Press Release –

Activities Include Autograph Sessions, All-New YFZ450R Public Showing and Fan Hospitality Area

Yamaha Racing will converge on the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Ironman Finale this weekend in Crawfordsville, Indiana, to celebrate another championship season.

Yamaha’s festivities will include race team autograph sessions, the first public showing of the highly-anticipated YFZ450R and a hospitality area for fans and kids.

Bill Ballance, Yamaha’s top veteran, recently locked in his record breaking ninth consecutive GNCC ATV XC1 Pro championship, aboard his YFZ450, while Donnie Ockerman, a Yamaha up-and-comer, secured his first XC2 Pro Am championship.

Another Yamaha champion, Traci Cecco, will have her final battle in her quest for an unprecedented seventh women’s title. Traci currently leads the women’s series by a point.

Yamaha’s ATV Race Team Autograph Sessions:

– Friday, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Action Motorsports in Lafayette, Indiana
– Saturday, (approx) 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Yamaha’s display area at the race track.

YFZ450R and Championship Celebration and Fan Hospitality:

– Public showing of the all-new, not-yet-available YFZ450R; on display all weekend at Yamaha’s display area.
– Hot chocolate, popcorn, and Halloween candy given away all weekend at Yamaha’s display area.
– Public demo rides on board Yamaha sport and utility ATVs (weather permitting) throughout the weekend at Yamaha’s display area.

Press Release –

Doug Eichner continuing his charge on behalf of the Polaris/Lone Star/Eichner Racing Team, bringing home the Open Pro win aboard the Polaris Outlaw 525 S, at the ITP QuadCross Round 8, held October 18-19.

The ITP QuadCross was held at the Competitive Edge MX Park, a new location for the series, located in Hesperia, Calif. and home to Supercross competitions.

The new venue challenged competitors with a large number of huge jumps, sweeping corners and rough terrain. Proving to be a perfect venue for Eichner and his Outlaw 525 S, with enhanced power and exhaust from Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc., FOX Racing Shox suspension, steering stem, a-arms, hubs and axle from Lone Star Racing, and supported by MAXXIS Tires and DWT wheels among other quality aftermarket components, Eichner took the checkered flag win in both the Open Pro Motos 1 & 2.

Currently holding a 12-point lead in the ITP QuadCross Open Pro division, with one race remaining the series, the Polaris/Lone Star/Eichner Racing team has their sights set on bringing home the MX Open Pro Championship for the team with the final round scheduled for November 30, at the Glen Helen Raceway, in San Bernadino, Calif.

Eichner’s passion for the Polaris Outlaw 525 S is evident any time he is asked about the machine’s capabilities. “It is the best handling machine I have ridden to date,” states Eichner. When asked about the possibility of bringing a Pro MX Championship home to Polaris and the rest of his team sponsors, the seasoned veteran is quick to respond, “I really don’t think much about it. I take one race at a time, prepare as much as possible, and give each race my best effort, and I never count out the capabilities of my professional competitors or the ‘luck’ factor.”

Next stop for the Polaris/Lone Star/Eichner Racing Team is the final round of the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) scheduled for October 31 – November 2, in Taft, Calif.

Winners for August and September have been selected in the All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine Greenball Tire Giveaway presented by GBC Motorsports.

Canadian Winners:

David Brown of Stayner, ON
Byron Wellon of Ladle Cove, NL

US Winners:

Joan Briggs of Canon City, CO
William Muir of Worthville, PA

Winners will be contacted directly by a GBC representative to arrange delivery of your tires.

Click here and enter for your your chance to win!

Press Release –

Kawasaki’s Joe Haavisto finished out a dream season at Jolly Roger Motosports Park in Lempster, N.H., earning championships in both the Pro-Am and Pro classes of the New England ATV (NEATV) Series.

Despite an injury at the end of August, Haavisto battled to a 3-1 finish to take the overall in the Pro class for the weekend.

Not 1 but 2 Championships

Haavisto set high goals at the beginning of the year, desiring to be champion of the two elite classes in the NEATV Series. He definitely accomplished those goals, clinching the Pro-Am championship one round early and the Pro championship after one moto at the final event.

“It feels great to accomplish the goals I had set at the beginning of the year,” said Haavisto. “With Kawasaki putting a lot of support not only into me personally, but the series too, I took it as my responsibility to make sure that Kawasaki was on the podium at every race. And I ended up with the two championships at the end of the season.”

A Good Day

Not only did Haavisto earn two championships, he ended the season with an overall victory in the Pro class going 3-1. He didn’t race the Pro-Am class since he clinched at the last round and his knee is still recovering.

“It was a great way to end the season,” said Haavisto. “I haven’t had any practice since I injured my knee at the ATV Open Invitational at Steel City over six weeks ago. I wanted to ride the Pro-Am class, but I didn’t want to irritate my knee anymore.”

Props to the KFX-450R

With the success he has had in 2008, Haavisto was sure to give some of the credit to his green machine.

“The KFX450R has been great all year,” said Haavisto. “I didn’t have any problems with the bike at all and never had a DNF. I felt really comfortable on it from day one and was able to work during the season to get it to handle perfectly. I’m really looking forward to riding it next season.”

A Growing Series

The NEATV Series continues to grow in entries and next year will continue to grow in competition. Haavisto plans on being ready to defend his titles.

“This series has grown tremendously since I first started racing it in 2000,” said Haavisto. “Next year I have the same goals to win both titles. I know it’s going to be tough with a few national riders coming into the series, but I am excited for the challenge and know that I will have to train and work harder.”

For all the pictures, videos and most recent Kawasaki racing action, visit www.kawasaki.com/racing

Press Release –

Yamaha Q3 GRANTs Total More Than $200,000 for OHV Clubs and Land Managers

In its largest quarter of funding to date, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., through its popular OHV Access Initiative, donated more than $200,000 in cash and equipment to projects supporting safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open riding areas across the country.

Sixteen organizations from 11 states received GRANT (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) funds for projects including:

· Trail mapping equipment and staffing
· Legislative lobbying efforts
· Responsible OHV rider education and outreach campaigns
· Signage and building materials for trail heads
· Campground supplies
· Construction equipment for trail development

Yamaha continues to support the greater OHV community including public land managers, private landowners, riding clubs and associations in their efforts to produce and maintain areas for off-highway vehicle use. So far this year Yamaha has awarded nearly $600,000 in GRANTs.

“The growing response to, and need for, the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative is indicative of the desire for enthusiasts and advocates to enjoy OHVs in a safe and sustainable manner,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) Operations. “In light of changing national policy on OHV access, the community will have a continuing need for our GRANTs to directly fund projects that help maintain access to existing trails and responsibly create new opportunities for OHV use.”

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative review committee will award GRANTs to the following organizations:

Bell County Fiscal Court – Bell County, Kentucky
Black River Valley Riders ATV Club – Jefferson County, New York
Breathitt County Fiscal Court – Jackson, Kentucky
Gem State ATV – Idaho
Missouri Dirt Riders – Defiance, Missouri
Nebraska OHV Association – Nebraska
North Country ATV – Saratoga County, New York
Off Road Business Association – California
Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders – Hanson, Massachusetts
Richfield Township – St. Helen, Michigan
Ride Safe Virginia – Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Ride With Respect – Moab,Utah
San Juan Trail Riders – Durango, Colorado
Tread Lightly – Utah
Tug Hill Wheelers – Carthage, New York
Western Slope ATV – Grand Junction, Colorado

“We are just starting to get the progress reports from the first applicants receiving GRANTs at the beginning of the year and it is very encouraging to see what the awardees have been able to accomplish,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “From these early results it is clear that the OHV Access Initiative is performing its mission.

About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative

· Trail development, restoration and maintenance
· Trail signage and map production
· Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
· Land stewardship, trail safety and education

Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess. For questions regarding the OHV Access Initiative, groups can 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.