Can-Am GNCC racers had a successful weekend of racing taking five of a possible nine overall podium spots in the morning, afternoon and side-by-side racing sessions.

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am XC1 Pro-class pilots kept inching closer to an overall victory with Chris Bithell and Adam McGill taking second and third overall respectively in Washington, Ga., aboard Can-Am DS 450 ATVs.

While Team Travelena took the Open Limited class win in a Can-Am Commander 1000 X side-by-side vehicle.

“It is good to see success two rounds into the 2011 season,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “From the pro class to the amateurs to the side-by-sides Can-Am was well represented on the overall podiums.”

In the 4×4 classes, Can-Am X-Team racer Bryan Buckhannon took the 4×4 Open win and second overall aboard a Can-Am Outlander 800R X xc, while fellow X-Team racer Cliff Beasley rode his Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc to the U2-class title and third overall in the morning race.

Kevin Trantham also had a successful day on his Outlander 500, winning the 4×4 Lites class. Can-Am racers swept the utility podium in Georgia In the 40+ class, Tom Wright took first on his DS 450.

Round two was also the first round for the side-by-side classes and Can-Am saw much success in the debut of the Can-Am Commander 1000 side-by-side vehicle.

As mentioned, Team Travelena took the Open Limited class win and in the Open Modified class the Custom Night Krawlers Commander 1000 X took second.

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.

The first GNCC Side-by-Side race of the year saw reigning Side-by-Side champ, William Yokley, take the checkered flag in the “Open Modified” class with his new Polaris National Guard RANGER RZR XP 900. Polaris Racing’s Daryl Rath finished third also aboard a RANGER RZR XP 900.

“What a great way to start the 2011 GNCC Side-by-Side season,” said Donna Beadle, Polaris Racing Team Manager. “The teams have worked very hard prepping the new car for its inaugural GNCC race and their work has definitely paid off.”

Yokley currently holds the points lead in both the GNCC and WORCS series with his RANGER RZR XP 900 and will be back in action this weekend, at the WORCS race, in Arizona.

Rath will race his Sportsman XP 850, at the Steele Creek GNCC race, March 26. He currently sits in third place in the 4×4 Open Class.

In other racing news, a RANGER RZR 4 800 piloted by Bill Morris of Bakersfield, California won the SCORE “San Felipe 250” and was the only car to finish out of the four starters. Morris had the lone RANGER RZR in the brutal race

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich claimed his second win in as many weeks with a come-from-behind victory at the Maxxis General GNCC – round two of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series in Washington, Georgia.

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider ran second for most of the race after getting off the line in third, but Borich turned up the wick on his Suzuki QuadRacer R450 to make a final lap to pass on early leader Chris Bithell, taking the lead and the win.

“That last lap – I knew it was going to be pretty much a free-for-all,” Borich said of his battle with Bithell. “I pulled up alongside of him a couple of times, but he had a wheel on me so I let him go. Then when we got to the motocross track, I went under him in one of the turns and took the lead on my Suzuki.”

Borich, the reigning ATV XC1 champion, rode his Suzuki QuadRacer R450 to victory just last week in round one of the GNCC series, giving him a perfect 2-for-2 record so far this season.

With the two victories, Borich will carry a 14-point lead in the series standings into the third round of the series in Morganton, North Carolina on March 26th.

Coming off a nearly perfect season in 2010, Chris Borich came into the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series with one thing on his mind: defending his title.

The Yoshimura Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider picked up right where he left off, taking home the first victory of the year last weekend in the XC1 Class.

Chris Borich started the year off with a win.The second round of GNCC racing heads to the Maxxis General at Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Ga. this weekend, March 12-13. The field evens back out this weekend, as it is a new course with completely different terrain.

Instead of the whooped-out, rough sand track the riders so gruelingly experienced last week, the red clay-based General will be slated with thick woods, creek crossings and tight pine sections.

If anyone is relishing another shot at a win, it’s Warnert Racing Can-Am Foremost Insurance’s Adam McGill. The West Virginian led a majority of the six-lap race until a fence wrapped around his bike, flipping him over the bars.

Borich made his way around a fallen McGill to take over the lead on the last lap with Yamaha mounted Taylor Kiser and Chris Bithell aboard his Can-Am close behind.

FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook started the race off strong as he led the first lap in front of McGill, Borich and the rest of the field. Cook rode on to finish in the fifth spot behind McGill, who got up in time to capture the fourth place spot.

This weekend’s event will begin on Saturday, March 12 with ATV and UTV racing, with bikes racing on Sunday. Local riders are invited to race the event, as GNCC racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. Riders can sign up at the track. The amateur racer entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track.

Taylor Kiser was a solid second in Florida.Spectator passes run $15 for a weekend pass. Children five and under are admitted free. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m. On Saturday only, UTV vehicles will race at 4:30 p.m.

To get to the track, take Hwy 223 until it dead-ends with Hwy 78 (roughly 12-15 miles). Turn right on Hwy 78. The General is 2.5 miles down on your right (look for the big Aonia Pass Motoplex sign).

For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.

The opening round of the 2011 Yamaha Quad-X Series comes to Glen Helen raceway, America’s playground in Southern California, on Sunday March 27th!

The race will run on Glen Helen’s world-famous USGP track, and will feature classes for all skill and age groups. No membership is required to race!

The Quad-X series is one of the premiere ATV racing series in the US, and regularly draws top ATV racing pros like Dustin Nelson, Beau Baron, and current AMA ATV MX champion Josh Creamer! The 2011 season will feature races at some of the top racing facilities in the region, including Cahuilla Creek, Speedworld MX, Arizona Cycle Park, and four rounds at Glen Helen Raceway.

Each round also features special events like open riding, barbecues, sponsor giveaways and free camping in addition to the exciting racing action.

Sunday’s season opener will also serve as the thrilling conclusion to Glen Helen’s Dirt Fest 2011, a three-day celebration of four-wheeled off-roading. Sunday’s events will also include open trail riding and demo rides from manufacturers like Yamaha, Can-Am and Polaris.

2011 Yamaha Quad-X Schedule

March 27 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA
Sunday April 17 – Arizona Cycle Park – Buckeye, AZ
Sunday May 8 – Cahuilla Creek MX – Anza, CA
Satuday June 18 – Speedworld MX – Surprise, AZ
Saturday July 9 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA
Sunday July 10 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA
Satuday Sept. 10 – Speedworld MX – Surprise, AZ
Saturday Oct. 29 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA (double Pts

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) announced today it is continuing a 29 year profit-sharing payment tradition.

Over $13.6 million of the company’s 2010 profits will be shared among approximately 2,250 hourly and non-salaried Polaris employees in a cash payment.

On average, each of these employees will receive nearly 19 percent of their annual pay base. Polaris also will distribute profit-sharing payments to each of its fulltime salaried employees.

Additionally, all Polaris employees will participate in the distribution of $8.1 million worth of Polaris stock that is contributed to their retirement plan.

“We delivered strong performance and posted record results in 2010, and it feels good to reward the hard work and dedication of our employees,” said Scott Wine, Chief Executive Officer. “It is fundamental to our culture that all employees share in the success they worked so diligently to create.”

Suzuki Assembly Plant Celebrates 10 years of Building Class-Leading ATVs in America
 
Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation (SMAC) celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary on February 25, 2011.  

The plant was built in the United States in 2001 to demonstrate Suzuki’s commitment to the all terrain vehicle (ATV) business.

Initially the plant built the all-new 400cc Eiger and 500cc Vinson ATVs.  Currently, SMAC assembles the award winning KINGQUAD line of ATVs for the North American and global markets.
 
Mr. Nobuyuki Yamane, President of SMAC, stated, “As we celebrate 10 years as a company, we reflect back on the last couple of years which have been very difficult  due to the overall economic situation and its effect on the entire ATV industry.  We look forward to the future and a rebound in the ATV industry as we focus our Management Plan for FY2011 as we look ’10 Years and Beyond’ as a company.”
 
SMAC has recently increased production capacity and recalled some team members affected by previous work force reductions.  SMAC looks forward to increasing production in FY2011.
 
Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation (SMAC) is proud to call Rome, Ga. its home. By producing the best ATVs in the world, their skilled and dedicated team members are helping to secure Suzuki’s reputation as “First on Four Wheels.”