The GNCC series finished its swing through Georgia and the Carolinas, with Justin Wood taking the class win twice with a second place finish in between, on his KYMCO MXU 700i, in the 4×4 Lites ATV class. Just what is the difference between a sport and a utility ATV?

Rarely is a race without incident between the trees and wild terrain, and at the Sparta, Georgia Maxxis Cannonball event on March 25, Wood won the hard way. After nailing the holeshot and leading the field, Wood hit a short stump. Wood said, “The race started off right with the holeshot. And after making some good passes to get around quads in other classes that started ahead of me, I ran into some trouble when I clipped a small stump. It bent both of my lower A-arm bolts and took out the power steering. So we just maintained the lead, pitting to adjust and repair as much as we could, which dropped us back in the overall. We still ended up taking the win, making the KYMCO 3 and 0 at this point.”

At the FMF Steele Creek round, where Wood took second and at the only race so far this season that he didn’t win. Wood told us, “Again I had a great start and got the holeshot. I was trying a different set-up this time and running a non-power steering unit. By the last lap I had over an 8:30-minute lead when the bike shut off. I was in the woods for around 21 minutes trying to locate and fix the issue. Two wires—one in the front got cut by a stick, and one wire to the battery was dislocated—were the problem. After that we got back to it and took second place.”

Wood got back to winning immediately at the CST Camp Coker Bullet, in the Sand Hills of Society Hill, South Carolina, that is a totally different experience from all of other courses north of Florida. Wood told us, “Well, we got the holeshot again, and I never looked back. The track was rough, dusty, and hot. We took a roll over on lap 3 due to trying to get around some lap riders, but nothing was damaged, so we didn’t slow down.”

Justn Wood is sponsored by KYMCO USA, CST Tires, DW Rims, Motorex, Fastt Flexx, Rox Speed FX, Golding Clutches, Fly Racing, MZM, Axis Shocks, Tireblocks, Spider Graphics, Vanilla Gorilla, McGill Mafia, GSE Performance, Kenny Vincent, The Sleep Temple, and Vigilant Vet Racing.”

The next round of the GNCC series is the Rd 6 X-Factor in Peru, Indiana, May 6-7, with the four-wheels on the 6th. Please say, “Hi,” to Wood if you go, and be prepared to marvel at what an unleashed KYMCO ATV can do.

The KYMCO brand of scooters, motorcycles, ATV’s, and side by sides, are exclusively distributed in North America by KYMCO USA. Founded in 1963, KYMCO manufactured products are today respected worldwide for their quality, value, and durability. KYMCO USA, wholly owned by Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd., has its sales, marketing, and distribution center in Spartanburg, SC. KYMCO USA serves over 500 dealers nationwide, building the KYMCO brand’s reputation and market share through superior value, new products, excellent dealer support, enthusiast events, race support and sponsorship, and strategic industry partnerships with other quality brands.

Learn more at KYMCOUSA.com.

YXZ1000R Dominates First Two Rounds at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, factory-supported and bLU cRU racers dominated the first two rounds of the Lucas Oil Off-Road National Racing Series’ inaugural UTV Production class this past weekend at the Duel of the Desert at Chandler, Arizona’s, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park piloting Yamaha’s YXZ1000R pure-sport Side-by-Side (SxS).

The Lucas Oil Off-Road National Racing Series kicked off their UTV Production class series on Saturday, April 22, with sixteen of the twenty-five entries being a YXZ. Yamaha bLU cRU’s Brandon Arthur took an early victory in his #906 MavTV/Toyo Tires/HRT/Motorsports/KMC YXZ1000R, additionally grabbing the first-ever UTV Underground Fast Lap award. Yamaha bLU cRU and Factory Supported Racer, Dustin Nelson, rounded out the podium taking third in his #994 DWT/IMG/DASA Yamaha YXZ1000R, earning the YXZ two podium finishes in the opening round.

During Sunday’s second event, Arthur battled his way to the front, securing his second win and UTV Underground Fast Lap award to sweep the Duel in the Desert rounds. Paul O’Brien finished a strong second in his #911 Weller Racing/FOX Yamaha SS (Sport Shift) YXZ1000R followed by #921 Icon/Airaid/Maxxis YXZ1000R driver Broc Heger in third, resulting in a round two podium sweep for the Yamaha YXZ1000R.

“The results of the opening rounds are just a glimpse of what to expect throughout the Lucas Oil’s production UTV class for the off-road national series,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha’s Amateur ATV/Off-Road Racing Coordinator. “The YXZ1000R had an impressive debut last year with numerous wins and championships in the SoCal and Arizona regional series, and with the popularity of the YXZ’s direct connection, pure-sport performance on the rise, along with Yamaha’s bLU cRU racing support program, we expect to carry this momentum at the national level as well this season.”

Yamaha’s newly launched ATV/SxS bLU cRU racing support program offers a potential total race win bonus payout of $100,000 in select classes and series. To register or view more information on Yamaha’s bLU cRU program, including all guidelines and requirements, visit YamahabLUcRU.com.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, (YMUS) a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States. Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia.

For more information on Yamaha, visit YamahaMotorsports.com.

Polaris RZR Factory Racer Cody Bradbury won the SxS Pro class with his RZR XP Turbo EPS at WORCS Round 7, at Sand Hollow State Park, in Hurricane, Utah. RZRs swept the podium in the class with teammate Ryan Piplic taking second.

The win was the second of the season for Bradbury and moved him to second place in the standings. Piplic is following closely behind in third place.

RZRs also went one-two in the Pro Stock Class with Ray Bulloch taking the win and Matt Hancock finishing second.

WORCS Round 8 is May 19-20, at Iron Mine Raceway, in Cedar City, Utah.

Cody Bradbury is sponsored by Polaris RZR, Wholesale Capital, Walker Evans Racing, Holz Racing Products, Team Bradco, GBC Motorsports, DASA Racing, Gates, Grant Products, Temecula Motorsports, Magik SC and Suspension Direct, Inc.

Ryan Piplic is sponsored by Polaris RZR, Maxxis, Fox, Longtravel Industries, 50 Caliber Racing, Method Race Wheels, Super ATV, Rugged Radios, Black Rhino Performance, Tire Blocks, Beard Seats, Anti Gravity Batteries and RAD Custom Graphics.

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2016 sales of $4.5 billion, Polaris’ innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman® and Polaris ACE® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle® midsize and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; and Polaris RMK®, INDY®, Switchback® and RUSH® snowmobiles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets globally include military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.

Visit polaris.com for more information.

Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced to its dealer network its plan for growth as it incorporates Arctic Cat into the company, including its future powersports brand portfolio, and a tease of new and upcoming products across its snowmobile, side-by-side and ATV product lines.

Company President and CEO Kevin Holleran welcomed a select gathering of employees and dealers in Texas, and outlined the value and synergies that Arctic Cat and Textron bring to each other. Arctic Cat joins a portfolio of Textron brands and products that includes not just E-Z-GO golf cars and Textron Off Road side-by-sides, but also Cessna and Beechcraft fixed-wing aircraft, Bell helicopters, Greenlee professional tools, Kautex automotive fuel systems, and many other leading products in industries across the globe, Holleran said.

“Everything Textron Specialized Vehicles makes is created by tapping the same world-class engineering expertise, manufacturing know-how and Fortune 500 resources that power these brands,” he said, pointing out as an example that TSV Vice President, Engineering Chris Spencer spent more than two decades at Bell Helicopter as a lead engineer on military programs such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey.

“Moving forward, the company will transition all side-by-sides and ATV’s to become a part of the Textron Off Road brand,” said John Collins, TSV vice president, consumer. The iconic Arctic Cat brand, built on decades of performance and leadership in snowmobiles, will remain in use on the company’s innovative, high-performance snowmobile product lines.

Arctic Cat’s legacy and heritage in side-by-sides and ATVs will also live on in the powerful Alterra™, Wildcat™ and Prowler™ products, which will join Textron Off Road’s existing Stampede® side-by-side in the company’s family of off-road vehicles.

The decision to rebrand side-by-sides and ATVs under the Textron Off Road name was not taken lightly, Collins said, and was the result of consultation and research with consumers and dealers that showed that the Textron Off Road brand offered the best opportunity for future growth across all regions, particularly outside of the snow belt.

Collins revealed a sneak peek of the next Textron Off Road-branded side-by-side, to be released this fall. As yet unnamed, this new “crossover” vehicle will bridge the gap between utility side-by-sides and sport models, with 100-plus horsepower, a class-leading suspension set apart by King Shocks, bucket seats and an extended cab with industry-leading, usable storage.

In addition, Collins announced more details of the next-generation Wildcat sport side-by-side, the Wildcat XX, which will be released in spring 2018. Powered by a 998cc triple engine generating 125hp, the Wildcat XX will also feature a suspension with King shocks and 18- inches of suspension travel, 30-inch tires on 15-inch KMC wheels, and full doors.

Collins also outlined the tremendous opportunity that E-Z-GO models offer the dealer network, by bringing to the powersports dealer a new customer base seeking the brand’s line of personal golf cars and transportation vehicles.

“Carrying all three of these brands, and attracting each of their distinct customer bases, can create a truly unique opportunity for growth,” Collins stated.

Textron’s engineering expertise and resources will accelerate the pace of technological innovation in Arctic Cat’s already groundbreaking snowmobiles, said Erik Nelson, TSV president and general manager, snow and international. Nelson stressed that the Arctic Cat brand will always live on in the company’s snow products. New snowmobiles such as the M 8000 and ZR 8000, with the new 800cc C-TEC2 two-stroke twin engine, and the ZR200 youth model, are generating strong interest from enthusiasts in advance of the winter season, Nelson said.

The event took place in an airplane hangar at Fort Worth’s Alliance Airport, where an extensive display of Textron products underscored the company’s technological DNA and marketing might. Arctic Cat products stood alongside the Textron Off Road Stampede side-by-side and an array of E-Z-GO personal transportation vehicles.

Flanking the stage were a Bell 407GXP helicopter and the Textron AirLand Scorpion, a tactical jet aircraft designed for a variety of roles and missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime control, close air support, armed reconnaissance and pilot training.

Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Arctic Cat®, Textron Off Road™, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports to planned communities, and theme parks to hunting preserves.