Press Release –

KYMCO USA, a longtime leader in quality, fuel-efficient scooters, motorcycles and ATVs, has announced an agreement with Progressive, the #1 name in motorcycle and scooter insurance.

“This partnership with Progressive is a win-win for both dealers and people purchasing our products,” said Steve Lazoff, Director of Sales, KYMCO USA. “We’re going to make getting insurance quicker and easier, especially for buyers who come in on evenings or weekends.”

“As the largest seller of motorcycle and scooter insurance in the country, it makes sense for us to partner with a fast-growing company like KYMCO,” said Marcy Gray, Motorcycle Product Manager for Progressive. “We want to make it easy for riders to buy affordable insurance on all KYMCO models, and to really understand what they’re buying. Progressive representatives are available 24/7 to answer any questions dealers and customers have about scooter, ATV or motorcycle insurance.”

Low rates, specialized coverages, and around-the-clock service are just some of the benefits that customers will receive. Progressive will offer insurance coverage for the entire KYMCO product line, from the People S50 scooter to the UXV500 side-by-side UTV to the Quannon 150 and Venox 250 motorcycles.

To support their efforts, KYMCO dealers are receiving a welcome packet from Progressive, including vehicle and insurance FAQs, and a sample annual premium for KYMCO models.

With Progressive on board, KYMCO dealers will now be able to get insurance for new customers with a phone call or at the web site www.progressive.com/KYMCO .

Press Release –

Yoshimura’s Dustin Wimmer came to New Berlin, NY to try and get back some of the points he lost while recovering from a shoulder injury.

His teammate Doug Gust came to prove that he could continue his performance streak. Both came back successful.

Gust started the event with the fastest lap time in qualifying. In the first moto he was second out of the gate and sparred with Weinen and Upperman throughout the race, finally crossing the checkers in third place.

In the second moto, he grabbed the holeshot and continued as the frontrunner, battling it out for the lead. Again, he crossed the line in third — the combined score was good enough for a well earned second place overall.

Dustin Wimmer had a decent start in the first moto but got into a tangle at the third turn putting him in dead last. He battled his way through half the field to secure a tenth place spot. In the second moto, Wimmer got a mid pack start and picked riders off one by one until he ran out of time and had to settle for a fourth place finish, netting Wimmer 6th overall for the day.

“I’ve been really training hard since Steel City, trying to get back into shape,” Wimmer explained. “I came into this race at about 75% and by the second moto, I was feeling really good. From here I’m heading back to Georgia to train some more so I can be back to normal for Muddy Creek.”

“Dustin looked great out there,” Team Manager Kory Ellis said. “Every lap he just got faster and stronger, so that by the end of the second moto he looked like his old self again. We made up some points, and Dustin certainly has the potential to take every moto from here on and retain the Championship.”

The top three contenders have shifted positions recently due to Wimmer’s injury but as it stands now — Wimmer is ten points out of second and 19 points from the leader.

In the production classes — Yoshimura support rider Joel Hetrick pulled second in Pro Am Production and Pro Am Unlimited. Chase Snapp got third in Pro Am Unlimited and 450A.

Press Release –

Multi-time off-road champion Terry Cunningham plans of giving ATV racing a shot after an extremely successful career on dirt bikes.

Cunningham hails from the state of Ohio and is choosing the famed John Penton GNCC near Millfield, Ohio as the race to test his off-road skills with an extra two wheels.

He will line up this Saturday with a Can-Am DS 450™ X xc against some of the best amateur off-road racing competition in the world.

“To have a legend like Terry Cunningham decide to come over to the ATV side is an event in itself, but to have him do it on a DS 450 X xc is terrific news,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “The combination of Cunningham’s off-road skill and the DS 450 X xc should prove to be a formidable one out on the course Saturday.”

The multi-time International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) gold medalist and four-time national enduro champion will make his ATV debut in the Senior A class.

He will put his 41-years of racing experience to the test as he has only a handful of hours experience racing ATVs. According to Cunningham, he is looking forward to the challenge.

“God has blessed me with an opportunity to chase another adventure and take on a brand new challenge as I plan to race the John Penton GNCC event this weekend,” says Cunningham. “ATV racing is one part of the off-road industry I haven’t competed in and I’m thrilled that Can-Am has provided me this opportunity to compete in this event aboard the new Can-Am DS 450 X xc. This weekend’s race in Ohio could be real entertaining for everyone to watch an old dog learn some new tricks!”

For more information on Can-Am racing, our 2009 contingency program and amateur DS 450 support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com

Press Release –

Yoshimura-sponsored rider Chris Borich secured the win at a nail-biting round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series this weekend in Millfield, Ohio.

The Pennsylvania native made up for a sluggish start by the second lap and spent a lot of the 12-mile race on the heels of Adam McGill.

Unfortunately for the leader, a mechanical failure stopped him short and Borich raced to the checkers ahead of second place Kiser.

Borich has held the top podium spot for five of the eight rounds raced so far in this 13-round series and is currently holding onto a 23 point lead.

Press Release –

BRP is pleased to announce the appointment of Jimmie O’Dell as manager of the Can-Am™ ATV Racing Program.

O’Dell’s new duties will include developing a vision for the Can-Am program and carrying it out in partnership with the race teams, staff and racers themselves.

He will work closely with BRP’s marketing, technical and engineering departments to deliver top-flight performance results aimed at promoting and benefiting the Can-Am ATV brand. He will be based in Valcourt, Québec.

“We are very excited to have Jimmie come on board to the Can-Am ATV race program,” said Denis Morin Vice President Product Development Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo. “He brings a large amount of passion for racing and has a long history of off-road experience both as a racer and employee. Jimmie is a perfect fit for us and he brings a great personal perspective to our race program.”

Jimmie began working for BRP in 2001 as a district sales manager in the southeastern United States. In 2007 he was appointed as manager of the BRP call center and also oversaw the technical publications department for all brands at BRP, Inc.

“This is a great fit for me both personally and professionally,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “I’m extremely excited I get back to my passion – my love for racing, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and immersing myself into the world of Can-Am ATV racing. I’ve already attended a few races and have been very impressed by the heart and dedication our racers and race teams bring with them to the track each weekend. I accept the responsibility of feeding that enthusiasm and making sure everyone involved in Can-Am ATV racing is equipped with the proper resources to continue our success. I like to win and I’m very optimistic that we will continue to learn and build off our successes, and I predict there will be many more victories in our future.”

O’Dell is an accomplished 3rd generation professional motorcycle racer and brings over 35 years of off-road racing experience to BRP.

O’Dell played an integral part in Can-Am ATV’s involvement in GNCC racer sponsorship in 2005 and in 2006 he competed in a several GNCCs races aboard a Can-Am ATV, as well as finishing 2nd in ATV Sportsman class in the 2006 BAJA 1000 as a member of the Mike Penland team.

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, direct injection technologies such as E-TEC, Can-Am all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines and karts. With manufacturing facilities on three continents, BRP products are distributed in more than 80 countries.

Press Release –

KYMCO USA has announced that it will offer a sales training program to all KYMCO dealers, with incentives including a free scooter for the first 25 dealers who have two salespeople successfully complete the course.

“It is well known that companies willing to invest during tough times usually come back even stronger when the economy improves,” said Steve Lazoff, Director of Sales for KYMCO USA. “Offering this quality training course, with financial incentives for completion, is one more way we are going the extra mile to support our dealers.”

The training package was developed by The Glenn Roller Institute in Scottsdale, AZ. Roller developed his comprehensive sales training package after videotaping and studying motorsports sales people as they interacted with customers. The research alone took 8 months.

The program is targeted directly at the person on the dealer floor. No travel is required. Students complete online exercises for review and with an investment of only 30-40 minutes per day, they can graduate in about 6 weeks. Glenn Roller’s book, The Seven Evolutionary Levels to Profound Selling, serves as the foundation of the course.

“Consumers are more price conscious than ever,” Roller says. “Older methods of selling aren’t working these days. Our goal is to help the KYMCO sales person shift to the new buying pattern that consumers are presenting.”

About KYMCO

KYMCO’s roots in the motorsports industry go back to its founding in 1963, as the Kwang Yang Motor Company, Ltd., with headquarters in Taiwan. Long a leader in quality, fuel economy, and versatility, today KYMCO manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs at five plants in Asia, including the main facility in the city of Kaohsiung.

The company’s partner in the United States is KYMCO USA, with headquarters, marketing and distribution centered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. KYMCO USA is dedicated to building the brand’s reputation and market share through superior value, frequent new product introductions, strategic industry partnerships, and excellence in dealer network support. KYMCO USA has a reputation and expertise gained through over 30 years in the U.S. motorsports industry.

Press Release –

Just in time for the summer riding season, Hatfield-McCoy Trails has added 15 miles of new trails on two of its six systems

“We’ve opened 10 miles on the Buffalo Mountain system, including five miles exclusively for motorcycles,” said John Fekete, Hatfield-McCoy’s deputy executive director. “Buffalo Mountain now has a total of 15 miles of single track trails, more than any other system.”

Buffalo Mountain also added five miles of trails for ATVs and UTVs. The 76.4-mile system, located between Williamson, Delbarton and Matewan, is the most historic of the six systems and has three community connectors.

The Pinnacle Creek system, near Pineville, received a new five-mile stretch of “Extreme Difficult” trails, Fekete said. This trail system is known for its breathtaking scenic views and is located less than one hour from world class whitewater rafting.

“Extreme Difficult” trails, designated by black and red markers, combine the aspects of the “Most Difficult” trails, along with stipulations barring riders under 18, machines under 200cc’s, and two-wheel drive machine. (“Most Difficult” trails can be extremely steep, with larger rocks and more obstacles on the sometimes overgrown paths.)

“Folks shouldn’t have any trouble negotiating these new trails,” Fekete said. “We have one of the best and easiest trail mapping and signage systems in the country. Our maps are easy to understand for just about anyone and our signage – including specifying difficulty level – is such that people can easily get around without getting lost.”

Additional trails are scheduled to be opened during the remainder of the year, including a one connecting the Fountain Place area near Logan.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trial System was created by the West Virginia Legislature to generate economic development through tourism in nine southern West Virginia counties. It currently operates six systems with more than 500 miles of trails. Each system is open 365 days a year to ATVs, dirt bikes, select utility vehicles (UTVs), mountain bikes, horses, and hikers. Many of the trail systems also offer community connecting trails that allow visitors to access “ATV-friendly towns” to experience the charm of southern West Virginia.