Press Release –

Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Grants $110,000 in Q2 2009 bringing Program Total to $985,000; Continues Grassroots Effort To Make Critical Resources Available to the OHV Community Nationwide

The Yamaha OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) Access Initiative GRANTed more than $110,000 in cash and equipment to ATV riding clubs, national forests, local land managers, recreational conservancy advocates and other members of the greater OHV community in the second quarter of this year.

These GRANTs bring Yamaha’s total contributions for 2009 to $300,000, and the total contributions to date to more than $985,000, in support of the Access Initiative’s mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas.

In addition to the financial support provided, Yamaha corporate employees, field staff and dealer partners have been directly involved in projects in their own respective areas this year. Yamaha corporate employees cleaned trails and planted more than 1,200 seedlings in the San Bernardino National Forest as part of important OHV trail and reforestation projects, and Yamaha’s regional and district managers nationwide have stepped in to help potential GRANT applicants identify appropriate projects and funding opportunities.

In this second quarter funding cycle, 12 Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) were awarded to fund projects that directly impact the access, safety and sustainability of OHV riding areas across the country. GRANT recipients for Q2 2009 include:

· Black Hills National Forest (SD)
· Clark County Forestry and Parks Department (WI)
· Dayton Valley Events Center (NV)
· Florida Trail Riders (FL)
· Green County ATV Club (WI)
· Indian Creek Valley ATV Club (PA)
· Public Access Preservation Association (CO)
· Portage Lakers ATV Club (ME)
· San Diego Off-Road Coalition (CA)
· The Cascade Project (ID)
· Tri-County ATV Recreation and Rescue Association, INC. (PA)
· Van Buren Pine Runners ATV Club (ME)

“Yamaha’s commitment to the OHV community, demonstrated by the continued, aggressive GRANT funding and hands-on support, remains strong,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. “Yamaha considers it our duty as a leading OHV manufacturer to help support these efforts and ensure that OHV enthusiasts have open access to safe and sustainable riding areas.”

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative funds OHV access-related projects that include, but are not limited to:

· Trail development, restoration and maintenance
· Trail signage, mapping and map production
· Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
· Responsible OHV riding education and outreach
· Land stewardship and education
· Legislative lobbying efforts

About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative – Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations, and national, state and local government agencies. A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects. Applications for the third quarter of 2009 should be postmarked by August 31, 2009. Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at the newly redesigned web site: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess. For specific questions about the OHV Access Initiative, call Yamaha’s dedicated OHV Access Initiative Hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamaha-motor.com or write to: Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee, 6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.

About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States. Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1977, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.

Press Release –

Yoshimura and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki swept round nine of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pennsylvania, with defending champion and points leader Dustin Wimmer (#1) winning both motos for the second consecutive race, while teammate Doug Gust (#55) finished second overall with two podium finishes.

Wimmer started the weekend by posting the fastest time in practice and qualifying. At the start of the first moto, however, it was his veteran teammate Doug Gust with the holeshot.

But Gust’s lead would be short lived, as Wimmer quickly took the top spot and and easily held it to the finish line. Gust, after a race long battle for the podium, crossed the line in third.

The second moto would prove to be much more of a challenge for the team. Wimmer and Gust both started at the front and were part of a four-rider fight for first place. The race came to a head on the last lap, with the finish line in sight.

Wimmer, pressuring for the lead, and Gust, right behind him, were both able to capitalize on an incident that knocked out both leaders. The two Yoshimura-powered QuadRacer R450s continued to the finish line unscathed, giving Wimmer and Gust first and second overall, respectively.

“Everything worked out great,” remarked Wimmer. “I got a good start in the first race. When I passed Doug I just got a good lead and stayed out front. The second race was really good racing! We went back and forth five times for the lead. On the last lap, I was able to sneak through and get the win!” Wimmer was excited after re-taking the AMA ATV Motocross Championship points lead. “Everything’s working great right now. I feel strong. My conditioning is at 100% and I showed that I could come back. We’re 29 points ahead in the points, now I just need to ride smart!”

The next round of the AMA ATV Pro Motocross Championship takes place August 2nd at Red Bud in Buchanan, Michigan.

Press Release –

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing‘s Dustin Wimmer celebrated an outstanding AMA ATV Motocross victory at the Suzuki Summer Nationals at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.

Wimmer not only captured one-one moto finishes to take the overall victory, the defending AMA ATV Motocross Champion also moved into the championship points lead with this result. This victory marks Wimmer’s fifth win of the season, which is even more impressive considering he was injured mid-season and had to miss a round.

Adding to the excitement of the weekend, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Doug Gust followed his teammate home in an impressive second place. Gust carded third- and second-place moto finishes to take second-place overall at Pleasure Valley. This is Gust’s fourth visit to the podium this year and he is currently in fourth place in the points chase.

Dustin Wimmer:

“It feels good to take the win and be back in the points lead. I just need to put in three more solid motos to have the championship wrapped up. There was definitely some good racing going on this weekend. I think this round was the most exciting so far. There was a lot of back-and-forth, so I had to stay focused and fast on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki QuadRacer R450. I’m going to do some extra training for the next round at Red Bud because it can get really rough and I want to be ready for it.”

Doug Gust:

“This was definitely one of the best races of the year. My Rockstar Makita Suzuki QuadRacer R450 had plenty of power and got me to the front and there was some really good racing going on. I really like the changes they made to the facility and the track. It’s a technical track and requires a lot of throttle control. I’ve been training hard, I’m still in it and it’s not over until the last race.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing will race next at .the AMA ATV Red Bud National at Red Bud Track ‘N’ Trail in Buchanan, Michigan, the weekend of August 1-2, 2009.

AMA Pro ATV Motocross Top 10 Finishers:

1. Dustin Wimmer, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing
2. Doug Gust, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing
3. Josh Upperman, Honda
4. John Natalie Jr., Can-Am
5. Josh Creamer, Kawasaki
6. Joe Byrd, Honda
7. Thomas Brown, Yamaha
8. Cody Miller, Can-Am
9. Jeremy Lawson, Can-Am
10. Greg Gee, Honda

Press Release –

Not only is the championship on the line between current point leader Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chad Wienen and Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura Suzuki’s Defending AMA Pro ATV MX Champion Dustin Wimmer but so is the Manufacturer’s Cup, which also features a tight race between the Suzuki and Kawasaki OEMs.

But while Kawasaki’s Wienen leads the riders, Suzuki leads the Manufacturer’s Points and has the most overall wins. Suzuki has 332 points, leading over Kawasaki’s 318 points.

“Suzuki is extremely proud to be leading the Manufacturer’s Cup,” said Pat Alexander, Sports Promotion Manager at American Suzuki Motor Corp. “The competition this year has been tough but the hard work that the Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura team has put in is really showing in results. Dustin is just five points out of the Championship and is really coming on strong after his brief layoff from a shoulder injury and Doug’s results have definitely proven that he is still just as competitive as he has always been for so many years.”

“The Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked extremely hard the past three years and to be in a position to be fighting for the championship and Manufacturer’s cup this year is very rewarding,” said Reid Nordin, manager of Kawasaki Team Green. “Having a solid platform like the KFX450R was a great start to our effort and the team was built for success around that machine.”

Team Honda and Can-Am are also close behind with 308 points and 273 points, respectively. While Kawasaki and Suzuki lead right now, with three rounds and six motos still to go, according to AMA ATVMX Series Manager Harv Whipple, all four brands that could still win the Cup.

“So far this season, five of the six brands participating in this ultra competitive AMA Pro Racing division have had a competitor put their machine in the top five on more than one occasion with all six brands having scored championship points,” said Whipple. “It goes beyond saying that all of the OEM’s are going above and beyond to see to it that their brand is what the consumers want to purchase.”

“In recent years both Honda in 2007 and Suzuki in 2008 claimed the Cup prior to the end of the season,” Whipple said. “But just like the championship itself, the Manufacturer’s Cup could come down to the last moto of the year.”