Can-Am GNCC racers had a successful weekend of racing, taking five of a possible nine overall podium spots in the morning, afternoon and side-by-side racing sessions.

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am XC1 Pro-class pilots kept inching closer to an overall victory with Chris Bithell and Adam McGill taking second and third overall respectively in Washington, Ga., aboard Can-Am DS 450 ATVs. While Team Travelena took the Open Limited class win in a Can-Am Commander 1000 X side-by-side vehicle.

“It is good to see success two rounds into the 2011 season,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager for Can-Am. “From the pro class to the amateurs to the side-by-sides Can-Am was well represented on the overall podiums.”

ATV.com and Yamaha are teaming up to give away a 2011 Yamaha Raptor 125 to one of our readers. This is the second article in a four-part series on the newest Raptor. In future articles we’ll improve power and handling to make this machine even more fun and functional. We’ll also compare it to another 125cc sport quad in a head-to-head shootout. Click here for the more information on the Yamaha Raptor 125 Contest.

Yamaha’s 2011 Raptor 125 was a perfect machine to bring to the market. It offers true sport performance and quality that we suspect will have it being handed down from generation to generation of young riders.

Chris Borich made it two wins in a row in the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series with an exciting victory at the Maxxis General GNCC – round two of the series in Washington, Ga.

Racing was close all day, with four riders going nose-to-trail for much of the two-hour race. Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Chris Bithell moved into the lead on the opening lap and held it for most of the day with Borich, Adam McGill and Brian Wolf following closely behind. However, on the final lap, Bithell and Borich broke away into their own personal battle for the lead.

With half a lap to go Borich made his move, cutting under Bithell in a sweeping turn on one of the fastest portions of the track. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider made the pass stick and held on to take the win by just three seconds over Bithell.

The engineering brainiacs at DragonFire Racing recently put their heads together and came up with a package that involves combining DFR’s Can-Am Commander Exhaust and Fuel Management products together. The package is called Commander’s Orders.

At the core of this power package is a new 3/4 exhaust system, manufactured by Yoshimura exclusively for DragonFire Racing, which allows the motor to pull further and longer while increasing peak horsepower. When used with DFR’s plug-n-play PIM-2 fuel management system, the gains are reportedly even more impressive, giving users the ability to optimize their fuel-injection systems by remapping the delivery of fuel to the engine. According to DFR, the result is more power throughout the RPM range, as well as superior throttle response.

“Combine all this with a DATA Box by Yoshimura — which includes an air/fuel sensor and amplifier designed to automatically fine-tune the PIM-2’s fuel map for maximum performance — and you have a power package that can’t be beat,” DragonFire Racing says in a release.

Pro Armor has recently released its doors for the Can-Am Commander. These doors feature all-aluminum construction to save weight and ensure strength and durability for any type of riding or racing.

According to Pro Armor, the doors are direct bolt on to the Commander. They have a multi-point mounting system, which, according to Pro Armor, makes them the strongest and best design on the market. Pro Armor also outfitted the doors with its automotive grade slam latch integrated into the doors.

“These doors not only make your ride look that much better with the state of the art design but also make it much easier to enter and exit your Commander with the suicide opening doors,” Pro Armor says in a release. “Installation is a breeze and only takes a few minutes.”

STI Tire & Wheel has unveiled its new Tech 4 line of sport quad tires. According to STI, the Tech 4 brings high performance to the market at a surprisingly affordable price.

The Tech 4 debuts with two models specifically designed for either motocross or cross-country application. The Tech 4 MX is a track-oriented four 4-ply tire available in two sizes: 20×6-10 front and 18×10-8 rear. The Tech 4 XC provides an extra level of trail durability with a 6-ply rating and comes in taller 21×7-10 front and 20×11-9 rear sizes.

Both models use a high-tech rubber compound that STI says delivers exceptional hook-up on hardpack surfaces, in a unique tread pattern that pulls strongly through soft loam. Lightweight construction reduces unsprung weight and rotational mass for what STI calls unmatched acceleration and ride. The Tech 4’s carcass is designed to reduce bounce and enhance high-speed control and cornering confidence.

Holz Racing Products has recently released a couple of goodies for the Can-Am Commander side-by-side – a +3” Long Travel Kit and a Pre-Runner Front Bumper.

Can-Am Commander +3″ Long Travel Kit

According to Holz, you can dramatically upgrade handling and stability with its Long Travel Suspension Kit. This kit is 3” wider per side for increased handling capability and resistance to rollovers. Wheel travel is increased to 11.5” and wheel base is +4” longer. The kit will retail for $3,450.

Product Features:
– 4130 tig welded construction with a durable powdercoat finish
– Stainless Steel Extended Brake Lines
– Heavy duty Heat Treated Extended Axle Shafts
– CV Boot Clamps
– Tie Rod Extensions
– Detailed Assembly Instructions
– Uses stock-length shocks
– Uses stock ball joints, bearings, CV Joints and pivot bushings

National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing ATV Team Rider Jarrod McClure finished sixth overall and sixth in the XC1 Pro Class in Round 1 of the 2011 GNCC Series in River Ranch Fla. The race featured 121 total entries with 15 XC1 Pro Riders.

Yokley Race Summary

The 2011 GNCC season opener is always filled with excitement. It takes place at a great location at the River Ranch Resort in Florida, and the races tie in with all the Bike Week festivities in Daytona. It is a race which shows who has been training and preparing during the off-season, and who has not.

FRE/KTM Team rider Bryan Cook started his day off right at the season opener of the ATV GNCC Series when he rocketed his KTM ATV out front early to grab the holeshot award and went on to finish the day in fifth place.

After nailing the holeshot on his Baldwin Motorsports powered KTM engine Cook led reigning champion Chris Borich, followed by Bryan Wolf, Chris Bithell and Adam McGill for the first lap and a half. At that point, Wolf and Borich were able to get around Cook on an alternate line. Wolf led until the end of lap two before having some clutch issues. The sand course began to deteriorate and challenge even the best in the field as the two-hour race continued on. Cook dropped to fifth place around the halfway mark but remained close to the other top four riders through the finish.

“I was very excited to grab the holeshot and run the pace of the leaders for the first lap and a half of the race,” says Cook. “I know that I can be closer to their speed I just have a few areas I need to work on. I am looking forward to seeing if I can pick it up at the next round.”

FRE/KTM support riders Aarol Bright in the XC2 class and Derrick Shaw in the College B class both picked up fourth place overall.

2011 FRE/KTM ATV Team Sponsors: KTM, FRE, GBC Tire, HMF, HiPer, Wheel, DID, Baldwin Motorsports, Ohlins, PowerMadd, FASST, Rath Racing, JB Racing, Wiseco, Precision Racing Products, IMS, Sidi, Scott, Quad Tech, JB Racing, Moto X-Perts, G4 Graphics, Motorex, Rekluse, KTM hard Equipment and Twin Air

Next Round: March 12, 2011 – Aonia Pass, GA

Precision Racing Products is sponsoring the Sierra Cross Country Series – a new west coast ATV XC racing series in the scenic mountains and foothills of the Sierras.

John Scott, a native of the Sierras fell in love with cross country racing while living on the East Coast. After moving back to the Sierras, Scott was encouraged by his east coast friends to start an ATV XC series on the west coast.

With the help of George Athanasiou of Precision Racing Products, Ed Teixeira of Teixeira Tech, and Scott’s long time friend Jeff Porras ; Scott was able to bring his vision of a family fun ATV XC Race series in the woods of Northern California and Nevada to life. The eight-race series debuts at Falling Waters Ranch in Grass Valley, Calif. April 8-10 2011.

Chris Borich took the first step towards adding a third GNCC title to his résumé on the weekend by winning the opening round of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series at the Moose Racing Westgate River Ranch event, near River Ranch, Fla.

Last year, Borich won 11 of 13 rounds to claim the 2010 title, and this year the Yoshimura Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider picked up right where he left off, using a strong final lap push on the rough and sandy course to take the opening round victory over Ballance Racing Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser and Warnert Racing Can-Am Foremost Insurance’s Chris Bithell.

“This is a good win for us,” says Borich. “We got the lead on the last lap and I put the hammer down and tried to pull a gap. I can’t thank my team enough. For sure, it was a team effort and a good win.”

The new Polaris Ranger RZR XP 900 was out in full force at the Buffalo Bills WORCS race, in Primm, Nevada this past weekend. The top four spots belonged to high-performance side-by-side.

D.J. Noerr finished first with Phillip Martin finishing close behind. Third belonged to the William Yokley of the National Guard Polaris Coastal DragonFire Yokley Racing Team and fourth went to Christopher Blais. National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing’s Scott Kiger was right with the leaders until an unfortunate belt issue dropped him to seventh. William Yokley’s third place finish gave him the points lead for the class.

“It was great to see the various Ranger RZR models as the choice of the racers in the WORCS side-by-side classes,” says Donna Beadle, Polaris race team manager. “We congratulate all the winners and are excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”

STI has launched a new high performance wheel without the high performance cost – the Pro-Lite spun aluminum wheel line.

According to STI, Pro-Lite wheels are manufactured with the latest high-tech production equipment and utilize heavy-duty .170 wall construction to provide maximum strength and minimum rotating mass. To complete the wheel it is either polished to a mirror-like finish or topped with a satin black powdercoat.

The STI Pro-Lite debuts in five sizes — 8×8.5, 9×8, 10×5, 10×8, 10×10 — and a variety of bolt patterns and offsets to cover front and rear applications on all popular sport ATVs. Each wheel’s bolt pattern has been stamped inside for easy identification.

National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished eighth overall in the Pro ATV class in Round 2 of the 2011 WORSC Series on Sunday, Feb. 27. National Guard Polaris Coastal DragonFire Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished third in the Side by Side Class 1 UTV class, and National Guard Polaris Coastal Yokley Racing Team driver Scott Kiger finished seventh in the same class after experiencing mechanical problems.

Summary

The National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing team made the trip to Primm, Nev. for Round 2 of the 2011 WORCS series. Cold weather, high winds and snow greeted the team at the Buffalo Bills race course located 35 miles south of Las Vegas. The UTV race was run partly on the short Trophy Truck course with many jumps and turns, and partly in the desert with lots of sand whoops and high speed areas.

Bomb Squad Racing’s Josh Creamer secured his first career WORCS victory at Round 2 of the 2011 series at Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino in Primm, Nev. With the win Creamer sits just four points behind current leader Jeremy Warnia in the race for the 2011 WORCs championship.

Track conditions in Primm were cold and wet due to a winter storm that rolled in from the west. Snow, sleet and freezing temperatures descended on the track all day Saturday, Feb. 26, and though the snow had melted by Sunday morning, bitterly cold temperatures still made it a tough race for everyone.

Creamer grabbed a monster holeshot at the start of the pro race, his second of the season, but dropped to second after misjudging the pit area entrance.

“Josh came in there really fast and I think it caught him by surprise,” says Kory Ellis, Bomb Squad Racing team manager. “I looked up and saw his bike flipping and hay everywhere and thought, ‘This isn’t going to be good.’”

“It looked worse than it really was,” says Creamer of the mishap. “Once I knew I was going to hit the hay-bales, I jumped off. The bike kind of exploded the hay, so it looked pretty wild, but I just walked over, hopped back on and took off. I had a big lead on Warnia, but he passed me during that mess right as I was getting back on my quad.”

After recovering from his spectacular crash, Creamer settled into second behind Warnia and paced himself, waiting for an opportunity to strike. That opportunity came when Warnia had to pit on lap six, and Josh once again took over the lead. Once in the lead, Josh put the hammer down and powered the Bomb Squad Honda to his first WORCS win.

“It feels great to get this win,” says Creamer. “I’m learning a little bit more at each race. I slowed down a little bit this time and rode at a more relaxed pace. I’ve also been training a lot, and came into this event ready to race. The training and pacing myself paid off. This was a much easier race for me than the last one, and I had a lot of fun out there.”

The third round of the 2011 WORCS ATV Championship will take place in Lake Havasu, Ariz. on March 21.

Coming off a strong finish last season, Motoworks/ Can-Am Pro riders Chad Wienen and John Natalie were heavy favorites coming into the first round of the AMA ATVMX Championship, presented by DWT. They certainly lived up to expectations.

Josh Upperman grabbed the moto one holeshot aboard his Baldwin Motorsports Honda, taking over the lead early on. Natalie and Wienen weren’t letting Upperman out of their sight, though. Pro class Rookie Joel Hetrick got a great holeshot behind the veteran riders. On lap 5, Natalie went over the berm, allowing his teammate Wienen to cruise on by for the second place position. Hetrick also capitalized on Natalie’s mistake, moving himself into the third spot behind Wienen.

STI Tire & Wheel has launched its innovative new HD1 wheel. What sets this model apart is its unique non-stick, Slik-Kote finish, which STI says sheds mud like no wheel before.

This high-tech, rugged, deep gray finish reduces mud and debris buildup and resulting unsprung weight, which can compromise the machine’s power, handling and ride. It also makes post-ride cleanup exceptionally easy.

The HD1 wheel’s heavy-duty construction adds to its innovation. This one-piece alloy wheel features both inner and outer wheel lip reinforcement. Most wheels in this class use only outer lip reinforcement. Like STI’s other HD Series wheels, the HD1 carries a lifetime structural warranty.

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series has announced that Can-Am will return with its demo rides for the 2011 season. Can-Am demos will be offered at three rounds of the 13-stop tour, with an additional round featuring display units only.

“We return as title sponsor of one of the greatest off-road racing series in the world, and we return with our demo tour at selected spots in 2011,” says Chaz Rice, media and public relations manager for Can-Am. “We enjoy bringing our machines to the GNCC crowds because we appreciate their passion for performance and winning. These are two elements crucial to the Can-Am brand.”

Demo rides will be offered at the Loretta Lynn, Snowshoe and Ironman events, with the addition of display units at Unadilla. Several products from the 2011 Can-Am line will be represented at the demo – featuring the Commander, the Outlander and the Renegade.

Every year in mid-February Indianapolis, Ind. showcases the industry’s largest collection of powersports accessories. If you’re looking for something new to add to your ATV or side-by-side chances are it can be found here.

For 2011 the Dealer Expo was quite different from previous years. The most notable change was the weather! Mother Nature was kind enough to provide us with temperatures in the 50s, which was quite a nice change from the frigid temperatures of years past.

Not only was the weather different than in the past, the entire format of the Dealer Expo was changed up. In the years prior, the Expo was strung about the Indianapolis Convention Center in each convention hall, hallway, and ballroom which made it difficult to see everything that the Expo had to offer in just one day. This year the organizers decided it would be best if each segment of the powersports market was in its own designated area. This made the Expo very easy to navigate and easy to find what you were looking for.

First on our list to check out was Blingstar’s new Suicide Lambo Doors and Tonto Cover for side-by-sides. We had heard a bit about these doors and Tonto cover in the weeks prior to the show but this was our first chance to see theses very innovative products in person until the Dealer Expo itself. Not only are the doors very trick looking, but you can also purchase them with an optional remote door opener which allows you to open them from about 20 feet away! Rumors are that Blingstar also plans to come out with a remote opener for the Tonto Cover as well.

The Yamaha QuadX Championship series has been updated to include an additional event on Saturday, July 9th and a date shift of the October race from Sunday to Saturday.

The sixth round of the series makes for a double header at the challenging Glen Helen track on July 9th and 10th. The venue’s spacious camping grounds will make this for a fun race weekend for the whole family.

The series kicks off March 27th at Glen Helen Raceway as a grand finale of Dirt Fest 2011 – a fun weekend for ATVs, UTVs and Trophy Karts. Come on Friday and camp for the weekend to enjoy open trail riding, poker runs, mud bogs and demo rides on Saturday and the QuadX on Sunday.

Check out QuadXSeries.com for more information on the series.

After three years of racing King of the Hammers, the Jagged X team won the side-by-side class with the new and nearly-stock Polaris Ranger RZR XP 900.

Since its original debut in 2008, the King of the Hammers race has been deemed the toughest off-road race in the world. The course is a 42-mile combination of open desert racing, narrow goat trails and huge rock trails. For the last two years, the Jagged X team raced its desert race car and while they were in the hunt, the heavier full-blown race car came up just short of the win. This year, the team took a little different approach and raced the new and nearly-stock RZR XP. The unit was modified only to comply with the safety requirements and equipped with a set of Elka Elite series shocks.

With the temperature hovering in the low 20s, the Jagged X team lined up in the tenth starting position with seventeen other side-by-sides. When the flag dropped, Brandon Schueler and co-driver Mike West charged off into the California desert with a group of very-well equipped competitors. The RZR XP reeled in the rest of the field and by the first rock trail the team was running in third position. Shortly after, the only car between the No. 1919 and the finish line was the two-time winner Mitch Guthrie, also driving an almost-stock Ranger RZR 800. The two were separated by only a few feet for the next 15 miles but then in the last major rock section, known as Aftershock, Schueler was able to squeeze by and capture the lead. The two swapped the lead again in the bottom of the canyon but when the dust cleared, Jagged X came out ahead by nearly five minutes ahead of Guthrie, and the rest of the field was nearly an hour back.

Maxxis is offering more than $1 million in cash to all ATV and motorcycle racers in seven major U.S. race series.

You read it correctly – cash! Not just discounts, coupons or free product, but cold, hard cash. Payouts are available for first through third place in most classes.

“Maxxis has a long history of supporting ATV and motorcycle racing, and we’re going big again this season,” says Scott Perkins, marketing specialist for Maxxis’ Specialty Tire division. “We know that riders’ expenses keep increasing, and cash payouts can go a long way to help.”

Payouts range from $25 all the way up to $500 for the pro class in certain series. Riders can earn cash in the following series: ATV Motocross Nationals; Extreme Dirt Track Nationals; GNCC ATV and MC; Maxxis New England ATV – MX; Mid America XC Racing ATV and MC; OMA Nationals ATV and MC; and WORCS ATV and MC.

Riders must run Maxxis tires on all four wheels for ATV and on the front and rear for motorcycle, and must display the specified number of Maxxis decals on their vehicles. Full instructions are on the contingency application forms. To view or download forms, visit
http://www.maxxis.com/MotorcycleATV/Contingency-Programs.aspx.

Related Reading
Yamaha YFZ450R MX Project – Wheels & Tires
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Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.’s national OHV Access Initiative contributed more than $265,000 in GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nations Trails) in 2010. The program, with a mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas, has invested more than $1.5 million to date.

Through this program, Yamaha has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of trails, kept open countless riding areas, improved staging areas, built bridges over fish-baring streams and partnered with local riding communities across the country to improve the OHV experience for all. A complete list of organizations that have received Yamaha GRANTs is available here.

“Yamaha is proud of the hard work accomplished through the support of the OHV Access Initiative, but there is always more to be done,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV/SxS marketing manager. “Riding clubs and land managers across the country have put the resources of the OHV Access Initiative to good use, and we continue to encourage more of them to look to Yamaha for support.”

Yamaha has reaffirmed its commitment to the OHV community in 2011 and is now actively seeking qualified projects from nonprofit or tax exempt organizations at local, state and federal levels.

“We have seen the effects of the economic downturn on the local level. It is a challenge for OHV clubs and riding areas to maintain their trails and take on new projects, but we are here to help,” says Nessl. “If you work for a national or state forest, or are a member of a local riding club, we encourage you to check out the guidelines, application and examples on our website, and consider how you might incorporate an OHV Access Initiative GRANT as you maintain and improve your riding area.”

The 2011 OHV Access Initiative GRANT schedule, application form and guidelines are available at www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess.

The final Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANTs for 2010 included $102,000 awarded to seven organizations for projects such as trail construction and maintenance, mapping, and education programs promoting awareness of safe and responsible riding practices. GRANTs were awarded to the following organizations in the third and fourth quarter of 2010:

* High Mountain ATV Association, Wallace, Idaho
* Forest Grove District, Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Grove, Ore.
* Northumberland County, Anthracite Adventure Recreation Area, Sunbury, Penn.
* San Bernardino National Forest Association, Fawnskin, Calif.
* Stewards of the Sierra National Forest, North Folk, Calif.
* Tillamook District, Oregon Department of Forestry, Tillamook, Ore.
* Tonto Recreation Alliance (TRAL), Tempe, Ariz.

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Yamaha gives out $50,000 in second quarter GRANTs
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It’s not often you can save $1,400 on anything, but HCR Racing has cut its prices just that much on all its long travel kits – from $5,399 to $3,999.

HCR Racing kits are currently available for the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR, RZR S, and RZR 4, Polaris Ranger XP, Kawasaki Teryx, and Arctic Cat Prowler. Kits will soon be available for the Can-Am Commander and Polaris RZR X 900.

Each HCR Racing long travel kit comes with the following:

* Custom Tuned King 2.0 Reservoir Shocks/Black or traditional blue for best color match
* Summers Brother’s Racing 4340 Axles
* Laser Cut for precise fit and finish
* CNC’d Chromoly construction mounting points
* Boxed design and Hand Tig Welded for strength and appearance
* OEM ball joints to maximize low speed steering & travel with less maintenance
* Complete kit 100% Made in the U.S.A.
* 100% Bolt-on installation using factory mounting points
* 6″ wider per side for maximum travel and stability
* 2″ longer wheelbase for better high speed stability, hill climbing, and descents
* Achieves 15″+ wheel travel for the ultimate ride quality and articulation

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted to delay enforcement of portions of the controversial “lead law” that would have banned the sale of youth dirtbikes and ATVs, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

On Feb. 1, the CPSC voted 4-1 to delay enforcement until Dec. 31 of the independent laboratory testing and certification requirements, as well as the lead-content limits, for youth dirtbikes and ATVs contained within the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008. The decision extends an earlier stay on the testing and certification requirements that was scheduled to expire Feb. 10, and the stay of enforcement on the lead-content provisions that was set to expire May 1.

The CPSC is responsible for implementing the CPSIA, which bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. The law also requires children’s products to undergo expensive periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the CPSC and those products must be certified that they comply with the CPSIA.

“I want to thank all of the AMA and ATVA [All Terrain Vehicle Association] members and riders who used AMA and ATVA tools to request a delay in the enforcement of the law,” says Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations. “This latest action affords riders much-needed breathing room to allow federal lawmakers to exempt child-sized dirtbikes and ATVs from the law.

“It’s important now for anyone concerned about this issue to contact their federal lawmakers to ask them to support H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, that was introduced by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) to exempt kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs from the law.”

An easy way to contact lawmakers is to use the tools available in the Rights section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Related Reading
New bill to end lead law on youth OHV
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DMC has announced new Afterburner slip-ons for the Can-Am Outlander 800 and 800 Max, as well as a Quiet Exhaust System for the Honda TRX250EX.

According to DMC, these systems address the need for keeping sound requirements legal while delivering on powerband performance in the full range from low, to mid, to high end.

“Dramatic increases in horsepower and torque deliver reliable power that’s smooth and controllable making a significant improvement to your riding experience,” DMC says in a release.

Both the Afterburner slip-on and the Quiet Exhaust System meet the USFS sound level of less than 96 db’s, so you can have all the power on demand you want while keeping the authorities off your back.

Yamaha Outdoors has announced the winner of its third annual Yamaha-National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day ATV sweepstakes. Natalie Uribe-De Freitas from Santa Clara, Calif. won a new 2011 Yamaha Grizzly 450 ATV with Electric Power Steering (EPS) valued at $7,499.

NHF Day was formalized by Congress as a public reminder that hunters, anglers and shooters are America’s premier conservation supporters who generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs. Scheduled annually on the fourth Saturday of September, the 2010 celebration of hunting, fishing and conservation took place on September 25 – with 120 registered events held in more than 40 states. The events provided an opportunity to share the NHF Day message, introduce new participants to outdoor recreational activities, and demonstrate the positive impact these activities have on conservation efforts.

“Yamaha is proud to continue its support of outdoor recreation and to help spread the National Hunting and Fishing Day message,” says Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group. “Congratulations to Ms. Freitas. We hope she will enjoy the new Grizzly 450 EPS in the field very soon.”

HCR Racing has released a handful of protection items for the Polaris Ranger RZR 170.

RZR 170 owners can now outfit their machines with a full skid plate system with rocker protection ($299), front grill ($79 silver; $89 black), door inserts ($149 silver; $179 black), and a roof top ($249 silver; $289 black).

HCR Racing boasts all of its protection products are constructed of 1/8″ 5052 aircraft aluminum with 100% bolt-on installation using factory mounting points.

“If your kids are like most, they don’t understand anything but full throttle with little regard for the repercussions of too much speed,” HCR Racing says in a release. “To make sure your kid’s investment lasts through their abuse, it’s important to protect the underbody effectively. The HCR Racing full belly skid plate not only protects the undercarriage, it provides crucial side rocker panel protection when they’re banging off the rocks and cutting corners around trees.

Team Motoworks / Can-Am had an impressive opening to its 2011 World Off-Road Championship Series race season as factory driver Mark Holz piloted his Can-Am Commander 1000 side-by-side vehicle to the Class 1 victory in front of some of the best side-by-drivers in North America. His teammate, Jeremie Warnia also took the Pro-class victory on his Can-Am DS 450 ATV.

“I’m extremely proud of Mark Holz as he drove excellently this past weekend to earn the Motoworks / Can-Am Commander 1000 a victory at the opener of this highly competitive race series,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “As demonstrated with Warnia and his DS 450 victory as well, the team’s preparation and testing has definitely paid off and I’m looking forward to many more victories in what will surely be a very exciting season.”

In the side-by-side race, Holz quickly passed for the lead during the first lap and never looked back. At the end of the race, he and his Commander 1000 were nearly two minutes ahead of the nearest competitor; he also had the fastest lap of the race as well. Warnia looked extremely fast in practice and backed it up by passing for the lead on the first lap of the Pro ATV race on his DS 450 and fought off the competition. His teammate and defending champion, Josh Frederick, took third in the Pro class on his DS 450.

With the deadline fast approaching that would effectively ban the sale of kids’ dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) has introduced legislation to end the ban, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

On Jan. 25, Rehberg introduced H.R. 412, the Kids Just Want to Ride Act, which would exempt kids’ off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 that effectively bans their sale beginning May 1.

“Here again, a law meant to improve children’s safety is actually being enforced in a way that puts kids in more danger than ever, while destroying jobs to boot,” Rehberg said. “It’s critical that we put to rest any confusion once and for all so kids can just get outside and ride.

“There’s no excuse for continued bungling that only stops kids from using the very youth-sized off-road vehicles that are intended to keep them safe,” Rehberg added.

“The American Motorcyclist Association has always been an excellent advocate for their members, and I’m happy to be working so closely with them again,” Rehberg said.

Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations, thanked Rehberg on behalf of the AMA and the All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), which is the AMA’s sister organization.

“This is the most promising and viable legislative remedy available to permanently exclude kid-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the deleterious and unintended consequences of the CPSIA,” Moreland said. “We also want to thank the many thousands of AMA and ATVA members who have answered the call from the beginning to urge their lawmakers to exempt kids’ OHVs from the lead law.

“Now, we need a renewed push because time is running out,” Moreland said.

The easiest way to contact federal lawmakers is through the Rights section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcycist.com.

The CPSIA bans the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part. Aimed at children’s toys, the law also ensnared kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs because trace levels of lead can be found in parts such as batteries and brake calipers.

The law also requires all children’s products to undergo periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is responsible for implementing out the CPSIA.

On May 1, 2009, the CPSC delayed enforcement of the lead-limit portion of the law until May 1, 2011 to, among other things, give vehicle makers time to figure out ways to ensure their products comply with the law.

Even though the lead-limit portion of the law isn’t being enforced, many dealers are no longer selling kid-sized OHVs and half of the major ATV manufacturers are no longer selling machines for kids because of uncertainty surrounding the CPSIA.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Team GenRight is offering fans two chances to win a ride in a King of the Hammers Ultra4 Car.

Tony Pellegrino of GenRight Offroad and Kevin Sacalas of Big Ugly Racing have partnered for the 2011 Ultra4 season as Team GenRight and are hosting a Team GenRight Meet and Greet in Hammertown on Wed., Feb. 9 at their tent on GenRight St. directly across from the vendor area in Hammertown.

The Team GenRight Meet and Greet will be an opportunity for King of the Hammers fans to meet Kevin and Tony, see their cars, get their autographs, and sign up for a chance to win a ride in either Kevin Sacalas’ new Big Ugly 2.0 or Tony Pellegrino’s 4485 GenRight car. Additionally there will be giveaways throughout the event and team members will also be on hand to answer questions about the cars and the race.

Two Brothers Racing has announced the release of its 2011 Polaris Ranger RZR800 Triple M7 Full Exhaust System. You read that right – triple!

The logical question is “why three mufflers?” According to Two Brothers Racing, when you uncork the big twin in the Ranger RZR it gets really loud. The solution is a triple-canister system you see pictured below.

“With three mufflers you have all the power increase advantages of a free flowing racing exhaust system but the sound output is nicely muted,” Two Brothers Racing says in a release. “We are sure that when you pull this exhaust system out of the box, install it on your ATV, and feel the performance you will agree that it is The Absolute Top Level.”

A would-be ATV thief from Canton, Ohio was caught stalling the ATV he swiped.

According to a report from CantonRep.com, 26-year-old Sean C. Moore was found by authorities hiding under a tree after the 2003 Suzuki ATV he stole stalled.

Moore was booked into jail on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and criminal tools possession.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has announced its 2011 ATV race team members including: Bill Ballance, Traci Cecco, Taylor Kiser and Walker Fowler in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series; Thomas Brown in the ATVA/AMA National Motocross series; and Dustin Nelson in the revamped QuadX Series as well as the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS). The MX racers will compete on the YFZ450R while the cross-country teams will continue to race YFZ450X.

“Yamaha is proud to continue to support the sport of ATV racing and so many great competitors, from the record-holding veterans and returning champs to up-and-coming riders and future champs,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “Racing has always been at Yamaha’s core, and our high-performance machines and stellar race teams are a result of Yamaha’s ongoing commitment to the sport. We’re looking forward to another exciting season in 2011.”

Last season, Can-Am ATV racers saw their most successful campaign of racing yet. This year, in addition to taking to the tracks on Can-Am ATVs, BRP adds side-by-side vehicle racers to its roster of factory-supported pilots across North America with the introduction of the Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicle to the racing world.

“Continued success on the track means continued improvement for our line of products,” says Denis Morin, vice-president, Product Development & Racing. “We at BRP were pleased with last year’s pro and amateur championships. For 2011, we look forward to seeing the results of our factory-supported pro and amateur racers and cannot wait to race the new Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicle.”

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am

BRP is offering up more than $1.6 million as part of its Can-Am X-Team Racing Contingency Program. Can-Am ATV and side-by-side vehicle racers across Canada and the United States will be eligible for a cash payout though the program in the 2011 racing season.

As in the past, riders of the Can-Am DS 450, Can-Am Outlander and Can-Am Renegade lines of ATVs are eligible for the cash payout. However, starting in the 2011 race season, drivers of the new Can-Am Commander 800R and Commander 1000 lines of side-by-side vehicles will be eligible for the program as well.

“We are excited to continue our support for both the professional and the amateur Can-Am ATV, and now, side-by-side vehicle racer,” says Denis Morin, vice-president, Product Development & Racing at BRP. “Racing has always been an integral part of our DNA here at BRP, and we reward those who commit to joining the Can-Am family on the race track.”

According to BRP, racers who meet the terms of the contingency program will receive a cash payout in the amount earned based on his or her placing in the event, with payment mailed directly to the participant or legal guardian. BRP is also awarding contingency for overall championships at the end of the season.

BRP is paying out contingency cash in all major U.S. national racing series, including the Can­Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, the AMA ATV Motocross Championship and the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS). In addition, BRP will pay contingency in several regional series and the High Lifter Mud Nationals.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2011 schedule, the 2011 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, visit http://www.can-amxteam.com/.

Related Reading
2010 a big year for Can-Am racers

To open the first Best in the Desert race of 2011, the Parker 250, Jagged X chose to run its championship-winning former project X rock crawler to ring in the new race year. The No. 1919 did what it does best, win!

Jagged X had to overcome a poor starting draw of 12th and 15 other side-by-sides to take the checkered flag. The local rains kept the dust to a minimum and gave Brandon Schueler and co-driver Mike West the ability to pick off competitors one-by-one and finish first.

“We are very pleased to begin the year with a win,” says Bill Schueler of Jagged X. “This season should prove to be a very exciting one and we are excited to debut our new car in April.”

Racer Productions, producer of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, has announced an updated schedule for the 13-round 2011 GNCC Racing tour. While the series dates and locations were announced previously, the updated schedule for the GNCC UTV class is now available.

The six-round UTV series will kick off on Saturday, March 12 at the Maxxis General GNCC in Aonia Pass in Washington, Ga. Side-by-side UTVs have been a part of the GNCC tour for three seasons, with the challenging GNCC courses pitting the vehicles against real off-road terrain like hills, mud, rocks and trees.

The Indy 100 GNCC in Gosport, Ind. joins the UTV tour for the first time on May 14, and the Rock Run GNCC in Altoona, Pa. debuts on May 28. Other UTV tour stops include the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC on Apr. 9, the ITP Powerline Park GNCC on Oct. 8, and the Amsoil Ironman GNCC on Oct. 23.

Related Reading
2011 Can-Am GNCC Series schedule announced

Two Brothers Racing has announced the release of its 2011 Can-Am Commander Slip-on System.

“Before the ’11 Commanders were even released, TBR engineers got their hands on the Commander and went to work on developing the most dynamic aftermarket system available,” Two Brothers Racing says in a release. “The final outcome is the most impressive and highest quality Commander exhaust system currently available.”

According to Two Brothers Racing, its new slip-on system drops more than seven pounds off the stock Commander and adds over 3.1 horsepower. The V.A.L.E. Stainless Slip-on System with M7 Aluminum Canister retails for $419.98. For more information visit TwoBros.com.

According to OMF this beadlock can be purchased on a new wheel and is also being offered as a conversion for those who would like to send in their own wheels to have the beadlock installed.

Like OMF’s original Scalloped Beadlocks, the Super Lite Drain Hole Beadlock is built from aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum plate for extreme durability. OMF says that is where the similarities end. Once in one of OMF’s six CNC machines, pockets and ejection ports are machined around the beadlock ring, which decreases the weight, adds a custom style, and most importantly allows for water, mud, sand, and other debris to drain out.

“This beadlock assembly is so light that on an OMF 12×6 Outlaw Type R wheel with the Super Lite Drain Hole beadlock the total weight is only 8.065 lbs per wheel,” OMF says in a release.

Polaris comes into the 2011 race season with teams competing in the Grand National Cross Country series (GNCC), World Off-Road Championship series (WORCS), Best in the Desert (BITD), TORC, LUCAS and Mud racing. Polaris also will continue to offer its ATV racing contingency program.

“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 hope to continue our momentum with the Sportsman XP 850 and are excited to introduce our new Ranger RZR XP 900 to Side-by-Side racing.”

Rath Racing

Rath Racing is back for a third year to race the Sportsman XP 850 with Power Steering and the new Ranger RZR XP 900 in GNCC. Daryl Rath continues to dial in the Sportsman XP 850 and has his sites set on No. 1 in the “4×4 Open” class. Rath also will race the new Ranger RZR XP 900 in the “Open Modified” Side-by-Side class.

Yokley Racing

Polaris will continue to support the Yokley Racing/National Guard race team for 2011. William Yokley took his National Guard Ranger RZR 800 to the top of the “Open Modified” class for 2010 and will look to repeat his title with the new Ranger RZR XP 900 in 2011. Yokley’s new teammate, Scott Kiger, will race the Ranger RZR XP 900 in all WORCS events this season and looks to take the top spot in that series.

Jagged X

Jagged X looks to keep their championship streak alive in Best in the Desert Championship with the new Ranger RZR XP 900. Brandon Schueler, Chad Riccio and Mike West will be back for another exciting season in the new 88-horsepower, extreme Side-by-Side.

Walker Evans

RJ Anderson will be back to race the TORC and LUCAS Oil series with his new Walker Evans Ranger RZR XP 900. When he’s not tearing up those series, Anderson also will try select WORCS and GNCC races.

Highlifter

Team Highlifter-Polaris Racing will be muddin’ on Polaris’ once again for 2011. The team will be racing Sportsman 850 XP, Sportsman 550, Ranger XPs and Ranger RZRs.

Polaris ATV Contingency

Polaris also will continue to offer an ATV race contingency program, in eight ATV racing series, with a total purse of almost $400,000. Polaris is offering contingencies in GNCC, WORCS, ATVA-AMA Motocross Nationals, AMA National Harescramble, Iowa ATV Hare Scramble Series (IATVHSS), New England ATV Motocross Series (NEATV), the Heartland Challenge and Canadian Motorsport Racing Club Series (CMRC). Racers must race 2008 or newer quads, and utility classes must be raced on a Sportsman XP 850 or Sportsman 550. More information and complete rules about Polaris’ ATV racing contingencies can be found at PolarisFactoryRacing.com.

Related Reading
2011 Polaris Ranger RZR XP 900 Unveiled
2009 Polaris Sportsman 850 XP EPS Review

As the new year begins, Can-Am ATV racers – both pro and amateur – can reflect on a successful 2010. Last season, Can-Am ATV racers took home nearly 40 pro and amateur championships across North America.

“To see so many Can-Am ATV racers celebrating championships means a lot to everyone at BRP,” says Denis Morin, vice-president, Product Development & Racing at BRP. “Everyone from top management on down is committed to helping our racers be successful on the track. We look forward to 2011 and what it will bring for our dedicated Can-Am racers.”

2010 Highlights

Through various fundraisers and auctions held throughout the 2010 season, events produced by Racer Productions, MX Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing raised nearly $8000 for charitable foundations.

Special thanks goes to the racers, fans, friends and family members who bid on items and donated at events. Items included eBay auctions of the official podium backdrops from the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Can-Am GNCC Racing Series, the MotorcycleUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship, the ITP Tires/Moose Racing ATVMX Championship, and the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. In addition, Team FMF/Makita Suzuki auctioned off Josh Strang’s GNCC Championship winning Suzuki RM-Z450 at the MotorcycleUSA.com Snowshoe GNCC in June.

The GNCC tour also raised funds for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Faith Alliance at the Ironman GNCC pink race in October.

Donation totals include: RiderDown.org (GNCC Racing and AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch) $4,417.47; Susan G Komen Foundation (GNCC Racing and the MotorcycleUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship) $1,417.49; Faith Alliance (GNCC Racing) $1,029.16; Road 2 Recovery (Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship) $539.51 and 88 Live to Ride (ITP Tires/Moose Racing ATVMX Series) $374.32. In total, the donations raised $7,778 for the charities.

More fundraisers are planned for 2011, including another round of eBay auctions for each official podium backdrop at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Fans are encouraged to save their money and bid on the ultimate Christmas gifts next year.

Racer Productions, producers of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, has announced the schedule for the 13-round 2011 GNCC racing tour. While the dates for the events were announced previously, the series locations are now available, including the announcement of several new facilities.

The Indy 100 GNCC in Gosport, Ind. joins the tour for the first time on May 14-15, and the Rock Run GNCC in Altoona, Penn. debuts on May 28-29. The location for one other GNCC round, on Sept. 24-25, will be announced shortly. GNCC officials are currently exploring venues in the Northern Pennsylvania or Western New York region.

“We’re excited to head to these new locations, as well as our existing tracks,” says GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell. “Indiana and Pennsylvania have a long history in this series and we expect plenty of fans to come and cheer the racers, and plenty of racers to enjoy these new tracks.”

The Antoona, Penn. race will effectively replace the Somerset, Penn. round that ran in 2010, as the two locations are within about 20 miles of each other. The Gosport, Ind. race hopes to capitalize on the popularity of the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind., which is usually one of the biggest events of the year.

The series once again opens with the River Ranch GNCC in River Ranch, Fla. As part of the annual Daytona Bike Week schedule, ATVs will practice on Sat., Mar. 5 and race on Sun., Mar. 6. Bikes will practice on Mon., Mar. 7 and race on Tue., Mar. 8.

The 2011 season will also see continued coverage of the GNCC series on Versus Network, marking the tour’s 11th season airing on cable television.

After an exciting and successful 2010 season, the thrill and intensity of the Baja Cup Challenge Series returns to Glen Helen Raceway for 2011.

The 2011 Baja Cup Challenge Series will consist of four races – two during the day and two at night under the lights of Glen Helen. Like last year, there will be classes for a wide variety of off-road vehicles, from UTVs to Pro Trucks. And with drivers ranging from beginners to professionals, the 2011 Baja Cup Challenge Series looks to bring the same close racing that race fans and drivers alike have come to enjoy.

2011 Baja Cup Challenge Series Schedule:
April 9 – Day Race
July 9 – Night Race
August 27 – Day Race
December 17 – Night Race

For more information, including registration details, visit GlenHelen.com.

American Suzuki Motor Corporation has presented the five Suzuki champions of the 2010 race season with custom commemorative awards honoring their achievements. The custom, hand-built awards are being presented to Ryan Dungey, the 2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion, Josh Strang, the 2010 GNCC Bike XC1 Champion, Chris Borich, the 2010 GNCC ATV XC1 Champion, Josh Creamer, the 2010 AMA ATV Motocross Champion, and Martin Cardenas, the 2010 AMA Daytona Sportbike Champion.

“We’re ecstatic with the results these great champions were able to accomplish in 2010,” says Suzuki Manager of Communications, Steve Bortolamedi. “It is a testament to the hard work and will of the riders and teams, as well as the power and performance of Suzuki Motorcycles and ATVs.

“Our results speak for themselves, as Suzuki motorcycles and ATVs have been dominant in many categories since their introduction. Our Suzuki QuadRacer R450 has dominated the AMA ATV Motocross championship scoring titles for the last three years in a row. The potent and reliable Suzuki QuadRacer has also dominated and claimed the last two GNCC ATV XC1 Championships as well.”

Emotions and accolades poured out during the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series banquets, with the top GNCC riders in every bike and ATV class collecting series awards, and several other personalities recognized through specialty awards. The banquets took place on December 10 and 11 at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, WV, with over 1200 racers, fans and family members attending.

On the ATV side, the most emotional moments were reserved for the XC2 Pro Am class, as 2009 Champion Josh Kirkland, who was paralyzed in a practice crash over the summer, returned to the GNCC scene for the first time since his accident. Kirkland sat on stage to collect his fifth-place XC2 trophy, but 2010 XC2 Champion Brian Wolf presented him with his number-one plate and medallion. Fellow XC2 rider Eric Hoyland, who skipped racing in the class at the final round in order to allow Kirkland to remain fifth in points, received the Good Samaritan Award. In addition, Wolf and Walker Fowler were presented the Sportsmanship Award. The two riders tied in final points, and while Wolf won the crown on a tie breaker, they agreed to break the number-one plate in half at the season finale.

Not surprisingly, GNCC XC2 pro Champion Chris Borich collected the Rider of the Year Award, a good match to his second-straight GNCC Championship. He also received a cash bonus and series; ring encrusted with two diamonds to represent his two GNCC Titles. Cliffton Beasley won Utility Rider of the Year for an undefeated season in the U2 class, Youth Overall Champion Levi Coen won the Youth Rider of the Year award, while fellow youth rider Wesley Wolfe took the Hard Luck Award. Women’s Champion Kristen Atwell won Most Improved Rider.

Kymco USA has introduced a Special Edition version of its UXV 500 side-by-side. The new UXV 500 takes things to the next level with exclusive factory installed features.

Offered in blue, the UXV 500 SE comes with a hard top and half windshield. The UXV 500 SE also features aluminum alloy wheels and factory installed dual beverage holders.

“With this new level of the UXV line, riders will still enjoy all the standard features of KYMCO Side x Sides, including its class leading suspension, excellent ergonomics and great economical price tag,” Kymco USA says in a release. “In addition, the hard top, windshield, beverage holder and wheels will make even your hardest work a pleasure. You’ll find yourself looking for any excuse to take it out on the trails.”

The Trans West Ford Henderson 250 marked the final race for the 2010 Best In The Desert racing season. Lots of energy surrounded this race as many of the class championships were to be decided on the outcome, including the 1900 Pro UTV Championship.

Coming into this race, there were four teams with a real chance to become the UTV Class Champions for 2010. Playing out all of the different scenarios on paper meant nothing once the flag dropped on Saturday morning as more than a dozen of the best-built UTVs in the world headed off into the desert to settle the score. The Jagged X Polaris Ranger RZR S 800 left the line in the sixth starting position and had only gone a few miles before encountering a small fuel issue which forced the team to pull over and remedy the problem, losing nearly 10 minutes of valuable time.

Once they were back on course, Brandon Schueler wasted no time working his way back to the front of the pack. By the end the first lap the Jagged X No. 1919 car was running in the fifth spot and Schueler was able to battle his way to a third place finish securing the points championship for the 2010 season.

The Teixeira Tech-sponsored race team of Brandon Brown, Jorie Williams, Kenny Sanford, Nick Nelson, Michael Kelley, and Mike Bender bested every other ATV at the 43rd annual SCORE Baja 1000.

The team rode a Honda TRX450R with Teixeira Tech DZ A-Arms, LT Linkage and +2 Steering Stem to out perform the open class ATV’s. The Baja 1000 was the second win of the year for the team, earning them the Class 24 Championship.

“This is the first time that Teixeira Tech has put an effort into the SCORE Series and is proud of the team and their results,” Teixeira Tech says in a release. “Congratulations on a great race and series finish!”

The Fines Double Racing Team consisting of Reid Rutherford, Tony Valerio, Benn Vernadakis and Agustin Maduena showed the rest of the Class 26 competition that their Arctic Cat 1000 LTD 4×4 had what it takes to win the 2010 Baja 1000.

Returning as the defending class champions, the team piloted their big Cat to the finish line with an amazing time of thirty-nine hours and twenty-five minutes through the most adverse of conditions, finishing four hours ahead of second place and several sport ATVs and dirtbikes.

Team captain Reid Rutherford said, “We knew our fiercest class competitor would be Mike Penland on his Can-Am 800, but by the time we hit San Felipe, we had a twenty minute lead on second place and never looked back. The Arctic Cat 1000 ran flawlessly for two days of endless punishment. Winning this race is quite a statement for the durability of the Arctic Cat product.”

After winning the San Felipe 250 and Baja 500 to start the season, Matlock Racing had its sights set on victory on the third leg of the Triple Crown at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. However, some mechanical issues set the team to the back of the back early in the race. Still, the team fought back and managed to finish the race in second place, which was good enough to win the season championship and retain the #1A plate for another year.

The riders spent over a week pre-running each of their sections of the course before the race and were very confident on race day. After weeks of testing, the #1A Matlock Racing Honda TRX700XX was ready at the starting line with Wayne Matlock aboard. Matlock drew the second place starting position behind the #2A quad of Felipe Velez and would chase him down nearly making the pass several times in the thick dust before handing the quad off to Josh Caster early in the race.

Racer Productions, producers of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, has announced the dates for the 13-round 2011 GNCC racing series.

The series once again opens with the River Ranch GNCC in River Ranch, Fla. As part of the annual Daytona Bike Week schedule, ATVs will practice on Saturday March 5 and race on Sunday, March 6. Bikes will practice on Monday, March 7 and race on Tuesday March 8.

Locations for the remaining rounds will be announced shortly.

2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Dates:
Round 1: March 5-8
Round 2: March 12-13
Round 3: March 26-27
Round 4: April 9-10
Round 5: April 30-May 1
Round 6: May 14-15
Round 7: May 28-29
Round 8: June 25-26
Round 9: July 9-10
Round 10: Sept 10-11
Round 11: Sept 24-25
Round 12: Oct 8-9
Round 13: Oct 22-23

ITP and the Warnert Can-Am Racing team proved to be a potent combination throughout the 2010 Grand National Cross Country Championship Series. Race wins, podium appearances and ultimately numerous overall class titles made headlines all season. No team had a greater impact this year, and its success came while using a wide variety of ITP tires. ITP’s Holeshot, QuadCross XC, TerraCross R/T and Mud Lite models all made their way to winner’s circle on a regular basis.

Most notable were the results of Warnert’s utility class riders. Cliff Beasley, Michael Swift and Bryan Buckhannon all tallied perfect 160-point scores (amateur classes count the best eight finishes during the 13-event schedule). Beasley left no doubt by winning every single event to claim the U2 class championship (201-840cc modified ATVs with no racks). Buckhannon took the 4×4 Open class, while Michael Swift grabbed the 4×4 Limited division.

Traci Cecco, the winningest woman in ATV racing with seven national women’s GNCC titles and many more podium finishes to her credit, has been recognized as a Moves magazine 2010 Power Woman. The Yamaha rider was honored recently at an awards banquet hosted by actor Kelly Washington in New York City as a leader and role model in women’s motorsports.

“Yamaha congratulates Traci on being recognized as a 2010 Power Woman by Moves magazine,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “Traci is a fierce competitor and a true professional, and we are proud to have her in the Yamaha family. She has elevated women’s ATV racing and continues to be a great role model for anyone in motorsports.”

Traci has competed for the GNCC Women’s Series championship the past 12 years capturing the trophy more years than not and never finishing out of the top three. Year after year she has gained the respect and admiration of fans, fellow racers and sponsors, and this exciting award is another symbol of everything she has accomplished.

Picking out accessories for your Polaris ATV or side-by-side just got a little easier. Pure Polaris has launched a new website, which is designed to make it quick, easy and efficient for riders to find the accessories and branded apparel they want – PurePolaris.com.

With the new site riders have access to the most up-to-date lists of vehicles, making it easy to search only for accessories that fit their ride. Accessories can be found according to product type (performance, comfort, cargo, etc.) or by the vehicle model name or model year.

In addition, there are maintenance guides that will help riders care for and better understand their vehicles, and convenient links that provide access to owner’s manuals and safety and service bulletins. There are also links between Pure Polaris pages and the Polaris vehicle information pages so consumers can research a vehicle and accessories at the same time.

“Our new website gives customers what they’ve asked for: More information that’s easier to find through simple search tools,” says Scott Swenson, vice president/general manager PG&A and snowmobile division. “We also significantly enhanced the vehicle fit information to ensure it’s clear to customers which accessories fit their specific vehicles.”

New Pure Polaris website features:

• Easy Navigation & Product Searches: Customers can search for Pure Polaris products by product type, by vehicle model name or model year, or by vehicle “Family.”

• Easy to Find Vehicle Info: There are convenient links between vehicle information pages and pages featuring Pure Polaris accessories for those vehicles.

• Easy Vehicle Customization: The Polaris and Victory “Customizer” tool lets customers customize virtual 2010 and 2011 models online. The “Customizer” shows how selected accessories look installed on vehicles, and a list of the accessories can be printed and brought to a dealership.

• Parts & Maintenance: Riders will find Frequently Asked Questions about maintenance procedures, quick reference guides, and videos. There are also links to online parts catalogs, vehicle safety and service bulletins, and the Pure Polaris Oil website.

The top riders of each class of the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series will be honored at the annual GNCC Awards Banquet. This year, the banquet will return to Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, WV. The top 10 ATV racers in each class will be honored on Friday, Dec. 10 and the top 10 bike racers in each class will be awarded Saturday, Dec. The top 5 riders in each class get contingency awards.

The banquet will feature an array of Specialty Awards as well, including Rider of the Year, the Rough and Ready Pit Crew Award and the “Bad Ass” Award. Attendees are asked to nominate Rough and Ready Pit Crew and Bad Ass Award contenders by attaching a letter to their banquet form. The best letters will be read at the banquet.

The cost of the banquet is $33 for adults, $20 for children ages six to 10 and under five get in free. The celebrations will begin at 5:30 p.m. each day for Happy Hour and seating, and dinner will commence at 6:00 p.m. Advance registrations are required.

Click here for the registration form.

The Yamaha/ITP QuadCross Finale at Glen Helen was painted blue last Sunday with Yamaha riders taking top honors and Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., coming out to support the entire series.

Dustin Nelson won the West Coast’s top motocross crown for the fourth time – his third consecutive – closing out a dominating season in the Pro Production Class. Justin Noss, Jason “Dunk” Dunkelberger, and Jason Fife, all on Yamaha YFZ450Rs, earned the third, fourth and fifth spots respectively, while Dunk captured the Open Pro class championship.

“Yamaha congratulates Dustin, Jason and all of the QuadCross competitors for a great season,” says Donnie Luce, Yamaha ATV/Off-Road racing coordinator, who attended the Finale and helped hand out awards to the series winners at the end of the day.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., made its annual donation to the Feed the Children charity on Friday, Nov. 12 at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, Calif., as employees, members of the local Star Touring and Riding Association, and Yamaha Factory Race Team members celebrated another season of racing.

Yamaha executives and employees congratulated race team members, like three-time QuadCross Champion Dustin Nelson, for another successful season, and then handed over a check for $3,500 to Feed the Children. Shortly after the check presentation, more than 50 members of the Star Touring and Riding Association loaded food, toys and other items onto their motorcycles and transported them to the Community Action Partnership of Garden Grove and Calvary Chapel West Grove for more than 400 local families in need.

“Yamaha employees have supported Feed the Children for more than a decade making significant personal contributions that have impacted thousands of local families who were in need,” says Bob Starr, Yamaha general manager of corporate communications. “Thanks to all of the Yamaha employees and the Star Touring and Riding Association for their efforts.”

In conjunction with the Feed the Children donation event, Yamaha brought in Factory Racers to celebrate the 2010 season and meet Yamaha employees. World-class racers Bill Dixon, Jessica Patterson, Dustin Nelson, Josh Hayes and James Stewart visited Yamaha’s offices and attended the charity donation.

One of Yamaha’s Factory Racers who was signing autographs and helping cook breakfast for Yamaha employees was Nelson, three-time QuadCross ATV champ. Nelson has been battling all year for his fourth title, and hopes to clinch the West Coast MX championship at the QuadCross Finale at Glen Helen Raceway this weekend.

“We’re pushing the YFZ450R harder and faster than ever this year, and I’m excited to be competing for the championship again,” Nelson said. “The QuadCross series continues to be more competitive each year, and we’re proud to keep the Yamaha team at the top of the podium. We’re looking forward to this weekend and will do everything we can to bring home another championship.”

Yamaha has worked with Feed the Children for more than 10 years raising several hundred thousand dollars and feeding tens of thousands of children. This is the fourth year Yamaha employees and Star Touring members made the ride from Yamaha to the local Feed the Children office to drop off the donated supplies. Feed the Children is an international and nonprofit relief organization that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack those essentials.