#CMRC

California’s Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, the largest open OHV area in the United States, is no longer on the chopping block. According to the American Motorcyclist Association, the area will not be taken over by the military thanks to language included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 that was approved by a U.S. House-Senate conference committee.

U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) had the language inserted into the bill. According to the AMA, Cook’s language ensures the safety of the residents in the Johnson Valley area while providing an adequate training area for the U.S. Marines stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

California’s OHV community is fighting to save the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area, the largest open OHV area in the United States.

The California Motorized Recreation Council (CMRC), an umbrella group of the eight largest OHV access groups in California, has hired the Livingston Group, LLC in Washington, DC to help stave off the expansion of the 29 Palms Marine Base. The Marine Corps wants to annex approximately 160,000 acres of the Johnson Valley OHV Area, which currently brings in more than $70 million annually to the economy surrounding the High Desert communities.

The Marine Corps proposal would limit motorized recreation to less than one percent of the entire California Desert, a move in which the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) contends will cripple the already battered off-road manufacturing industry, and increase the likelihood of resource damage and safety concerns at the remaining OHV areas.

“Can-Am pro racers continue to put in impressive rides and earn podiums aboard the highly competitive DS 450 ATV,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “No matter the country or the series, the DS 450 has proven to be a competent and capable machine for ATV motocross.”

In the NEATV-MX series, Motoworks / Can-Am racer Josh Creamer won the first moto in both the Pro and Pro-Am classes, but finished in the runner-up spot in moto two of each class. His 1-2 moto scores in both classes earned him second overall in each class. However, he remains just 14 points behind the Pro class points leader heading into round eight August 7, in Lyman, Maine.