BRP will host the largest commercial event of its history from July 10 to 17, 2011 in Montreal. The Palais des congres de Montreal (convention centre) will showcase all BRP products and R & D capabilities, host a career fair for the general public and offer test-rides in the Parc Rene-Levesque. BRP is even including free concerts on Crescent Street.

Starting July 10, 4,000 dealers, distributors, suppliers, members of the media and BRP employees from more than 100 countries will visit Montréal and the Eastern Townships. For this event, the city will be decorated BRP-style, as will Pierre-Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

Starting July 12, the BRP Crescent Street Summer Festival invites the general public to enjoy free concerts on Crescent St., Montreal’s premiere night scene. The street, closed to vehicular traffic for the event, will rock with such names as Sass Jordan, the Boogie Wonder Band, and will feature Michel Pagliaro and David Usher on Saturday night. BRP products will be on display with knowledgeable people on hand to show them off.

The convention centre will become a large showroom where all the latest models of BRP product brands (Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Evinrude, Rotax, and Can-Am), the work of our three research and development sites and information on our company will be presented.

On the weekend of July 16 and 17, the BRP showroom expands to the general public and will include a career fair. BRP is seeking to fill positions for bilingual professionals from varied fields, such as finance, engineering, industrial design and marketing to join its ranks in its many locations around the world.

“BRP is showcasing its products, its business, its expertise for the world to see,” said Giulia Cirillo, corporate vice-president, Human Resources. “This is a great time for professionals to discover all that we do, and all that we can offer in terms of exciting career paths.”

During the weekend members of the general public will have the opportunity to test-ride or take a closer look at BRP products in an “Ultimate Playground” setting. Registration times can be reserved online on a first-come, first-served basis, but local radio stations broadcasting from Crescent Street will also have premium times to give away.

With the aim of getting an expert opinion on the Can-Am Spyder roadster and its market impact, columnist Bertrand Gahel has graciously accepted to remain available during the event to answer media questions. Author of the Guide de la Moto and motorcycle columnist with La Presse, Bertrand Gahel has covered the motorcycle industry for nearly 20 years.

Also for the first time in BRP history, Club BRP will integrate the best practices of environmentally responsible events. The event will be certified by the largest sustainable development consulting firm in Québec, Takt-etik, according to the Bureau de normalisation du Québec norm 9700-253.

For more information on this premiere event; the schedule for the BRP Crescent Street Summer Festival, how to sign up for demo rides and what will be in the BRP showroom at the convention centre, visit www.clubbrp.com. There are no entry fees for any general-public activities.

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 racer Adam McGill won round eight of the 2011 Can-Am GNCC Racing series this past weekend at Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia.

The victory moved McGill to within seven points of the XC1 (Pro class) points lead. McGill’s teammate Chris Bithell finished second aboard his DS 450 sport ATV to move into third place in the points standings.

“I was very pleased to see Adam win the Snowshoe GNCC, the most prestigious race of the season and see Bithell earn a well-deserved second-place finish,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We love seeing our racers on the podium. Can-Am riders earned first and second in the XC1 class, in the morning race we had three X-Team racers win their class and we swept the morning overall podium — another successful weekend of racing.”

Based on the legendary Blackwater 100, the Snowshoe round of the GNCC series is one of the toughest courses on the circuit and it did not disappoint. The terrain was rocky and very muddy. Racers were greeted by a lengthy 16-mile starting course that was cut in half after the first lap.

The racers began the more than two-hour race with a live-engine start in the streets of the resort with five riders leaving the line at a time at five-second intervals.

This was McGill’s second Can-Am GNCC win of the season and he has now reached the XC1 podium in five of the seven rounds. At Snowshoe, he was in fifth place after the first lap, but moved up one spot by the end of the second lap.

On the next lap, he moved into third place and then saw a chance to take the lead. McGill trailed two other riders, including Bithell, the race leader at the time, but passed for the lead by charging through a large mud hole.

From there, McGill pressed hard and ended up with a 14-second victory margin at the end of the day and the added bonus of $5,000, the prize for the winner of the afternoon race.

“We came up on this mud hole and the second-place rider went one way, Bithell went the other and I just plowed through the middle of it,” said McGill. “I was really hoping I wouldn’t get stuck, but it all worked out and I came out ahead of those guys and rode it all the way to the finish. This season has been going really good and I am happy to be closing the gap in the points race.”

Bithell was contending for the victory and led the first two plus laps of the race, but an issue with his chain slowed his chase for his first win of 2011. It was the third second-place finish for the Pennsylvania pro this season and fourth XC1 podium.

Can-Am X-Team racers dominated the top five overall positions in the 4×4 Open class as competitor Michael Swift earned the top spot on the morning podium aboard his Outlander 800R X xc.

Swift started off a little slowly, but overcame a wrong turn, several bottlenecks and lapped traffic to post his fourth win of the season. He leads Can-Am X-Team teammate Bryan Buckhannon, who finished third in the class and fifth overall in the morning, for the class points lead. Can-Am X-Team and 4×4 Open class racer Zac Zakowski put in his best race of the year with second overall aboard his Can-Am.

Reigning U2 class champion and Can-Am X-Team racer Clifton Beasley kept his winning streak alive with another victory aboard his Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc. He also reached the morning podium with third overall. Beasley has now won 26 consecutive races.

Riding a Can-Am Outlander 500, X-Team racer Kevin Trantham won the 4×4 Lites class and earned fourth overall in West Virginia. He led from start to finish and won his class by more than 39 minutes.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2011 schedule, the 2011 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Upon arrival at the top of Snowshoe Mountain in Snowshoe, WV, fans are greeted by picturesque views, a village that offers plush lodging, fine dining and activities for the whole family.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just another ski resort, however. The terrain that lurks in the woods and slopes below the village is some of the most rugged on earth, and once a year the town hosts the GNCC series for what is billed as “America’s Toughest Race.”

The unique starting grid for this event lines riders up in rows of five as they were flagged off in five-second increments. The morning race would utilize only one side of the mountain, making the course 14 miles in length.

Kevin McKeown was the top finishing GBC rider by winning the 16-19 C class for the 4th time in 2011. He placed 11th overall. Forest Wharton once again bested the +45 4×4 class. Garon Davis used his 2nd place finish in the Sport 15+ class to further extend his series points lead.

Kristen Atwell used her considerable rough-terrain experience and the grip of her X-Rex tires to claim 3rd in the Pro Women’s class for the day. Kara Merritt followed in 4th and is just one point out of the top three in the standings.

The afternoon pro race featured a “double loop,” bringing the course length up to 23 miles. Upon completion of lap number one, GBC riders Bryan Cook and Johnny Gallagher had worked their way up to 3rd and 4th respectively, mere seconds from the race leader.

Halfway through the 2-hour race Cook and Gallagher both checked in inside the top 5. Unfortunately Gallagher suffered a mechanical failure in the third lap that ended his day early.

Cook continued to shred the Snowshoe trails and after 2 hours and 10 minutes of racing crossed the finish line in 3rd place, making his first podium appearance of the 2011 season. “I made the switch to the X-Rex rear tires for the rough conditions of this race and I couldn’t be happier with the result,” said Cook.

Kevin Yoho and Jeff Pickens would also place their GBC-equipped machines inside the top 10 for the day. In the XC2 Pro Am class teammates Aarol Bright and Richie Brown finished 4th and 5th respectively, capping off an impressive day for GBC Motorsports.

Team Gorilla Axle / Can-Am had another good showing in the ITP Championship Mud Racing (CMR) series held at Southern Ridge ATV Park in Dozier Ridge, Ala.

Three riders piloted their Can-Am vehicles to five total podiums, including second overall in the highly competitive Pro A division.

Steve Hittle has led the way aboard his Can-Am Outlander in the Pro A class in 2011 with five heat wins and an overall.

The Team Gorilla Axle / Can-Am racer won round two and then finished second at round three to take over the class points lead. Hittle leads Can-Am-mounted racer Ethan LaFontaine by 10 points heading into round four. Hittle also is a major contender in the RUV class with his Can-Am Commander 1000 X. He’s currently No. 2 in that class and in the Super Modified (Open) division.

“Team Gorilla / Can-Am riders continue to challenge for the CMR title in their respective classes on ATVs and behind the wheel of the Commander side-by-side,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Steve had another good run in the Pro A class, finishing second and maintaining his points lead.”

Lisa Wise, who competes in Pro A as well as the Women’s class on a Can-Am Renegade 800R, is also having a good season. She finished second in the Women’s class in Alabama to secure second overall for the season with five rounds remaining.

Wise is currently third overall in the Pro A class, where she earned second overall at round 2 and has three heat wins in 2011. She’s also tied for third place with her husband, Mark, in the Super Modified (Open) class aboard an Outlander 800R.

Mark, who also competes in the Pro B division, won round two and took second at round three to climb into third place in the division aboard his Gorilla Axle / Can-Am 800. He’s currently in fourth place in the RUV class in his Commander 1000 X.

“The CMR series is about riding, strategy and the challenge of getting through the pit. Going fast and winning is the rewarding part of racing, of course, but this sport is also about family and friends, too,” explained Lisa Wise. “Racing for Gorilla Axle and Can-Am is awesome and they’re always open to our suggestions and they give us the equipment to go faster. We’re so proud to wear the Team Gorilla / Can-Am gear and to be racing for them and winning trophies.”

CMR Round 3 Results:

– Steve Hittle: 2nd Pro A; 3rd Open Class
– Lisa Wise: 2nd Women’s
– Mark Wise: 3rd RUV; 3rd Pro B

Round four of the ITP Championship Mud Racing series presented by Can-Am is scheduled for July 2, at Creekbottom Trail Rides in Doles, Ga.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2011 schedule, the 2011 contingency program and Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

Motoworks / Can-Am pro ATV racer and current AMA ATV MX Championship series Pro-class points leader Chad Wienen crashed Friday while training at his practice track in Illinois suffering a season-ending injury to his back.

Medical crews were on the scene quickly and he was transported to an area hospital. At the hospital, it was discovered Wienen broke two vertebrae in the middle of his back, but he suffered no major spinal cord injury and has feeling in his extremities.

Wienen underwent surgery on Saturday to stabilize his back. The surgery to fuse several vertebrae in his back was successful and he is conscious and talking; he may be moved out of recovery today. He is anxious to get back on his feet and will start rehabbing as soon as he gets approval from the doctors.

“Chad is a hard-working and dedicated racer and I am sure he will tackle his recovery from this injury just like he tackled his training: with 100-percent commitment,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “I was glad to hear the surgery was successful and Chad is in good spirits and ready to move on and start recovering. He is in the thoughts and prayers of everyone here at BRP.”

Wienen will not be racing for the remainder of the 2011 season. He currently leads teammate John Natalie by 10 points in the Pro-class points and had four overall wins in seven rounds of racing this year.

With four more rounds of racing in the season, the team’s focus will be on getting Natalie a championship and making sure Wienen has everything he needs to fully recover from this injury.

Wienen wanted to make sure everyone knows how much he appreciates the outpouring of support from his fans and of that from the industry.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea‑Doo watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all‑terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries. www.brp.com

Wes Miller, founder of H-Bomb Media and the Bomb Squad, took to the red-soil trails of the Outback as he managed to finish 2nd after two grueling days of racing.

Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race is considered by many to be Australia’s version of the Baja 1000 and was held June 11-13.

GBC Motorsports provided Miller with X-Rex tires to help him tackle the rough Aussie terrain as he competed with some of the fastest racers in the southern hemisphere.

Miller has plenty of experience in off-road racing, winning four Baja 500s in as many years as well as two Baja 1000s and three straight SCORE championships.

Most recently, Miller helped teammates Wayne Matlock and Josh Caster win the Open Pro ATV Class in the 2011 Baja 500, just a week before the Finke Desert Race was set to begin. The team is leading in points in the 2011 SCORE season and is poised to win another championship.

Following a quick turnaround Miller and his crew spent the week in Alice Springs, Australia building a quad from the ground up.

As title sponsor for Miller’s endeavor, GBC Motorsports provided X-Rex tires for the race. “GBC has a long history of supporting racing, and when I approached them about this event, they were 100% behind it,” Miller said. He powered his way into 2nd place overall aboard a Honda TRX700XX, equipped with X-Rex tire. “GBC’s X-Rex tires offer great traction and puncture resistance,” he went on to say. “They also work really well in a variety of terrain, which is what I needed for this type of race.”

After qualifying 8th, Miller managed to finish the first day of racing in 2nd, less than two minutes behind the leader. During the second day of racing Miller was able to close the gap on the leader, but could not quite make up the deficit. “I gave it my best and I felt that I rode the 700XX as fast as I could go in those conditions,” Miller said. “And I had no flats for the entire 280 miles.”

Miller noted that there was less terrain variation than is typical of Baja races, but that Finke had its share of surprises. “The whoops are brutal, but it reminded me more of a groomed high speed grand prix course in the US.” He averaged 52.82 mph on his quad, a mere 0.1 mph behind the winner. “The racers there are definitely fast and I feel like they approach the event with more of a kamikaze attitude. I definitely tip my hat to the Aussie riders.”