Press Release –

Polaris comes into the 2010 race season with teams competing in the Grand National Cross Country series (GNCC), World Off Road Championship series (WORCS), ATVA Motocross National (AMA), Best in the Desert (BITD), TORC, MS4X, LUCAS and Mud racing. Polaris also will continue to offer their race contingency program.

“We continue to be committed to ATV and Side-by-Side racing and are excited for another successful year,” said Eric Nault, Product and Race Manager for Polaris’ ORV Division. “2009 was a great year for us with RANGER RZR’s continued racing successes, new milestones with the Outlaw 450 MXR and a solid finish for the Sportsman XP in its first full year of racing. We look to continue the momentum into 2010.”

Rath Racing

Rath Racing is back on board for 2010 to race the Sportsman 850 XP with Power Steering in GNCC and the Outlaw 450 MXR in AMA. Daryl Rath will be vying for the top of the 4×4 Open class with his Sportsman 850 XP with Power Steering. Rath finished the 2009 season in third place for the class in the Sportsman XP’s first full race year and with a more fine-tuned vehicle for 2010, Rath will be on the throttle for No.1. Rath Racer Casey Martin will race the Outlaw 450 MXR in the “450 Pro-Am” class for AMA. After a mid-year switch to the Outlaw 450 MXR and a podium finish at Loretta Lynn’s, Martin looks forward to a full race year on the quad with continued success.

Yokley Racing

Polaris will continue to support the Yokley Racing/National Guard race team for 2010. Multi-time Pro and Pro Production GNCC Winner, William Yokley started racing the Polaris RANGER RZR during the 2008 GNCC season and took the Side-by-Side title. In 2009 he finished Fourth in the ‘Open Modified’ class and looks to be back on top for 2010.Yokley’s teammate, Jarrod McClure, will race the Outlaw 450 MXR in the GNCC ‘Pro 450 XCI’ class and ‘450 Pro ATV Class’ in select WORCS events.

Jagged X

Jagged X and the No. 1919 RANGER RZR look for their fourth Best in the Desert Championship in 2010. The team hit the podium in five of seven races, with three wins and two second places in 2009 and Brandon Schueler, Chad Riccio and Mike West will be back looking for another successful race season.

Walker Evans

RJ Anderson will be back to conquer the TORC, MS4X and LUCAS series with his Walker Evans RANGER RZR. Anderson finished the 2009 season first overall in the MS4X series and second overall in TORC’s UTV standings.

Highlifter

Team Highlifter-Polaris Racing will be muddin’ on Polaris’ once again for 2010. The team will be racing Sportsman 850 XP, Sportsman 550, RANGER XPs and RANGER RZRs.

The racers are as follows:

Sportsman 850 XP: Alicia Gorman, Blake Mann, JW Otwell, Maggie Robertson
Sportsman 850 Touring: Blake Mann, JW Otwell
Sportsman 550 XP: Brian Haughton, JW Otwell and Maggie Robertson.
RANGER XP: Scott Smith, Brian Robertson
RANGER RZR S: Blake Mann, Maggie Robertson
RANGER RZR 4: Brian Haughton

Polaris ATV Contingency

Polaris also will continue to offer an ATV race contingency program for all youth and adult classes, in seven ATV racing series, with a total purse of about $405,800. Polaris is offering contingencies in GNCC, WORCS, ATVA-AMA Motocross Nationals, ITP Quad Cross, New England ATV Motocross Series (NEATV), the Heartland Challenge and Canadian Motorsport Racing Club Series (CMRC). Racers must race 2007 or newer quads, and utility classes must be raced on a Sportsman 850 XP or Sportsman 550.

More information and complete rules about Polaris’ ATV racing contingencies can be found at www.polarisfactoryracing.com.

Press Release –

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has announced its 2010 ATV race teams. Returning to defend Yamaha’s 2009 Manufacturer’s Cup in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series are Bill Ballance, Traci Cecco, Brandon Sommers, Taylor Kiser and Walker Fowler.

In the motocross world, Thomas Brown will compete in the ATVA/AMA National Motocross pro series, and Dustin Nelson returns to defend his Yamaha/ITP QuadCross Championship while also competing in the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS).

“This is the first full year of racing for the YFZ450X, and the YFZ450R returns to defend its crown after taking an MX championship in 2009,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV Marketing Manager. “We are proud to support the sport of ATV racing in its many venues. It will be exciting to see these teams and the two high-performance YFZs battle it out in their respective off-road environments.”

Yamaha’s 2010 ATV Race Teams include:

Bill Ballance, the record holding nine-time GNCC XC1 Pro champion, is returning to attempt to recapture his title in 2010 after a fourth place overall finish last year. He continues to lead Yamaha’s ATV cross country efforts with more than a decade of winning experience that has gained him wide respect as the best ATV racer of all time. In addition to racing, Ballance will manage the Ballance Racing team, which also includes Kiser and Fowler. Ballance races the YFZ450X.

Traci Cecco is another GNCC record holder with seven GNCC Women’s titles. She finished second overall in the Women’s Class last year, and is poised to top the podium again in 2010. Cecco races the YFZ450X.

Walker Fowler will represent Yamaha in the GNCC’s XC2 class this year after winning the 2009 College A class and earning a top 20 XC1 finish at last year’s GNCC Ironman finale. Fowler races the YFZ450X.

Taylor Kiser is back on a Yamaha in 2010 after capturing the second overall spot in last year’s XC1 class and earning the series’ Most Improved Rider Award. Kiser races the YFZ450X.

Brandon Sommers captured the GNCC XC2 class championship in 2007 and moved up to the XC1 class in 2008. He finished an impressive fifth place in his first XC1 Pro season and again in 2009. Sommers races the YFZ450X.

Thomas Brown is in his second year on Team Yamaha having won the ATVA/AMA National Motocross Pro-am Championship in 2008 and finishing tenth in the pro class in 2009 earning him the Pro Rookie of the Year award. Brown races the YFZ450R.

Dustin Nelson is a three-time Yamaha/ITP QuadCross MX Pro Class champion having captured two consecutive titles the past two years. He is also competing in the WORCS series this year. Besides being a top ATV MX racer, Nelson is a veteran Yamaha test rider and was very involved in the development of the YFZ450R, which he is racing again this year.

In addition to the 2010 race team, Yamaha has increased its fan appreciation activities throughout the Yamaha/ITP QuadCross series with discounted tickets at Yamaha dealers ($5 off admission) and free race entries to any pro racer maintaining a current top 10 standing aboard a Yamaha ATV.

Press Release –

Two Strong Brands Collaborate to Provide Quality Tools for the Off-Road Enthusiasts

Warn Industries, the leader in truck and powersports vehicle products, announces a partnership with Benchmade Knife Company.

High quality edged tools manufactured by Benchmade Knife Company will become available in early 2010 bearing the Warn logo. These tools will deliver superior performance and provide great value for customers.

“We are very excited about the partnership with Benchmade. Their history of producing the best knives in the world couples extremely well with WARN’s industry leading off-road technology. We believe that putting these two great brands together will result in world class products and exciting new options for our combined customer base,” comments John McCalla, President at WARN.

“WARN is one of the world’s most recognized names in the off-road community,” said Greg Mooney, President of Benchmade Knife Company. “This partnership will help expand the Benchmade brand into new markets and reach new consumers.”

Four new products are set to launch in 2010 and incorporate a variety of different mechanisms, materials, and price points. They will be available on Warn’s website and they include:

Model 583-1/587-1 – Large and Small AXIS® Assist Folding Knives:

Designed for maximum utility, the 583-1 is a great folder for any situation. The tanto blade shape, AXIS® Assist locking mechanism, and machined G10 handle is sure to feel natural in the palm of your hand. Made in USA.

MSRP – 583SBK-1 $165 black ceramic coated blade

MSRP – 587SBK-1 $145 black ceramic coated blade

Model 9 CB-1 Utility Hook:

The new 9 CB-1 Carabineer Hook is a great accessory for any outdoorsman. This new safety cutter has the ability to cut up to ½” diameter of rope and features a retractable safety blade cover. A carabineer clip and bottle opener completes the package. Made in USA.

MSRP- 9 CB-1 $25

Model 30110-1 Houdini AET (Automotive Escape Tool):

Be prepared for any situation that could put you or your family in harm’s way by always having your Houdini™ AET nearby. It’s the keychain that could save your life. Includes a seatbelt cutter, LED flashlight, spring-loaded glass breaker, and safety whistle.

MSRP 30110-1 $25

About Benchmade – For two decades, Benchmade Knife Company has been committed to designing and manufacturing world-class sports cutlery and superior edged tools. We continually strive to provide high quality edged tools that will deliver unparalleled performance and exceptional value for our customers.

About Warn Industries – Warn Industries is the world’s most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. The company designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersport vehicles. Warn Industries has employees in and around Portland, Ore., Livonia, Mich., and the Netherlands.

Press Release –

Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV racer Chad Wienen is the inaugural Pro-class World MX Racing Champion after the final weekend of racing for the series.

This after the Team Motoworks / Can-Am semi-truck carrying Wienen’s race ATV and all the team’s equipment caught fire on the way to the Anza, CA track a day before the final two rounds were set to start. After working all night Friday to prep another DS 450, the race team was ready to battle hard for the championship.

“I arrived at the scene minutes after the fire was extinguished. What I saw was devastating; thank the Lord no one was injured. To see the Motoworks team rally together like they did and overcome all the adversity thrown at them this weekend was impressive,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “This type of perseverance is of what championship teams are made. Congratulations to Chad and the entire Motoworks organization on their championship win.”

The racers battled the rain and mud during the course of the doubleheader weekend. In the first moto during Saturday’s Round 7 action at Cahuilla Creek MX Park, Wienen would have to settle for second overall in the tough conditions. Going into Sunday’s Round 8, Wienen knew he just had to finish the motos to claim the Pro-class championship.

In the first moto he was battling for the lead when a coolant line came loose, forcing him to back off a bit and finish third. The second moto saw Wienen quickly pass for the lead where he would stay until the checkered flag.

Wienen’s Pro-class teammate, Jeremie Warnia, was absent for the final two rounds as he was in France racing a Motoworks-prepped DS 450 in the famous Le Touquet Beach Race on the English Channel. Warnia raced to the win during the three-hour race, beating second place by almost four minutes.

Racer Quotes

“It was pretty nerve-wracking with the rig catching on fire and the bikes getting destroyed. I think the worst part of it was for the crew because they put so much work into everything they do. They felt really prepared going into this last round and to have something like this happen was really heartbreaking for everyone. But my mechanic Ryan Cox and the rest of the team are the best and they came through and worked almost all night to make sure that I would be able to race; I really have to thank those guys for all their hard work.” – Chad Wienen

“It felt really good to go out and take a championship for Can-Am, especially it being my first year with the team. Now that this series is over, we are going to focus on testing and getting the bikes fine tuned and also training so that we are ready for Nationals in March.” – Chad Wienen

Press Release –

Contingency offered in seven racing series

Polaris today announced its ATV race contingency program for all adult classes, in seven ATV racing series, with a total purse of about $405,800.

“Polaris is continuing its commitment to ATV racing by offering a racing contingency for 2010 that spans the most-popular racing series across the U.S. and Canada,” said Eric Nault, Product and Race team manager for Polaris’ ORV Division. “We would like to thank the dedicated riders who race our products.”

Polaris is offering contingencies in GNCC, WORCS, ATVA-AMA Motocross Nationals, ITP Quad Cross, New England ATV Motocross Series (NEATV), the Heartland Challenge and Canadian Motorsport Racing Club Series (CMRC).

Racers must race 2007 or newer quads, and utility classes must be raced on a Sportsman 850 XP or Sportsman 550. More information and complete rules about Polaris’ ATV racing contingencies can be found at www.polarisfactoryracing.com.

Press Release –

In 2010, BRP will inject US $1.6 million into its Can Am X Team ATV Contingency Program.

From Canada, across the United States, down to Mexico, Can-Am ATV racers should be eligible for a cash payout through this program during the 2010 ATV racing season.

Building on its successful 2009 Can-Am X-Team ATV Racing Contingency program, BRP is expanding the 2010 program to include more cash and more national and regional series in North America.

“Enhanced racer support from the pro racer to the amateur is our goal with this program,” says Denis Morin, vice–president, Product Development & Racing at BRP. “As racing is key to improving all of our products at BRP, it is nice to be able to expand our contingency program to reward those who have committed to continuing Can-Am success on the race track.”

In North America, BRP is committing to pay out contingency cash in 19 race series, including the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series (13 classes), the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship (17 classes), the SCORE International Baja 1000, the High Lifter Mud Nationals and the CMRC Canadian MX National series.

In addition to those events, BRP has pledged support to just about every major regional race series on the continent.

Racers who meet the terms of the contingency program will receive a cash payout in the amount earned based on his or her placing in the event, with payment mailed directly to the participant or legal guardian.

BRP is also awarding contingency for overall championships at the end of the season.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2010 schedule, the 2010 contingency program and DS 450 amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.