Press Release –

The Polaris RANGER RZR continues its winning ways, this time taking two of the three podium spots overall, at the first-annual Heartland Challenge UTV endurance race, in Carlisle, Iowa.

The three-hour UTV race, saw Polaris’ Region Sales Manager Matt Lube and Steve Muncur winning the 850cc stock class as well the Overall race in their Polaris RANGER RZR S. Second overall went to Karst Motorsport’s RANGER RZR.

Third in 850cc stock class went to CST Racing, a local farmer and enthusiast, who purchased a RANGER RZR only six days prior to the race.

“This was a great first-time, endurance event,” said Race Winner and Polaris Region Sales Manager, Matt Lube. “The weather and mud definitely added to the challenge but the RANGER RZRs shined among the competition. It is truly impressive how well these machines performed and held up to the elements.”

Press Release –

Saturday, November 8, 2008 marked the 40th anniversary of the Historic Elsinore Grand Prix. Eichner is no stranger to the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix and considers it to be one of his most enjoyable races.

Friday before the race, all competitors were allowed to ride mountain bikes on the track to site the course before race day.

Eichner took advantage of the site-lap and returned to the Polaris / Lone Star / Eichner Racing pit with a smile stating this was the perfect track for his style of riding and the capabilities of his powerful Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR with enhanced power and exhaust from Yoshimura, numerous aftermarket components from Lone Star Racing, MAXXIS Tires, Rath Racing and GPR Stabilizer.

Eichner said, “The track was going to be fast, fast, fast and included a spectacular 70 ft. table top jump followed by a 90 foot double jump and of course the legendary Lake Elsinore water jump.”

Eichner couldn’t wait to get at it as the flag dropped on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. It was a dusty start, but it was only a short time before you could see Eichner’s classic riding style aboard the Polaris leaving site of the crowd with a large lead.

Eichner and the Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR ran a flawless 45-minute race, mastered the jumps and turned on the gas on the fast open style track. With what appeared to be an untouchable lead, Eichner took the time to give fans “high-fives” as they jumped out of the cheering sections with their arms waving.

Clearly the crowd favorite, Eichner made this victory his ninth Pro win at the Legendary Lake Elsinore Grand Prix, but a first for Eichner aboard his Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR.

Press Release –

It was a weekend about firsts. This was the first-annual Heartland Challenge, it was the first time the new Polaris Sportsman 850 XP EPS competed at an AMA /ATVA Sanctioned event, and it was the first time a Polaris 850 XP EPS Sportsman took a podium spot at an AMA/ATVA Event.
 
The GBC Heartland Challenge was going to prove to be a challenge indeed, with temperatures dropping, rain falling and even a few stray snowflakes. 

This 10-hour ATV endurance race was set up on a brutal course to test rider and machine, mentally, physically and mechanically. Eight miles of mud, hills, trees, rock piles and obstacles, to be ran at a grueling pace for 10 solid hours, no breaks, no rest, no time outs with half the race to be completed in the dark.  Calling this race a challenge seemed like an understatement.
 
Saturday’s main event found teams that were formed with two-to-three riders working out the strategic game plans for the day including rider swaps and fuel stops. The Polaris/Rath/Dunlop team consisted of Daryl Rath, Frank Batista and Jason Dunkelberger.

Daryl Rath was going to take the green flag and clock in the first session. It was shortly after twelve noon when the signal gun was fired and riders made a running sprint to the machines to get this race underway.

The pit crew watched anxiously as Rath headed out of sight and into the woods before they headed to their stations to start what would be a long day of watching and waiting. As the race continued the Sportsman 850 XP EPS handled everything and more that the track handled it, and the team found themselves running in a strong second place position.

Switching riders throughout the day the team and machines continued to impress the fans, and the team was gaining on first place.
 
It was Batista’s turn to keep pushing forward and that he did, closing the gap even more and then taking over the lead. As he stopped to fuel the excitement in his voice rev’d the team as he announced, “We are leading…come on we are going to do this.” Darkness was coming and it was starting to feel even colder outside, but the team knew there was work to do; they still had four hours to go.
 
The team continued to lead as they clicked off laps and watched the clock. It was time again for Dunkelberger to get back on and go to work.

Everyone was excited, the fans braved the cold to cheer the riders on, and watch as the different teams proved what they were made of.

It was time for a set-back, Dunkelberger got on the machine and just before he clocked in acomplete lap, his machine suffered a small mechanical mishap, a broken belt causing the loss of the entire lap’s time of 23 minutes.  

Running a flawless race until this lap the Sportsman 850 XP EPS was a fierce competitor in the Utility class. Even after the loss of those precious 23 minutes, there were only two brands left on the lead Utility Lap.
 
With a little more than two hours to go, the team was unable to regain the lead, but accomplished the goals set by themselves and Polaris.

Run a great race, prepare for the 2009 season aboard the newly-appointed contender in the GNCC National Cross Country Utility Class. That they did, with a podium to boot!

Texas-based distributor Tucker Rocky announced that it has added TJD’s track conversion kit to its list of ATV product offerings.

The unique X-Gen track system by TJD is the only four season track kit with suspension.

The suspension allows the ATV to travel smoothly over rough terrain including logs, stumps and rocks and produces a smaller footprint so turning is easier and requires less effort than regular track kits.

Previously circulated by Kimpex, TJD will now be exclusively distributed by Tucker Rocky.

Visit TJD.ca.

Press Release –

Richard Pelchat rides his Can-Am DS 450 to his sixth national championship

Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV riders took the two top spots in the 2008 CMRC Canadian Pro 450 ATV championship.

Can-Am X-Team racer and Québec native Richard Pelchat pulled the second-moto holeshot and never looked back as he dominated the rest of the field to win the overall race and championship at Ste-Julie near Montréal.

This represents Pelchat’s sixth national championship and is the first Canadian national championship for the DS 450. Michael Ouellete, who races for NDB Sport / PLX Sport took second overall in the championship aboard his DS 450.

“Spectacular is the first word that comes to mind after going first and second in the Canadian championship race this year,” said Del Bohlman, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Everyone at BRP has worked extremely hard developing the Can-Am DS 450 race program and to see Richard lift the championship plate rewards the hard work everyone from the factory to the racers has put in this season.”

This championship is especially poignant for Pelchat as he overcame a mid-season injury to keep his points lead heading into the final race. He went into the last race of the season with a 16-point lead on Québec’s own Ouellete. Both riders had a chance at the championship, but it was Pelchat that was victorious.

“It has been a big year for me; from January on we were testing, training and racing,” commented Richard Pelchat on his championship season. “In the end it was all worth it and I can say that the Can-Am DS 450 made my job easier; it is so powerful and handles really great. Thanks to all my sponsors for believing in me and making this championship possible.”

This is the second overall championship for the DS 450, the other being Team Motoworks / Can-Am racer Josh Frederick in the 2008 WORCS championship.