Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 racer John Natalie finished second in both Pro class motos to finish second on the podium at the AMA ATV Motocross Championship opener in Washington, Ga.

Teammate Joel Hetrick won the fastest qualifier award at Aonia Pass MX aboard the DS 450 and finished eighth overall. Can-Am racers also wrapped up several amateur class wins during the opening weekend of the 10-round AMA ATV MX series.

“John battled hard in both Pro class motos and just narrowly missed taking the overall win in the final lap of moto two. He remains steadfast and determined in his title defense,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Joel Hetrick was very impressive, earning the fastest qualifying time in both Pro practices. Unfortunately, his hopes for a weekend podium were dashed after a first-moto crash occurred while he was making a pass for the lead. Both our racers were very strong and are determined to be significant contenders for the Pro class podium at every round this season.” 

Natalie, who was the second fastest qualifier of the day on his DS 450, was second off the start. After falling back to fourth at one point, Natalie buckled down and passed his way back into the top three.

He earned the second position when his teammate, Hetrick, went off the track while challenging for the lead. Natalie drew close to the leader, but ran out of time and had to settle for second in moto one. Hetrick, who was unable to finish the first moto, was credited with 14th.  

Moto two again saw Natalie pull out of the gate in second. He quickly took over the lead and was followed by the moto one winner. Natalie held the lead and fended off several pass attempts for almost the entire moto.

The race overall came down to the final corner. Natalie lost the lead and the race overall, but still ended up second overall with his 2-2 finishes.

“It was really close at the end. I wanted to start the season on the podium and I’m happy about that,” said Natalie. “I have to thank Can-Am, Motoworks and everyone who helped me get to the podium today.”

Hetrick rebounded from his disappointing first moto to earn fourth in moto two. His 14-4 combined finishes were good for eighth overall in his Pro debut aboard the Can-Am DS 450.

“I really like the Can-Am. I felt good on it today,” said Hetrick. “I was having a really good first moto and took the lead, but we got together right after that and I went off the track. I was hoping to be on the podium, but I rode really well and I’m happy I was able to lead for a little while.”

Other Can-Am DS 450 racers to post class victories were, Chase Henry (Production A), Travis Spader (Veteran 30+ and 450 A), Merrill Crose (25+A) and C.J. Dollarhide (4-Stroke B).

For more details about Can-Am racing, the ’12 contingency program and the Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Can-Am X-Team racers Derek and Jason Murray piloted their Murray Motorsports / Can-Am Commander 1000 X to the UTV class victory in the 2012 Best In The Desert Mint 400 race in Las Vegas, Nev.

Driving the Can-Am X-Team-supported Desert Toyz Commander 1000, racer Cory Sappington finished second and joined the Murrays on the UTV class podium.

The Mint 400, dubbed the single largest off-road event in the United States, allowed side-by-side vehicles to compete along side the automotive field for the first time in the history of the race.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of our guys and the way they each drove their Can-Am Commander side-by-sides in these gruelling conditions,” stated Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “It was definitely a historic weekend of desert racing for Can-Am, the Commander 1000 and our X-Team racers. The Murrays and Sappington’s team deserve a lot of credit for all their hard work and dedication that they each put into preparing their machines and for putting the Commander on the top two spots of podium in the first ever Mint 400 UTV race.”

Murray Motorsports, winners of two of the last three BITD UTV class races, started 18th out of 30 competitors. However, the team kept pushing forward, picking competitors off one by one. With 10 miles remaining, they caught Sappington and raced ahead for the class overall, becoming the first side-by-side and Can-Am Commander 1000 to cross the Mint 400 finish line.

The Murrays finished in 4:38.58, roughly five minutes ahead of the second place team of Sappington and co-pilot Jim Sharp. The two Commander racing teams finished seventh and ninth, respectively, in the overall Mint 400 two-lap race standings.

“I really want to thank everyone at BRP for all their help and support. We really want to keep this momentum going into the next race. We had absolutely no issues with our Can-am Commander 1000,” said Derek Murray. “The organizers really treated all the UTV finishers like kings, as we were recognized on stage with our award for the UTV class overall immediately after Robby Gordon was presented his for the Pro truck overall.”

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2012 schedule, the ’12 contingency program and amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

BRP will assemble specialized motorised vehicles derived from its line of products in a new plant located in Sherbrooke.

This facility will concentrate on assembling customized vehicles to meet the requirements of governments, municipalities, institutions and agencies, as well as individual consumers.

“This decision allows us to first assemble gasoline-powered vehicles with specific requirements from our existing products for which we already have orders from the Middle East,” said Jose Boisjoli, president and CEO. “We will also make the most of the technologies developed at the Centre de technologies avancées BRP-University de Sherbrooke (CTA) and produce zeroemission electric vehicles.”

One of the specialized products being assembled at this new facility, the prototype of the Can-Am Commander electric side-by-side vehicle, was introduced in Montreal last summer during Club BRP.

In light of the reaction from dealers, distributors and the media from around the world, BRP is going ahead with marketing and selling the Can-Am Commander electric side-by-side vehicle.

“We will be using the same marketing and distribution strategy that we used for our Can-Am Spyder roadster,” said Mihai Rasidescu, vice-president, Specialized Vehicles Group. “We will recruit from within our existing dealer network to develop the business and gradually expand as market demand grows. We will go out in phases and, starting July 1, 2012, the Can-Am Commander electric side-by-side vehicle will be on sale at some BRP dealers in Québec, Ontario and Alberta, and in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas and Virginia.”

The first Can-Am Commander electric side-by-side vehicle goes to Sherbrooke University, BRP’s partner in the CTA that developed the vehicle’s electric technology.

The vehicle can reach a speed of 40 km/h and has a range of between 40 and 160 km, depending on driving habits, vehicle speed, terrain conditions, weather temperature and battery type.

The new assembly plant will create 20 new jobs in Sherbrooke and will grow according to demand.

Team Motoworks / Can-Am racers Josh Frederick and Dillon Zimmerman finished on the Pro class podium at round three of the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) race in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Frederick won his second straight WORCS event and Zimmerman earned his first career WORCS podium. The two racers also recently teamed up to win the Pro class on the Can-Am DS 450 at the 2012 SCORE San Felipe 250 in Mexico.

“Josh and Dillon have been working hard to put Team Motoworks / Can-Am and the DS 450 out in front of the competition whenever they compete,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We’re very pleased with the recent racing results out west. Both of them battled hard to earn the San Felipe 250 victory and followed that up with a 1-3 showing on the WORCS podium in Arizona. I’m very pleased with these guys reaching the podium and getting victories in two different series.”

WORCS

Frederick came out of the dead-engine start in third at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. After a slight bobble slowed his pace on lap four, Frederick regained a top-three position a lap later.

On lap nine, he took the lead and never looked back. He won by more than 40 seconds, posted his second consecutive victory and is now the Pro class points leader with 72.

“It was rough out there, but once I got in the lead, I just kind of cruised,” said Frederick. “I’m taking it one race at a time and just trying to give my best at every race. I was really excited to have Dillon on the podium with me.”

Zimmerman battled back from a slow first lap to earn his first top-three Pro class finish. He was in sixth after one lap, but by the midpoint of the race he was challenging for a podium spot. His third-place ride also moved into fourth place in the Pro class standings.

“I got a good start but I got hung up behind another rider in the third turn,” said Zimmerman. “I was almost dead last, but put my head down and kept going.”

SCORE San Felipe 250

Frederick and Zimmerman powered their Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 to a dominating victory in the SCORE San Felipe 250 desert race. Using a Can-Am ATV set up for WORCS racing and taller tires, the team completed the race in 6:01:53 and averaged a speed of 41.22 MPH. Its overall time was around 12 minutes better than the runner-up team.

“This was the first time I have raced any of the SCORE races and it was a really incredible experience. The course was fun, there were a lot of spectators just out in the middle of nowhere; it was very unique, and the fact that we won, makes it even better,” said Zimmerman.

Team Motoworks / Can-Am racers compete in the WORCS, SCORE, BITD, GNCC and AMA ATV Motocross series aboard the DS 450. Reigning AMA ATV MX Champion John Natalie will defend his 2011 title Saturday, March 24 at Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Ga.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2012 schedule, the ’12 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

With two rounds of ATV racing and one round of side-by-side racing completed, several Can-am ATV and side-by-side racers lead their class in points or are in the top three with 11 ATV rounds remaining and 5 side-by-side rounds remaining in the 2012 Can-Am / GNCC series.

Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 EFI racer Chris Bithell is third in the XC1 Pro class points after two rounds. Can-Am X-Team racer Bryan Buckhannon dominated both 4×4 Open class races aboard his Outlander 800R. Cliff Beasley also posted two consecutive class wins on the Renegade 800R 4×4.

“Cliff and Bryan are as fast as ever and are already in the driver’s seat in their respective 4×4 classes,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Even though there is plenty more racing left in the season, we’re content to have our riders positioned where they are after two rounds of Can-Am / GNCC racing. Bithell currently sits third in the XC1 class standings and I predict he’s about ready to show us what he’s made of as the series heads to some of his favorite tracks. I’m proud to see Kyle Chaney put the Commander side-by-side on the XC1 UTV Modified podium in Georgia in his first race with the Motoworks / Can-Am team.”

Round 1 – Florida

Bithell was at the back of the pack at the start of the XC1 Pro class in River Ranch, Fla., but quickly rode his DS 450 into the top five. By lap four, he took over the lead. Bithell fell to third on the final lap, but maintained that position to earn a spot on the XC1 class podium. 

“It was really rough out there; brutal to be more exact, but the quad kept going,” said Bithell. “We have done a lot of training and put a lot of hard work into this and I think this is going to be a really good season.”

Buckhannon impressed aboard his new 2012 Outlander 800R EFI 4×4. Seeking to repeat as 4×4 Open class champion, Buckhannon overcame a mid-race mistake to win his class and earn the overall top spot on the morning podium. UXC Racing / Can-Am 4×4 Open class racer Michael Swift finished in third.

Beasley, riding his UXC Racing / Can-Am Renegade 800 X xc, came out on top in the U2 class and also earned the final spot on the overall morning podium. Defending 4×4 Senior Class Champion and Can-Am X-Team racer Forrest Whorton started the 2012 season with a victory over fellow Can-Am X-Team racer Mike Penland. Can-Am X-Team competitor and Outlander 500 racer Kevin Trantham won 4×4 Lites class, leading from start to finish.

Round 2 – Georgia

Can-Am racers claimed four class wins and took second in the XC1 UTV Modified class at The General GNCC held in Washington, Ga.

In ATV action, Bithell got a mid-pack start in the XC1 Pro class, but soon rallied to join the racer leaders. At one point, the Motoworks / Can-Am racer moved into second overall. However, round two ran 20 minutes longer than the usual two-hour GNCC event and this caused a fuel shortage for Bithell. After taking on a splash of fuel for his ATV, Bithell charged ahead to retain a top-five finish in the XC1 class.  

Beasley won the U2 class by more than a minute. Buckhannon, Trantham and Whorton also won their respective classes to post back-to-back wins to start the 2012 season. Buckhannon finished more than eight minutes better than second place in the 4×4 Open class. Trantham won the 4×4 Lites class and was second on the overall morning podium. Whorton notched the 4×4 Senior class win aboard his Outlander 800R.

In the XC1 UTV Modified class, Motoworks / Can-Am Commander 1000 X racer Kyle Chaney was in the top three all day. On the final lap, Chaney made his move into second, but couldn’t overtake the leader. It was the team’s first Pro-level GNCC side-by-side podium.

Defending XC2 UTV Limited class champion Team Travalena (Can-Am X-Team) earned a hard-fought second-place finish in Georgia. Fellow Can-am X-Team competitor Mike Penland made his class debut in the Commander 1000 X and finished sixth in the class.

For more details about Can-Am racing, the ’12 contingency program and the Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.