It’s said that defending a championship is harder than winning it, but defending AMA Pro ATV Champion Dustin Wimmer has had no troubles holding onto his top ranking in the series so far.

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider has won both race so far this year, as the fastest motocross riders on four-wheels head to round three of the chase for the most prestigious championship in their sport this Sunday at Ballance Moto X in Bowling Green, Ky.

The event features the pro portion of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship, and also serves as the second round of the amateur portion of the Moose Racing/ITP Tires AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited.

nion, SC — Can-Am has announced they will bring free demo rides to the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC, round four of the 2009 Grand National Cross Country Series, on April 4th and 5th. Can-Am will bring 12 2009 ATVs to the event, with a variety of models including racing, utility and recreational machines for spectators to try out. Some ATVs will be fully accessorized. The event is part of the “The Ride Says It All” tour where riders will get a chance to look at, study and ride a Can-Am ATV on a closed circuit course.

The Big Buck weekend will be a big one for Can-Am. On Saturday, forty ATV Media members from around the world will be present at the Big Buck GNCC as part of the new 2009 Can-Am product introduction and to experience the Big Buck GNCC.

“We at GNCC are excited to host the Can-Am demo ride tour come to the Big Buck,” said Tim Cotter, Event Director at Racer Productions. “When you are in the market for a car you get to test drive it. When you are in the market for an ATV, most generally you just get to kick the tires. GNCC fans will get the chance to test ride a number of the Can-Am products. It is a win-win situation for everyone.”

For more information on the demo rides or to pre-register for “The Ride Says it All” Tour, visit www.theridesaysitall.com website to for your demo ride. Pre-registration is not mandatory to participate.

Press Release –

Financial Assistance Offered to Members of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has launched a new scholarship program to provide financial assistance to members of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT).

ACT is a national college student association with 354 members located on 17 college and university campuses across the country. ACT’s mission of fostering professional development is at the core of the new Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program.

“The Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program was developed in conjunction with ACT to help meet recipients’ immediate financial needs while furthering their long-term goal of professional development,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV and Side-by-Side group marketing manager. “As future professional communicators, Yamaha is looking to these students to help deliver messages of safe, responsible use of our products throughout the greater agriculture and farming community.”

“These are the agricultural writers, broadcasters, and PR professionals of the near future. Contributing to their professional development is definitely a solid investment for those interested in preserving the future of agriculture,” said Jeff Miller, professor of agricultural communications at the University of Arkansas and national adviser of ACT.

The Yamaha-ACT Scholarship Program is broken out into two individual student scholarships and one chapter scholarship. All three scholarships are aimed at helping students attend the American Agricultural Editors’ Association’s annual Agricultural Media Summit (AMS). As the largest gathering of crop and livestock media professionals in the country, the AMS is ACT’s primary career development networking opportunity each year.

Applicants will be judged based on merit, need and quality of submission materials by a review committee consisting of Yamaha employees, an ACT faculty advisor, members of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association and members of the Livestock Publications Council. Applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 27, 2009, and winners will be notified by May 1, 2009.

Further information and guidelines, along with the application form, can be found online at www.nactnow.org

Press Release –

Thousands Gather in Glamis to Celebrate the Yamaha Rhino Rally at the Dune Tour

Thousands of off-road enthusiasts flocked to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, commonly known as “Glamis,” in Southern California this past weekend (March 20-23) to celebrate one of their favorite past times with family and friends at the Yamaha Rhino Rally at the Dune Tour.

The event, officially named the Rhino Rally at the Dune Tour presented by Yamaha, attracted approximately 1,800 registered attendees and their families and friends.

By the end of the weekend, approximately 4,500 people had participated in some part of the event and brought Yamaha Rhino Side-by-Side vehicles, ATVs and other off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from California, Arizona, Utah and farther all to enjoy a weekend of activities in Glamis, the Mecca of U.S. sand dunes.

“The Rhino Rally at the Dune Tour was a great success, and we were excited to see so many of our customers enjoying Glamis with their family and friends,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “This event is a great opportunity for Yamaha to show our appreciation to our customers and to spend some time with them doing what we all love to do — ride, relax and spend some time in the outdoors. The Dune Tour did an outstanding job with all of the activities, and we’re already looking forward to the next Rhino Rally.”

The 2009 Rhino Rally at the Dune Tour presented by Yamaha was produced by PGI Media. Here’s a look at the event by the numbers:
– Approximately 1,800 people registered for the event with approximately 4,500 participating in the different event activities throughout the weekend.
– Six hundred and thirty scavenger hunt cards were returned from people who completed all six stops.
– More than $20,000 worth of raffle prizes were given away.
– Nineteen people participated in the karaoke contest for the all-new Yamaha EF2000iS Generator Grand Prize.
– Fourteen Rhinos entered the “Yamaha Rhino” Class Show and Shine.
– Three hundred people attended the Drive in Movie on Friday night.
– More than 100 kids participated in the Easter Egg Hunt and one lucky winner took home the Yamaha Kids Power Quad grand prize.
– More than 1,000 people enjoyed the Dune Tour lunch under or around the Yamaha tent.
– Approximately 80 people participated in the Yamaha demo rides on Rhino 700 FI SxS vehicles and Grizzly 700 FI EPS, Grizzly 550 FI EPS, Raptor 250 and YFZ450R ATVs.
– Five trailer loads of trash were collected.
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More information, stories and photographs are available at: www.thedunetour.com

Press Release –

The second round of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship was held this weekend at Mill Creek Raceway in Pell City, Alabama. For Yoshimura’s Dustin Wimmer, it was just another day at the office – start strong, get the lead, win, repeat.

Both motos were quick and decisive. Under sunny skies and seasonal Alabama temperatures, Dustin Wimmer came out of the gate in 3rd in both races, but got around the leaders by the second lap. From that point on, he was in cruise control the remainder of the race.

“I was gaining about a second a lap,” Wimmer said. “At one point, I was told I had a 12 second lead in the second moto. It was very good day for me. I just wanted to come out this year as strong as last year, be strong, consistent and healthy and win another championship for Yoshimura and Rockstar Makita Suzuki.”

Teammate Doug Gust got caught in a tangle in the first turn of the first moto and struggled to get a 10th place finish. The second moto saw him cross the checkers at 5th, for a 6th place overall.

“Dustin’s in a league of his own out there,” Yoshimura’s Vice President Brant Russell remarked after the race. “Match the natural talent of Dustin with the power of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki QuadRacer R450 and you’ve got a pretty unbeatable package out there. It’s like he’s in another class and his fluid style makes it look so easy.”

Dustin agrees on the bike’s performance: “The bike was set up the same as it was for Glen Helen, but when I got out on the track on Saturday, I knew the bike was perfect from the get-go, and the other guys were going to have a hard time keeping up.”

Team Manager Kory Ellis was impressed with the rider as well as the team: “Not only is Dustin a formidable talent, but he also works hard and trains hard and it shows in his confidence and performance. We’ve got an excellent team this year and we’re all working together like a well-oiled machine. We’ve got outstanding sponsors and feel really good about getting the championship again this year.”

Wimmer is currently 11 points over second-place Joe Byrd. The next event is in Bowling Green, KY at Ballance MotoX on April 4-5th. Doug Gust won that event last year – so let’s look for two Yosh guys up on the bluegrass podium.

Press Release –

Staking his claim to the victory with two near-perfect motos, Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Dustin Wimmer made it two in a row by grabbing the win at Millcreek Raceway’s FMF ATV Spring National, round two of the 2009 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited.

Although Wimmer did not secure either of the MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Awards, they were not necessary to go home with what he wanted most, another check in the win column.

“I take everything race-by-race and try to be real consistent and be up on the podium everytime,” said Wimmer. “Consistency wins championships.”

In the first moto, rookie Nick DeNoble led the pack to the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award, the first Pro holeshot of his career. He held Honda Baldwin Motorsports’ Josh Upperman and Wimmer off for several turns before relinquishing spots to both riders. Wimmer eventually took over the lead, and a charging Joe Byrd rallied from a bad start to drop Upperman to third for the moto.

“I could’ve gated better, and that was definitely my fault,” said Wimmer of not getting the holeshot. “Half way up the hill for the first turn I started to pull it together and after a lap or two I was in the lead in both motos.”

Early moto one contenders, Warnert Racing Can-Am’s John Natalie and ATVSource.com Top Qualifier Award winner Chad Wienen, both fell to mechanical troubles, ending their challenge for podium finishes.

Moto two began with Upperman, known for great starts, grabbing the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award followed by rookie Clay Holmes, Wimmer and Byrd. Upperman admitted to not being in the same level of shape as Wimmer and Byrd, and the Ohio native did not have much breathing room and lost the lead to both of them.

“If I stay healthy and get my endurance up a little more, I hope to hang up there in the top spot with Dustin [Wimmer] and Joe [Byrd],” said Upperman.

Making up for his mechanical setback in moto one, Natalie charged from the back half of the pack, picking off one rider at a time to collect third for the moto by mere inches over Upperman. “I worked my butt off and the bike worked great,” said Natalie. “I just picked people off one at a time and didn’t even know where I finished until the end.”

Factory Yamaha and rookie Thomas Brown flirted with the podium again, ending the weekend in fourth overall for the second race in a row. The Sanger, Texas, native rallied from two bad starts to notch 5th and 7th for his two motos.

Jeremy Lawson, in his second year on a Can-Am with Team Motoworks, collected fifth overall with 4th and 8th in each of his motos.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Doug Gust settled for 6th overall after a rough set of motos, with Natalie on his heels salvaging 7th overall.

A recent shock test helped Greg Gee to dial in his machine with obvious benefits. The Canadian privateer from Ontario went 9th and 11th in the motos for 8th overall, rising two positions over his Glen Helen finish.

Rookie DeNoble collected 6-14 scores for 9th overall. French Champion, Jeremie Warnia, returned to the Pro line-up, this time on a Can-Am. The anxious rider from Paris, France, collected the final spot in the Top 10 with 14th and 9th for his motos, after battling clutch problems and a spin out.

The Spring National marked the opening round of the amateur series, with the new schedule format welcoming all Pro riders to Sunday’s program while also elevating the level of recognition for the Pro-Am Production class, filled with the next crop of Pro riders. The morning started with Timed Qualifying for both classes. The top 18 riders head straight to the first moto while the rest of the field entered the last chance qualifier to determine the final two entrants.

The anticipation for the noon debut of the Pro-Am Production class was as high as the expectations for the Pro class itself. Cody Gibson eventually sailed away on his Kawasaki KFX450 to win both motos. He shared the podium with Bobby Ross and Chase Snapp, demonstrating an exciting season in the making.

Check out this article from USA Today regarding the nationwide ban on sales of youth motorcycles and ATVs over lead concerns.

Read it here.

Press Release –

Top Farm Industry Award Recognizes Innovation and Reader Interest

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has been awarded a Farm Industry News (FIN) FinOvation Award for the Grizzly 700 FI and the Grizzly 550 FI.

This is the first FinOvation award for the new Grizzly 550 and the second for the Grizzly 700 – both of which were recognized for Yamaha’s industry leading Electric Power Steering (EPS) feature and also received top honors at the publication’s annual ATV reviews last fall.

“The Grizzly 700 and Grizzly 550 have both received awards and praise from the farming industry, hunting industry, ATV industry, and ultimately from our customers who have made them the best selling machines in their respective categories,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha is extremely proud of this recognition from Farm Industry News. This proves our engineers and developers are doing a great job in building utility vehicles that meet real customers’ needs.”

Selected annually, the FinOvation awards recognize the products that garnered the most reader interest throughout the year. The Grizzly 700 and 550 received great interest from readers when they captured top honors in FIN’s “ATV Rodeo,” an annual event where real farmers are invited to test and compare ATVs from the top manufacturers.

The Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI EPS led the 650 – 750cc ATV class earning the top scores in every category and receiving the highest number of positive comments from the test-riders. The Grizzly 550 FI EPS received top grades in the 500 – 550cc class by also pulling the highest scores in each category.

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, YMUS 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.