#Can-amMaverick

Photo by Ernesto Araiza // UTVUnderground.com

In what can only be described as a huge win for BRP, Can-Am Maverick racer Mark Burnett took the checkers at the San Felipe 250, the SCORE International opener in Mexico. Burnett was followed by Can-Am / ITP / Murray Racing in second place.

“We were thrilled with Marc Burnett’s significant victory at the San Felipe 250, and to have the Murray Racing team join him on the podium,” says Jeff Leclerc, racing project leader, Can-Am. “These guys have been working extremely hard, dedicating themselves to winning, and this historic 1-2 effort, which included the first-ever win in Baja for a Can-Am side-by-side, proves that both our teams and the Maverick 1000R platform are hard to beat.”

The 2014 Can-Am Racing Contingency program includes more than 20 different racing series in North America for eligible racers to compete in with approved Can-Am side-by-side vehicles like the Maverick 1000R.

BRP’s Can-Am ATV and Side-by-Side contingency program for 2014 is worth $1.4 million. Regional and national racers competing with Can-Am ATVs and Side-by-Side vehicles in the United States and Canada are eligible for a cash payout through the program for the 2014 calendar year of racing.

“Racing has always played a key role in the composition of Can-Am DNA. By offering an industry-leading contingency program, along with our unmatched amateur support program, BRP has added incentive to those Can-Am owners who choose to race with our products,” says Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “These racer-influenced programs serve to reward dedicated product enthusiasts for their brand loyalty and also support them in their pursuit of success on the track. Ultimately, it’s a win-win, as we fully understand that racing has made integral contributions to product refinement and innovation at BRP.”

Cory Sappington’s No. 1904 Desert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs side-by-side earned a third-place podium finish at the opening round of the 2014 Best In The Desert series this past weekend in Arizona.

“Once again, Cory Sappington and his Desert Toyz team did a great job in the desert, capturing a spot on the UTV Pro class podium at a very challenging race,” says Jeff Leclerc, racing project leader, Can-Am. “We had a total of six teams entered, and although not all of them had the results they desired, we were pleased to put a Can-Am Maverick on the box at the opening round. It’s a long season and we just have to remain patient and look to improve at each round.”

It’s probably safe to assume that the majority of Can-Am Maverick and Maverick Max owners like to ride fast and hard. To help protect your investment, DragonFire suggests upgrading from the hollow aluminum tie rods to its tougher tie rods.

“DragonFire has found that the stock tie rods can be the first thing to go during aggressive driving,” says product development manager, Brice Ginn. “As always, we went to the drawing board and designed a set of tie rods that hold up to the punishment DragonFire likes to dish out.”

Can-Am ATV and side-by-side racers competed in the 46th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert endurance race over the past weekend in Mexico, and came away with one class victory and an impressive third-place finish in the UTV class. Team UXC Racing / Can-Am racer Michael Swift rode the entire 833-mile course alone to win Class 26 aboard his Outlander 4×4 ATV. Cory Sappington also finished the race, earning third overall in Class 19 (UTV) with his Desert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side vehicle.

“I’m very pleased with Michael Swift’s Class 26 win, considering the fact that he raced the entire Baja 1000 solo and it was said to be one of the most grueling courses in the history of the race,” says Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “Despite a few challenges in the UTV race, I was thrilled to learn Desert Toyz driver / owner Cory Sappington earned the first Baja 1000 podium for the Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side.”

BRP has officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Querétaro, Mexico. This facility assemble Rotax engines for BRPs Can-Am off-road vehicles and assemble the Sea-Do Spark watercraft and manufacturer composite hulls decks for Sea-Doo watercraft. By 2015, the entire Sea-Doo watercraft line-up will be produced in the Querétaro facility.

Once completed, the project will represent an investment of approximately US$958 million (C$100 million) and should employ some 1,100 people by 2015. As we reported in May of 2012, BRP estimated moving of PWC assembly to Mexico affected about 500 employees in Quebec.

Brothers Hunter and Cody Miller notched three overall wins and five total podiums at the 2013 Oklahoma Gold Rush event near Tulsa, Okla. The Louis Powersports / Can-Am racers each recorded a win with their Maverick 1000R X rs side-by-side vehicles. Hunter won the UTV XC race, while Cody Miller took the overall in the UTV Super Moto event.

“Hunter and Cody Miller had an outstanding weekend in Oklahoma, winning three total classes and showcasing the versatility and capabilities of the Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side vehicle,” says Jeff Leclerc, racing project leader, Can-Am.

Tim Farr raced his Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs to victory at the season-ending AMSOIL Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Ind.

This was the first victory of the season for Farr and his wife / co-pilot Julie, but the second overall win for the JB Racing / Can-Am team. Farr, starting from row three, held the lead after the first lap and rode a steady race to record the victory. He won by more than 40 seconds over second place and finished the year in sixth place overall in the XC1 UTV class. The NC Powersports / Performance East / Can-Am teams of Stuart Weeks and Devon Steedley also recorded top 10 XC1 class finishes in Indiana.

The folks at DragonFire have been awfully busy lately, recently releasing the 2014 DragonFire catalog and taking the cover off the RacePace Can-Am Maverick. DragonFire has more big plans for this weekend at the upcoming Off-Road Expo in Pomona, Calof.

“At 11 am on October 5th we promise the wraps will come off something big,” says Chris Moore, DragonFire’s social media manager. “If you were impressed with the RacePace Maverick or our ReadyForce Ranger that was on the Destination Polaris’ TV show this season… you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Can-Am Maverick racers are coming off a very successful weekend, sweeping the podium in the UTV 1 Open class at Round 5 of the Woods Extreme XC Racing (WEXCR) series in Amesville, Ohio and taking the checkers across the country at the DWT Pure 250 in California City, Calif. Can-Am ATV racers also participated in round 11 of the New England ATV Motocross series, earning 15 total podium finishes.

“I was pleased to learn that Can-Am Maverick racers won two growing race series this past weekend. We had the top four finishers at the WEXCR event, which clearly proves the Can-Am Maverick Side-by-Side is becoming the vehicle to own for cross-country racing” says Jeff Leclerc, racing project leader, Can-Am. “To hear Jim McKay won the PURE 250 overall his first time competing with his Maverick 1000R is great because it proves BRP offers a true high-performance Side-by-Side purpose built for racing, no matter the environment.”

DragonFire Racing will be unveiling its 2014 product line at this weekend’s Sand Sports Super Show in Costa Mesa, Calif. As well, DFR promises to reveal its most audacious project yet.

“Honestly this is the biggest unveil in DragonFire’s history, literally,” says social media manager Chris Moore. “Not to let the cat out of the bag, but I can say the vehicle we are unveiling has the biggest displacement of any project build we have ever done!”

Test Driver Jerry Matthews offers his thoughts on the 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000 X rs vs. Polaris RZR XP 900 LE shootout. You can read the full shootout article and see our video report here.

Occupation: Operations Manager, Starting Line Products

Hobbies: In the Winter I spend the majority of my spare time snowmobiling…in the Spring and Summer months my time is split between my love for boating and fishing, riding ATVs, off-road motorcycles and UTVs. In the Fall, my spare time is spent hunting. And no matter what I’m doing I can’t leave anything stock.

Senior ATV.com Test Driver Kevin Allred offers his thoughts on the 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000 X rs vs. Polaris RZR XP 900 LE shootout. You can read the full shootout article and see our video report here.

Steering input and feedback – 2 Good

Engine power – 3 Excellent

Clutching – 2 Good

Traction – 2 Good

Cockpit (gauges, leg room, steering wheel fit to hands, ergonomics) – 3 Excellent

Seats – 3 Excellent

Fit and Finish – 2 Good

Overall looks and appeal – 2 Good