Press Release –

Bill Ballance picked the right place, the right time and the right track to nail his third-straight Can-Am Grand National Cross Country win.

Not only did the Kentucky rider take the Weekend Warrior Spartan GNCC in front of his home-state fans, but his chief championship rival, Adam McGill, failed to finish due to mechanical problems, allowing Ballance to take the GNCC XC1 Pro points lead for the first time this year.

“Man it feels good to win in front of so many friends and family,” said Ballance. “These were my type of conditions. It was hard and fast and I was able to have fun.”

Ballance topped his fellow Yamaha rider Brandon Sommers and The National Guard/Honda veteran William Yokley to take the win.

Ballance’s day started by grabbing the $100 ITP Holeshot Award, but trouble on the first lap saw the eight-time GNCC Champion fall to the back of the top ten.

From there he put on a charge and took the lead halfway through the race, and then held off a strong challenge from Sommers and Yokley on the final lap to take the win.

Team Excell Motorsports Bryan Cook logged another solid run, coming from mid-pack to finish fourth, ahead of ATVRiders.com backed Jarrod McClure.

As for McGill, the West Union, West Virginia rider held the lead early in the race and battled with the lead pack for a podium finish on the last lap. With about three miles to go in the event, trouble set it.

“I had a stick jammed in the a-arm and the wheel and everything, so I had to stop and rip it out,” said McGill. “I took off in fourth and hooked up with Brandon Sommers and trained off of him. All of a sudden I heard a squealing noise, and I realized it was the chain coming off of the sprocket. So I slammed it into reverse so the chain would go back on, but I ended up sheering all of the sprocket bolts out. They’re hardened steel bolts. They’ve never done that before.”

McGill now sits second in the points, 14 markers behind Ballance.

GT Thunder Yamaha’s Don Ockerman topped the XC2 Pro-Am class for the sixth time in seven races this season.

He also finished an impressive sixth overall. Ockerman also won the $100 Rekluse Clutch Holeshot Award. Second in the class went to Josh Kirkland, with David Crane third.

In the morning race, Yamaha’s Traci Cecco won the ATVRiders.com Morning Race Overall.

Once again, Kawasaki KFX700 rider Michael Benson pushed hard and nearly pulled off the win, but ended up second, with Angel Atwell third on her Tom Clark Motorsports Honda.

Complete race-day results are available at this link or by scrolling to GNCCRacing.com

Press Release –

Clackamas, Oregon (5/30/08) – Warn Industries, the leading manufacturer of off-road accessories, industrial hoists and winches, utility products, and driveline disconnects is excited to announce its 60th anniversary!

What started in 1948 as a small, family operated business in the Pacific Northwest has turned into a multi-million dollar corporation with multiple factories, world-wide sales, and one of the most recognizable brands in the automotive aftermarket.

Warn Industries began in Seattle, WA when Arthur Warn developed a revolutionary locking hub system allowing surplus World War II Jeeps to operate in two-wheel drive for civilian use.

This invention created the hub industry and not only made the vehicles more drivable on the street but also improved fuel economy.

This development paved the way for other fuel saving ideas that are still in use today, such as center disconnects and automatic locking hubs. WARN Powertrain products are used by some of the world’s best-known automobile manufactures including Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, and others.

In 1959, WARN developed another revolutionary product; one that would transform the face of offroading as we know it: the electric winch.

Since its invention, WARN has become best known for its winches, and WARN now makes winch applications for trucks and SUVs, powersports vehicles, industrial applications, and utility purposes.

WARN winches and hoists are now sold throughout the world for both recreational and industrial applications.

Although WARN is well known for its hubs and winches, the company makes a wide variety of products for trucks, SUVs, powersports vehicles, industrial applications, and more. These products include skid plates, bumpers, fender flares, lights, ATV/UTV plows, power tools, and more.

WARN has changed tremendously in 60 years, yet the company remains true to its core: delivering exciting, innovative products to all its customers.

That focus is demonstrated in the most recent product offerings, including the WARN® Air-Power line of 12V air compressors; the WARN Works® PullzAll™ electric pulling and lifting tool; and the WARN PowerPlant™ Dual Force vehicle-mounted multi tool.

These award-winning products showcase the outstanding design, engineering, and innovation that WARN has had since 1948.

Warn Industries’ CEO, John McCalla, says, “We are extremely proud of WARN’s outstanding achievements throughout the last 60 years. Warn Industries’ employees remain dedicated to delivering outstanding, innovative products to our customers around the world.”

Join us in celebrating 60 years of off-road accessories, product innovation, and going prepared!

For a full product lineup, history, and much more, visit Warn.com.

Press Release –

Can-Am will bring its popular demo ride program to this weekend’s Can-Am Northeastern ATV National Presented by Renegade at Unadilla MX in New Berlin, N.Y.

The event, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is part of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited.

New Can-Am ATVs will be shipped in this week for attendees to test ride on a special course being built adjacent to the main race track.

Demo rides are open to licensed drivers 16 years and older. The demo rides are part of this weekend’s Showcase Event, which will also feature outdoor-themed displays, an ATV RiderCourse training program and much more.

The championship within a championship, being held at four of this year’s Showcase Events, is offering monetary awards in the Pro Class, as well as special bronze, silver and gold medals in the Amateur Classes.

Press Release –

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., has released a new informational DVD featuring the company’s highly popular Rhino Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles.

The new DVD, available free online at www.yamahaoutdoors.com, provides a comprehensive review of the new Rhino 700 FI and the Rhino 450 SxS vehicles and delivers detailed head-to-head comparisons with competing models.

Viewers can choose from different sections of the DVD to “Explore Rhino” or watch “Rhino vs. The Competition.” The “Explore Rhino” section provides an overview of the extensive list of features and benefits for both the Rhino 700 FI and the Rhino 450.

Features for both models include a four-stroke engine, fully automatic Ultramatic® transmission with dual-range drive and reverse and industry-exclusive three-position On-Command® in/out 4WD.

The Rhino overview demonstrates how these features and benefits combine to create a tough, durable and dependable ride through different types of terrain.

Allowing consumers to see the Rhino in head-to-head action, the “Rhino vs. The Competition” section pits the Rhino 700 FI against competitors such as the Teryx, RZR, Prowler 700 XTX and the Ranger XP, and features the Rhino 450 battling it out against the Ranger 500, Mule 610 and 2-up ATVs. These direct comparisons provide a realistic, feature-by-feature evaluation.

“The new Rhino DVD provides in-depth information that will serve any potential SxS customer well – from hunters and farmers to weekend warriors and recreational riders,” says John Landre, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS business planning manager. “The detailed information and head-to-head comparisons show just how the Rhino dominates the competition as the most versatile SxS on the market. Anyone shopping for an off-road utility vehicle should check out this free DVD.”

A free Rhino DVD can be obtained directly from Yamaha by registering online at YamahaOutdoors.com.

Press Release –

Using its first Annual Dealer Meeting as a launching pad, KYMCO USA has brought to market two attention-getting new off-road models for 2009.

And even though the UXV 500 and MXU 375 have flashy features to spare, they also are designed to appeal directly to today’s customer — someone who is more closely considering the pocketbook when purchasing a new ATV or UTV.

Priced right with a base MSRP just under $8,000 the UXV 500 utility vehicle is perfect for the farm, job site or any recreational trail riding.

With more than ample interior cargo space, a 420 pound cargo bed payload, towing capacity of over 1200 pounds and 59″ wide, stable stance the UXV is truly a candidate for industry leader in the 500cc side x side category.

“The UXV 500 brings the side-by-side utility everyone wants into a price range that everyone can afford,” said Bruce Ramsey, KYMCO USA Sales and Marketing VP.

“When we unveiled it at our annual dealer meeting, it truly impressed the crowd! The UXV is definitely one of the best received products KYMCO has ever released.”

Press Release –
 
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., maker of the toughest, most capable ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles, is proud to announce that the Yamaha Raptor 250 and Raptor 250 SE were recently named Consumers Digest Best Buys in the Sport ATV category.
 
Yamaha’s new Raptor 250 has raised the bar in entry-level sport ATVs. Unlike competing models, which are typically modified from a utility ATV base, the Raptor 250 was built as a sport machine from the ground-up providing superior performance for new or experienced riders (not recommended for riders under 16-years-old).
 
The Raptor 250 and Raptor 250 SE were both selected as Best Buys in the Economy [E] sub-category. This rating designates products that provide the essential performance capabilities but with minimal or no added features allowing for an advantageous price to cost-conscious consumers.

Economy Best Buys reflect top-notch yet no-frills equipment – and with snappy power and handling that matches sport quads twice the price, the Yamaha Raptor 250 units offer exactly that.
 
The standards used to determine the Best Buys in ATVs were based on performance, ease-of-use, features and reliability. A documentation checklist was completed as backup to support each Best Buy recommendation.

The checklist must include at least three of the following Best Buy sources: personal testing by the author; independent testing at a research facility; reports from governmental agencies, other independent technical expert testing, retail establishments, service outlets, Consumers Digest readers and other consumer surveys; or previously published evaluations in print media.
 
Consumers Digest Best Buys are model-specific, extremely selective and divided into discrete product categories. These products represent outstanding quality and value in the marketplace, and on average, a Consumers Digest Best Buy is awarded to fewer than three percent of the competing models in any give product category.
 
“The Raptor 250 combines Yamaha’s leading innovation and design with our top quality engineering and manufacturing,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “Everyone here at Yamaha is honored to be acknowledged as a Consumers Digest Best Buy in our category.”
 
The Raptor 250 and Raptor 250 SE both offer a 249cc air-cooled SOHC four-stroke single engine that produces a broad, deep powerband. As one of the lightest production sport ATVs ever built, the machine offers superior handling and a great power-to-weight ratio.

Additionally, the Raptor 250 and Raptor 250 SE offer the longest suspension travel and lowest seat height in its class for true sport handling. The Raptor 250 is available in Gray/Red or Yamaha Team Blue/White.

The Raptor 250 SE is available in Black with a special graphics package, or Black/Orange with GYTR heel guards and GYTR front grab bar. Both SE models offer additional features including adjustable front brake levers and bright LED taillights.