Press Release –

Sweepstakes Open through August 11 in Conjunction with Release of All-New FUEL Video Game

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has teamed with Codemasters, host of the “FUEL Your Adrenaline” sweepstakes, to giveaway a 2009 Yamaha Raptor 250 ATV.

The sweepstakes is in conjunction with the release of FUEL – an epic-scale open-terrain multi-vehicle racer video game that will ship this May for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® and the entertainment system from Microsoft® Games For Windows® LIVE.

“The Raptor 250 is the hottest pure fun, adrenaline pumping sport ATV for entry-level to experienced riders – it’s a perfect fit for fans of the all-new FUEL game,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV marketing manager.

The “FUEL Your Adrenaline” sweepstakes kicked off in May and runs through August 17, 2009. Contestants can enter and find official rules online at www.fuelyouradrenaline.com or by visiting a participating Yamaha dealership.

Yamaha’s award-winning Raptor 250 redefined the entry-level sport ATV class when it entered the scene in 2008.

With Raptor-like styling and Yamaha quality and technology, the Raptor 250 is a performance machine that features five-speed manual transmission and electric start that fires up a performance-pointed single cylinder 249cc air-cooled, four-stroke engine.

Press Release –

“The Hatfield-McCoy Trails has substantially recovered from weekend flooding in Mingo County, West Virginia, and hopes to be back to 100 percent by June 1.” Executive Director Jeffrey T. Lusk said Thursday. “Also, all Hatfield-McCoy equipment not being used to repair the trails is being loaned to the town of Gilbert to help in flood recovery.”

Southern West Virginia was stricken by heavy flooding Saturday, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. Much of the damage was centered in Gilbert in Mingo County. “This was a catastrophic event that most of us have not seen before,” Lusk said. “The Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreational Authority wants to do its part to help the town of Gilbert and businesses in that area. We have all of our crews working overtime to get the trails up and running and every piece of equipment we have that is not pushing dirt in the woods on trails is in Gilbert helping with flood recovery,” he said.

“Gilbert is the centerpiece of our trail system,” Says Lusk. “We lost probably about half of the Rockhouse Trail System and about half of the Buffalo Mountain Trail System.” Rockhouse is located near Gilbert and Buffalo Mountain near Williamson.

The connector to the town of Gilbert was reopened Thursday, with about 70 percent of the Rockhouse and Buffalo Mountain trails also reopened. The connector to Matewan remains closed, but is expected to reopen by May 20.

“We’re going to get through this,” Lusk said. “We’ve been working 12- to 14-hour days since Saturday to get the trails open and to help businesses recover.” The Hatfield-McCoy Trails is a key economic engine for the area, especially in and around Gilbert where many businesses have sprouted since the Trails opened in 2000.

The four other trail systems – Bear Wallow, Indian Ridge, Little Coal and Pinnacle Creek – were largely unaffected and are fully open. 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.

Press Release –

Can-Am Outlander Takes Second Overall in Morning Race; Buckhannon Injured

The Mountain Ridge GNCC near Somerset, PA, was a race of mixed emotions for the Can-Am™ ATV racers. In the morning, Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am’s Michael Swift mounted an impressive come-from-behind victory after getting caught up in a first-turn incident.

He took the 4×4 Limited class win aboard his Can-Am Outlander™ 800R EFI and was second overall on the morning podium. However, not all news was positive for Can-Am. Swift’s teammate, Bryan Buckhannon, was well out in front leading his class, when he suffered a brutal end-over-end crash.

He was taken away from the track with a broken leg – ending his perfect season and potentially threatening his pursuit of a second-straight GNCC championship.

“The positive weekend results were definitely overshadowed by Bryan’s injury,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Right now it is unknown when he will be able to get back on his Outlander, but he is shooting for a comeback after the summer break. We will have to see what his doctor says, but Bryan is staying extremely positive right now.”

Rounding out the morning session results was Can-Am X-Team racer Scott Kilby who took the 4×4 Open-class win on his Outlander 800R EFI. Racing his Outlander 500 EFI to the 4×4 Lites class win was Can-Am rider Kevin Trantham.

In the Women’s class, Can-Am X-Team racer Lexie Coulter took second in the class aboard her DS 450™ EFI ATV. Warnert’s Rick Cecco held on to the U2 class championship lead by finishing second aboard his Renegade™ 800R EFI.

In the afternoon, Warnert Racing’s Chris Bithell was racing up front with the lead pack in second place when he experienced a front-shock failure on his DS 450. He pitted, had the shock replaced, and fought back to 11th place.

The next GNCC race is the John Penton GNCC near Millfield, OH on June 6. The next AMA ATV Motocross race is Steel City this weekend and the next ITP Quadcross race is also this weekend. 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 –

Intent to reduce his workload and focus more on his family, today Ole Tweet announced that he will step down from his position as General Manager, ATV Division.

The change marks a watershed moment for a man and company whose success and contributions to the powersports industry have been seamlessly intertwined for four decades.

“It’s impossible to adequately summarize Ole’s vast influence on Arctic Cat as a company, or to convey his many contributions as a person,” said Chris Twomey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Cat.

“We’re a company blessed with many dedicated, passionate people,” said Twomey, “And Ole would be the first to deflect any personal praise and say that he was just one of many. But I’m here to tell you that Ole has truly been one of the most influential and important. I’m not shocked that he wants to reduce his professional responsibilities, but I’d be lying if I said this change will be easy for him or his many friends at Arctic Cat, including me.”

Tweet’s career at Arctic Cat began in 1977 and reflects his considerable engineering and marketing skills, with titles that include Head of Engineering (1978 to 1981), Vice President of Marketing (1983 to 1992); Vice President of New Product Development (1992 to 2008) and most recently as General Manager of ATV.

The list of Tweet’s contributions would fill several pages, but several significant highlights deserve mention. Chief among them was Tweet’s key role in resurrecting Arctic Cat in 1983 following the bankruptcy and liquidation of Arctic Enterprises in 1981.

As the reborn company worked to reestablish itself in the snowmobile industry, Tweet spearheaded important and breakthrough marketing efforts that contributed to the company’s monumental growth, including a build-to-order program that matched production with demand; close-to-the-customer communications via dealer newsletters and Cat’s Pride Club/magazine; and memorable advertising campaigns that tapped into the brand’s passionate, loyal customer base and the company’s pioneering technology.

When Arctic Cat moved into the personal watercraft and All-Terrain Vehicle markets in the 1990s, Tweet guided the development and management of its Tigershark, ATV and Prowler products divisions.

Tweet also represented the company’s involvement in various industry associations and governance efforts, working tirelessly on efforts to support responsible riding as well as battling outside efforts to reduce riders’ rights and access to public lands. In recognition of these and other contributions, Tweet was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 2004.

“Ole has the brain of an engineer with the heart and instinct of a marketing professional,” said Twomey. “That unique perspective and an unstoppable work ethic are the ingredients of his greatness.”

While Tweet is stepping down from his role as GM of the ATV division, he isn’t stepping away from Arctic Cat. He will continue an active role representing Arctic Cat in industry associations and corporate governance.

“I’ve enjoyed a great career, working alongside remarkable people, to help grow an incredible Minnesota-based company,” said Tweet. “I’m ready to throttle back my workload and responsibility to focus more on my family. But I’m not walking away from Arctic Cat, and the company will progress forward with strong leadership and innovative talent.”

Following Tweet’s announcement, Arctic Cat President and Chief Operating Officer Claude Jordan will take over as interim GM of the ATV division.

Press Release –

High Lifter Products Inc., organizers of the largest mud racing competition in the nation; The High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals, announced today that it has added an exciting new off-road event to its lineup.

Starting September 17th and running through September 20th, High Lifter will present the first High Lifter East Coast Nationals mud riding event. High Lifter has selected Creek Bottom ATV Trails in Doles, Georgia to host the event.

Attendees will experience four days of High Lifter’s signature mud competitions, enjoy incredible trails, spectacular mud riding, entertainment, giveaways and much more. Riders and racers will have the opportunity to compete for cash and prizes in excess of $25,000 all while showcasing some of the most impressive ATVs the sport has to offer.

OEMs, Exhibitors, and Sponsors will also be available to answer questions that riders may have about their ATV and display the latest in ATV accessories.

H-Bomb Films will entertain crowds with the extreme freestyle riding group, the Bomb Squad, on Saturday night. This group of professional quad freestyle riders will perform the most outrageous, breath-taking stunts possible including performing a quad backflip and jumping a Polaris RZR 65′ in mid air.

Newcomers and experienced riders alike won’t want to miss the outrageous and heart stopping stunts performed by the Bomb Squad.

For more information regarding this or other High Lifter events, please call Tracie Engi, Event Coordinator for High Lifter Products at 800-699-0947 ext. 2060 or email her at tracie@highlifter.com.
Additioinal information about High Lifter’s products and events can be found by visiting www.highlifter.com.

Press Release –

New Division Aims to Further Strengthen Company’s Position in Critical On-Road Marketplace

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced the creation of a new On-Road Vehicle Division to help continue its drive toward the company’s vision and objectives which include establishing a significant on-road presence.

The new division takes the existing skills and assets within the company and aligns them in a way that maximizes cohesive and strategic growth for Victory Motorcycles and other on-road products and brands.

“Victory Motorcycles, with its strong brand recognition and customer loyalty, will be one of the major components of our new On-Road Vehicle Division that we’re announcing today,” said Scott Wine, Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Industries. “This new division will support our efforts to be the ‘Best in Powersports’ and continue building on our strong on-road brands and global market leadership in this critical space.”

Several organizational changes that set the foundation of the On-Road Vehicle Division are also being announced today. Intended to further strengthen the company in the on-road marketplace, these management moves put the new division in the best possible position to sustain profitable growth and long-term success.

First among these changes is Mark Blackwell’s new role as Vice President of Motorcycles. Blackwell has spent the past eight years leading day-to-day operations for Victory Motorcycles and played a key role in building the brand from an unknown startup into a highly regarded competitor considered to be among the worlds finest.

Under Blackwell’s leadership, Victory has expanded into markets outside the United States and is well-positioned for long term success. Blackwell’s deep knowledge of products and markets in the motorcycle industry will continue to be an invaluable asset to the Victory brand and all other on-road vehicles.

Mike Jonikas, currently Vice President, Sales & Corporate Marketing has been appointed to the newly created role of Vice President of the On-Road Vehicle Division. In this position, Jonikas will be responsible for rapidly growing the on-road business for Polaris including strategic direction for Victory Motorcycles, and any on-road adjacencies we may add in the future.

Jonikas brings proven skills to the On-Road Vehicle Division that include leading business teams to profitable growth, developing new markets and successful commercialization of new products. He will continue to lead our Sales & Corporate Marketing teams.

During the past nine years, Jonikas has succeeded in several key roles with Polaris including Director of Product & Marketing Management for ATV, the first General Manager of the Polaris side-by-side business, and eventually as Vice President Sales & Corporate Marketing, overseeing the creation and phased roll-out of the Max Velocity Program.

Steve Menneto has been promoted to the position of General Manager of Victory Motorcycles, to lead profitable sales growth for this business. Since joining Polaris in 1997, Menneto has risen quickly, and has demonstrated a strong knowledge for strategic planning and increasing business profitability.

Additional experience in positions such as Region Sales Manager, Director of Dealer Development and Director of North American Sales developed Menneto’s deep understanding of Victory’s dealer network and his keen eye for the competitive environment at the dealership level for on-road vehicles.

“The Victory Motorcycles brand was essentially built from scratch through tireless work in the past ten years,” said Bennett Morgan, Chief Operating Officer of Polaris Industries. “Now, by combining the diverse strengths of Mark, Mike and Steve to further develop our long-term strategies in the On-Road Vehicle Division, we are positioning ourselves for continued growth both in the motorcycle industry and, in the bigger picture, across all segments of the on-road marketplace.”

Polaris is committed to growing its on-road vehicle business through continued growth in the motorcycle industry along with successfully introducing products into other on-road adjacencies in the future. The creation of this new On-Road Vehicle Division reflects efforts to position the company’s key personnel into roles that suit their strengths and allow them to further develop the Polaris business and brands within the on-road market.

Lastly, Judy Kulsrud has been appointed to the position of Director of North American Sales replacing Steve Menneto. Judy has been with Polaris since 1995 and has a broad set of experiences across many functional areas of the business including management positions in Retail Development, Sales Operations, Regional Sales Management, and most recently the position of Director of Dealer Development. Judy has consistently delivered results and been successful in each of these positions.

Press Release –

BRP secures retail-financing options with U.S. and Canadian banks.

BRP is offering its customers competitive retail financing options thanks to agreements with U.S. Bank and Sheffield Financial in the United States and TD Canada Trust in Canada, the company reported in a press release.

The financing is available to BRP’s North American dealers currently carrying Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, sport boats, Evinrude outboard engines, Can-Am ATVs and Spyder roadsters.

BRP recognized the demand for retail financing that its dealers needed, says Roch Lambert, vice president and general manager of North American sales and marketing for Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo and Evinrude.

“The need for retail financing and providing our dealers with the best resources in obtaining retail credit has been our No. 1 priority,” Lambert said in the release. “We have been able to leverage our relationships with key lending institutions in order to negotiate favorable rates and services for our dealers.”

Press Release –

Yoshimura announced today the sponsorship of 2008 ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Pro Champion Harold “Bumblebee” Goodman with exhaust pipes and various Yoshimura performance products.

Goodman will not only ride his Honda TRX450R in the 2009 Extreme Dirt Track Series, but also in the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship Race Series as well.

The Romulus, Michigan native began racing in 1986 and went Pro in 1995. He has been Champion of the Extreme Dirt Track Pro Class for the last two years and has consistently placed in the Top 10 in the motocross series. In addition, Goodman was voted the ATVA Athlete of the Year for 2008.

“We are excited to have Harold running Yoshimura products for the 2009 season,” Yoshimura’s VP of Marketing Brant Russell explained. “Yoshimura has been and will remain committed to ATV racing and this partnership with Harold Goodman is important to us. Harold works really hard and is a winner. In addition, Harold, his family, and his entire program are first rate. It’s a pleasure to be associated with his efforts. It’s a great chance for us to help show off our Honda products as well.”

Yoshimura R&D development engineer Sean Gutierrez agreed, “We are the official sponsor of the Honda Supercross/Motocross two-wheel team, and have used some of what we have learned there for our quad products. Harold is great test rider as well as racer and his input will help develop our Honda ATV pipes even further going forward.”

Goodman is also looking forward to the relationship: “It’s great to be working with Yoshimura. Their exhaust system provides great horsepower and is nice and quiet so it passes the sound requirements at the Motocross Nationals.”

Yoshimura products are available at your local dealer. For race support, contact Jeremiah Jones at jjones2@yoshimura-rd.com or 909-247-7979.