can involved too in the SxS class. The whole family is being welcomed at several top-notch facilities. The 2012 Yamaha Quad-X Series Presented By STI heads into Glen Helen Raceway three times, as well as other professional tracks such as Cahuilla Creek, Comp Edge, The Ranch and SpeedWorld MX, which hosts Saturday night races.

Once again, STI will be providing valuable trackside support at each and every event.

SSi Decals is returning as an associate sponsor of the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series. As part of its support of ATV Motocross, SSi Decals will once again sponsor the SSi Decals Holeshot Award for pro racers at all 10 rounds of the series.

“SSi Decals is fully committed to the ATV industry and proud to be an associate sponsor of the 2012 ATVMX Series,” says Ian Harris, owner of SSi Decals. “We are excited to elevate our role in the series this year and believe we offer the best product on the market when it comes to decals. Our support of the ATV industry extends to all ages and rider-levels.”

Can-Am ATV and UTV racers are coming off a very successful weekend, with victories in the World Off-Road Championshp Series (WORCS) and the Texas Off-Road Nationals (TORN) series.

Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 Pro racer Josh Frederick won Round 2 of the 2012 WORCS held in the desert at Buffalo Bill’s Casino and Resort in Primm, Nev, while Can-Am X-Team racer Hunter Mills won the Pro 450 ATV class and also won the UTV Unlimited class in the TORN series at Beaumont Ranch in Grandview, Texas.

“Our Can-Am racers had successful weekends in both Nevada and Texas. Josh Frederick has gotten off to a great start this year on his DS 450, moving into a tie for the ATV Pro class points lead. He put in a great effort on the ATV and in the Commander 1000 X side-by-side vehicle in WORCS,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Hunter Miller had a great debut in the Commander 1000 X in its TORN series debut, and also started the 2012 season off on the right foot with a Pro class victory aboard the DS 450.”

Racers competing in the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series will be using a new transponder system in 2012 – the MYLAPS FLEX transponder.

“The new MYLAPS FLEX technology allows a racer to decide how long they want the transponder to be activated for, thus introducing a lower cost for racers purchasing a transponder,” says Drew Carl of eScore.

Previously using Trackside’s WEER transponder as the primary source of scoring races, the ATVMX Series will now require racers to use the MYLAPS FLEX transponder while competing in the 10-round national series.

GBC Motorsports’ Pro-Am rider Dylan Dixon finished seventh in Round 2 of the WORCS ATV series at Buffalo Bills in Primm, Nev.

The race began with a dead-engine start which proved challenging for Dixon, who got off to a slow start. Nevertheless he managed to improve his early 12th place position up to eighth by the end of the first lap. By the end of Lap 2, Dixon had worked his way into sixth and was charging on the fifth place rider as things took a turn for the worse.

As Dixon exited the pit section of the track he high-sided and went down. By the time he got back on his quad and going again he had dropped back to 18th. Throughout the remaining laps, however, Dixon continued to fight his way towards the front and never gave up on the race, making a last-second move into seventh just before the checkered flag.

The King of the Hammers might just be the most challenging single-day off-road race in the world. An assortment of some of the most insane four wheelers in the world take to the deserts of Southern California every year to try and tame the Hammers.

Mitch Guthrie was the fastest UTV, finishing the 80-mile course of fast-paced desert riding and ridiculous rock-crawling with a time of 2:20.46.

Polaris comes into the 2012 race season with teams competing in the Grand National Cross Country series (GNCC), World Off-Road Championship series (WORCS), Best in the Desert (BITD) and Mud racing. As well, Polaris also will continue to offer its ATV racing contingency program and has added a Side-by-Side contingency for the BITD series. However, the total available contingency purse has dropped from nearly $400,000 in 2011 to a little more than $85,000 in 2012.

“Polaris is excited for another year of ATV and Side-by-Side Racing,” says Donna Beadle, race team manager for Polaris’ Off-Road Division. “We had a great 2011 winning several championships and we expect 2012 to be another successful year.”

National Guard/Polaris/Coastal Racing

Polaris will continue to support National Guard/Polaris/Coastal racing for 2012. William Yokley took the GNCC and WORCS championships in his National Guard Ranger RZR XP 900 and will look to four-peat in the GNCC series this year. Yokley’s teammate, Scott Kiger finished third in the GNCC “Open Modified” class in his RZR XP and is back for 2012.

Official Team Polaris/Xtreme Plus participated for the first time ever at the Dakar 2012, the world’s toughest off-road race. After having developed a special new FIA class (T3) for the RZR, the Polaris/Xtreme Plus Team had run some tests in several events, and won the Dakar Series, in Russia, in July 2011.

But Dakar is definitely another story, with more than 9000 kilometers (5592 miles) of racing, three countries crossed in South America, 469 participants, and various terrain and extreme weather conditions.

Team Polaris/Xtreme Plus enrolled a very experienced driver Willy Alcaraz No. 374, who had participated in Dakar in several classes as a driver and co-driver, and set up one goal for the first event, reach Lima in Peru in the Polaris Ranger RZR XP 900!

Monster Energy Kawasaki off-road racers kicked-off the opening rounds of the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) ATV/UTV season at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.

Muzzy’s Kawasaki driver Dan Kelly powered his Kawasaki Teryx to the top of the podium in the SxS Production 850 class with fellow Teryx drivers David Lytle in second and Funco Kawasaki’s Garrett George in fifth. In the SxS Production 1000 class, Funco Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Taylor George finished 10th while Muzzy’s Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Robert VanBeekum blew a tire while leading the pack and had to pull off the track.

Sound Strategy

After a series of storms inundated the track at Glen Helen Raceway with more water than it could absorb, racers knew the opening round of the WORCS ATV season would be nothing short of a mug bog. Muzzy’s Kawasaki pilot Kelly came into the weekend with a single goal, to just finish the 45-minute race, regardless of position. When the gate dropped Kelly nailed the holeshot and led wire-to-wire to take the win in the SxS Production 850 class.

Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 Pro racer Josh Frederick finished second in the Pro class at the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) opener in Devore, Calif. Can-Am X-Team support racers also scored two Pro-Am class podiums and a victory in the Production A division at Glen Helen Raceway.

“Our racers had a good weekend, earning several podiums, despite the wet, challenging conditions and one-line track at the opening round at Glen Helen,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Pro racer Josh Frederick led at one point and battled until the very end before netting a hard-fought second place finish. Fellow DS 450 Pro racer Dillon Zimmerman tied a career-best, finishing fourth-place overall in the Pro class.”

Frederick, who finished second overall in the Pro class in 2011 and is a former WORCS ATV Champion, started the race in the top five and quickly moved up into second place by the end of lap two. Later in the race, Frederick took over as the race leader. After leading for two laps, Frederick dropped back to second and continued battling, bumper-to-bumper, with Beau Baron. The two racers did this all the way to the finish line, but Frederick could not find a way around and had to settle for second overall.

BRP’s Can-Am ATV and side-by-side teams reached their respective class podiums in the 34th edition of the most famous rally in the world, the Dakar Rally.

This year’s edition, noted by some as “the most challenging Dakar thus far,” kicked off in Mar del Plata-Argentina, leading 30 hopeful ATV racers through approximately 9,000 kilometers (5,592 miles) of unparalleled terrains across Argentina, Chile, and finally, Peru. Only 11 teams crossed the coveted finish line, among them BRP racers Daniel Mazzucco, Barry Cruces and Petar Cenkov (Team Rally Raid / Can-Am), who finished first, second and third in the 4×4 Quad category.

“Out of my three Dakar participations, this was without a doubt the toughest,” Argentinean pilot Mazzucco (Team AGO-MD / Can-Am) declared upon receiving his first-place trophy. “The ATV performed extremely well … the Renegades filled the podium on the 4×4, which was a great result! I also must commend my technical support team for providing excellent support and assistance.”

Photo by Stephanie Hamilton

GBC Motorsports rider Dylan Dixon competed in the opening round of the 2012 WORCS Series at Glen Helen Raceway this weekend.

The Pro-Am ATV racer from Murrieta, Calif. put GBC’s popular Race Rex tires to the test in the first round of the WORCS season. Saturday morning rain had left the WORCS course at Glen Helen a muddy challenge by the time the Sunday afternoon races rolled around.

Dixon overcame a bad gate pick to come out of the start in fourth place. Officials rerouted the riders partway through the race to avoid the messier pro section, but Dylan fought through the conditions to finish in fifth place.

Looking to build upon its racing success in 2011 – a season that saw two Pro-class championships, two manufacturer’s cup titles, several amateur-class titles and a successful debut with the Commander side-by-side racing efforts — BRP will again field a team of Can-Am racers on both ATVs and side-by-sides in off-road racing series in the U.S. and Canada in 2012.

“I’m very excited to see the start of a new season and feel very confident that our riders and teams will be very well prepared to do battle aboard their Can-Am machines, including an AMA No. 1 plate on John Natalie’s DS 450,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Overall, I feel we have assembled a race team with talented, determined and dedicated pilots and team personnel; I’m proud to have them competing aboard our Can-Am products.”

Team Motoworks / Can-Am

Team Motoworks / Can-Am and owner Johnny Leach begin their defense of the AMA ATV Motocross title with the Can-Am DS 450, offering factory support for reigning AMA ATV Pro Champion John Natalie. The 2011 Pro Rookie of the Year Joel Hetrick, who finished fifth overall and had won two overalls, was also added for the 2012 season.

The ATV Promoters Group (ATVPG) has announced a change in the location of the opening round of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series. Round one, originally scheduled for March 24-25 at Millcreek in Pell City, Ala., will now take place the same weekend at Aonia Pass Motocross in Washington, Ga. Check out the full schedule below the jump.

“Aonia Pass proved last year that their facility is worthy of holding the opening round of ATVMX and it just makes sense to make the change to this location for 2012,” says Sam Gammon, director of the ATVPG.

UTVs compete for one hour on a specially designed course throughout the woods at select GNCC events during the season. UTV competition begins at 4:30 p.m., following the ATV racing program on Saturday afternoon.

“The 2012 UTV schedule is fairly similar to what we ran last season,” says GNCC Trail Boss, Jeff Russell. “By adding the new West Virginia round and John Penton, the UTV schedule is evenly spread throughout the GNCC season and gives competitors time in between rounds to prepare their machines.”

With the 2011 Best In The Desert (BITD) season complete, Brandon Schueler and the Jagged-X desert off-road race team fell just a few points short of capturing their fifth Pro-UTV championship in as many years. Despite falling short, the factory-sponsored Polaris racing team still viewed the season as a success. The team managed to win its fifth consecutive Vegas-to-Reno race, currently the longest race in North America and by far the most difficult in the BITD series. The team also managed to collect two wins and three second-place finishes on the season.

With UTV racing growing at such an impressive rate, Jagged-X felt that the time was right to take its race program a step further for 2012. So for the upcoming season Jagged X / Polaris Racing will add a second car to the desert program. 2011 BITD Pro UTV Champion Matt Parks is now a member of the Jagged-X race team. Parks will be piloting his #1932 Polaris RZR-4 at the 2012 BITD season opener at the Parker 250 with a whole new look.

Racer Productions has announced the details for the 2012 Parts Unlimited GNCC Dealer Challenge, an incentive program designed to enhance the involvement of dealership support to racers in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

The Parts Unlimited GNCC Dealer Challenge provides an opportunity for any authorized motorcycle, ATV or accessory dealership to put together a team of racers to compete against other dealership teams throughout the 13-round GNCC Series. Teams will earn points based on each rider’s respective class finish and will be tracked under an exclusive Dealer Challenge tab on the GNCC Results Page.

Racer Productions has announced the complete schedule for the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. Once again, the 13-round series will begin at Westgate River Ranch Resort in River Ranch, Fla., coinciding with Daytona Bike Week March 10-13.

Highlighting the 2012 calendar is the addition of three all-new venues in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, giving racers the opportunity to compete on fresh soil next season.

“We’re really excited to introduce three new venues to the GNCC schedule next year,” says GNCC Trail Boss, Jeff Russell. “Since the Loretta’s GNCC, we’ve been traveling all over to find new venues for our GNCC Racers and I think the fresh trail and new scenery will add a whole new level of excitement for everyone.”

BRP will provide nearly US $1.8 million to support its Can-Am ATV and Side-By-Side Racing Contingency Program for the 2012 racing season. BRP has added more regional racing series as well as improved the contingency program for select Can-Am ATV and all Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicle racers for 2012. Racers who compete on Can-Am ATVs and side-by-side vehicles in both Canada and the United States are eligible for a cash payout through the program for the upcoming racing season.

“We remain dedicated in our support of both professional and amateur Can-Am ATV and side-by-side vehicle racers,” says Denis Morin, vice-president, Product Development & Racing at BRP. “Our class-leading contingency program is essential for rewarding those racers who choose to compete on our products and be part of the Can-Am family. Racing is deeply rooted in our heritage and serves as an integral resource for furthering product development and innovation.”

Yamaha has revealed its 2012 ATV race team, with racers competing in the top motocross and cross-country series in the country. Also, Yamaha is also expanding its national trackside assistance program with support at all AMA ATV MX National Championship series events.

“No one can match Yamaha’s support of the sport combining a top racing program, event and track-side support programs and the most comprehensive line of sport ATVs,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “This is an exciting time for Yamaha racing as we look forward to the 2012 season with a stellar team and the most high-performance and consistent race quad in the YFZ450R.”

Yamaha’s Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) team will again be led by ATV racing legend Bill Ballance as team owner and manager of Ballance Racing. Taylor Kiser, who took third overall in the 2011 XC-1 Pro class, is back on blue again for 2012 and looking to build momentum. Walker Fowler, the 2011 AMA ATV Racer of the Year and XC-2 Pro Am champ, will move up to join Kiser in the XC-1 Pro class for 2012.

The 2012 Supplemental Rules and Class Structure have been announced for the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series.

The class structure has undergone minor changes in both the youth and amateur categories. Highlights include splitting both the Girls (8-15) and the 90 Modified (8-15) classes into two separate age groups, accordingly.

“We recognize the continued growth in youth ATV racing,” says Sam Gammon, drector of the ATV Promoters Group. “We feel that splitting the Girls and 90 Modified classes will give younger racers a safe platform to compete as they progress in both age and skill level.”

Can-Am off-road racing teams posted class victories in two different desert racing events. Derek Murray piloted the Murray Motorsports’ Can-Am Commander 1000 to victory at the Henderson 250 in the Best in the Desert series in Nevada. The four-man team of Carl Vella, Mike Penland, Rick Matteson and Ryan Robey teamed to ride a Can-Am Outlander 800R ATV to a class win at the 44th Annual 2011 SCORE Baja 1000 desert race in Ensenada, Mexico.

At the BITD event in Henderson, Nev., Derek Murray drove and Bill Kugel co-piloted the Can-Am due to Jason Murray, the driver of record, being ill. Even without his brother by his side, Derek Murray was determined to win. The Commander 1000, prepped by Desert Toyz, started in seventh place, but slowly worked its way to the front of the side-by-side vehicle pack. Three miles into the third lap, the team took over the lead and drove a clean, fast race from there to the finish line to record its first overall win of 2011. The Murray Commander team ended the BITD season ranked third in the final Pro UTV class standings.

“We are extremely happy to have won the Henderson 250 as it is the final race of the season and determines the outcome for the season due to it being a double points race,” says Derek Murray. “We knew all season the Commander had what it takes to be a top competitor in the most competitive desert racing series in the USA. We’re excited that what we knew finally came to fruition in Henderson. It shows that the Commander is a great, reliable and fast machine that’s able to be modified to any rider’s needs.”

The Henderson 250 was the last race of the six-race Best in the Desert series, and the Pro UTV title was on the line. Four-time championship winner Jagged X led the series by a few points with Matt Parks right on its tail. The Transwest Ford Henderson 250 would be the deciding factor.

The race started before dawn with freezing temperatures and howling winds in Jean, Nev. The Jagged X crew was confident with the No. 1919, but in racing, nothing is ever a sure thing. By mile 14, they realized how something as small as a clogged fuel injector could change an entire season. Brandon Schueler managed to limp the No. 1919 into the second pit and after some diagnosis and a quick repair the car was back on the course at 100 percent. Even a few minutes lost in a short race like this is detrimental. Schueler was able to make up some time but in the end, was short of the finish the team had hoped for. When the dust cleared the Jagged X No. 1919 team ended the incredibly great season in the second overall position.

For the 2012 ATV and side-by-side racing season, BRP has added certain Can-Am Outlander and Renegade ATV models and Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicles to its amateur racer support program that has included the Can-Am DS 450 ATV for the past three racing seasons. To complement the additional models added, BRP will also support new 4×4 ATV and side-by-side classes and series adding to its industry-leading Can-Am X-Team Racing contingency program.

“BRP understands the value of an ATV racing contingency program and has already established itself as an industry leader with the DS 450 Amateur Racer Support Program,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “We added 4×4 ATV models and side-by-side vehicles as way to support those amateur racers who choose to race 4×4 ATVs and side-by-sides. BRP wants to fuel their desire to compete and make it more feasible to chase their dreams, whether it be on a local or national level.”

Kane Fraser, a paraplegic, decided to take on the 2011 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in a Polaris RZR XP 900.

“This was our first Baja 1000, our first time racing, and for me my first time racing in any sport ever,” says Fraser.

A first timer’s experience at Baja is hardly ever smooth and Fraser did run into a few issues. His team would add over 100 miles to their total mileage after a wrong turn, and in turn would add hundreds of followers as they headed towards their ceremonial finish at 2am Sunday morning, 36 hours after the start Friday afternoon.

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“We wanted to finish, we didn’t care, nothing would stop us. We kept going and did finish! We were a little bug eyed, but we finished,” says Heino Seibert from Spectra Power Sports, Fraser’s co-driver.

William Yokley of the National Guard/ Polaris/Coastal/Yokley Off-Road Racing Team has won national titles in both the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) and the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS).

Yokley Racing competed in a total of sixteen races in 2011 and covered some of the most demanding terrain and weather conditions in the country. Leading companies within the industry and title sponsors National Guard, Polaris, and Coastal Racing sponsor the team.

Yokley Racing, LLC was founded in 2007 and is a professional off-road race team consisting of competitors William Yokley, Jarrod McClure and Scott Kiger. The team competes in professional ATV and Side-by-Side Off-Road events in the United States and provides valuable product research and development insight to the industry. National Guard, Polaris, Coastal Racing, DragonFire, Kenda, Exit Suspension, TireBalls, Mona-Vie, Tusk, MotoPro Training, Scott and HyghOctane sponsor the team.

On Nov. 18, more than 275 entries would start the 2011 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico with the expectations to finish the race and be the first to cross the finish line. The #1A Matlock Racing Team of Wayne Matlock, Wes Miller and Josh Caster was the first ATV team to cross the finish line after an extremely rough 705 miles through the Baja landscape.

With a rough start earlier in the year at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 and Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the Matlock Racing team was looking forward to a trouble free race. The team spent months preparing for the upcoming race and their goal was to take the overall win once again and seal the points lead for the championship and the #1A plate.

The whole team headed south across the border a week before the race to begin pre-running each of their sections. Matlock and Miller would head to Ensenada as a base for pre-running their sections and Caster would head to San Felipe. Weather was harsh early in the week of pre-running with heavy rains leaving huge mud puddles and washouts along most of the course. All of the team would have to pre-run in the extreme weather to get the course completely covered.

GBC Motorsports is a proud supporter of local ATV racing and is pleased to offer riders a chance at winning a set of tires. As part of FNL’s Fall ATV MX Series, GBC Motorsports is providing a set of Bomb Squad MX tires to one lucky raffle winner at each round of the series.

The FNL Fall ATV MX Series at Milestone MX Park in Riverside, Calif. provides a great opportunity for local racers and ATV enthusiasts to ride at a beautiful facility. As an added bonus GBC Motorsports is raffling off a set of their popular Bomb Squad MX tires at each round of the series. Each first moto class winner will automatically be entered into the raffle.

Round 2 of the FNL Fall ATV MX Series took place Saturday, Nov. 19 at Milestone MX Park. GBC Motorsports Sales Representative and former pro ATV racer Kory Ellis was in attendance to award the winner of this round’s raffle. This time around the winner was Jerry Maldonado (#64), winner of the Open 250 class as well as the beginner class. Jerry put together some impressive runs aboard his Triumph Motorsports Raptor 250. Congratulations, Jerry!

At a star-studded celebration of amateur racers held in Las Vegas, Nev., the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) named Walker Fowler as its 2011 AMA ATV Athlete of the year. The honor was presented to Fowler by AMA Racing Director Joe Bromley at the AMA Visa Card from Capital One Racing Championship Banquet on Nov. 20 at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

Fowler, of Rogers, Ohio, was the most dominant rider in the history of XC2 Pro-Am class competition in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. He won every round of the off-road racing series.

“It was just a crazy year for sure — a dream season,” says Fowler. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do it again. It’s every racer’s dream to be able to do something that no one else can. But there are a lot more goals in front of me that are the same thing, and that’s what keeps us racers going. I just want to thank the AMA for giving us all these series to compete in and letting us go out and do what we do.”

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., made its annual donation to the Feed the Children charity Friday, Nov. 18 at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, Calif. Company officials presented two checks totaling $25,000 along with a truck load of donated items to the organization. As part of the festivities, Yamaha also celebrated a successful 2011 racing season with several championship-winning Yamaha Race Team members in attendance.

“The annual Feed the Children and Race Team celebration is something everyone at Yamaha looks forward to each year,” says Bob Starr, Yamaha general manager of motorsports communications. “As we move into the holiday season, it’s a great time to reflect upon the hard work and donations collected over the year that have a direct impact on families in need. Thanks to all of the Yamaha employees and the Star Touring and Riding Association for their efforts.”

ATV racing champions Dustin Nelson and Walker Fowler were on hand to celebrate their successful ATV racing seasons. Both Nelson and Fowler boasted perfect campaigns: Fowler closes out the 2011 GNCC series with the XC2 championship, going undefeated and notching a record 13 straight wins. Nelson was also perfect and clinched his fifth QuadX Championship after winning all eight races in the series.

After thousands of laps at 13 different locations in the eastern U.S., the 2011 Grand National Cross Country Series came to a thrilling — albeit delayed — conclusion at Loretta Lynn’s in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. This location was originally to be round five, but diabolical weather forced a rare postponement and shift to the end of the schedule. Final celebrations may have been late in coming, but in the end there were a number of ITP riders heading for happy holidays.

Foremost Insurance/Warnert Can-Am teammates Adam McGill and Chris Bithell were consistent frontrunners all season in the premier XC1 Pro class. Implementing ITP Holeshot GNCC and QuadCross XC tires, McGill won two events and stepped onto the podium eight other times to claim an excellent second overall for the year. Bithell appeared in the top three a total of six times to finish a close fourth in the final standings.

“In order to avoid scheduling over top the historical ISDE in September, we have pushed the final round into November again, running the bikes on Saturday so they can also participate in the National Enduro finale,” says Trail Boss Jeff Russell. “As a former ISDE competitor and National Enduro champion, nobody understands the importance of these events more than myself,” says Trail Boss Jeff Russell.