Yamaha Motor Corp., USA supported racers dominated the leading national and regional Side-by-Side (SxS) and ATV racing series in 2016 aboard the YXZ1000R pure sport SxS and class-leading YFZ450R sport ATV. The exciting season was recently capped with Yamaha-supported factory racers Dustin Nelson and Corry Weller claiming the top two spots in the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Racing Series (LORORS) of Arizona and the recent Lucas Oil Racing Shootout.

This past weekend, Nelson and Weller were named champion and runner-up, respectively, of the Production 1000 class in the Arizona LORORS. Following his LORORS championship in the Southern California series, Nelson finished the Arizona LORORS with seven wins, never falling below second place. Combined with Weller’s wins, the YXZ1000R led 9 of 10 rounds, and held the top two spots on the podium in eight. The two racers also took the top in-class positions in this year’s Lucas Oil Racing Shootout, with Nelson finishing in first. In October, Nelson also won Arizona’s LORORS Challenge Cup in the Production 1000 UTV class while piloting the YXZ1000R.

“Yamaha’s YXZ1000R has changed the sport of Side-by-Side racing, and it’s been super exciting to be such a big part of its inaugural year on the track and on the podium,” Weller said. “From the West Coast Lucas Oil series to the Midwest TORC series, we’re collecting trophies and championships. The YXZ makes such a great racing package, and the competition’s belt-based CVTs just can’t match the YXZ’s driveline efficiency and durability.”

Weller also won The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series last month in the series’ first ever Pro Stock UTV Championship. Weller’s victory at TORC marked the YXZ1000R’s first national championship as well as the first championship won by a woman in any TORC class. In addition, three-time PRO 2WD and current PRO 4WD championship truck driver C.J. Greaves drove a YXZ in the final TORC round and Cup Race in Crandon, Wisconsin, sweeping the weekend in the Pro Stock UTV class and capping a dominating presence in the series.

“The success of the YXZ1000R in just over a year after its launch is a testament to Yamaha’s undeniable leadership in the world of off-road racing,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV and SxS group marketing manager. “We’re excited to see the YXZ dominate the racing circuit in its debut, and look forward to this continuing for years to come, as the YFZ450R already has – this year being no exception.”

Winning his fifth straight ATV motocross (MX) championship, AMA Pro ATV champion Chad Wienen made history this year, becoming the second all-time greatest racer in ATV MX history. In Wienen’s five years of ATV MX racing, he won a total of 30 rounds, while placing on the podium in all 52 rounds he competed in aboard his Wienen Motorsports/SSI YFZ450R.

Bringing another win for the YFZ450R, N-Fab/Am-Pro/Moto-XPerts Yamaha-sponsored Walker Fowler won his second straight Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) championship in the XC1 Pro ATV class at only 23 years of age. Fowler dominated with a significant lead throughout the series, with seven first place finishes, clinching his championship before the final race.

“For another consecutive year, Chad and Walker have proven the YFZ450R is the sport ATV to beat,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha’s Off-Road / ATV coordinator. “With the two being such powerhouses on the off-road circuit for so long, it’s great to see drivers with Dustin and Corry’s impressive resume enter – and dominate – the SxS racing world.”

Nelson, Weller, Wienen and Fowler will be recognized on their racing success this year at Yamaha’s Wall of Champions event in December. This special ceremony symbolizes Yamaha racers’ accomplishments and contributions from the racetrack to their local communities annually. This is the first year Weller joins the wall, alongside Nelson, Wienen and Fowler, who were added in previous years, alongside other Yamaha Racing greats such as GNCC Hall of Famer Bill Ballance, and AMA Motocross Hall of Famer Rick Johnson.

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

Can-Am has big plans with the Can-Am 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race this weekend in Phoenix, Ariz.

Along with its title sponsorship efforts at the Can-Am 500 race, Can-Am will hold a racing day press conference, make a special announcement, hold a live music concert featuring The Offspring and also share two separate pre-race videos utilizing the impressive new 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle.

In addition to the Sunday agenda and racing itself, Can-Am has also produced a creative promotional “desert racing themed” competition for the Can-Am 500, featuring a Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle, GoFAS No. 32 NASCAR (Kappa/Cyclops Gear) Sprint Cup driver Jeffrey Earnhardt and the swiftest cat on the planet, the Cheetah.

Who will win this race between these three speed demons? Find out HERE

Another video, “The Challenge,” is also planned; pitting Earnhardt in his No. 32 vs. Daytona President Chip Wile, behind the wheel of a Maverick X3 in the Arizona desert. This video will feature a couple of other surprises as well.

As you may recall, BRP announced August 17, 2016, at its dealer show in Orlando, Fla., that the Can-Am brand will be present on the NASCAR circuit for the next two years through its collaboration with the GoFAS No.32 NASCAR Sprint Cup series racing team, in association with the Kappa and Cyclops Gear brands.

One of those key title sponsorship opportunities was for the Can-Am 500, or the semi-final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Phoenix International Raceway.

The Can-Am 500 will determine which four drivers will make the Championship as the Eliminator Round’s final four.

The Can-Am 500 is slated for 12:30 p.m. (Phoenix time), this Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 at PIR.

Yamaha Motor Finance Corp., USA, (YMFUS) today announced it has launched an all-new credit card program that is available through all Yamaha dealers starting November 1, 2016. This important Yamaha-exclusive consumer financing tool is replacing an outgoing program that had been managed by various banks over the last 20 years.

“Yamaha will maintain the key features our dealers and customers value, while providing the program directly through our captive finance company,” says Kim Ruiz, Vice-President of Yamaha Motor Corp., USA (YMUS) and President and CEO of YMFUS. “The new credit card moves Yamaha closer to our dealers and customers, allowing us to better understand and fulfill their needs.”

The new program provides an easy to use application process and instant approvals to qualifying customers when they are considering a new purchase, and the revolving line of credit provided by the card translates to repeat purchases. YMFUS is supporting the card with low, attractive special financing promotions and expects the new program to serve as the primary financing source for many of Yamaha’s products, including Motorcycles, ATV’s, Side-by-Side vehicles and Personal Watercraft.

“Offering a long-term solution for a credit card program was critical to maintaining our leadership position in the powersports lending industry by providing Yamaha dealers and customers the most complete array of financing solutions,” says Jeff Young, executive vice president and COO of YMFUS. “This highly innovative solution not only provides program continuity, it also gives our dealers and customers the certainty of a Yamaha-backed program. Yamaha’s capital supports it and Yamaha manages it – that’s a very different model than the previous bank-managed program.”

YMUS launched Yamaha Motor Finance last year to initially focus on first-time and limited credit buyers, enabling its dealers to expand their business in a segment underserved by traditional banks and lenders. This new credit card program will allow Yamaha Motor Finance to expand its focus to “Prime” consumers and take over a program that has provided financing solutions to more than one million customers.

Yamaha Motor Finance has expanded its staff at its headquarters in Cypress, California, to manage the new program. The credit cards will be issued by WebBank, Member FDIC.

Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA, (YMFUS) was created by Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, (YMUS) to provide a new captive financing solution to powersports consumers. YMFUS operates throughout YMUS’s nationwide network of dealers financing Yamaha products and supporting Yamaha customers.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, (YMUS), is a leader in the motorsports market. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include motorcycles, ATVs and Side-by-Side vehicles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, boats, snowmobiles, 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 Georgia, Wisconsin and Alabama, as well as factory operations in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Missouri.

For more information on Yamaha, visit yamahamotorsports.com.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., just announced the donation of a 2017 MULE PRO-FXT™ LE to benefit Boys Town California to be auctioned off at the annual Night of Hope event, November 5th, 2017. With an MSRP of $16,099 this powerful Kawasaki product is sure to garner tremendous attention. The auction will be hosted at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California.

This limited edition 2017 MULE PRO-FXT has incomparable strength and endless durability backed by over a century of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. engineering knowledge. The PRO FXT side x side’s three-passenger Trans-Cab™ system can easily convert to six-passenger mode for a revolutionary new way to work and play. The 2017 MULE PRO series of side x sides feature the fastest and most powerful MULE™ models Kawasaki has ever built.

Boys Town California has a significant achievement for this year’s auction, as it will be celebrating its 25th year. Next year, Boys Town will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of servicing the United States.

“We’re excited to be able to help benefit such an incredible cause, again this year,” said Bill Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Sales Operations at Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., and member of the Boys Town California Board of Directors. “The Boys Town of California helps children and families in need and the Night of Hope is a major event for Orange County, I’m pleased that Kawasaki, as a longstanding resident of Orange County, is stepping up to support for the second year in a row.”

Boys Town California was started in 1991 with the mission of providing programs focused on saving children of abuse in Southern California. Boys Town operates seven family homes in the region, reserved for youth who are unable to return to their homes as a result of abuse or neglect. In an effort to prevent out-of-home placement and keep families intact, Boys Town also provides intervention assistance through in-home family services and community support services.

Just last year the Night of Hope raised over $140,000, with all proceeds going directly to children and families in need. For information about the 2016 Night of Hope gala and auction participation, please visit boystown.org/california or Call 714-856-4356.

This past week Yamaha Motor Corp. hosted the 7th World Technical Grand Prix (WTGP) in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan at Yamaha Motor Corp. headquarters. The WTGP is a competition that not only tests technical skill, but also the mind and effort of technicians as they work to improve customer satisfaction.

After a qualifying process that included 32,739 competitors, the field was whittled down to representatives from 21 countries. With that, it was Luke Pakkala from Oakville Yamaha that took home 2nd place in the sport bike category offering Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. its first podium finish at the WTGP!

Leading up to the event, Luke explained how his 10 years of Yamaha dealership experience had helped prepare him for the challenges faced in the competition. The approach Luke and his dealership take with their customers helped him focus on the basics of having thorough product knowledge, good work habits and slowing down. Through his WTGP involvement, Luke is looking to continue to improve his teaching and management skills, noting, “I would like to expand my focus on teaching habits for engaging employees, apprentices and future apprentices.”

The WTGP is an expansion of the Yamaha Technical Academy (YTA) training program that is utilized around the world for technicians based on Yamaha’s own globally standardized guidelines. The culmination of the YTA program is the National Technical Grand Prix (NTGP) which is held in various regions around the world. Once every two years, the elite technicians who won the NTGP in their own country come together at the WTGP in Japan.

The objective of the WTGP is to generate greater motivation and willingness to attain higher skills among Yamaha technicians who were trained in the YTA education program. Specifically, the focus for 2016 was to offer technicians who are making efforts to improve their skill and service performance based on “One to One Service” a platform to showcase their talent.

Reflecting upon the demanding competition and his efforts, Luke praised Yamaha’s willingness, at all levels of business, to listen to employees at the dealership level about what works and what does not.

Congratulations to all those that competed in the 7th WTGP and Luke Pakkala for representing Yamaha Motor Canada in the utmost professional manner!