KTM North America is inviting all KTM owners out for a free day of motocross riding at Pala Raceway in Southern California on Dec. 11, 2009.

Each year, the KTM west office holds an internal Christmas party exclusively for KTM staff. This year, in spirit of the holiday season, KTM President, Jon-Erik Burleson, along with the promoters of Pala raceway and presenting sponsors Jagermeister, FMF, Powersport Grafx, Motorex, Thor and GE Money have decided to open the invitation to all KTM riders for FREE!

KTM dealers and presenting sponsors will be on hand to show their new product and give you great gift ideas for your family and friends this holiday season. KTM riders Tommy Searle, Ronnie Renner, David Kamo, Nate Kanney, Cory Buttrick, Mike Brown, Kurt Caselli, Russell Bobbitt, Kasey Martinez, Brenden Ritzman and Michael Sleeter will be present to turn laps before the start of their 2010 racing season.

Racer Productions, producers of the America’s largest off-road racing series, have announced the dates for the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

The 13-round series schedule mimics the highly successful 2009 Schedule except for Round 6 of the series, the location of which is yet to be announced.

The series begins for the second year in a row at the West Gate River Ranch in River Ranch, Florida as part of Daytona Bike Week from February 27 to March 2, and will conclude with the series favorite, the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on October 23-24.

As always, ATVs will race on Saturday at each GNCC event and bikes will race on Sunday. The GNCC UTV series for Side-by-Side machines will also return in 2010, with expectations of a six-race series, up from the current line up of four.

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Over 450 riders and their guests of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship gathered for the final time in 2009 at the annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Not only were the top 10 amateur riders in all 34 National classes honored on stage, but recipients of many special awards were in the spotlight as well.

All riders who demonstrated a remarkable season were taken into consideration for the Rider of the Year Award which has historically been awarded to a Pro or Pro-Am rider. Heather Byrd went undefeated for the second year in a row to take home her sixth championship title and earning her first Rider of the Year Award – a landmark in Women’s racing.

“It is an awesome award,” says Byrd. “I’ve been racing for 27 years and I’ve won multiple championships and this is probably the best award I’ve received. Women in racing have earned a lot of respect in the last decade and this really shows we are making leaps and bounds finally and people are seeing that we are doing the same things guys are, throwing a leg over a four wheeler. We are finally getting to where we need to be.”

Muzzys Performance Products has reason to celebrate. After the 14-race inaugural season for Lucas Oil short course racing, the top three finishers in the 2009 Unlimited UTV class were driving Kawasaki Teryx side-by-sides with high performance engines and Muzzys dual exhaust systems. Chad George (#624) took first place in the series, followed by Robert Vanbeekum (#664) and Tyler Winbury (#694).

“Everyone at Muzzys would like to congratulate Chad, Bobby and Tyler on a great season,” says Rob Muzzy. “The competition was fierce in the Unlimited UTV Class, and these guys showed tenacity to make the podium for the season.”

The exhaust systems that Chad, Bobby and Tyler ran all season are basically the same as the Muzzys standard Teryx Dual Exhaust. “We learned a lot this race season and put that insight into our new Teryx PRO Exhaust which are a perfect match to big bore Teryx engines,” says Muzzy.

Cardo Systems, Inc. has entered a new distribution partnership with Polaris & Victory Motorcycles.

Polaris and Victory Motorcycles are the newest addition to Cardo’s distribution channel to carry the Cardo Scala Rider Q2 Bluetoosh headset featuring rider to rider intercom communication up to 500 meters (1,640 feet).

“We are very pleased to be forming this relationship with Polaris & Victory Motorcycles,” says Abraham Glezerman, chairman and CEO of Cardo Systems. “Both companies are leaders and experts in their fields; Cardo, at providing the most innovative and technically advanced Bluetooth helmet headsets with features that are ground-breaking to the industry and Polaris and Victory Motorcycles, as a leader in the development of an array of advanced, fun-to-ride off and on-road vehicles for a multitude of riding enthusiasts across markets, including ATV, side-by-side, motorcycle and snowmobile markets. Both companies strive to continue to redefine a rider’s experience.”

The American Motorcyclist Association has announced 2010 schedule for the AMA Racing ATV National Hare Scrambles Championship. The series determines the country’s top ATV hare-scrambles racers in a range of classes with national awards and No. 1 plates.

“Last year, the AMA broke new ground with the AMA Racing ATV National Hare Scrambles Championship Series,” says AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “For the first time, we gave ATV riders their own national hare scrambles series. In fact, we will be recognizing our inaugural-year champions at the upcoming AMA Racing Championship Banquet, this Dec. 4, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, with AMA Racing National No. 1 plates.

“We’re looking forward to building on our first-year success this coming year,” says Bromley. “Working with local promoters, we’ve put together a great series for 2010.”

The initial round will be promoted by Evansville MX Park and be held April 17 in Berwick, Pa. The series will then roll through Wisconsin, back to Pennsylvania then New York for the series finale. The five-round series will wrap up Aug. 28 in Courtland, N.Y.

The American Motorcyclist Association is urging Americans to contact their U.S. senators to support a bill that would allow the sale of youth motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.

The 2010 Financial Services Appropriations bill includes language written by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) that would prevent the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using funds to enforce a section of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that bans youth off-highway vehicles containing lead.

The CPSC announced earlier this year it would not enforce the ban on youth dirt bikes and ATVs until May 1, 2011. Former CPSC Chair Nancy Nord argued the CPSIA should be flexible when it comes to youth vehicles but the wording of the legislation prevented the commission from granting such exemption. Other attempts at changing the legislation focused on the wording of the CPSIA but Rehberg’s language could achieve the same result by restricting funding.

“Unfortunately, while Washington bureaucrats bicker over the meaning of words, the intent of Congress to protect kids from dangerous toys is being ignored,” says Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The federal government is now forcing children to ride adult-sized motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles – a serious danger that’s much more real than the invented threat of chewing on a battery cable or valve stem.

The Motorcycle Industry Council has launched a new program to help powersports retailers attract more traffic to their dealerships.

The “Revive Your Ride!” program is the first industry-wide promotional campaign designed to raise consumer awareness about dealership sales, incentives and activities. The free program is available now to give dealerships a boost for the upcoming holiday season.

“The theme Revive Your Ride! can mean accessorizing the motorcycle you already have, pulling a machine out of the back of the garage and putting it back on the road or trail, getting some overdue service done, sizing up some fresh riding gear, and, yes, it can mean a new bike or ATV too,” says Frank Esposito, member of the MIC Board of Directors and president of Kendon Industries, Inc. “The unified theme, style and design, if used by many dealerships, repeatedly, can collectively cut through today’s marketing clutter. We want a clear message to customers that regardless of how much they have to spend, now is the best time to visit their local motorcycle dealer, aftermarket outlet or service shop. The product selection is great right now, the deals are generous and there is plenty of expert dealership staff to help.”

Teixeira Tech would like to thank the racers who ran its linkage and A-arms across multiple ATV racing disciplines this season. 2009 was a break out success for many new Teixeira Tech racers with class championships as well as national top ten finishes.

In GNCC racing, Duane Johnson made his strong comeback finishing #8 for the year in Pro class. Kevin Blundell raced in the Junior B Class and racked up three wins, and finished third for year. Mike Husband raced in the Vet A (30+) class and dominated with four victories and finished first in class for the year. Brandon Carter ran Vet A (30+) as well, and finished out the year with fourth in class. These top performing GNCC racers utilized the Teixeira Tech linkage for the TRX450R, which works with the stock swingarm, uses a 17.5” shock, and industry leading great ground clearance. Several of the racers also ran Teixeira Tech +1 Maximum Ground Clearance A-Arms, which held up to the abuse of cross country racing.

HCR Racing has announced the release of its Arctic Cat Prowler XTZ long travel kit at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Retailing for $5,799, the kit includes custom tuned King 2.0 reservoir shocks in black or traditional blue and Summers Brother’s Racing 4340 axles. Fully constructed in the United States, the kit adds six inches of width per side for improved stability. Also, two inches have been added to the wheelbase for more stability at high speeds and while on hills. With the kit installed, the Prowler XTZ achieves an impressive 15 inches of wheel travel.

“HCR Racing custom tunes every shock package in-house to make sure the shock valving and spring rates are perfectly mated to the UTV it’s designed for,” HCR Racing says in a release.

KTM Motorsports will extend its relationship with Farr Racing Enterprises (FRE) and its three-rider ATV GNCC Team for the 2010 season. The FRE/KTM ATV GNCC Team will consist of defending XC2 champion Josh Kirkland, defending Women’s Champion Angel Atwell and the newest member signing on to compete in the XC1 class Bryan Cook.

The FRE/KTM Team will be led by multi-time ATV champion Tim Farr.

“Tim’s experience and expertise racing ATVs led to the development of the current KTM ATV and has helped KTM ATV Team riders win many races, including two championships last year,” says KTM Off-Road Team Manager Antti Kallonen. “Needless to say, we are very happy to extend our relationship with such a well decorated and knowledgeable team leader and look forward to a successful year with Tim and his FRE/KTM team for 2010.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson rejected a proposal to raid the state’s off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail safety fund as part of a plan to balance the state budget.

On Nov. 9, Richardson used his line-item veto power for the state budget to ensure that $800,000 targeted for transfer to the state general fund remained in the trail safety fund. He noted the program “is funded by fees and designed to protect the safety of outdoorsmen and other New Mexicans who use off-highway vehicles.”

The New Mexico Trail Safety Fund was set up primarily to build and maintain trails.

“This is a wonderful 11th-hour reprieve for a vital program that was created by users and is funded by users,” says American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Western States Representative Nick Haris. “At a time when state lawmakers around the nation will soon begin their legislative sessions and will once again be looking for ways to balance their state budgets, they need to remember that motorcyclists and ATV riders pay the same taxes and fees as other citizens and, in addition, pay for their own programs as well.

“The New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance did a great job alerting concerned OHVers in New Mexico to let the governor know that the fund shouldn’t be raided,” says Haris. “Gov. Richardson obviously listened, and recognized the importance of the OHV program.

“The AMA thanks the governor for his veto, and we encourage New Mexico riders to contact him and express their thanks for protecting OHV funds in New Mexico,” said Haris.

While the governor spared the OHV program and several other funds from raids, the budget still transferred nearly $110 million from special funds into the state’s general-purpose fund.

The AMA has kept a close watch this year on state efforts to raid designated motorcycle funds. In August, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration backed away from a plan to raid that state’s Motorcycle Safety and Education Program of $800,000 after a public outcry related to raids of special funds to balance the state budget.

“When lawmakers or government bureaucrats talk about raiding our programs’ funds, it’s crucial that all motorcyclists and ATVers let them know that this is simply unacceptable,” says Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. “Even when it appears that the money is lost, we need to keep the pressure on. New Mexico and Ohio are good examples of enthusiasts not giving up, and ultimately winning these battles.”

To stay on top of what’s happening in your state, just go to the Rights section of the AMA website.

Building on a winning performance in June at the Baja 500, ITP and parent Carlisle Tire & Wheel Company will be putting their products to the ultimate test at the upcoming Baja 1000.

ITP and Carlisle have partnered with DragonFire Racing to tackle this historic event in a specially prepared Kawasaki Teryx. The driving team is composed primarily of ITP/Carlisle employees, competing in the UTV Sportsman class. Their car, #1801, will be using ITP’s BajaCross tires mounted on ITP’s new T-9 Pro Mod spun aluminum wheel. This wheel was developed as a direct result of experience gained in the Baja 500.

Additional backing for this entry comes from Black Rock off-road wheels and Ultimax performance belts. A similar car, #1803, is being fielded by the same Team Green Kawasaki DragonFire Racing crew that won the Baja 500. The teams will share pits, equipment and other resources.

The Factory Polaris Rath Duro Team had a busy 2009 season tearing up race tracks. The Rath team put its machines on the podium multiple times in multiple series. The team has taken home wins in all disciplines this season including cross country, motocross, supermoto, ice racing, and time trial.

The Rath team has enjoyed success with both the Outlaw 450 MXR and the all-new Sportsman 850 XP with Power Steering.

The Rath Outlaw 450 MXR’s with Daryl Rath and Casey Martin piloting them, have taken wins in supermoto, time trial, and motocross respectively. Martin even holds the honor of the highest place finish at the Pro Am Level in the AMA ATV MX National Series with his amazing third place overall finish at the final round on MX at Loretta Lynn’s. Since then, Martin has continued his winning ways competing in a winter series close to his hometown in Frenchburg, Ky., while training for next season. Martin once again will be contending for the 2010 AMA ATV MX Pro Am Championship in a class stacked with talent.

Lonestar Racing of Mesa, Ariz. has introduced a new front suspension package for the Polaris RZR 170 youth side-by-side.

“Give your kid the plush ride they deserve and the stability they require to keep them safe,” Lonestar Racing says in a release.

This kit provides three inches more width per side and a whopping 9.5 inches of wheel travel (compared to five inches for stock) for improved performance without the need for chassis modifications. The kit bolts directly into the stock a-arm mounts and comes with extended steel braided brake lines and new heavy duty stainless steel tie-rods.

According to Lonestar Racing, you can pair up this front end package with an OEM compatible heavy duty rear axle shaft that is six inches wider than stock and chrome plated.

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am saw two big victories at the final round of the 2009 GNCC season near Crawfordsville, Ind. The first saw Can-Am Outlander 800R EFI ATV rider Michael Swift completing a perfect season in the 4×4 Limited class at the Ironman GNCC, the second was Bryan Buckhannon’s 4×4 Open championship – and morning overall victory – also on his Outlander 800R. However, before those key victories even happened, both riders had to deal with some of the worse racing conditions in recent memory.

“That Buckhannon was able to dominate the final round of the season in these conditions proves how hungry he was for that championship,” says Jimmie O’Dell, racing manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “He and Swift rode fast and smart and it paid off with an overall win and a third. This has been an awesome season for team Warnert / Can-Am and we are excited to build on that momentum in 2010.”

MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., in conjunction with the ATVA, formally announced the 2010 schedule for the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited. The 2010 series will kick off March 27-28 at Millcreek Raceway in Pell City, Ala. and conclude at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. August 14-15.

New to the series is longtime AMA Pro Motocross Championship facility Spring Creek Motocross Park scheduled to host its first ATV national in Millville, Minn., June 12-13.

“We’re excited to host our very first ATV Motocross National at Spring Creek,” says seasoned AMA National Motocross promoter John Martin. “Minnesota and Wisconsin have an active community of quad participation, so once riders find out the top Pro and amateur riders are coming to town, it’s going to draw an amazing group of local talent and fans.”

FRE/KTM ATV GNCC rider Josh Kirkland claimed the XC2 Pro-Am ATV GNCC Championship at the final round of the series by a single point over Yamaha rider Brian Wolf.

Kirkland needed to finish seventh or better in order to take the crown at the final round.

“I came in hoping for a win but had my work cut out for me early on in the race when I had some troubles,” says Kirkland.

It had rained the day before the race which accounted for large mud sections on the steep, hilly course. Kirkland got stuck multiple times in the mud, each time losing valuable positions and points. In the end, he moved up to seventh, finishing in the exact spot he needed to clinch the championship.

Covering 13 national and regional racing series and more than 170 racing classes, KTM has announced its double championship rewards 2010 ATV contingency program that puts $1.3 million up for grabs for novice racers to experienced professionals. In addition to the massive contingency effort, KTM’s popular amateur grassroots racer support program returns for the 2010 racing season buoyed by a new Orange Brigade dealer support program.

KTM ATV racers are encouraged to sign up for the double rewards contingency program at XTRM.com/KTM to have an opportunity to stake claim to their share of the $1.3 million. Once all race series schedules are finalized, racers will be able to log on and review the eligibility requirements, race classes covered and earn KTM Cash.

“This is the most comprehensive ATV contingency program to date,” says Chris Vogtman, KTM’s ATV product manager. “Our double rewards program for 2010 reinforces KTM’s commitment to the ATV product, its racers and the sport. We didn’t leave out any race classes with this program. And, outside of the $1.3 million offered, that is what we are most proud of. We didn’t pick and choose what classes to cover in the 13 series. Any class our ATV can compete in is covered and that’s the way it should be.”

William Yokley finished 81st Overall and 18th in the ATV XC1 Pro Class today after a big crash on the third lap. There were 207 total entries with 20 XC1 Pro Riders. Team Rider Mark Notman finished 200th Overall and 28th in the 28 rider XC2 Pro Am Class after experiencing mechanical problems on the first lap. Yokley and designated passenger Tomas Scheckter did not finish the UTV Race after leading on the first lap.

William Yokley’s Race Summary

The Ironman marks the end of the season and is a very challenging track with creek crossings, steep hills, tight woods, and wide open field sections. Quite a bit of rain fell leading up to the race, and the property was soaked on Friday. The water crossings and steep hills were going to be difficult. A huge crowd of dedicated fans gathered on Saturday in spite of the conditions, and most were positioned by the deep water crossing and steep hills.

The race began and the first lap was mostly picking the best lines and getting settled in. I was not having a very good day, and on the last lap the “Ironman Hill” got me. I came out of the water and there was a bottleneck at the base of the hill causing me to get a poor run up the hill. I did not have the momentum to reach the top, so I just pinned it and held on. Right at the top, it caught traction in a rut and flipped over backward. It cart-wheeled down the hill and got stuck on a tree. I got it turned back over and discovered the handlebars were severely bent, and a lot of oil had leaked out through the vent tube. I tried the hill again and realized I could only turn the bars about half way. So, the end result was I did pretty much exactly the same thing and flipped down the hill again. The bars were pretty much destroyed at that point and my day was over.

Mark Notman had a very brief race after a great start and first lap. He was unable to finish due to some unknown engine problems.

In the final round of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, the Klotz Ironman in Crawfordsville, Ind., Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich took his eighth-straight XC1 victory and his 10th of the season after taking the lead after his typical last minute campaign for the win. Yamaha’s Bill Ballance finished in second with Indiana native Ryan Lane in third.

Borich battled in third for most of the race while FRE KTM’s Adam McGill and Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser led him through one of the toughest tracks of the 13-stop GNCC tour. The track has some of the steepest hills on the circuit and rain the day prior had made it one of the muddiest, too.

“I like the last lap,” says Borich. “It was pretty tough out there but it was an awesome day. The hillclimbs were gnarly. This is one of the best tracks on the circuit and there were fans everywhere.”

Team Motoworks / Can-Am took three of the top four spots in the Pro Class aboard the Can-Am DS 450 at the final round of the 2009 World Off-Road Championship Series held outside Mesquite, Nev. this past weekend. Even though Motoworks racer Josh Frederick took the Pro class win by three minutes, he came up two points shy of winning his third WORCS championship in a row. Teammates Jeremie Warnia and Chad Wienen finished third and fourth respectively.

“We knew it would come down to this last round of racing to determine the Pro championship and Josh went out and did all he could to win that third title,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Can-Am racing manager. “He knew he had to win this last round and he did, that’s all we could have asked of him. We are proud of Josh and the entire Motoworks / Can-Am team, they worked hard all season long and it shows with two riders in the top three of the Pro class points.”

Frederick was forced to sit out the fifth round of racing due to multiple injuries sustained in a nasty crash and he was able to come back and race in the sixth round despite not being fully recovered. He finished the season with three Pro-class wins and was off the podium only twice this season. Warnia finished the season with two Pro-class wins.

Polaris has taken its extremely-popular, value-priced Sportsman 500 H.O. and coupled it with one of its best-selling colors, Orange Madness, for a special Limited Edition model.

The Sportsman 500 H.O. Orange Madness will be available at U.S. and Canadian dealerships in November 2009 and will retail for $5,999 (U.S.) and $7,499 (Canada). The unit is also available in Indy Red or Sage Green for the same price.

The Sportsman 500 platform has long been a success for the Minnesota-based manufacturer. Though the new Sportsman 550 XP features more power and a more modern chassis, Polaris has kept the Sportsman 500 H.O. in the lineup to give its customers a lower-priced option.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., through its OHV Access Initiative, has provided more than $1 million in critical funding into OHV projects across the country. In less than two years, more than 100 Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) have been given to local, state and national organizations that are leading efforts to support safe, responsible OHV riding and sustainable, open riding areas.

Programs receiving GRANTs historically incorporate projects that directly impact specific trails, such as trail construction and maintenance, safety patrols, mapping and trail signage, as well as projects that address OHV usage on a broader scale – like educational and land stewardship campaigns and legislative or legal efforts supporting responsible OHV access to public lands. GRANT funded projects span the country from New York to California, Florida to Oregon. A complete list of GRANT recipients can be found at: Yamaha-Motor.com/OHVAccess.

“Yamaha is leading national and local efforts to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas, and reaching this $1 million milestone is symbolic of our commitment,” says Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. “Together with our GRANT recipients, we recommit to these efforts each time an approved OHV project is funded and completed. Through the OHV Access Initiative, Yamaha will to continue to provide vital resources to the OHV community for many years to come.”

In this third quarter funding cycle, eight Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) were awarded to fund projects that directly impact the access, safety and sustainability of OHV riding areas across the country. GRANT recipients for Q3 2009 include:

• Birdseye Mountain ATV Club, VT
• City of Evarts, KY
• Cle Elum Ranger District, OR
• Dubois County Dirt Riders
• Off Road Riders Association
• Offroad Riders Matter Association
• Oregon Dept. of Forestry
• Western Slope ATV Association

The primary purpose of the OHV Access Initiative is to provide funding of OHV access-related projects that 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

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Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., is now accepting applications for its second annual scholarship program that provides financial assistance to members of the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT). ACT is a national college student association with 354 members located on 17 college and university campuses across the country. ACT’s mission of fostering professional development is at the core of the Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program.

The Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program is broken out into two individual student scholarships and one chapter scholarship. All three scholarships are aimed at helping students attend the annual Agricultural Media Summit (AMS), a professional development and networking opportunity.

For the 2008-09 program, the University of Florida received Yamaha’s chapter award, while Whitney Siegfried and Katherine Kuykendall, both ACT members from Purdue University, earned the individual scholarships.

“The Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program is integrating messages of safe, responsible ATV and Side-by-Side vehicle use into the farming community by working with current and future communicators in the agriculture industry,” says Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha again congratulates the inaugural recipients of this scholarship program, and we’ve been happy to receive some very positive feedback from the students. We encourage all ACT members to get involved and submit individual and chapter applications.”

“This scholarship competition is one of the most practical scholarship programs I’ve seen,” says Dr. Jefferson D. Miller, ACT faculty advisor and associate professor of agricultural communications at the University of Arkansas. “It requires students to create an actual example of journalistic or public relations work – something they can add to their professional portfolio. Plus, the reward is that they get to go network at AMS with the people who will probably be hiring them in the near future.”

The AMS is the largest gathering of crop and livestock media professionals in the country and is the ACT’s primary career development networking opportunity each year. The conference is hosted by the Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) and the Livestock Publications Council (LPC) – potential future employers and colleagues of the students.

Applicants are judged based on merit, need and quality of submission materials by a review committee consisting of Yamaha representatives and members of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association and the Livestock Publications Council. The 2009-2010 application process will run through the end of February and winners will be announced in early May 2010. More information and guidelines, along with the application form, can be found online at http://www.nactnow.org/.

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Polaris Defense has announced that the National Guard Bureau, the federal organization that oversees equipment purchases for the National Guard, will purchase a fleet of Polaris Ranger 800 Crew side-by-sides.

The $2.4 million purchase will be used to support the critical role the Army National Guard has to conduct missions abroad and at home including disaster relief.

“The National Guard’s state-side mission to protect the homeland and respond to disasters fits Polaris vehicles extremely well,” says Mark McCormick, managing director of Polaris Defense. “Our all wheel drive, multi-passenger, off-road vehicles provide a cost-effective capability well-suited for the demands of the National Guard. This is a big win for Polaris and our defense business. As an American company, we are committed to providing quality vehicles to the U.S. Military and this contract is a great example of our commitment to that goal.”

Yoshimura has just released the next generation in fuel management systems for fuel injected off-road motorcycles and ATVs – the PIM-2 (Peripheral Interface Module).

According to Yoshimura, the PIM-2 installs easily, typically in under 30-minutes using simple Plug-N-Play technology. Just plug the PIM-2 into the stock wiring harness using the supplied sub-harness, mount it to your bike using the supplied mounting kit, and you are ready to race!

Yoshimura has been involved in fuel injection tuning for many years through its Superbike Racing program. Now, with the proliferation of EFI into the dirt world, Yoshimura has utilized this experience in creating the PIM-2.

The PIM-2 comes pre-loaded with two separate fuel injection maps for either a Yoshimura slip-on or full exhaust system. Maps for additional pipe brands or engine modification configuration can be downloaded from the Yoshimura website.

Chad Wienen made his Team Motoworks/Can-Am debut in exciting form as he dominated the Montréal Supercross race on his Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV at Montréal’s Olympic Stadium.

Wienen made it look effortless as he quickly passed his way to the front of the field during the main event, going on to win in convincing fashion. He bested Motoworks teammate John Natalie by 20 seconds, and former Kawasaki teammate, Josh Creamer, by more than 40 seconds in the 10-lap race.

“The track was pretty technical and you had to be precise in your riding, but it was really fun and I had a great time,” says Wienen. “It felt really good to go out there my first time on the Can-Am and take a win. I’m really excited about the upcoming season and I think, with Motoworks and the Can-Am DS 450, we really have a winning team and a shot at the motocross championship.”

The world’s largest ATV and snowmobile show is back as the Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV and Powersports Show returns Oct. 16-18 to Toronto, Canada.

With over 500,000 square feet display space, show organizers say you can see “everything snowmobiling and ATVing” in one spot. Like it has since 1987, the International Centre will be hosting 2009 edition of the show.

The show now encompasses four halls at the International Centre, including an “Outdoor Events” area. It’s here you’ll find the Ultimax Freestyle Snowmobile Event, with Joe Parsons – winner of two gold medals at the 2009 X Games – along with longest snowmobile back flip world record holder Sam Rogers and Ontario-born Jeff Mullin. These three athletes will try to wow the crowd while they attempt extreme stunts on their customized sleds. Former X Games gold medalist Chris Burandt will be on hand to sign autographs and emcee the performance.

Pro Armor has recently released its brand new suicide doors for the Polaris RZR and RZR S.

Built with all-aluminum construction to save weight and ensure strength and durability, Pro Armor says these doors are ideal for any time of riding or racing. Pro Armor designed the doors so they will bolt on to your RZR with no drilling.

“They have a three-point mounting system making them the strongest and best design on the market period,” Pro Armor says in a release.

Pro Armor claims that installation “is a breeze” and the doors are available with sheet metal skins or nets and are fully interchangeable. The positive detent spring loaded latch was designed with ease of use in mind. Beyond adding a little style to your RZR, the suicide doors also make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.

HCR Racing announced the release of its latest Kawasaki Teryx long travel kit on Oct. 5, 2009.

“The quality fit and finish, ease of installation, and top shelf performance of their kits are what sets [HCR Racing] apart from the competition,” the company says in a release.

According to HCR Racing, none of its kits are released to the public without hours and hours of vigorous testing in the rocks, desert, and dunes just like consumer intends to use it. Not only this, HCR Racing custom tunes every shock package in-house to make sure the shock valving and spring rates are perfectly mated to the UTV it’s designed for. HCR Racing says this is why its long travel kits offer the best ride quality in the business.

William Yokley finished 22nd Overall and 15th in the XC1 Pro Class at the Power Line Park GNCC on Oct. 3. There were 206 total entries with 21 XC1 Pro Riders. Team Rider Mark Notman did not finish in the 28-rider XC2 Pro Am Class. Yokley was unable to finish in the UTV Class.

William Yokley’s Race Summary

We had a short one-week turnaround from the last race which forced us to speed up our preparations. St. Clairsville is a great place to race but can be treacherous with several big mud holes. Conditions were really good; no dust and cool temperature. I’m going to be brief with my summary of the weekend; it was mostly problems and disappointment for out team.

In the ATV XC1 class, I finished 15th after a steady but uneventful ride. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of the weekend. Mark Notman was unable to finish in the XC2 class due to an engine problem.

I was looking forward to the UTV race with the Polaris RZR, hoping to finish the day with a good showing. Riding with me today was my physical trainer and good friend, Marc Spataro. We did not make it one lap before running into problems. While trying to get around a competitor, a small tree got wedged between the frame and the rear wheel, and no matter what we tried, we could not get the machine freed. After working for 45 minutes, a GNCC worker arrived and helped free us by using a chainsaw to cut it out. Maybe the tree was not that small after all!

We were many laps behind by then, so I was just cruising around the track so Marc would get his fill of fun. To cap things off, I caught a rut wrong, and we flipped the RZR on its side. We still had not completed lap 1! With the help of some spectators, we got it back on four wheels. I decided to get it back to the trailer and call it a day. This was my first DNF ever for me in the RZR. It just wasn’t meant to be a good day for the team.

Days like this happen, and it’s best to not dwell on it but to look forward to the final race at the Ironman in Crawfordsville IN. We will be ready to go. My guest passenger for the UTV race will be Indy Car driver Tomas Scheckter. MonaVie is bringing him in to have some fun. See you there!

Many Thanks to all our Sponsors!

Yokley Racing Team Sponsors are: The Army National Guard, Polaris Industries, Kenda Tires, Elka Suspension, Roll Design, HMF Exhaust Systems, IMS/Roll, PURE Polaris Lubricants & Fuels, Intense Fabrication & Design, Douglas Wheel Technology, Moto Pro Training, Tire Balls, Andrews Cycle, Tsubaki Chains, IMS, Four Apparel, ASV Levers, CV4 Hoses, Hygh Octane Design, PIER Graphics, Universal Handlebars, Scott Goggles, ATVRiders.com, Hetrick Motorsports, Powermadd, Recluse Clutches, and Monavie Energy Drinks.

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Borich Outduels McGill at Power Line Park GNCC

FRE/KTM XC2 Pro-Am rider Josh Kirkland won his second consecutive race to take over the points lead heading to the final round of the GNCC Series.

Kirkland’s race did not start as well as it ended. Although he was in second position heading to the first turn he spun out when he hit the first corner and found himself back in ninth position when he recovered. Meanwhile, out front Parker Jones and Brian Wolf were battling for the lead. Shortly after, Wolf succumbed to mechanical problems and Jones started to pull out front while Kirkland was busy climbing through the pack.

As Kirkland continued to battle on, he soon found himself in second place heading to the final lap. He passed Jones for the lead and went on to win the race and inherit the championship points lead. Now with one race left, Kirkland holds a 17 point lead over Wolf.

Rockstar Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris Borich may have wrapped up the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Championship, but that obviously won’t change the way he races.

In yet another full-tilt battle for ATV supremacy, the Pennsylvanian outdueled FRE KTM’s Adam McGill to collect his seventh-straight win in the XC1 Pro class at the ITP Power Line Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio on Oct. 3. Houser Racing’s Bryan Cook took third on a track that featured perfect conditions through most of the course, but threw a few bottomless mud holes at the riders as well.

Borich’s day started poorly when he got stuck in one of those holes on the first lap.

BRP has announced the signing of its three-racer lineup for the 2010 ATV National Motocross Championship series. Returning for his third year on the Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV will be former national champion John Natalie. He will be joined by multiple-time winner Chad Wienen, who is looking to improve on his third-place championship finish last season. Finally, Jeremie Warnia will race the motocross nationals full-time after racing selected rounds in 2009. All three racers will represent the Can-Am Pro-class effort and contest the series out of the Team Motoworks / Can-Am hauler for the entire season.

“BRP is committed to ATV racing and we look forward to watching these three racers be successful on the DS 450 next season,” says Denis Morin, vice president product development and racing at BRP. “All three of these racers bring exceptional talent to the motocross track and will be backed by one of the strongest racing teams in the industry; everyone at BRP is excited.”

Natalie moves from the Warnert Racing / Can-Am program to Motoworks and is looking to improve on his results last season where he had two podium finishes. The popular racer who has been nicknamed “Ironman” says this is the season for the DS 450.

“First I would like to thank BRP for its passion and commitment to ATV racing. I am big-time impressed by the Motoworks organization so far and cannot wait to start working on a championship,” says Natalie. “The team wants to win as bad as Chad, Jeremie and I want to win. I am going into 2010 with confidence.”

Joining Natalie is Wienen, who has consistently been one of the fastest racers on the national circuit. In 2009, Wienen took two overalls and seven podiums last season and was in an exciting championship battle all season long.

“I’ve had some seat time on the ATV and was immediately comfortable on it,” says Wienen. “And let me tell you, lap times don’t lie: I’m faster. Next season is going to be a great one for me and everyone on the Motoworks team. This is a great opportunity for me.”

Warnia raced selected ATV motocross nationals and ended up with several top-10 finishes as a Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 racer. The French-born racer has quickly become one of the more popular racers on the circuit not only for his personality, but also for his blistering lap times on his race ATV. Currently he sits in first place for the ITP Quadcross ATV championship and third place for the WORCS championship. Warnia says that his experience last year will help make him a contender this season.

“Last year was my first racing full time in the United States, so this season I know exactly what to expect and know I will have to train hard this off season,” says Warnia. “I can’t wait for the season to begin!”

Motoworks team owner Johnny Leach is confident going into next season:

“Never has there been a time since we got started that I have had more confidence going into a race season,” says Jonny Leach, Motoworks team owner. “Last year we learned a lot at the motocross nationals, and this year I expect to win. After initial testing with John, Chad and Jeremie, I am extremely excited with the results”.

“I predict next season is going to be a big year for Can-Am ATV racing and this team announcement reaffirms our passion and support for ATV racing,” says Jimmie O’Dell, racing manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Our partnership with Motoworks has worked extremely well for BRP and the development of the DS 450 race program.”

RJ Anderson had another successful weekend at rounds three and four of the TORC short course series at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif.

Round three was held Friday Sept. 25 and due to TORC rules, Anderson gridded his Ranger RZR S in last place despite being the fastest qualifier. Halfway through the race, he had worked his was up to third place and with two laps to go he made the pass for the lead.

“My Ranger RZR S was working great and we had new shock valving and an improved clutch set up for the race,” says Anderson. “We were just taking it easy until two laps to go and we really went for it, taking the lead and held it to the finish.”

ITP has just introduced the ATV/UTV industry’s first production snow and ice tire – the TundraCross.

The all-new TundraCross features 96 carbide-tipped steel case studs that are strategically placed for maximum performance on ice and snow. The TundraCross is based on ITP’s TerraCross R/T XD design, and features fully sipped (thinly cut) lugs, which are designed to provide more traction-grabbing edges and maximum traction in loose, slippery conditions.

Its tough 6-ply bias construction is light in weight and offers excellent flotation to keep the tire “on top” of the snow. A rim guard keeps snow and ice out of the bead area and protects the wheel lip. The TundraCross debuts in two sizes: 25×9-12 and 25×10-12.

ITP’s brand new QuadCross XC tires proved their potential in a big way at the Moose Racing Yadkin Valley Stomp, round 11 of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

Angel Atwell chose the new QuadCross XC for the rear of her FRE KTM and rode to a strong second place in the Women’s class on a very wet, slick and demanding red clay course. With that, Atwell clinched her first Women’s GNCC Championship. Atwell has won seven events in 2009 on ITP tires, helping her to take the title with two rounds to go.

FRE KTM’s Adam McGill took his front and rear QuadCross XCs to an extremely close second overall in the XC1 Pro division. McGill, now holding third in the point standings, says he was able to control his slides perfectly.

With two Best in the Desert races remaining, Jagged X and its Polaris Ranger RZR S took the Bilek Racing Silver State 300 race and inched closer to the team’s third Best in the Desert championship.

Ten side-by-sides started the race and the No. 1919 Jagged X RZR S started in fourth position. The 321-mile loop took the racers through some of the most beautiful country in Nevada and up to over 7000 ft in elevation through a pine forest and then back to the desert floor. According to the team, the Ranger RZR S performed flawlessly the entire race making only scheduled fuel stops with Brandon Schueler driving and Mike West in the navigator’s seat. Schueler was able to obtain the lead by about race-mile 146 and stayed up front all the way to the finish.

“The 2009 points chase is a close one with only a few points separating the top three race teams,” says Brandon Schueler. “This win will move the Jagged X a few points closer to our third championship. Our Ranger RZR S keeps proving over-and-over just how great these Polaris products really are.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich did what no other racer has been able to do in almost a decade. In the rain of the Moose Racing Yadkin Valley Stomp, round 11 of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, Borich was able to clinch the 2009 series after an intense battle that saw a leader change through almost every turn. Borich was able to narrowly beat FRE KTM’s Adam McGill and Nine-time Defending Champion Bill Ballance to take the overall win and the championship.

Ballance presented Borich with his new number one plate on the podium.

“When I started racing, I started out just having fun in the B class,” says Borich. “Ballance is a tough competitor. I’ve been behind him for years and I finally did it. It was a real tight tack out there and I got into seventh place. I didn’t know what to do so I just waited for someone to make a mistake.”

William Yokley finished 30th overall and 15th in the XC1 Pro Class of the Yadkinville GNCC on Sept. 26. There were 140 total entries with 17 XC1 Pro Riders. Team rider Mark Notman finished 21st Overall and 8th in the 22 rider XC2 Pro Am Class.

William Yokley’s Race Summary:

Yadkinville is a really nice area to visit and a hotbed for ATV enthusiasts. The race is usually run earlier in the year and is typically hot, dry and dusty. This year was much cooler and some rain moved into the area to take care of the dust. The conditions were pretty good but the rain made the red clay soil very slick, but I’ll take that over dust anytime.

I got a good start entering the woods in the top six, and I had a good pace going. The bike was working great about half way through lap 1. Then, the clutch would not disengage and I had no feel in the lever. The clutch was not slipping, but I could not get through the tight stuff very well at all, and I stalled the engine many times. With the clutch not working right, I knew this was going to be a tough day. Each time I stalled out, it took awhile to find neutral and get it fired back up; meanwhile, several guys would pass me. The clay buildup on my bike got so bad that it broke both fenders off, and when I finished, it looked like something out of the Mad Max Road Warrior movies. I completed the 4 laps in 15th place in the XC1 Pro Class, and was pretty bummed out.

Mark Notman had a better day and worked his way up to 8th place in the XC2 Pro Am Class. He got something jammed in his chain early on, and had to stop to get it out, and passed riders all 4 laps. Good job Mark!

We have a very short turn around with our next race in St. Clairsville Ohio this coming Saturday October 3rd. That gives us just a few days to get the 450 prepared as well as the Polaris RZR UTV, which I race as well. I think it may take a whole day to get all the red clay mud off of the bike and the hauler! We have two race weekends left for the season. See you there!

Yokley Racing Team Sponsors are: The Army National Guard, Polaris Industries, Kenda Tires, Elka Suspension, Roll Design, HMF Exhaust Systems, IMS/Roll, PURE Polaris Lubricants & Fuels, Intense Fabrication & Design, Douglas Wheel Technology, Moto Pro Training, Tire Balls, Andrews Cycle, Tsubaki Chains, IMS, Four Apparel, ASV Levers, CV4 Hoses, Hygh Octane Design, PIER Graphics, Universal Handlebars, Scott Goggles, ATVRiders.com, Hetrick Motorsports, Powermadd, Recluse Clutches, and Monavie Energy Drinks.

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Borich Clinches GNCC Championship

FRE/KTM rider Angel Atwell secured the Women’s ATV Championship at the 11th round of the GNCC Series while her teammates Adam McGill and Josh Kirkland had remarkable days as well, both finishing on the podium.

Atwell only needed a top five finish to secure the Women’s Championship. Atwell managed to start inside the top three, quickly moved into second position and remained there behind her niece Kristen Atwell throughout the race. Atwell’s second place finish easily locked the championship. Atwell was kindly rewarded with a number one plate as she jumped onto the podium.

Although it was a great weekend for all KTM riders, it wasn’t the best weather. It rained throughout the majority of the day which made for a cold day and a slick and tricky track. In the XC-1 Pro class McGill started in second position behind Bill Ballance. When Ballance stopped early for goggles, McGill took over the lead at the end of the first lap followed by Brandon Sommers and Taylor Kiser.

Hot on the heels of the QuadCross MX PRO Lite — a tire that has captured four AMA ATV Pro National wins since its debut last spring — ITP now announces the release of the all-new QuadCross XC, designed specifically for high-performance trail riding and racing.

According to ITP, the QuadCross XC utilizes all of the design features that have made the MX PRO Lite so successful, but adds the extra strength and larger sizing required for cross country use.

The QuadCross XC incorporates a tough 6-ply carcass for higher puncture resistance and exceptional overall durability. This advanced carcass design has been proven to stiffen the sidewall during side loads without compromising ride quality.

With 2010 just around the corner, Flyte Publishing will make keeping track of your riding days as fun as possible with the new 16-month Flyte ATV calendar.

Measuring a poster size 15” x 30” this wall calendar is huge and jam-packed with eye candy. This year marks the 10th year of publication, it’s been a “Decade of Decadence” and Flyte is celebrating by releasing its “Best of the Best” editions.

This year’s calendar features more than 70 photos of the hottest models in little bikinis along with some of the sickest quads around.

“If this was a music CD it would be dubbed our Greatest Hits,” Flyte Publishing says in a release.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., through its successful OHV Access Initiative, continues to support landmark programs directed by the country’s most prominent outdoor recreation organizations which are leading national efforts to promote safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open riding areas nationwide.

A total of more than $100,000 in funds are being contributed through separate Yamaha OHV GRANTs to Tread Lightly!, the Blue Ribbon Coalition, the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the National OHV Conservation Council (NOHVCC).

“The OHV Access Initiative has made fantastic strides from the grassroots perspective creating and maintaining responsible riding opportunities for local OHV communities,” says Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and side-by-side operations. “Yamaha’s ability to also support these national projects, combined with our on-the-ground work through dealers and regional staff, continue to elevate the effectiveness of the OHV Access Initiative. The programs we’re supporting through the national organizations address issues that impact OHV enthusiasts from coast to coast.”

American Suzuki Motor Corporation had a lot to celebrate this week. A successful 2009 racing season saw six championships go to Suzuki and the champions were honored at corporate headquarters in Brea, Calif.

On hand for the event was seven-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin, West Coast Supercross Lites and 250cc Motocross champion Ryan Dungey, 450cc Motocross champion Chad Reed, ATV Pro Motocross champion Dustin Wimmer and WERA champions Team Vesrah. Suzuki employees and sponsors were there to offer congratulations.

The event kicked off with an award ceremony where the champions were given custom engraved awards presented by the president and executive vice president of American Suzuki Motor Corporation. Following the presentation, attendees were treated to a catered lunch.

Some times in life the odds are stacked against you – be it winning the lottery or even in some cases getting struck by lightning. For Joe Shinsky it was a combination of both. Joe was the lucky winner of ATV.com’s Project Yamaha Raptor 250 Giveaway. He couldn’t believe it; he was shocked that he of all people was the lucky one to be given such a tricked out ATV for FREE! Who could blame him? More than 5,000 people entered the contest and he was the lucky winner.

Joe hails from Northern Ohio and is 19 years old. He has been riding ATVs almost his whole life. He still has home videos of his dad walking along side of him riding his first ATV – an ATC 70. He has since honed his riding skills and now rides a limited edition 2008 Yamaha Raptor 250. Yes, Joe already has a Raptor 250, which he now plans to use a practice bike.

Sunday, September 6 was the day we scheduled to drop off the Project Raptor 250. Me and my girlfriend, Olivia Shuff (who also test rides for the site) loaded up and headed out east to Ohio. We planned to meet up with Joe at the Maumee State Forest, which is located about 30 minutes east of Toledo. The plan was to have Joe rip it around the trails for a quick photo and video shoot. It sounded like a pretty simple plan, but it certainly didn’t turn out that way.

Daryl Rath showed he was hard at work dialing in his Polaris Sportsman 850 XP with EPS during the GNCC Summer Break by taking third in the “4×4 Open” class at Unadilla.

It turned out to be one of the most exciting Utility races all season with the top three riders finishing only seconds apart. Rath sits in second in the GNCC series standings for his class, only 21 points out of first, with three races to go.

Unadilla seems to be known for rainy, muddy and cold races with this past weekend being no exception; it didn’t look good with rain clouds settling in on Thursday and Friday. Mother Nature surprised everybody with a much needed break in the rain when it was time to go racing.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich took a huge step toward securing his first Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series Championship by mounting a late-race charge to win the Can-Am GNCC at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center in upstate New York.

On the last lap, Borich sprinted away from Yamaha teammates Brandon Sommers and Bill Ballance, giving him his seventh XC1 pro class win of the season.

“I really wanted to win today, I wasn’t just coming here to score points,” says Borich, the GNCC points leader. “I had a lot of friends and family out here cheering me on. We were battling hard and everyone was riding well, but the Suzuki worked awesome. We kind of lost our way doing some suspension testing last week, but we kept our heads down, figured it out, and everything worked awesome today.”

ITP’s popular T-9 series of spun aluminum wheels has been expanded with the introduction of the all-new Pro Mod line.

Highlights of the ITP T-9 Pro Mod include a polished finish, a double-rolled lip for durability and ease of tire mounting, lightweight .190 wall construction and the rigorous QS 9000 quality certification.

“What sets the Pro Mod apart from the rest of the T-9 line is its classic off-road modular style and an angled outer wheel face,” ITP says in a release. “This unique design adds considerable strength to the wheel center without a weight penalty.”

ITP says the T-9 Pro Mod is significantly lighter than its competition, reducing unsprung weight and rotating mass for noticeable performance gains.

Team KTM UK’s Paul Holmes wrapped up the 2009 GOLDSPEED EMX Quad European Championship after a victory at the penultimate round in France this past weekend.

In front of over 8,000 spectators at the St Jean d’Angely Grand Prix circuit, Holmes put on an impressive display as he piloted his 2010 KTM 505 SX to fastest lap in timed qualification before taking a 1-1-2 scorecard for his 5th overall victory in five races.

Holmes consistency throughout the series, taking fifteen podiums from fifteen motos, has seen his lead increase to eighty-one points with only seventy-five points still up for grabs at the final round in Rudersberg. The 21-year-old enters the record books as the youngest ever winner of a European Quad Championship.

Pro Armor has made its Revolution nerf bar available for three more sport ATVs – the Suzuki LT-R450, Yamaha YFZ450 and Raptor 700.

“Never before has a nerf bar been able to accomplish so much,” Pro Armor says in a release.

Pro Armor says its Revolution nerf bars are by far the best ever designed and developed. The Revolution allows consumers to run metal heel plates or heel guard nets. By simply and quickly removing the 8 bolts you can swap out the heel plates and run nets like the Pro Armor sponsored Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki race team.

This system allows consumers to set-up their nerf bars for the style and type of riding they choose on any given weekend. Want to personalize your quad and stand out from the rest? Then run brushed aluminum plates with black nerf bars or any combination you want.

Mark Holz and his Holz Racing Polaris Ranger RZR S took another “UTV Class 1” win and the overall clinching the WORCS 2009 Championship, at Straddleline ORV Park, in Olympia, Wash.

Holz clinched the championship with two rounds remaining due to his overwhelming point lead. He has four first-place and overall wins with a total of 98 points, 46 more points than second place.

“My Ranger RZR S performed perfectly all season and was dominant on the track. The power provided by the Kroyer modified engine allowed me to holeshot every race, even when we were up against 1000cc Side-by-Sides,” says Holz. “All in all it was a great season and I look forward to more racing in the future.”

Doug Eichner also leads his WORCS division (UTV 3) in a Ranger RZR S with a total of 99 points. Eichner took first in the class at Straddleline and second overall.

RJ Anderson and his Polaris Ranger RZR S sealed the M4SX Stadium Series Championship with a win, at Perris Auto Speedway, in California.

Anderson debuted his brand-new Ranger RZR S with a chassis built by Holz Racing, and the latest spec Kroyer Racing engine. He beat 12 competitors by eight seconds wrapping up the championship with his sixth win of the season. The last race of the series will be September 12 at Perris Auto Speedway.

Anderson is sponsored by: Walker Evans Racing Shocks, Polaris Ranger, Kroyer Racing Engines, South Point Casinos, Goodyear and Holz Racing Products.

DragonFire Racing announced the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art fabrication and design center at its Mesa, Ariz. location. This center is designed to enable DragonFire Racing to test, market and design products at a faster pace and avoid long down time in product release, race prep and design.

“Be it for our championship racing team or an amateur rider looking for new parts, DragonFire Racing has always strived to offer the best racing equipment in the sport,” says DragonFire Racing owner Todd Romano. “With the opening of our new Mesa Fabrication and Design Center, we have taken the next step in designing, building, and testing our product. We look forward to seeing taking our activities to the next level, both for our racing team and for our loyal customers out on the dirt.”

DragonFire Racing feels its new facility will help give both consumers as well as its championship racing team the upper hand on the track. It will house the latest in mills, lathes, mig and tig welders, tube benders, breaks, sheers, and plasma cutters. In addition the new facility will allow all sheet metal work to now be done in house as well as carbon fiber and fiberglass work.

DragonFire Racing carries a large selection of vehicles, parts and accessories, for every level of enthusiast, from the most seasoned racers to weekend warriors. Vehicles include sand cars and pre-runners to a range of ATVs and UTVs. DragonFire Racing also offers a range of parts covering everything from the engine to the wheels as well as a tie-down straps and winches.

For more information visit DragonFireRacing.com.

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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved approximately $3 million for 25 National Recreational Trail Grant projects across the state.

The National Recreational Trails Fund comes from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by the sale of gasoline for use in off-road recreational vehicles such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles. Money from the trail fund goes toward the creation and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized recreational trails.

The Federal Highway Administration manages the fund and distributes portions of it to states based on a formula that takes into account the state’s population and fuel sales for off-road vehicles.

The program provides 80-20 matching grants, so that each case the grant recipient must pay for 20 percent of the total project cost. Dollar amounts shown below are 80 percent of the project cost.

The Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Board reviewed the proposals and developed a list of recommended projects for funding based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities and geographic distribution of funds.

List of funded trail-construction projects by county:

Archer County — North Texas Rural Rail Transportation received $33,641 to improve drainage on a 6-mile trail, parking, benches and signs that are all a part of the Wichita Valley Railway Daylight Trail project.

Brazoria County — The Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuge received $200,000 for the Dow Woods trail project. The provided funds will go towards a 1.7 mile granite trail, bridge, restroom, parking, benches and signs.

Childress County — The City of Childress received $239,908 to expand the Childress ATV & Moto Park. The funds will also pay for parking, equipment and water improvements.

Collin County — The City of Parker received $137,325 for improvements to the Preserve Recreation Trail project. The funds will pay for a new 0.8 mile, 8-foot-wide granite trail, a bridge and a low-water crossing.

Crockett County — The Texas Motorized Trails Coalition received $217,325 for new restrooms, equipment storage building, signs and equipment at the Escondido Draw Recreation Area for off-highway vehicles.

Dallam County — The City of Dalhart received $97,500 for improvements to the 6.71 mile Lake Rita Blanca Trail.

Denton County — The Town of Trophy Club received $144,000 for parking improvements, fencing, signs and shade structures for the Trophy Club OHV Park project.

Fayette County — The City of Flatonia received $142,656 for a new 0.75 mile granite trail, tables, benches, lighting and signing for the Downtown Flatonia Parks Trail project.

Harris County — The Armand Bayou Nature Center received $112,996 for renovating trails damaged by Hurricane Ike. Funds will go towards the re-surfacing of 3 miles of trailing and improving signs.

Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition received $97,370 for a new 0.86 mile granite and concrete trail and engineering for the Ida Gaye Gardens & Trail project.

The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center received $196,105 for the second phase of the Outer Loop Resurfacing. The project consists of resurfacing a 1.25 mile trail and implementing signs.

The Timber Lane Utility District received $170,960 for a new 0.6 mile asphalt trail, bridges, signs and engineering projects for the Cypress Creek Hike and Bike Trail project.

The Rio Bravo MX received $40,000 for new bridges, a restroom, and parking for the Rio Bravo Improvements project.

Jeff Davis County — The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute received $36,518 for a new 0.38 mile trail as part of the Trail to the Top project. The funding will also renovate an existing 0.28 mile natural surface trail and improve signs.

Lamar County — The City of Reno received $87,174 for a new 0.5 mile asphalt rail-trail, signs and bridge railing to extend the Trail de Paris into Reno.

McLennan County — The Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association received $77,220 for the Waco Lake Reynold’s Creek Trailhead project. Funds will go towards improvements to the parking area, and the construction of a new pavilion, corrals, signs and lights.

Montgomery County — Oak Ridge Forest HOA received $41,421 for a new 0.86 mile granite trail, fencing and ADA ramps for the Spring Creek Hike and Bike Trail project.

Robertson County — Roll Call — Friends of Camp Hearne received $145,520 for the Camp Hearne Trail project. The provided funds will help construct a new 2.32 mil granite trail, restrooms, a gazebo and benches.

Statewide — The Texas Trail Network received $20,000 to conduct the 2010 and 2011 Texas State Trails Conference.

Sutton County — Sonora Economic Development Corporation received $16,160 for a new 0.27 mile granite trail and parking to improve public access to The Eaton Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tarrant County — The City of Arlington received $128,000 for a new .8 mile long, 8’ wide limestone trail, bridges and signs for the Crystal Canyon Nature Preserve Trail project.

Tom Green County — The City of San Angelo received $200,000 for a new .62 mile limestone trail and for renovations of .96 miles to the Rio Concho Trail.

Upshur County — The Texas Motorized Trail Coalition received $191,520 for improvements to the Barnwell Mountain Off-Highway Recreation Area . Provided funds will go towards the purchasing of new equipment storage building, trail repairs, tools, equipment and utilities.

Walker County — U.S. Forest Service received $200,000 for the third phase of the Sam Houston Multi-use Trail project. The money will go towards bridges, trailheads, signing, equipment, tools, trailers and a tot loop.

Wichita County — Wichita Falls Streams and Valleys received $22,571 for the Wee-Chi-Tah Trail Restoration project. Funds will support erosion control efforts, a new bridge, signs and the purchasing of new equipment.

A jury has decided in favor of Yamaha in the first of several civil suits the manufacturer faces.

A panel of eight men and five women in Orange, Texas, found Yamaha not responsible for the 2007 death of 13-year-old Forest Ray in a Rhino rollover. The case of Ray v. Yamaha Motor Corp. USA opened Aug. 18 and ended Aug. 27.

The plaintiffs, Ray’s parents, contended the Yamaha Rhino was “defectively designed” and prone to rollovers at low speeds.

Yamaha argued the Rhino was safe when used correctly. Intended for off-road use, the side-by-side is only recommended for adult drivers 16 and older while passengers must be large enough to keep their backs against the seat backs with both feet firmly on the floorboard. Yamaha says drivers and passengers should wear helmets and the Rhino’s three-point seat belts during operation.

For the months of May, June and July Kymco USA challenged its dealers to a sales shoot-out that determined the brand’s top producers for the summer season.

After three months, the two top sales producers were determined. The winner in the two-wheel market segment was Robbie DeMeulenaere of K&W Cycle in Utica, Mich. DeMeulenaere sold the most scooters during the three-month period. Dustin Sweeten of Powerhouse Motorsports in Pleasant Grove, Utah took the four-wheel title by moving the most Kymco ATV and UXV side-by-side models out his dealership’s door.

The two winners will take delivery of the grand prize in their segment. For DeMeulenaere, that’s a new Kymco Xciting 500Ri Scooter. Dustin Sweeten will receive a Kymco UXV 500 Side X Side.

“I was totally caught off guard,” says DeMeulenaere, a veteran of 19 years at K&W Cycle. “I didn’t think I had a chance.”