#AtvRacing

Chris Borich and Walker Fowler sit 1-2 in the standings after two rounds.

Anybody who thought Chris Borich might start to take it easy after winning his fourth straight GNCC XC1 Pro ATV class title has been proven wrong. Borich is perfect after two rounds of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series and he’ll try to make it three-for-three at this weekend’s FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, NC.

While Borich enjoys life at the top of the mountain, the battle for second through 10th place is a lot less predictable with a deep field of talent on this year’s front line. AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler currently sits in second place as he continues to chase Borich for a win. Fowler has struggled with poor starts in the first two rounds but the 20-year-old has successfully charged his way through the pack to secure two solid podium finishes so far this season.

The Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs continues to find success in its first racing, earning two more podiums in recent weeks. James Hill finished second in the SxS Pro Production class at round three of the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) in Arizona, while bothers Derek and Jason Murray also earned a podium finish with their Maverick 1000R X rs, racing to a third-place finish in the Best In The Desert (BITD) Mint 400 outside of Las Vegas.

Not to be outdone, BCS Performance / Can-Am pro Josh Creamer let everybody Can-Am DS 450 ATVs are still a force to be reckoned with, finishing second in the Pro class at the 2013 Mtn. Dew AMA ATV Motocross Nationals opening round in Georgia.

“I was thrilled that Can-Am racers earned hard-fought podium finishes in three different series, and in very difficult conditions,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “James Hill overcame a challenging WORCS course to earn his second podium behind the wheel of the Maverick. The Murray Motorsports team had a spectacular podium finish at the Mint 400 and narrowly missing second-place by only two seconds. Josh Creamer — despite a first-turn crash in the first moto and very wet, muddy conditions — won a Pro class moto and notched an impressive second-place finish overall at round one of the AMA ATV MX series.”

It may be a new season, but Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers continue to outshine the competition in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series. Can-Am machines swept all five 4×4 class and placed two riders on the overall morning podium at the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Ga.

In the first round of side-by-side vehicle racing in Georgia, a total of 11 Can-Am Maverick 1000R racers competed with four Can-Am vehicles earning a podium finish in each of the four UTV classes.

“Having Can-Am ATV racers dominate their morning 4×4 classes and to see Kevin Trantham and Robert Smith on the morning podium was great. It was a good weekend in Georgia overall, as we had numerous podiums, including two for the new Can-Am Maverick 1000R in its GNCC side-by-side racing debut,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “It was a close finish for Kyle Chaney and his Maverick 1000R X rs in its first GNCC side-by-side event, as he narrowly missed taking the overall race win. This was a good debut for the Maverick and we fully expect to improve our results at round two in late April.”

Team ITP was out in full force at the Maxxis General GNCC, picking up four class victories and eight podiums. Leading the way was defending Super Senior (45+) class champion Dave Simmons, who won his class and also took his second straight morning overall. Team ITP racers also earned class victories in A 22+, A/B 40+ and College B (16-21).

“Team ITP had another great GNCC weekend earning four class victories. Of course class wins are wonderful, but when we consistently see many of our team riders earning podiums we’re very pleased,” says Pat McGuire, public relations and race support at ITP. “Having our racers earn podiums in different age groups, the 4×4 classes, on sport quads and in side by sides really shows that ITP is dedicated to the racer and product development no matter the vehicle.”

Simmons, who has now won 23 consecutive races since 2011, won the Super Senior (45+) class by more than 11 minutes. He also earned the top spot on the morning overall podium finishing more than a minute ahead of the second-place finisher. The other four Team ITP racers to win their class were William “Duck” Lloyd (A 22+), Brian Schmid (A/B 40+) and Justin Paul (College B 16-21). Lloyd, who also finished in the top 25 in the morning overall, is 2-for-2 in 2013 racing on ITP tires. Schmid notched his first win and climbed into the class point’s lead after Georgia. Paul, Hilltop Motorsports / ITP, is three points in front of his teammate Brigham Patterson, who took fourth at Aonia Pass.

Following a successful 2012 race season that saw Yamaha capture both the AMA ATV MX and GNCC ATV manufacturer’s titles, Big Blue has announced its 2013 ATV race teams.

Yamaha has signed Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown to race the AMA ATV MX pro class, Dustin Nelson to compete in the Yamaha QuadX Series and World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), and Walker Fowler to represent Yamaha in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC-1 Pro Class.

“Yamaha is excited to announce its championship caliber ATV race teams with top riders competing in the country’s leading motocross and cross-country series,” says Donnie Luce, Yamaha ATV/Off-Road racing coordinator. “Earning the manufacturer’s cups last year from both the AMA and GNCC series is a great honor and further solidifies Yamaha’s commitment to ATV racing both on and off the track.”

BRP has stepped up its off-road racing efforts for 2013 with a massive team racers set to pilot Can-Am ATVs and UTVs this year. BRP has added more racing circuits and expanded its UTV racing support to include the new Can-Am Maverick 1000R.

“We have a dedicated and talented group of racers and teams competing under the Can-Am banner for the 2013 racing season. I’m thrilled to have the all-new Can-Am Maverick 1000R in the mix and to have some of our experienced racers pilot the industry’s most invigorating side-by-side vehicle,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We will compete on Can-Am ATV and side-by-side vehicles across the U.S. and Canada and we’re fully determined to compete for championships in every racing series we enter.”

Traci Cecco-Pickens, the most successful women’s ATV racer in history, was honored this week by the city of Shamokin, Pa.

At a ceremony Monday night including the city council and approximately 50 spectators including Traci’s family and friends, Mayor George S. Rozinskie, Jr., proclaimed December 10, 2012, as Traci Cecco-Pickens day in Shamokin and presented her with the key to the city honoring her as a historic competitor and role model for the city’s youth.

“I’ve enjoyed 14 years of racing professionally, fought for nine championships and a created lifetime of memories,” says Cecco-Pickens. “I’m honored to receive this key and proud to say I’m from Shamokin – the city that provided me all the tools and resources that I needed to make my dreams come true!”

Yamaha ATV Racers have earned 2012 season championships in motocross and cross-country, from North America to the Southern Hemisphere, all aboard the YFZ450R.

Yamaha employees gathered outside of the company’s U.S. headquarters in Southern California to celebrate their champions and make their annual Feed the Children food drop along with the Star Touring and Riding Association. This year Yamaha helped raise more than $27,000 through employee donations and corporate fund raising efforts that will provide food and essentials for approximately 2,000 families across the country through next year.

Among the champions in attendance for the Yamaha celebration and food drop were Chad Wienen and Traci Cecco-Pickens.

ATV racers wrapped up the grueling 13-round Grand National Cross Country series this pas weekend in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. and Team ITP racers finished the season in style.

Dave Simmons ( Yamaha) raced to his ninth overall morning race victory and his 13th straight win in the Super Senior 45+ class. He’s the Muhammad Ali of amateur cross country ATV racing.

Glenn McConnell (Yamaha) won the finale by eight and a half minutes. His seventh victory of the season was just enough to secure the Masters (50+) class championship.

Though Chris Borich has long ago clinched the XC1 season championship, the world’s top cross-country racers still have plenty to fight for at the season finale of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series – the Parts Unlimited Loretta Lynn’s GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Last round, Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Walker Fowler became the fourth unique winner in the XC1 Pro ATV class, while Bowers Motorcycle/Coastal National Guard/Yokley Racing’s Jarrod McClure and Motoworks/Can-Am’s Chris Bithell came close to grabbing their first wins of the season as well. Four-time and current champ Chris Borich hasn’t been able to continue his win-streak the last couple of rounds, which has left the door open for other riders to land a spot in the middle of the podium.

The GBC Motorsports Heartland Challenge features three different endurance races throughout the three-day gathering of ATV and UTV enthusiasts. The adult ATV Challenge features a 10-hour race in which 14 classes compete simultaneously. The winning Pro Class team will be awarded $6,000 while the Pro-Am winners will receive $3,000. Top honors in the Pro Utility Ironman class will earn the winning rider $2,500, while the Ironman class winner will get $1,500. Other class winners will be awarded $500.

The Heartland Challenge also features a four-hour Side-by-Side UTV race for adults, with $1,000 awards for each of the UTV classes.

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

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

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

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

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