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.”

Competitors in this season’s Grand National Cross Country Series will be getting the full support of ITP with the return of the “XC Bucks” contingency program for 2011.

“XC Bucks” are being offered to the top three finishers in virtually every class at every round of the 2011 GNCC Series, and are redeemable at full face value toward the purchase of tires directly from ITP.

Get started on collecting “XC Bucks” by filling out just one “XC Bucks” form for the entire season (available at the track, from the ITP website or ITP Customer Service).

Then mount up a set of ITP tires on all four wheels and stick some ITP decals on your quad’s bodywork. Visit the ITP trackside support representative at the race venue for a quick tech inspection, and you’re on your way. Good luck!

“XC Bucks” represents the final announcement of ITP’s racing contingency programs for 2011 (including “MX Bucks” and “WORCS Bucks”). ITP has significantly increased ATV MX and GNCC payout postings, and winning racers will be happy to know that products will be shipped to them free of charge.

ITP contingency recipients will also appreciate not receiving IRS 1099 tax statements, since payouts come in the form of new tires instead of cash.

For more information, contact ITP Customer Support at: customerservice@itptires.com.

The RANGER RZR XP 900 was out in full force at the Buffalo Bills WORCS race, in Primm, Nevada this past weekend. The top four spots belonged to the newest, high performance Side-by-Side.

D.J. Noerr finished first with Phillip Martin finishing close behind. Third belonged to the William Yokley of the National Guard Polaris Coastal DragonFire Yokley Racing Team and fourth went to Christopher Blais.

National Guard Coastal Yokley Racing’s Scott Kiger was right with the leaders until an unfortunate belt issue dropped him to seventh. William Yokley’s third place finish gave him the points lead for the class.

“It was great to see the various RANGER RZR models as the choice of the racers in the WORCS Side-by-Side classes,” said Donna Beadle, Polaris Race Team Manager. “We congratulate all the winners and are excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”