American Honda has unveiled its 2011 FourTrax Rancher family, as well as the TRX250X, but it doesn’t look like much has changed for these ATVs in this model year.

FourTrax Rancher Family

This family of full-sized utility ATVs is assembled at Honda’s plant in Timmonsville, SC. At the heart of each Rancher beats a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 420cc engine with electric starting. From there, it’s a matter of choosing the features that best fit your riding needs.

The base model two-wheel drive FourTrax Rancher comes with an automatic clutch and manual-shift five-speed transmission with reverse. One step up is the FourTrax Rancher ES with its Electric Shift Program (ESP) that shifts with the touch of a handlebar-mounted button.

The addition of the four-wheel-drive option is found in the manual-shift FourTrax Rancher 4×4 and the ESP-equipped FourTrax Rancher 4×4 ES. Each comes with Honda’s TraxLok 4WD/2WD selector.

Polaris Industries Inc. posted impressive sales of $430.9 million in the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 25 percent from $345.9 million in 2009. Helping to drive that success is Polaris’ off-road vehicles (ORV) sales, which jumped 31 percent in the quarter to $342 million from $261.7 million in 2009.

ORV sales figures includes both ATVs and Ranger side-by-side vehicles. According to Polaris, the increase in sales reflects significant market share gains for both ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. ATV retail sales were actually down in North America, but Ranger sales increased significantly. In addition, shipments of the first units of the differentiated sourced utility vehicle to Bobcat began late in the second quarter of 2010.

Also a boon for Polaris is that North American dealer inventories of ORVs declined 37 percent during the second quarter compared to 2009 second quarter levels. Additionally, ORV sales to customers outside of North America increased 33 percent in the second quarter 2010 compared to the 2009 second quarter, due to market share gains in both ATVs and side-by-side vehicles.

Josh Creamer captured his sixth overall win this season during round nine of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, NY. Creamer was able to take the overall win with 3-1 finishes, and continues to lead points in the chase for the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship. With this win, Creamer lead stretches out to a 30 point advantage over his Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Dustin Wimmer.

The Suzuki duo may be in front in the points but it was Baldwin Motorsports PEPs Josh Upperman who was in front of the field when he grabbed the holeshot and the early lead in moto one. Wimmer followed Upperman off the start, while Motoworks Can-Am rider Chad Wienen, and Creamer battled for third. As the race went on, Creamer was able to move into the third spot behind Upperman and Wimmer at the finish.

Suzuki, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a recall for all 2009 QuadSport Z400 ATVs.

According to the recall notice, the flame arrestor screen can become detached from its mounting ring, preventing the throttle valve from returning to the idle position when the throttle lever is released. This can cause the rider to lose control.

Suzuki has received two reports of the flame arrestor screens detaching from the mounting ring, but no injuries have been reported.

About 1,355 units have been recalled, including the LT-Z400K9 (QuadSport Z400) and LT-Z400ZK9 (QuadSport Z400 Special Edition) ATVs. “QuadSport Z400” or “QuadSport Z400Z” is written on the sides and left front fender of the ATV. “Suzuki” is written on the sides of the ATV.

Protecting your Polaris Ranger RZR 4 just got a little easier as Pro Armor has recently released a skid plate system for four-seat UTV.

“This set-up is designed and crafted to provide 100 percent coverage for your RZR 4,” Pro Armor says in a release. “These skid plates are made from the highest quality aluminum to ensure strength and durability. We have strategically placed drain holes throughout the skid plate to ensure proper drain flow while out riding.”

According to Pro Armor, the skid plates are easy to install and feature recessed bolts to keep bolt heads intact and from catching from anything while out on the trail. This skid plate system comes in multiple sections that overlap for what Pro Armor calls a seamless and smooth transition, making sure your RZR 4 slides over obstacles while keeping your frame protected.

For more information on Pro Armor’s RZR 4 skid plates, check out your local dealer or visit ProArmor.com.

Polaris Rath Rider Casey Martin piloted his Outlaw 450 MXR to two first place motos winning the Pro Am Production class and putting Polaris in the top position on the Podium at the AMA ATV Motocross National in Pleasure Valley, Pa.

Martin started his charge early by setting some of the fastest lap times in practice. His Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR had been dialed in by his mechanic Dave Porter powered by a Baldwin Motorsports motor, and with suspension expertise from Fox Shox. The momentum this team is building is undeniable this season and once again they find themselves making a little history. This was the first AMA Pro Am MX win for the Factory Polaris/Rath Team. Martin charged from the second that gate dropped until he reached the checkers in both Moto’s going 1-1 and taking the overall win.

“It was awesome to be able to put this Polaris on top,” says Martin. “I knew what I had to do this weekend and as the race went on I knew my chances of winning were there and I didn’t want to get over excited. I just kept reminding myself to ride smart until the checkers flew. We have done all the right things to this Polaris Outlaw, I know I will finish out the year strong.”

Weller Racing continued its podium domination for rounds seven and eight of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series, which was held for the first time at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona short course fans came out in droves to see the first race of this type ever to be held at the multi-million dollar race facility.

Weller Racing’s Unlimited UTV driver Austin Kimbrell swept the podium both days, taking solid wins over fierce competitors such as Funco’s Chad George and Walker Evans’ RJ Anderson, putting himself in the points lead for the first time this season. After a few rounds of bad luck early in the year, Kimbrell has climbed to the top of the points ladder and is now perched for a championship run in 2010.

“We were happy with the way Austin’s motor ran in Utah,” says Jason Weller, owner of Weller Racing. “Austin drove a great race both days, and his performance each round only makes us that much more eager to continue developing his motor and doing what we can to help keep him in front of the pack.”

Continuing Weller Racing’s podium dominance in the SR1 class, and running fast on a tight and very technical track, Weller Racing’s LSR driver Greg Frantz took his first win of the series during Round 7 on Saturday, while Weller Racing’s own Tilted Kilt/MagnaFlow/Walker Evans driver Corry Weller took her third win of the year during Round 8 on Sunday. Sporting her new LSR suspension after partnering up with Lone Star Racing for the remainder of the season, Corry ran a conservative but effective race on Sunday after suffering some serious damage to her SR1 during Saturday’s main event.

Pennsylvania’s own John Natalie took home the overall win aboard his Motoworks Can-Am during round eight of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pa. This win marks Can-Am’s first time winning an AMA Pro ATV MX overall. Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Josh Creamer finished second overall, further extending his points lead over his teammate Dustin Wimmer.

“The weekend went really well for me here at Pleasure Valley” says Natalie. “I was able to grab Can-Am’s first ever win in front of these amazing fans.”

Natalie started moto one by grabbing the holeshot and the early lead on the field. Throughout the moto, Natalie and Wimmer fought closely for the win, at one point making contact in a corner after Natalie lost his footing on the footpeg and came to a stop. The battled ragged on throughout the moto, but in the end Natalie won, followed by Wimmer, with Jeremy Lawson rounding out the top three.

The Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn its approval of up to 200,000 off-road vehicles imported from China. The California Air Resources Board has followed suit, voiding its executive orders covering the same vehicles that were sold in California.

After a lengthy investigation, the EPA has voided certificates of conformity for vehicles issued in 2006 and 2007 to the U.S. arms of four Chinese manufacturers: Hensim USA of City of Industry, Calif., Loncin USA of Hayward, Calif., Peace Industry Group of Norcross, Ga., and Seaseng of Ponoma, Calif.

In China, these manufacturers operate under the names Chongqing Hensim Group Co., Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Zhejiang Peace Industry and Trade Co., and Zhejiang Chisheng Industry and Trading Co. The EPA is considering significant financial penalties against the manufacturers and importers of the affected vehicles.

HMF has been busy lately, releasing exhaust systems for two ATVs and two UTVs in recent weeks. Three Polaris machines – Sportsman 550 X2, RZR Ranger 170, Ranger 800 XP – and the Pitster Pro FXR can now be outfitted with an HMF system to for a boost in horsepower and torque.

Polaris Sportsman 550 X2

The 2010 Polaris Sportsman 550 EFI X2 is a two-up utility machine that features a powerful 550 SOHC Twin EFI, 4 valves per cylinder engine, pumping out 42 HP. HMF brought the Sportsman 550 into its shop and started R&D on it. The result is a Swamp and Swamp XL exhaust that HMF claims not only increases horsepower, but broadens the torque immensely.

About the Swamp Series: The HMF Swamp Series was designed specifically for quads that need pure, all out horsepower. Through the deep, muddy waters to the starting line of the GNCC, the Swamp Series blisters power that gives you absolute control. It features a five-inch stainless steel exhaust and produces very little sound dB over stock. And with the optional HMF Quiet Core, most machines can see a dB decrease over stock. (MSRP $399.95)

About the Swamp XL Series: The cousin of the Swamp Series, the Swamp XL Series delivers the same power as the Swamp Series but with an unrestricted sound level. If you want to be heard tearing up the track or busting through the woods, the XL is the pipe you’re looking for. Also in a five-inch stainless steel can, this beast will give you all the power and noise you can handle. (MSRP $369.95)

The ninth round of the ATV GNCC Series saw two of the three FRE/KTM riders land on the podium. Reigning Women’s Champion Angel Atwell pulled a third place result in the Women’s class while XC2 rider Josh Kirkland followed suit with a third place finish in his class.

In the morning Women’s race Atwell was able to get off to a decent start rounding the first turn in third place. On the third lap, Atwell found herself stuck at the bottom of a rocky downhill behind a huge bottleneck. This section cost her twenty minutes before she was able to finally get to the top of the hill. Atwell worked her way back through the pack to land on the podium before the race end.

National Guard Polaris Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished 10th overall and seventh in the XC1 Pro ATV class in Round 9 of the 2010 GNCC Series. There were 169 total entries with 15 XC1 Pro Riders.

Summary

The Snowshoe event is easily the most beautiful and toughest on the schedule. The Racer Production crew makes this race really difficult, with huge elevation changes, many mud bog sections, and lots of rocks. The Grand Prix style start is different from any other GNCC, with racers starting five on a row at ten second intervals. Jarrod McClure started on the second row since he is in the top ten in season points.

The weather was great with clear skies and 81 degrees, making it hot in the sun but a little cooler in the forest. Jarrod was pretty careful on the first lap, and came through in 11th place. Mistakes can result in getting stuck in what seems like bottomless mud holes, or damaging your bike on the many rocks.

Arctic Cat has released six new ATV and UTV accessories – a touring windshield, ATV pod light, two-way tapered plow blade, and three landscaping attachments. All of the new accessories are available now at most Arctic Cat dealerships.

Touring Windshield

Designed to deflect wind and provide added storage, the new Touring Windshield from Arctic Cat adds touring comfort and convenience to ATVs. Made from durable injection-molded HDPE with a removable windshield, the pod’s dashboard features a built-in beverage holder; flashlight with holder; rearview mirrors; and a mounting surface for GPS or cell phone. A quick-release feature allows easy-on/easy-off installation. Available in red, black, marsh green and lime green. The suggested retail price is US$239.95/C$287.95.

Add the optional Windshield Light to the pod’s dashboard for 35 additional watts of illumination and directional lighting.

Although the results are still unofficial, it appears that Brian Wolf will be $10,000 richer after winning the prestigious MotorcycleUSA.com Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, WV – round nine of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

This is the second year in a row that the HMF Honda rider has claimed the top prize at this race, despite the fact that he’s an XC2 Pro-Am rider. What made it even more exciting was that Wolf battled back and forth with eventual Pro class winner Chris Borich in a thrilling race that was only decided in the final few miles.

The Snowshoe GNCC is a special event in that $50,000 bonus money is paid out based on the overall finish of the race, and factoring in a time differential (the XC2 class started a minute-and-a-half behind the XC1 class, Wolf was awarded the overall win despite physically crossing the finish line behind Borich. In the meantime, Borich went home with a $5,000 check for finishing second overall, while another XC2 rider, Walker Fowler, claimed $3000 for finishing third overall.

With the busy summer riding season upon us, the ATV Safety Institute (ASI) encourages kids to enter the “Do the Ride Thing” Video Contest. Sponsored by the ASI, the contest runs June 18 to September 6, 2010 and offers 10 prizes totaling $10,000. Students ages six to 18 may enter. The winning 30- and 60-second videos will be used as public service announcements by the ATV Safety Institute.

“What better way to motivate and inform people – especially kids and their parents – about the safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles than to have kids create videos that highlight one or more of the ATV Safety Institute’s Golden Rules?” says Paul Vitrano, executive vice president, ASI. “By harnessing the social networking power of YouTube, it gives kids the opportunity to ‘Do the Ride Thing’ and help other kids ride safe/ride smart.”

To enter, kids create a 30- or 60-second video/PSA, upload it to YouTube, and submit an entry form on the ASI website. For official video content requirements, contest rules and entry forms, visit http://www.atvsafety.org/ATV_PSA_Contest/index.html.

There will be three winners in each of the three age categories: 6-10, 11-14, and 15-18. 1st Place winners earn $1,100, 2nd Place is $800, and 3rd Place is $600. Plus, all age categories are eligible to win the $2,500 Grand Prize. The ten prizes total $10,000.

The ATV Safety Institute’s Golden Rules:
1. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear.
2. Never ride on public roads — another vehicle could hit you.
3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
4. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider vehicle, nor more than an operator and passenger on an ATV designed for two persons.
5. Ride an ATV that’s right for your age.
6. Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys.
7. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.
8. Take an ATV RiderCourse; call toll-free at 800.887.2887, or go to http://www.atvsafety.org/ to sign up or try the new free online e-course.

Tune up your quads and mark your calendars for the 2010 QUAD-Tober Fest ATV and UTV ride weekend at Crow Canyon Motocross Race Park in Uhrichsville, Ohio.

Crow Canyon is opening up its 400-plus acres of trails, youth and full-size motocross tracks and the Action Extreme Sports (AES) ride shop for two days in October for UTV and ATV riders. QUAD-Tober Fest is set for Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17.

The weekend event will give riders the chance to take brand new KTM and Yamaha ATVs and UTVs out for a spin as part of their massive, customer friendly demo ride tours. Models available for test rides from Yamaha will include their Rhino UTV, Grizzly, Raptor and YFZ450 ATV models. KTM will offer demo rides on their sport 450cc and 525cc XC model ATVs. Closed-course trail loops will be set up for the demo rides.

Paul Rivera has sold 4 Stroke Power Inc., manufacturer of the Big Gun Exhaust brand, to Larry Riggs of Anaheim, Calif.

“I am proud to have been a part of the 42% growth of the Big Gun Exhaust Brand in the last 16 months,” says Rivera. “I never planned on selling the company so soon, but a great opportunity came across my way which allows me to pursue my goals with my company Streamline Brakes & Controls. We will be releasing two new product lines and it will consume most of my time.

“I am greatly thankful to my awesome staff and customers for their support during my ownership of 4 Stroke Power Inc.”

District 37’s Summer Night Race Series hosted by Prairie Dogs MC, Sponsored by Baja Designs

It was another great night out in the Southern California Desert! The weather has been much cooler this year with temps dropping down into the 50’s on this night.

Forty six teams mounted up lights and geared up for the fourth Annual Prairie Dogs MC night race! They marked a 25-mile loop with reflective tape and arrows up and around the North Anderson dry lake area in Johnson Valley OHV. The race teams had the option of racing for a total of 5 hours or 3 hours, depending on their skill level.

The Expert ATV team of Patty Blais and Garrett Severen would take to the start line at 8:00pm with Patty running the first lap. There were four ATV teams participating in this night race and as the banner dropped at approx 8:15 for the ATVs, off they raced into the dusk. Patty had a flawless first lap and came into the pits in third overall, in just about 55 minutes. After some minor clutch adjustments in the pits, teammate Garrett Severen would hop on the quad for his first ever ATV race.

Josh Creamer took home his third overall win in a row aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki during round seven of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, TN. Creamer may be on a winning streak, but his overall win today was not an easy feat. With second place finishes in each of the two motos, Creamer took the overall win, and moved him 20 points ahead of his teammate Dustin Wimmer in the chase for the championship.

“Today turned out really well for us,” said Creamer. “This is our third win in a row, and we’ve extended our points lead ever further.”

Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki started their weekend on a high note when current champion, Dustin Wimmer, earned the $100 ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier award. Going into today’s event, many slated Wimmer as the man to beat, but he first had to overcome more of the hard luck that has slowed his charge for a third-straight ATV MX Title.

At the start of moto one, Baldwin Motorsports PEP’s Josh Upperman took the first corner and the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award. Although Upperman was off to the early lead, it wasn’t long before Motoworks Can-Am rider John Natalie and Dustin Wimmer were headed for the front. As the riders jumped through the pro section, Natalie’s bike shut off mid-air, forcing Wimmer to land on top of him.

John Deere recently unleashed its most performance-driven Gator utility vehicles yet. Targeted toward the true outdoor adventurist, the 2011 lineup of Crossover Utility Vehicles (XUV) is packed with advanced features that deliver an unparalleled balance between work and recreation.

“Headlining the 2011 XUV models will be the brand new Gator XUV 825i – the fastest and most powerful Gator ever produced,” says David Gigandet, tactical marketing manager, utility vehicles. “Anyone with a sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors will enjoy putting its best-in-class advanced engine system to the test.”

Boasting 50 HP, it is the highest-powered engine in its class with superior low-end torque for taking on even the toughest tasks, trails, and terrain. Horsepower is delivered by an 815cc, liquid cooled, inline 3-cylinder engine featuring 4 valves per cylinder, dual overhead cams and electronic fuel injection.

Daryl Rath returned to motocross with a vengeance taking first place in both 40+ motos and the class overall, on his Outlaw 450 MXR, at the ATV National, at Spring Creek, in Millville, Minn.

Rath, who has piloted his Sportsman 850 XP EPS this season in the GNCC Series, decided to heed the call of Spring Creek’s always-challenging MX course in front of his home state fans. The overcast skies looked like rain but it stayed away long enough on Sunday so the racers and fans could get a true experience of the facilities at Spring Creek. The track employees did their best to salvage the track on Saturday after lots of rain on Friday, but still ended up with an extremely challenging track. Sunday the track came around to almost near perfect conditions.

“From the time when I was actively chasing the MX championship, I said if an ATV national would come to Millville I would race it, and I am really happy I did. I wasn’t sure what class I was going to run at first but decided on 40+. My Outlaw yanked off the line into the lead both Motos and from that point on, I was just having some fun. It was great to be back in a MX gate both to bring the win to Polaris but even for the experience I can relate to Casey and his Outlaw program,” stated Rath. “I have always said cross training is the best training and I am lucky enough with my relationship with Polaris that they support me when I want to go off and race different types of events, such as MX, TT, Supermoto, Cross Country and now even a little Side-by-Side. It’s a great relationship for product research and development both for my own program, Casey’s and Polaris.”

“Daryl is such a versatile racer that it is no surprise he dominated the class,” says Donna Beadle, race team manager for Polaris Racing. “And to do it in both his and Polaris’ home state is icing on the cake.”

For the third consecutive year Matlock Racing topped the field at the grueling Baja 500. The team covered the rough and boulder strewn course with a time of 10:24:35 for an average speed of 42.15 mph.

This race also marks the eighth consecutive time the Matlock Racing team recorded the fastest Overall time in a SCORE event.

The #1A Honda TRX700XX with Wayne Matlock aboard started the race in the number 2 position just 30 seconds behind the #2A quad. Matlock took the start and made the pass on the #2A quad early in the race to take the lead.

Through the dust in Ojos Negros Matlock held the lead with the #5A of Javier Robles and #6A of Josh Edwards in hot pursuit. A fueling issue at the ¬first pit held up Matlock which allowed the #5A and #6A quads to make the pass. During the pit, fuel was inadvertently dumped on Matlock and the quad flooding out the motor and killing the battery on the quad. Matlock would have to push start the quad and make multiple stops to pour water on his fuel covered skin, losing valuable time in the process. The #5A quad had gained three minutes before Matlock was able to hand the quad to Josh Caster at race mile 74.

Team Motoworks / Can-Am teammates Chad Wienen and John Natalie raced to the Pro-class podium at Round 6 of the AMA ATV Motocross National championship this past weekend at Spring Creek MX near Millville, Minn.

Chad Wienen powered his Can-Am DS 450 ATV to second overall in the Pro 450 class finishing second in both motos. Fellow DS 450 racer, John Natalie put in two solid motos finishing third overall in the class.

“This was an extremely successful weekend of motocross racing for the Motoworks team,” says Jimmie O’Dell, racing manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Both Chad and John looked tough on the roughest track we’ve seen this year. With this result, we are even closer to our goal of winning a pro motocross championship for BRP.”

The first-ever international All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Symposium debuted on Friday, June 11, at EICMA CHINA – The Motorcycle Show. It was hosted by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) in partnership with the China Italy Motorcycle Exhibition Company (CIME), organizers of EICMA CHINA. Attendees included manufacturers, distributors, importers, and other stakeholders interested in the global ATV industry.

The ATV Symposium’s panel discussion was facilitated by MIC President Tim Buche. Industry and regulatory experts from Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States addressed consumer issues such as safety, vehicle utilization, and market dynamics, as well as industry standards, technical issues and regulatory issues including mandatory standards, customer support, testing and certification.

Expert panel participants included:
* Rhys Griffiths, Motorcycle Manager, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) – Australia;
* Robert Ramsay, President, Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV);
* Herry Kleyn van Willigen, President, All Terrain Vehicle Industry European Association (ATVEA); and
* Paul Vitrano, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) – United States.

“The ATV Symposium has been a unique and rewarding educational experience, truly one that has epitomized an international spirit of cooperation, particularly for those of us involved with associations that represent the ATV industry in our respective countries,” says Vitrano. “We benefit, collectively and individually, by sharing ideas and strategies about issues that affect us all. The ultimate goal being that the rider experience is safe, responsible and positive.”

“In the United States, as the ATV industry has evolved, so has the SVIA. In addition to the SVIA’s ten major manufacturer and distributor member companies, we now provide access to services such as safety training for 15 ‘participating companies’ – ATV companies doing business in the U.S. that do not have full supporting member privileges,” Vitrano continued. “The synergy from these discussions at the ATV Symposium about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry at the global level are then leveraged for the benefit of our member companies and participating companies.”

The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America promotes the safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles through rider training, public awareness campaigns and state legislation. Additionally, the SVIA works to preserve access to off-road lands and expand riding opportunities. The SVIA is a resource for ATV research, statistics and vehicle standards. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the SVIA develops standards for the equipment, configuration and performance requirements of ATVs.

Based in Irvine, Calif., the SVIA is a not-for-profit industry association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin and Yamaha. Visit the SVIA online at http://www.svia.org/. For safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourseSM nearest you, visit http://www.atvsafety.org/ or call (800) 887-2887.

Josh Creamer took the overall win aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki during round six of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, Minn.

Creamer was able to lead start to finish in both motos, dominating the field at one of the roughest tracks these riders have seen. With Creamer’s win, he now is 15 points ahead of his teammate and two-time defending Champion, Dustin Wimmer for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“This weekend went really well for me” says Creamer. “I was able to put the Rockstar Makita Suzuki back on top again, and further my points lead. What can I say? That’s a great weekend.”

Wimmer had the distinction of being the fastest qualifier, edging out teammate Creamer by just tenths of a second to take the first gate pick.

Fans and racers in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series have an opportunity to win a brand-new 2010 Can-Am Outlander 800R EFI XT ATV – the same machine used by the GNCC track crew and the GNCC Open 4×4 Champion-by simply filling out the new GNCC fan survey.

Info from the fan survey will be used by GNCC Racing to better understand the wants and needs of GNCC racers and spectators. Participants must add their name and email address at the end of the survey in order to be entered into the drawing for the Can-Am Outlander 800.

The lucky winner will be announced on October 24 during the victory ceremony at the Amsoil Ironman GNCC, the final round of the 2010 Can-Am GNCC Racing Series.

Arctic Cat has released four new items for its Parts, Garments, and Accessories department – a Prowler suspension seat, adjustable backrest, camouflage riding suite, and gun scabbard.

Prowler Suspension Seat

Built with an integrated high-strength, carbon-spring steel suspension system, the new high-back suspension seat from Arctic Cat is designed to maximize riding comfort for Prowler occupants. Taller and plusher than the stock bucket seats, this unit also features mildew-resistant, high-grade carbon fiber black and silver vinyl with double-stitched seams for extra durability. Sold individually, each seat bolts directly to the chassis in just minutes for a perfect fit. Fits all 2006-’10 Prowler models.

The high-back suspension seat retails for US$349.95/C$416.95 and is available now at most Arctic Cat dealership.

Defending 2009 GNCC ATV Champion Chris Borich and his Suzuki QuadRacer R450 dominated the mud at the John Penton GNCC race this weekend in Millfield, Ohio.

Round 8 of the GNCC series was a muddy and slick one, but Borich found enough power and traction to take it to the checkered flag with a sizeable lead. Borich is now leading the series by 28 points and has won six of eight races so far in 2010.

Borich started the day off with a great start, thanks to the fine-tuned power and traction of the R450. He stayed up front, dicing with other racers, and found himself in the lead on the last lap of the muddy race. Borich’s lead was a small gap at the start of the lap, but by the end of the race he had an impressive 30-second lead.

“My Suzuki has great power, and it handles well no matter what the conditions are,” says Borich. “We put together a good race and I’m happy with the results. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

I had a great race this past weekend with my co-driver, Robin Fawcett, at the Cahuilla Creek Round 6 of the WORCS ATV series in my Blais Racing Services, HRT, Dragonfire Racing, Fox Shox, Mastercraft, Fluidyne Powersports, FMF Polaris RZR.

Into the first turn, we were in second place behind the very fast customer-based RZR of Mark Holz. We stayed as close as possible to them in the tight, back section and passed them as we came back into the MX track. They soon passed us back by out-powering us on the next uphill. We ended up following them the entire race, never much more than a car length behind. We pushed them really hard in the tight back sections as my car was handling really well. I bumped them a few times to pressure Mark but he didn’t make any big mistakes until the next to last lap.

I had a problem in one turn that I didn’t make and had to back up. They were now about 15 seconds ahead by the time I got going again. With some clear air we caught right back up to them in the next mile and then they rolled on their left side in a turn. The ruts were so deep that I had to back up twice to try and get out of them so I could get around the first place team. By that time, the course workers had just tipped them back onto their wheels and I made my way around in the thick brush and into the lead.

National Guard Polaris Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished 40th overall and 15th in the XC1 Pro ATV class today after suffering some water related mechanical issues in Round 8 of the 2010 GNCC Series. There were 169 total entries with 15 XC1 Pro Riders. National Guard Polaris DragonFire Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished 2nd overall in the UTV class. There were 45 total entries with 22 Open Modified teams.

Summary

The John Penton GNCC is generally either very dusty or very muddy. This year the competitors got some of both. The morning race was run in dusty but good conditions, but just before the afternoon race, a huge rainstorm hit. It rained so much that the Racer Production crew delayed the race for an hour in hopes of the water dissipating somewhat so the course would be passable. Parts of the motocross track were several feet under water.

The ATV race finally was flagged off with Jarrod McClure getting a very good start. He ran with the lead group in fourth place for most of lap 1. On lap 2, he ran through a deep mud hole and the bike quit. He eventually got it restarted and continued on. The bike was covered in heavy Ohio mud, adding a great deal of weight; add to that the rider and gear with about 50 extra pounds of mud & water makes getting around the race course very tough. On lap 4, the bike quit again after going through more deep water holes, finally ending Jarrod’s day.

The UTV race for William Yokley went pretty well. His dad Mike rode with him today as the guest passenger. They got the holeshot at the start, and even though they skidded off the track and over an embankment at the second turn, they were able to maintain the lead. On lap 2, there was a huge bottleneck with UTVs stuck everywhere blocking the trail. William had to wait for a couple of minutes until things opened up so he could continue on. By that time, most of the competitors were right behind him. Even though no one passed him, he was actually in sixth place on adjusted time due to the staggered start procedure. The team managed to work up to second place at the finish. The National Guard Polaris DragonFire RZR ran flawlessly under these difficult conditions. Now, William has the fun task of cleaning and preparing the machine for the next UTV race!

The next ATV GNCC race is June 26 at the Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia.

Yokley Racing Team Sponsors: The Army National Guard, Polaris Industries, DragonFire Racing, Kenda Tires, Monavie, EXIT Suspension, Roll Design, XC Bob’s, Douglas Wheel Technology, Motoworks Exhaust Systems, Moto Pro Training, SHIFT Riding Gear, Tsubaki Chains, IMS/Roll, CV4 Hoses, ATVRiders.com, Tireballs, Precision Racing Products, G-4 Graphics, Andrews Cycle, Powermadd, SCOTT USA Goggles, PURE Polaris Lubricants & Fuels, Intense Fabrication & Design, IMS, Hygh Octane Designs, Bowers Motorsports, TanTerra Wines and Tusk Off-Road.

The FRE/KTM ATV GNCC Team had a great weekend at the John Penton GNCC finishing with two podiums and a top five.

Angel Atwell was up first in the Women’s class. Atwell got a great jump off the line sitting in third as they headed to the motocross section behind Kristen Atwell and Traci Cecco. Atwell passed Cecco for second position at the end of the first lap. Kristen Atwell hung on to take the win while Angel Atwell finished second.

As the quads made their way to the starting area for the afternoon race heavy rain began to fall. The rain, thunder and lightning were so strong that the race was postponed for one hour. It was obvious it was going to be an extremely challenging course. When the green flag dropped FRE/KTM rider Bryan Cook rounded the first turn in seventh at the start of the XC1 class. Around the third lap Cook put on an impressive charge. He passed three riders to move into fourth and at the end of the lap was sitting in second. With only a few miles left, Cook took an alternative line which turned out to be impassable. He had to turn around and head back as Adam McGill, Donald Ockerman and Taylor Kiser got around. Cook eventually finished the race in fifth.

Yoshimura Suzuki rider Chris Borich earned his sixth win of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at a muddy Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.

Anyone who has ever ridden the John Penton in the rain knows how slippery this race can get, and for sure, this one will go down as one of the muddiest. When a driving rainstorm left rivers of water cascading across the course, Trail Boss Jeff Russell made the decision to move the 1 p.m. start time back an hour to give the water a chance to subside. This helped the worst areas of the trail, but the damage was already done, and a steady afternoon rain didn’t help matters.

When the flag finally dropped to start the two-hour race, it was Jeffery Pickens who grabbed the holeshot, leading Borich, Balance Racing Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, Honda-mounted Brent Sturdivant, FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook and Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Adam McGill through the first sections of the motocross course. Sturdivant actually held the lead at the end of the opening lap; however, Borich soon took the point, with Kiser, Cook, McGill and Sturdivant right on his tail.

Polaris Rath rider Casey Martin has been on an undeniable charge this season as he continues to put his Outlaw450 MXR in front of the pack. Martin, who races in both Pro Am and Pro Am Unlimited, has his work cut out for him each round. With more than thirty riders trying to qualify there was only room for twenty in the main event. This past weekend, he was successful again at the AMA ATV Motocross Championship Round 5, Steel City ATV MX.

After a few laps around for practice, Martin was beginning to get the feeling his machine was dialed and handling extremely well. A few fine tuning adjustments from Fox Shox and Dave Porter Martin’s mechanic and it was ready to go. Steel City is a track riders seem to love or hate with some technical sections that require some serious skills. Martin was one who seemed to love this track.

Martin’s feeling was right and as the gate dropped and he charged his way to his to his first holeshot of the season. As the race continued Martin settled into an impressive second place and remained there until the checkers.

Daryl Rath, who has been doing the development part of this team stated,

For the second year in a row Josh Creamer dominated the ATV Stampede at Steel City, earning a 1-1 moto sweep during round five of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship in Delmont, Pa.

Creamer had his work cut out for him throughout the weekend, battling to the front in both motos to take the win aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki. Creamer’s success moves him back into the points lead ahead of teammate Dustin Wimmer in the chase for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“This was a hard fought weekend,” says Creamer. “I didn’t get the starts, but we pulled through and got the win.”

At the start of moto one, Josh Upperman grabbed yet another holeshot aboard his Baldwin Motorsports PEP Honda. Upperman, Yamaha/Mushin/Golden West’s Thomas Brown and Can Am/Motorworks John Natalie immediately hooked up in a three-way battle for the lead. In heartbreaking style, Upperman suffered engine problems and was towed off the track on Lap 3. Natalie now held the lead, but the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki teammates of Creamer and Wimmer began to battle through the pack.

After many months of preparation the Matlock Racing team will head south of the border once again to defend its overall title at the 42nd annual running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second oldest desert race in the world.

The team recently took the Overall win in the ¬first race of the SCORE series at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250. This year’s team consists of Wayne Matlock, Josh Caster and Wes Miller aboard the #1A Matlock Racing TRX700XX.

The team will once again use a Honda TRX700XX as the quad of choice in the harsh terrain of the Baja peninsula. The race quad has been prepped by Wayne Matlock and Rich Morel to provide another race-winning performance. The team will head south of the border more than a week before the race to begin pre-running each section of the course multiple times before race day.

HCR Racing has released its latest Polaris RZR 4 Long Travel Kit which retails for $5,599.

According to HCR Racing, the kit results in light and accurate steering and a supple suspension able to handle the gnarliest terrain. Every shock package from HCR Racing is custom tuned in-house to ensure that the shock valving and spring rates are perfectly mated to the UTV it’s designed for.

HCR Racing’s Long Travel Kits include:
* 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% Proudly 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

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has contributed more than $80,000 in cash and equipment during the first quarter of 2010 to off-road riding clubs and land stewardship organizations across the country. As part of this first funding cycle of 2010, Yamaha announced that it will sponsor the Future Farmers of America Wildlife Proficiency.

“As our OHV Access Initiative continues to grow, we are finding new relevant areas that can benefit the overall OHV community,” says Mike Martinez, general manager of Yamaha’s ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. “The FFA’s Wildlife Proficiency students are mentored into future employment with Federal, State and local public land management agencies; relationships that will be important to establishing and maintaining policies that preserve our land while providing OHV enthusiasts’ safe recreation opportunities for generations.”

Since the introduction of the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative in 2008, Yamaha has GRANTed (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) nearly $1.5 million to more than 123 organizations devoted to preserving and maintaining safe and responsible OHV access.

In the 2010 first quarter funding cycle, Yamaha GRANTs were awarded to eight applicants. Awardees include:

• Future Farmers of America, National
• Friends of Oceano Dunes, California
• Great Falls Trail Bike Riders, Montana
• Indian Valley Creek ATV Club, Pennsylvania
• Oswego Valley ATV Club, New York
• Responsible Recreation Foundation, Colorado
• United Trails Association, Nevada
• Wisconsin ATV Association, Wisconsin

“Even as the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative has matured, we have maintained a steadfast focus on promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable trails,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “The results of the efforts supported by our GRANTs continue to benefit the OHV community locally, regionally and nationally. We are very proud of the many results we’ve seen across the country and we will continue to build this program and support its critical mission.”

About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative

Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations, and national, state and local government agencies. A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects. Applications for the second quarter of 2010 should be postmarked by June 30, 2010.

Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not limited to:
• Trail development, restoration and maintenance
• Trail signage and map production
• Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
• Land stewardship, trail safety and education

Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess.

FRE/KTM ATV Women’s rider Angel Atwell ended up second overall after a long battle for the lead position at the seventh round of the ATV GNCC Series.

Atwell grabbed the holeshot followed by Traci Cecco and Kristen Atwell. Halfway through the first lap, Atwell got stuck on a downed tree in the middle of the trail and dropped to fourth. Heavy rain began to pour at the mid-point of the race making the track and hills very slick. Cecco took over the lead for a brief period as the rain continued to fall before both Atwells put on a charge. The two girls quickly passed Cecco and began a hard fought battle for the lead position for the remainder of the race. Angel Atwell had the lead heading to the finish line but an aggressive pass on the final corner moved Kristen Atwell into the lead across the checkers and Angel Atwell finished second.

National Guard Polaris Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished 132nd overall and 13th in the XC1 Pro ATV class after suffering some mechanical issues in Round 7 of the 2010 GNCC Series. There were 170 total entries with 15 XC1 Pro Riders. National Guard Polaris DragonFire Yokley Racing Team driver William Yokley finished 2nd overall and 2nd in the UTV class. There were 43 total entries with 15 Open Modified teams.

Yokley Racing Summary

The Mountain Ridge Trails Resort is a very popular ATV park with more than 2,500 acres of trails and riding areas. The race course features lots of rugged, rocky terrain, hill climbs, mud bogs and fast trails. A heavy, driving rain set in just as the afternoon race began. This made the rocks, hills, and mud holes even more treacherous to negotiate. Jarrod McClure got a decent start in the ATV Pro class, but before he finished lap 1, he had an issue with his air box, which allowed water and mud in the intake system. His day ended early after only 2 laps.

In the UTV race, William Yokley was running in the top 3 after much bumping at the start. His guest passenger today was John Bowers, who got his first taste of riding with William. At about the mid-point of the race, the machine impacted a big wet rock, and then bounced into a tree. This bent a front wheel and did some damage to the brakes and steering system. William had to slow a bit to make sure he finished the event. The team finished 2nd at the end of 7 laps.

Although the ATV race was disappointing, the UTV race went quite well. William is now leading the UTV season points. The team’s next race is in Millfield, Ohio in two weeks where both William and Jarrod will compete. William will also be making an appearance showcasing the race machines for the National Guard at a large ATV & 4-wheel drive jamboree in Oneida Tennessee on May 29.

Yokley Racing Team Sponsors: The Army National Guard, Polaris Industries, DragonFire Racing, Kenda Tires, Monavie, EXIT Suspension, Roll Design, XC Bob’s, Douglas Wheel Technology, Motoworks Exhaust Systems, Moto Pro Training, SHIFT Riding Gear, Tsubaki Chains, IMS/Roll, CV4 Hoses, ATVRiders.com, Tireballs, Precision Racing Products, G-4 Graphics, Andrews Cycle, Powermadd, SCOTT USA Goggles, PURE Polaris Lubricants & Fuels, Intense Fabrication & Design, IMS, Hygh Octane Designs, Bowers Motorsports, TanTerra Wines and Tusk Off-Road.

As many as five different riders held the lead during a wet and wild Moose Mountain Ridge GNCC. However, after two hours of bar to bar racing, Yoshimura Suzuki‘s Chris Borich emerged with his fifth win of the season, adding to his already impressive points lead in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

A steady and sometimes driving rain moved in over Somerset, Pennsylvania, just as the flag dropped to start the afternoon race. And exiting the first turn with the lead was Yamaha rider Jeffrey Pickens. Following Pickens was a tightly spaced group consisting of Borich, Ballance Racing/Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook, and Warnert Racing Can-Am teammates Adam McGill and Chris Bithell.

During the first half of the race, Pickens, Borich, Kiser, McGill and Bithell, all held the lead at one point or another, although Bithell held the lead for the longest stint. However, after pulling his goggles off when they got covered with mud, Bithell caught a stick in the eye and pulled off the track to recover, leaving Kiser, Borich and McGill to battle for the win.

Polaris has announced plans to shut down its Osceola, Wis. manufacturing plant, while establishing a new facility in Mexico and creating “manufacturing centers of excellence” by enhancing existing facilities in Roseau, Minn. and Spirit Lake, Iowa. The Osceola plant employs more than 500 people.

“While this was a difficult decision for us, given the impact on our employees at the Osceola facility, we believe the creation of these manufacturing centers of excellence will strengthen our company over the long-term and enable us to maintain our lead in a competitive market,” says Scott Wine, CEO, Polaris Industries Inc. “This decision was based on a thorough review of our worldwide operations and will allow us to improve our ability to meet the quality, delivery and cost standards desired by our dealers and customers.”

According to Polaris, the realignment allows the company to dedicate capital for strategic investments in painting, welding and assembly operations by outsourcing certain non-strategic component manufacturing processes. A location is still being scouted for the Mexico facility, which is expected to improve the company’s on-time delivery to customers and provide significant savings in logistical and production costs.

Polaris says the realignment will enable the company to have production facilities closer to customers in the southern United States and global markets it currently serves or expects to serve in the future.

When the manufacturing realignment is completed Polaris will have capabilities to manufacture ATVs and side-by-side vehicles, which represents more than two-thirds of Polaris’ sales, in multiple locations depending on customer demand.

Snowmobile assembly will remain in the Roseau facility and Victory motorcycle assembly will remain in the Company’s Spirit Lake facility. As part of the manufacturing realignment, certain Osceola manufacturing processes will be moved into the Roseau, Spirit Lake and Mexico facilities.

Additionally, certain manufacturing processes and equipment are intended to be sold to suppliers who will continue to supply components to Polaris. Other non-strategic component manufacturing operations currently performed in the Osceola facility will be outsourced. The realignment will begin immediately and is scheduled to be complete in 2012. Polaris expects to have the new production facility in Mexico operational beginning in the first half of 2011.

Polaris is currently in negotiations with several suppliers to sell certain non-strategic component manufacturing processes and equipment in the Osceola facility. If successful, Polaris’ intent is that the suppliers will continue to manufacture these components in the current Osceola location. Polaris will operate the Osceola manufacturing facilities during the transition period.

Polaris Industries Inc. has unveiled its new Breeze Neighborhood Vehicle model line-up.

“Since our launch in fall 2009, the Breeze and its MyChoice rear seat conversion capability have been very well received, so we’re thrilled to offer two new models to our customers,” says Greg Thompson, marketing manager for the Breeze family of vehicles. New to the line-up is Polaris’ first street-legal electric-powered neighborhood vehicle, the Polaris Breeze SL; and a new 2-passenger version of the Breeze.

Each new model features an advanced, adjustable suspension and plush, contoured seating that is designed to deliver a comfortable and smooth ride. Boasting an automotive look, premium cut-and-sew seat design, and metallic paint colors, each Polaris Breeze promises to stand out from other neighborhood vehicles.

“The Breeze SL and two-passenger Breeze are yet two more examples of how Polaris is offering new and exciting ways for consumers to enjoy a master-planned community lifestyle,” says Marc Tullemans, director of Polaris’ Neighborhood Vehicle business. “We’ve added the innovation consumers have come to expect from Polaris into all-electric vehicles, making every Breeze a smart and fun choice for the whole family.”

Just three short weeks since the catastrophic fire at the Silver State 300 race where the Jagged X / Polaris racing 1919 race car literally burnt to the ground, the team rebounded to a second place finish in the Best in the Desert Blue Water Grand Prix, in Parker, Ariz.

Jagged X raced the Project X Monster Rock Ranger RZR as an interim race car. While the car had a good deal of the required structure in place it still required some long nights and some hard work to ready transform the purpose-built rock crawler into a competitive desert racer.

The Parker race was problem-free from flag to flag. This is the team’s only race with a full field land rush start where they came up a bit short and fell into the pack around sixth. After two laps, Brandon Schueler and co-pilot Mike West battled their way into the second place position but could not quite reel in the first place runner before time ran out.

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki ATV motocross team scored another double podium over the weekend at the Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in Walnut, Ill. The team finished 2-3 overall, with defending back-to-back champion Dustin Wimmer taking second, and Josh Creamer taking third. This is the fourth time in as many rounds that the team has put both Suzuki QuadRacer R450s on the podium.

Dustin Wimmer took third in the first moto, and the win in the second moto. His performance earned him enough points to regain his status as the point leader for the AMA ATV MX series, just ahead of teammate and former point-leader Josh Creamer. Only five points separate the two teammates, and their Suzuki R450s have been tough to beat all year.

Santa Rosa, Calif. based Zap Electric Vehicles has introduced a new electric ATV called the Zap Dude.

With an MSRP of just $5,495, the Dude is the least expensive electric ATV we’ve seen so far.

“Powerful and silent, the Dude climbs hills with ease and is great for working around ranches, outlots, corporate campuses, or on commercial farms,” Zap Electric Vehicles says in a release.

According to Zap Electric Vehicles, the Dude can reach speeds of up to 25 mph and can carry a total of 290 pounds including rider. The front and rear racks each hold up to 100 pounds and the Dude can tow up to 650 pounds.

Josh Upperman took home his first career overall win aboard his Baldwin Motorsports PEP Honda during the fourth round of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in Walnut, Ill.

Upperman was able to take the overall with start to finish win in moto one, but was overcome by two time defending Champion Dustin Wimmer in the second moto, finishing runner up in moto 2. With third and first place moto finishes, Wimmer took second overall but moved back into the points lead over teammate Josh Creamer for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“Everything fell into place this weekend for me. It feels so great to be up front running with these top guys,” says Upperman. “It really was a great race. Mark Baldwin and Wayne Mooradian had the bike working perfect for me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Upperman started the weekend off right, taking the holeshot moto 1. Motoworks Can-Am teammates John Natalie and Chad Weinen battled closely behind Upperman at the start of the race. Unfortunately, the battle ended early at lap five when Weinen and Natalie raced side by side and came together. Both were thrown from their machines, and Weinen took a somber ride back to the trailer with a DNF while Natalie was able to come back to sixth. This left the door open for Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Josh Creamer and Dustin Wimmer to capture the second and third positions respectively, while Upperman walked away from the pack with the win.

Upperman continued his reign in the second moto by again capturing the holeshot. This time, Wimmer was just seconds behind Upperman, and Natalie and Creamer were both fighting towards the front. At the halfway point in the race, everything changed. Creamer was able to get by Natalie and take the third spot, but then accidentally pulled his own tether cord, shutting off the machine and falling back to sixth. On the same lap, Wimmer made the pass on Upperman and walked away with the second moto win.

“The second moto we were running in third and somehow my kill switch came unplugged,” says Creamer. “I’m just glad I was able to get my Rockstar Makita Suzuki back on the podium this weekend.”

Upperman was still able to take the overall win, followed by Wimmer in second and Creamer with third.

“I’m just happy to come out and be neck and neck with my teammate Josh Creamer,” says Wimmer. “I had a good second moto and was able to make up some points and regain the points lead. is great motivation leading into Round 5.”

In the Pro-Am Production class, Joel Hetrick continued his success with wins in both motos. In the first moto, Joel was able to quickly pass to the front and ran away from the rest of the pack. Jeffrey Rastrelli continued his success this season with a second overall with 2-3 moto scores and the first moto Idol Speed Holeshot award. Travis Moore captured third overall with a 3-4. William Cottage took the moto 2 Idol Speed Holeshot award.

The series travels next to Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. for the ATV Stampede on May 29-30.

Quebec-based entrepreneur CMI-CECTEK is planning to market a four-wheel motorcycle designed specifically for on-road use. According to the company, its purchase cost, safety and fuel economy will bring innovation to Canadian motorsports. However, its launch is blocked by a major difference of opinion with current Transport Canada regulations.

“We are asking that the definition of motorcycle in Section 2 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulation be amended to include four-wheel motorcycles,” says Hélène Binet, vice-president of CMI-CECTEK. “We made this formal request to the government in July 2009.”

CMI-CECTEK have two different four-wheeled models – the Quadrift and the ESTOC. Each is powered by a 500cc liquid-cooled, fuel injected engine with an automatic transmission, CMI-CECTEK’s four-wheeled motorcycle (or quadricycle) can achieve a claimed top speed of 130 kilometers per hour (about 80 mph).

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am rider Chris Bithell took the XC1 Pro-class win at the Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC in Yadkinville, NC. This is the first afternoon overall for Bithell on his Can-Am DS 450 ATV, moving him to fourth in the XC1 class standings.

Bithell battled hard to take the lead on the last lap after making strategic moves on what is considered the toughest course on which to pass in the circuit. His teammate Adam McGill took fourth overall in the XC1 Pro class and sits third in the points race.

“It was a tight technical track, but my Can-Am DS450 did a great job out there and handled great,” says Bithell. “Everyone worked really hard this weekend and it feels really good to be able to bring home a win for the team. I’m going to be training hard for the next round. I really like the track in Pennsylvania and I will be going for another win.”

Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) will conclude its biggest raffle in history – including a donated Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS with an assortment of SureFire products as the grand prize – on May 16, 2010, at the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Charlotte, N.C.

Tickets, which were initially sold at the 2010 Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show earlier this year, will again be available for purchase directly from HAVA and its sustaining sponsors’ booths at the NRA Show. HAVA sponsors donated the raffle prizes so that all of the proceeds can go towards HAVA and its mission of supporting disabled veterans. Visit HAVA’s website for more information.

“We greatly appreciate the support from our sustaining sponsors who have made this raffle possible. We expect strong support from the thousands of attending NRA members who appreciate the contribution of our disabled veterans who have given their full commitment to protecting the American way of life,” says HAVA Chairman, Tom Taylor. “We had a great start to the promotion at SHOT Show and anticipate a strong finish at NRA. We hope everyone at the NRA Show will consider buying a ticket to support this worthy cause.”

“Yamaha is proud to support the veterans who benefit from HAVA’s mission and its activities,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/Side-by-Side (SxS) group marketing manager. “As a founding member, Yamaha plans to continue to help HAVA through direct contributions and fundraising efforts such as this raffle. We encourage everyone to go to HAVA’s website to learn more and consider making a donation to help our veterans.”

The HAVA raffle prizes include the following:
* Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS ATV with an assortment of SureFire products ($12,000 approx. value).
Smith & Wesson M&P-15T Tactical Rifle with Leupold Mark 4 Riflescope and Crimson Trace MVF-515 fore-grip ($3,532 approx. value)
* Smith & Wesson Elite Silver Shotgun ($2,380 approx. value)
* Leupold Gold Ring 10×42 Binocular ($899 approx. value)
* Four (4) Crimson Trace Laser Grips ($299-$479/each approx. value)
* One (1) Hornady Ammo Assortment ($300 approx. value)
* Twenty (20) SureFire G2L Flashlights ($69/each approx. value)

Proceeds of the raffle will go toward HAVA sponsored activities including hunts and shooting events, highlighted by HAVA’s annual National Family Day. The winners will be drawn on the final day of the NRA Annual Meeting and need not be present to accept their prize.

National Guard Polaris Yokley Racing ATV Team rider Jarrod McClure finished seventh overall and seventh in the XC1 Pro ATV Class today in Round 6 of the 2010 GNCC Series. There were 149 total entries with 14 XC1 Pro Riders.

Summary

Yadkinville is located in a scenic part of North Carolina with many wineries and lots of ATV enthusiasts. The weather was quite warm and dry, which made for a very dusty race course. The clay dust was so thick that everything including the race gear and bike looked orange after the race.

Jarrod got a mid pack start and immediately was having trouble seeing due to the dust. To make matters worse, about eight of the XC2 Pro Am riders missed a turn and cut out about a mile of the course. These riders were actually in front of most of the Pro riders after about two miles in, which made even more dust! It also spread the pros out as passing was very difficult in these conditions. Many times during the first lap, riders would have to almost come to a stop because of poor visibility.

Jarrod worked his way through all the Pro Am racers, and passed up to seventh overall by the finish. It was a good finish considering the conditions, and both rider and bike came in unscathed. The Polaris ran strong all day!

The team is looking forward to the next event in Somerset, Pa. on May 22. Jarrod McClure will be racing the Outlaw 450 ATV and William Yokley will be racing the Polaris RZR in the UTV race as well. See you there!

It was a great weekend for the FRE/KTM ATV GNCC Team as all three riders battled for podium positions throughout their respective races at the sixth round of the GNCC Series at the Yadkin Valley Stomp resulting in a win for XC2 rider Josh Kirkland, third for Women’s rider Angel Atwell and fifth for XC1 rider Bryan Cook.

The Women’s race was up first. Atwell nailed the holeshot but was quickly passed by a hard charging Traci Cecco. As they neared a group of lappers on the second lap, Atwell took a wider line around them and allowed Kristen Atwell to move into second. On lap three, Atwell regained the lead after the pit stop. The three ladies remained close throughout the remainder of the race. On the final lap Atwell and Cecco went into the same line only big enough for one quad. Unfortunately, Atwell got pushed off the track and dropped to third when she reentered. She finished the race third overall. Now six rounds in, Atwell and Cecco are tied for the points lead with one race drop.

Chris Bithell claimed his first win in almost two years, and the first of the year for Can-Am, with an impressive and exciting come-from-behind performance at the Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC in Yadkinville, NC – round six of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

Despite the fact that most of the GNCC-regulars consider the Yadkinville course to be one of the toughest to pass on, Bithell was dead last at the start of the two-hour race, and still managed to pass the rest of the XC1 field, and most of the XC2 riders, en route to the victory.

Ballance Racing/ Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser appeared to be heading to his second win of the year nearing the end of the race, until Bithell came calling on the final lap, as the two riders diced back and forth for the lead.

One of the things I like most about YouTube are the ride videos people put together. Admittedly most aren’t very well produced (too long!), but you can usually find a few good ones.

I found this one (posted May 5, 2010) about an ATV ride on some private property in Baytree, Alberta (Canada) that was shot in April as the snow was still melting.

Anybody who’d ever ridden in the early spring knows it can be messy, and this video shows ATVers having plenty of fun in the mud and some deep water. Check it out after the jump.

Suzuki amateur racers took a total of 17 podium positions in a variety of classes at the recent Birch Creek ATV National.

All told, Suzuki amateurs picked up four wins, eight runner-up finishes, and five third place finishes.

Kyle Grissom, Chase Cunningham, and Larry Miner swept the Junior 25 Plus class with a 1-2-3 finish for Suzuki. Chase Snapp finished on the podium twice, winning the Pro-Am Production class and grabbing second in Pro-Am Unlimited. In the Open B class, William Lloyd and Josh Williams piloted their Suzukis to a 1-2 finish. Dallas Tapscott and Thomas Mcarn took first and third in the Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) class, while Daniel Holisington and Ryan Wilson went 2-3 in the 450 C class and Ryan Wheeler and Stevie Lloyd Jr. had the same result in the 4-Stroke C class. Frankie Wyant (Open Class), David Henderlite (Veteran 30+ class), and Clayton Chin (Production C class) each earned runner-up finishes. Finally, Jacob McGraw put his Suzuki on the podium in the 4-Stroke B class.

Related Reading
Creamer Earns Second Straight ATV MX Win

According to a report from the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), the outgoing Director of the Department of Natural Resources has proposed drastic changes be made to the manner in which Colorado’s OHV program is managed.

“This is an extremely dangerous situation for Colorado’s OHV and snowmobile community,” BRC says in a release.

Here are the full details, according to the BRC:

Outdoing DNR Director Jim Martin has directed staff to ignore moderate changes supported by OHV users, department staff and most other key stakeholders that were presented at the March, 2010 Parks Board meeting and instead is attempting to force through changes designed to wrest control of the program from the OHV subcommittee.

The changes the outgoing director is proposing mirrors those being pushed by extreme anti-OHV and snowmobile groups. Their plan is to change the make up of the OHV subcommittee to make OHV users a permanent minority. Changes include adding three non-motorized members to the nine member committee and changing the rules so that any project can be stopped by a minority three votes. Changes would also drastically reduce the ability for the program manager (in this case Tom Metsa) and the trail coordinators to influence projects funded by the OHV program. Changes also would mandate certain percentages of grants to go to enforcement, education and restoration.

Pro Armor rider Josh Creamer scores his second win in a row at Round 3 of the AMA MX Nationals with Dustin Wimmer finishing second. Round 3 was held at Birch Creek in Danville, Va.

It was a great weekend for racing, with the second moto having four different racers take the lead before points leader Josh Creamer took the win and overall. Creamer now leads the defending champion by just two points after three rounds.

Wimmer rode well all day with a win in moto 1. Moto 2 was not so kind to the champ, when his seat came off during the fourth lap, but he was able to stay in the top five and surprisingly a second place overall to salvage some points.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Josh Creamer pulled out his second win in a row at the TriangleCycles.com Birch Creek National, in Danville, Va., in a thrilling, fast-paced second moto that saw four different riders take the lead. Creamer now sits at the top of the points standings of the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship. His teammate Dustin Wimmer took second ahead Yamaha‘s Thomas Brown.

“I’m really thrilled we got the win,” says Creamer. “We didn’t get holeshots this weekend, I was actually getting too much traction leaving the gate so I was struggling keeping the power under control. We worked our way through the pack both motos and ended up winning. Even if we don’t get holeshots we can still work our way up through.

“Everything on the bike was working good. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki was working awesome. The Fox Shocks were working well. I could get the bike wherever I wanted. It was hard to pass on the track so I had to stick it in there and have to make the passes happen. The second moto, we got a little bit of lead at the end of the race and that sealed the win.”

Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC) General Counsel Paul Vitrano testified on Thursday, April 29 in support of federal legislation to stop the ban on youth-sized all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.

The hearing held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection focused on a proposed bill, the “Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act” (CPSEA). The bill, drafted by Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), aimed at resolving unintended consequences of the CPSIA, including the current ban on youth motorcycles and ATVs.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) imposed a ban on youth-sized ATVs and Off-Highway Motorcycles (OHMs) because the vehicles contain small amounts of lead that are critical to the functionality of certain components.

“Our industry has already submitted clear evidence to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that we believe is sufficient to obtain exceptions for youth ATVs and motorcycles under section 2 of the proposed bill,” Vitrano said at the hearing. “We strongly urge the Committee to provide as much clarity as possible in developing a legislative solution so that CPSC will have no doubt that Congress intends to ensure the continued availability of youth vehicles, and will move accordingly to end the ban.”

Vitrano testified in support of section 2 of the CPSEA, which would create an exception to the lead content provision of the original bill if lead serves a functional purpose, as is the case in metal parts of ATVs and dirt bikes.

“We have encouraged the Committee to include statutory language to provide CPSC with explicit guidance,” says Vitrano. “In the absence of such language, however, it is critical that there be report language accompanying the bill that defines the terms ‘practicable’ and ‘no measurable adverse effect’ in Section 2.”

Vitrano pointed out that, while the lead provisions of the CPSIA were intended to protect children, they have had the opposite effect for youth-sized ATVs and OHMs since they have been effectively banned from the marketplace.

“These smaller, lighter, speed restricted models were specifically designed for youth riders with the goal of keeping them off of larger, faster adult-size units,” says Vitrano. “The CPSC has acknowledged that the ban on these youth models creates a compelling safety issue because it likely will result in younger children riding larger and faster adult-size ATVs.”

Vitrano also testified regarding the economic impact of the ban.

“The ban on youth model vehicles is significantly harming the economy and costing jobs, and until corrected will result in about $1 billion in lost economic value in the retail marketplace every year,” says Vitrano.

“We encourage Congress to act swiftly to move this legislation forward. It is important both for the safety of children who ride youth ATVs and motorcycles and for the small businesses affected by the ban that it be quickly and permanently ended.”

Related Reading
Appropriations bill can stop lead ban

Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a recall for about 20,000 Grizzly 550 and 700 ATVs.

The recall, which affects 2008-2010 Grizzly 550 and 700 models (non power steering models) was issued because the steering column support assembly can crack which can cause a rider to lose steering control. This recall involves the non-power steering models. Model names can be found on both the right and left hand side of the unit on the side panel.The following model numbers are affected by this recall:

Yamaha has received 19 reports of incidents involving the recalled ATVs, but no injuries have been reported. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact their local Yamaha dealer to schedule a free repair. Registered owners were sent direct mail notification of the recall.

Pro Armor has recently announced it is offering full protection for Can-Am Outlander utility ATVs.

“This is now the fourth utility vehicle we have you covered on with many more to come,” Pro Armor says in a release. “I think it goes without saying the high quality and standard that Pro Armor upholds with every product designed and manufactured in our facility in southern California.”

Pro Armor’s skid plates and A-arm guards are made from aluminum and bolt directly on without any drilling. The products feature recessed mounting holes, zinc plated hardware and forged mounting hooks. Each product comes with a full 90-day warranty.