Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc racer Rob Smith won the 4×4 Pro class and the overall in the 10 a.m. session at round three of the 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series in rainy North Carolina. Can-Am 4×4 racers won all four 4×4 morning classes, which included a 1-2-3 sweep in the 4×4 Pro class, and earned nine total 4×4 class podium finishes out of a possible 12.

“Can-Am ATV racers had a great weekend at the Steele Creek GNCC, overcoming the elements to win all four 4×4 classes and sweep the morning overall podium,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “The new 4×4 Pro class points race is very tight after three rounds now that Rob Smith notched his first win of the year. We’ve had three different Renegade 800R X xc racers win thus far, and I definitely see this one going down to the wire. It’s very exciting for everyone at BRP and I’m sure the fans are thrilled as well.”

The third round of the GNCC series was held at an extremely challenging and soggy Steele Creek in Morganton, N.C. Despite the slippery terrain and poor weather that forced the GNCC crew to shorten the 10 a.m. morning race to three laps, Can-Am 4×4 Pro racers were on the gas, going 1-2-3 to sweep the overall podium and also the 4×4 Pro class podium.

BNR Motorsports / Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc pilot Rob Smith earned his first class win of the year and second career morning overall with an impressive ride in N.C. Smith went from fifth place on lap one to third on lap two to first place on the third-and-final lap to earn his first win of 2014.

“I really needed this win…it is my second overall win ever and my first win in the new 4×4 Pro class,” said Smith. “Everything worked in my favor today and I couldn’t be happier. The track was a sloppy, muddy mess. I am so glad my Can-Am has four-wheel drive. I was able to power through everything without worrying about getting stuck. It really gave me an advantage with the conditions. My Renegade was perfect.”

Round-one winner Kevin Trantham (Can-Am X-Team) also led a portion of the race, but ended up second by less than one second to Smith. The third 4×4 Pro podium and morning overall position went to ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am Renegade racer Bryan Buckhannon.

Despite leading the first two laps, Jordan Phillips, the winner of round two, ran into trouble on the final lap and ended up fifth. The current 4×4 Pro class points shake down like this: Buckhannon (71 points; no wins); Trantham (70 points; 1 win); Smith/Phillips (tied with 64 points; one win each).

“I’ve raced Steele Creek many, many times and this was by far the muddiest it has ever been. I am happy with second overall. It’s great to have three Can-Am ATVs on the overall podium. It was a tough mud race and we all worked hard to get up here,” said Trantham.

Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers also won three other classes. Tanner Bowles, eighth overall in the 10 a.m. session, notched his second straight victory in the 4×4 A/B class to expand his points lead. Bowles was joined on the podium by Can-Am racer Joshua Trafelet, who took second.

Terry Whiteside earned the 4×4 Senior (40+) class win, which was his second of the season. Reigning champion Forrest Whorton was fifth, but still sits second in the points race. Nick Mase, also on a Can-Am 4×4, took second at Steele Creek. Can-Am 4×4 C class racer Nicholas Eichelberger won his class to climb to within two points of the class leader despite missing round one. Ryan Trantham joined him on the box in third.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2014 schedule, the contingency program and all amateur racer support programs, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Can-Am DS 450 ATV racer Joel Hetrick finished third at the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship opener in Washington, Ga. Three other Can-Am racers also placed inside the top nine, earning fourth, sixth and ninth against a full gate of Pros at Aonia Pass Motocross Park. Brother Hunter and Cody Miller each won one Pro class event at the second round of the Texas Off-Road Nationals.

“Joel Hetrick put in a great race aboard his JB Racing / Can-Am DS 450, leading much of the first moto and earning a solid 2-3 finish for third overall,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “It’s a nice start to the season to have both Joel and Josh Creamer battle for the podium and we see this as a momentum builder for round two.”

ATV MX 1

The opening round of the 2014 ATV MX national series, which offers classes for Pro and Pro-Am racers as well as numerous youth and amateur classes, featured good weather and a full gate Pro racers. Four Can-Am ATV racers competed against 16 other Pros at Aonia Pass MX. JB Racing / DWT / Mtn. Dew Live Wire / Can-Am Pro Joel Hetrick put his DS 450 ATV in good position with a great start in moto one.

He took the lead on lap one and held it, in part due to recording the fastest lap of moto two, for the first nine laps. After dropping to second on the 10th lap, Hetrick maintained his pace to earn second overall. He paired the moto-one finish with a solid, third-place ride in the second moto to notch a podium finish at the opener.

“My Can-Am was working awesome and I am glad to be back on it this year. The motor is what got me awesome starts this weekend,” said Hetrick.

Fellow Can-Am DS 450 Racer Josh Creamer (BCS Performance), who earned third in the class a year ago, just missed a podium finish of his own posting a 3-4 scorecard. Finishing two spots behind Creamer was the No. 728 Can-Am of Jeffrey Rastrelli, who matched a career-best overall finish in the Pro class with 7-6 finishes. BCS Performance / Can-Am racer Ronnie Higgerson, was the final Can-Am DS 450 Pro to compete and he also made it into the top 10, taking ninth.

“The second moto was crazy. It’s been a long time since we have raced that tight. At one point I was in second, and working on the lead, but then Joel caught me and I just ran out of time. It was just so intense, but it was a great race,” said Creamer.

In Pro-Am action, Can-Am racers notched three of the top 10 finishing spots out of more than 30 total racers who entered. Quebec-based Mathieu Deroy was sixth on his DS 450, while Higgerson and JB Racing / Can-Am racer William “Duck” Lloyd finished eighth and 10th, respectively. Round two of the Mtn. Dew ATV MX series is slated for the weekend of April 4-6 at Muddy Creek Raceway, in Blountville, Tenn.

TORN 2

Louis Powersports / Can-Am racers Hunter and Cody Miller followed up their successful season opener with stellar 1-2 finishes in both the UTV Expert class and ATV Pro class at round two of TORN at Endeavor Bridgeport, a large off-highway vehicle park in Bridgeport, Texas. The oldest Miller, Hunter, won the ATV Pro class on his DS 450, finishing in front of his brother and three others.

Cody also posted a victory on Sunday, taking the overall in the UTV Expert class with his Can-Am Maverick 1000R side-by-side. Hunter drove his Maverick to second, roughly four seconds back. The two racers are now tied for the points lead in both classes with eight rounds remaining on the 2014 schedule.

“Hunter and I had some exciting races taking a clean sweep of both the ATV Pro and UTV Expert classes on the rough, rocky TORN course in Bridgeport, Texas,” said Cody. “Thank you to all our sponsors.”

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2014 schedule, the contingency program and all amateur racer support programs, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc racer Jordan Phillips won the 4×4 Pro class and took third overall in the 10 a.m. session at round two of the 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series in Georgia.

Can-Am 4×4 racers won all four 4×4 morning classes and earned nine total 4×4 class podium finishes out of a possible 12. Marc Burnett and Tim Farr each earned a second-place finishes with their Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs side-by-side vehicles in the Best In the Desert Mint 400 race and GNCC XC 1 Modified class, respectively.

“The Can-Am racing team had a great showing at GNCC round two in Georgia and at the BITD Mint 400. Jordan Phillips’ 4×4 Pro class and overall morning podium finish were big,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “Our racers continue to make great strides with the Can-Am Maverick 1000R platform, putting it on the podium in several different series. Marc Burnett and Tim Farr have their vehicles dialed in and it shows.”

GNCC – Round 2

Round two of the AMSOIL GNCC series was held at Aonia Pass MX Park in Washington, Ga., in much drier conditions than the previous round. It featured both ATV and side-by-side racing. Phillips, coming off a fourth-place finish at round one, took advantage of fellow Can-Am racer Kevin Trantham’s misfortune.

The opening round winner, Trantham led the first three laps before a mechanical on lap four dropped him out of the lead and, eventually, the race (he took sixth). Phillips grabbed the lead during lap four and didn’t look back. The Green Mountain, N.C., racer took his first 4×4 class overall win since round eight of 2012 in the U2 division. He also garnered third on the 10 a.m. overall podium.

“This was the biggest win for me yet. The 4×4 Pro class has been an awesome challenge,” said Phillips. “I have been racing and training all winter long to prepare for it and I am stoked to come out with a win. My Can-Am worked flawlessly and gave me an excellent start. The suspension was awesome and really smoothed out the rough Georgia terrain.”

Bryan Buckhannon (ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am), who overcame an early dismount, rode his Renegade to a very close second-place finish behind Phillips. His two second-place finishes has him in the class points lead. BNR Motorsports / Can-Am racer Rob Smith finished fourth. Can-Am 4×4 ATV pilots also won three other classes, which included a podium sweep in the 4×4 Senior class.

Tanner Bowles won the 4×4 A/B class and Nicholas Eichelberger secured the 4×4 C class win. Scott Wheeler edged fellow Can-Am ATV racers Terry Whiteside (round one winner) and Forrest Whorton (defending champion) for the 4×4 Senior class victory at round two.

The General GNCC SxS race featured a narrow course and a record number of entries with 86 in five classes. JB Off-Road / Can-Am driver Tim Farr and co-pilot / wife Julie finished second in the XC1 Modified class. Farr, who won the 2013 Ironman SxS race, has now posted two straight podium finishes.

Team Game On Maverick 1000R driver Matt Rowell, who was in eighth place after the first lap of the five-lap feature, took an impressive third-place finish. Can-Am pilots tallied six of the top eight XC1 Modified class finishes in Georgia. Team Crash Addict / Can-Am racer Treavis Poynter was fourth.

BITD – Mint 400

The BITD General Tire Mint 400 desert endurance race has been running since 1967 and is often called America’s toughest off-road race. More than 50 side-by-side vehicles were forced to complete two laps, along with two other classes, through the course’s 100-mile loop of rock, sand, silt and gnarly desert terrain.

Coming off his historic San Felipe 250 victory, MB Motorsports / Monster Energy / Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs driver Marc Burnett and co-pilot Fernando Flores took an impressive second-place finish in the1900P class and sixth overall. They were actually in the running for the class overall, but after being delayed 10 minutes to fix a flat tire, ended up roughly seven minutes behind the eventual 1900P class winner.

“This year has been great with the Can-Am Maverick. We won the San Felipe 250 and to get second here at the Mint 400 is just unbelievable,” said Burnett, “so we are really stoked to be on the podium. The Can-Am was running amazing for the entire race, and you’d be amazed, it just kept right on going.”

Despite battling with the leaders early on, Team Can-Am / ITP / Murray Racing’s Derek Murray finished fifth in the class and 13 overall with the Can-Am Maverick MAX 1000R X rs DPS. Lacrecia Beurrier (Dragonfire Racing / Can-Am) took 11th and Desert Toyz / Can-Am driver Cory Sappington was 13th.

WORCS

Round three of the World Off-Road Championships Series (WORCS) was also held this past weekend at Crazy Horse Campgrounds in Lake Havasu, Ariz. Can-Am racers competed in both side-by-side and ATV classes. Del Amo Motorsports / Can-Am pilot Kyle Melville earned the lone podium, taking an impressive second-place finish in the SxS 1000 class.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2014 schedule, the contingency program and all amateur racer support programs, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., the leading maker of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles for outdoorsmen and women, is supporting the National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) again in 2014, and this year is giving away the all-new Yamaha Viking FI 4×4 in Hunter Green with a suntop through an online sweepstakes.

This is the seventh year Yamaha has sponsored NHFD, and to honor this milestone, Yamaha is giving away the most off-road capable and hardest working prize ever. The sweepstakes is being promoted at NHFD events nationwide and anyone can enter to win by simply registering online through the end of October 2014.

“Every year Yamaha Outdoors looks forward to being a part of National Hunting and Fishing Day for its focus on providing a positive environment for outdoors enthusiasts throughout the country,” said Steve Nessl, marketing manager for Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group. “Yamaha is proud to continue our partnership with NHFD and is excited to give away one of the new Vikings in support of outdoors education and conservation.”

Scheduled annually on the fourth Saturday of September, this year the celebration of hunting, fishing and conservation is set for September 27. NHFD serves as the most effective grass roots effort ever taken to promote outdoor sports and conservation.

Yamaha, through its relationships with organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Buckmasters, National Wild Turkey Federation and NHFD, among others, is a continued supporter of conservation efforts for outdoor recreational enthusiasts.

“We’re excited to have Yamaha on for another year of support,” said Misty Mitchell, director of conservation programs for Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo. – the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day. “The Yamaha sweepstakes have been a huge hit among NHF Day event-goers and we look forward to another great turnout at all of our festivities nationwide.”

One lucky entrant, 18 years-of-age or older, will win a 2014 Yamaha Viking FI 4×4 Hunter Green with Suntop that is assembled in the U.S.A. and comes with a number of hunting accessories.

Total approximate retail value is $11,799. No purchase necessary. The sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on October 31, 2014. The winner will be determined by random drawing.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (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.

More information on NHFD visit www.nhfday.org. Complete rules, entry details and additional information are available by visiting www.yamahaoutdoors.com/nhfday. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.