Press Release –

The Bluegrass ATV National at Kentucky’s Ballance MX, really had a little of everything. The weather was all over the map but mostly cold. Sunday it really went wacky.

Team Manager Kory Ellis described the action “Dustin got off fourth in the first moto and caught up with the John Natalie pretty quickly. John was riding hard but made a slight mistake and crashed really hard. Fortunately he was OK and got going again but was way back.”

Chad Wienen got off the gate well, but was caught up in 1st turn pile-up, ending up around 19th on the first lap. He started charging like a maniac, moving forward quickly. The track was on the verge of being muddy – but slowly started drying out.

As the moto started developing, it settled in with Wimmer in the lead and Gust a steady second. Wimmer ended up with the win, Doug second and Chad came all the way back up to 4th.

“The track was pretty good really.” Wimmer said after the moto one win. “It was pretty tacky and I found some pretty good lines. Once I got out front – I just rode smooth and pulled away.”

The second moto was a lot different! The track was really muddy for the start of the second moto. The rain really started coming down and it was going to be one of those “survival” deals. Gust – knowing that the start was all-important pulled the hole-shot. His clean goggles were a huge advantage as the race progressed.

Dustin had a lousy start in the muddy mess. “At the start it was pouring down rain, I didn’t prep my gate enough and when the gate dropped, just slithered all over the place. I got roosted so bad on the first lap, the mud was so heavy that I couldn’t hardly hold my head up – my helmet was just kinda rolling around!”

It got even worse for the series points leader, “My goggles were wasted and I was going off jumps blind- it was really scary. With about four laps to go I had to take my goggles off. I also started to my bike. There was so much weight in mud on the thing that I wanted to be sure and be as smooth as possible. There were a lot of people who DNF’d out there, I didn’t want to be one of them.”

The end of the race was true survival according to Dustin: “Everyone was just more or less rolling all the jumps. It had become dangerous to try and jump them, especially with all the mud weight on the quads.

Meanwhile, back up front, Natalie was riding hard and Doug was having trouble shifting his bike as a rock had stuck between his shifter and the cases. Fortunately the quad was stuck in second gear and in the muddy conditions that wasn’t such a bad thing. Natalie passed Doug for the lead, with about two laps to go, and about the same time Doug’s rock finally fell out. “I couldn’t jump the jumps being stuck in second but no one else was doing them anyway. Once it fell out and I could shift again, it really didn’t make that much of a difference.”

While everyone else was making mistakes or blowing up their bikes, Doug carefully chose his lines knowing that he just needed to follow Natalie home for the overall win. Doug’s 2-2 scores did indeed net him the overall win, and the top podium step – a place Gust is very familiar with.

Doug was really excited after the race, “I had a great weekend. It feels really good – awesome. I did it today,” the Wisconsin native said. “The second moto really rained pretty hard. The track was soupy and very slick. I knew I had to get a good start and I really concentrated and got the holeshot. Then I got a stinkin’ rock stuck in my shifter and John got by me. But by then, I had the overall locked up so it was OK.”

The remaining Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider Chad Wienen bottomed out on a rock and poked a hole in his engine cases. He was forced to DNF. Chad has been getting all of his bad luck out of the way in the beginning part of the season. He will have to wait for a top result at the next round in Virginia.

Press Release –

Monster Energy Kawasaki ATV rider Josh Creamer finished a cold and rainy race with an impressive fourth-place overall during round three of the AMA ATV Motocross Series in Bowling Green, KY. Teammate Russell Shumaker finished in the top-10 with a strong eighth-place overall, while Keith Little finished 14th.

Creamer has shown notable speed in the past few races. In Kentucky, he raced two solid motos to prove he can run at the front. In the first moto, he tangled with another rider and came from 18th place to finish third. In the second moto, he rode through the rain to finish eighth, taking fourth overall.

“The quad was feeling really good,” said Creamer. ‚ÄúIn the first moto, I didn’t get mad about where I started and just got in a groove. I kept making smart passes and was really happy with my finish.”

Shumaker earned his best result of the series with his consistent performance in both motos. When the rain came, he rode smooth and came across the finish with an eighth overall.

“I didn’t get the start I wanted in the first moto, but I worked through it,” said Shumaker. “In the second moto I had to throw off my goggles because they were getting fogged up. I did what I could and overall pretty happy with how I rode.”

The weather in Bowling Green, Ky. had been cold all weekend. On Sunday, it was raining off an on all day but about 20 minutes before the second moto started, the skies opened up and it just poured.

“We were just covered in mud by end of the first lap,” said Creamer. “My neck was getting sore from holding up my helmet that was just covered in mud. It was crazy.”

Little finished just outside the top-10 in the first moto and 14th during the second moto to finish with a 14th overall for the weekend.

The last few rounds of the AMA series have helped the team continue to develop the bike for the start of the WPSA in May. With the results proving the Kawasaki KFX®450R can run up front, the green team could be the ones to beat at the season opener.

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

AMA Pro ATV Championship Series

ATV Pro Class (Moto Finishes)

1. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 2-2
2. Jasmin Plante, Norte Dame, QC, Yamaha, 6-3
3. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki, 1-12
4. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 3-8
5. Rocco Arno, Jr., Bridgeton, N.J., Honda, 9-4
6. John Natalie, Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am, 17-1
7. Pat Brown, Pittstown, N.J., Yamaha, 10-7
8. RUSSELL SHUMAKER, BRISTOL, WIS., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 8-9
9. Richard Pelchat, St. Romuald, Quebec, Can Am, 15-5
10. Sage Baker, Shasta Lake, Calif., Can Am, 14-6
14. KEITH LITTLE SPRUCE PINE, ALA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 11-14

Press Release –

ITP has added to its ever-growing SS Alloy wheel line with the Indy introduction of the new SS212.

This one-piece wheel, with a distinctively muscular style, is available in three head-turning finish options: bright, diamond-cut machined with black accents (topped with a tough clear coat), a dramatic matte black, and dazzling, show-quality chrome. As with all of ITP’s SS Alloy wheels, a custom SS wheel cap is included.

They’re available in a 12×7 size, as well as unique 14×6 and 14×8 sizes designed specifically for front and rear applications, respectively.

These dedicated sizes provide more precise fitment and make the most of 26- and 27-inch radial tire performance.

Like its predecessors, the SS212 is manufactured through ITP’s high-tech Advancecast process, resulting in an incredibly strong yet light final product.

ITP is so confident of the SS212’s durability, in fact, that it’s covered by a lifetime structural warranty: if you bend or break it, ITP will replace it!

The ITP SS212 wheel is available for most late-model 4×4 sport/utility ATVs as well as many side-by-side UTV applications.

The 14-inch models are a great choice for UTVs, as they carry an 800 lb. load rating (12-inch ATV models are rated at 700 lbs.)! ITP is also making the SS Alloy line available in convenient, pre-mounted tire/wheel kits, using ITP’s popular Mud Lite XL, Mud Lite XTR and TerraCross R/T tires.

Since 1982, ITP has grown into the world’s #1 ATV aftermarket tire and wheel source, and continues to provide a complete line of innovative tires and wheel for virtually all ATVs and UTVs.

To order, contact your favorite distributor. For a copy of ITP’s full-color product catalog, call toll-free: 1-800-859-4740.

For other inquiries or technical advice, contact ITP at 930-A S. Rockefeller Ave., Ontario, CA 91761; (909) 390-1905. Or visit ITP’s website at ITPtires.com.

Press Release –

Thanks to a recent trip to New Mexico, the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority (HMRRA) has some new hardware sitting in their offices.

It not something they can use to help build more trails or make the trails safer, but rather something that’s a result of their efforts to make the trails safer over the past few years.

At the recent National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) Conference held in Albuquerque, the Hatfield-McCoy Education Team received the ‘Education Excellence of the Year 2007′ award for its dedication to OHV safety and education.

The trail system is entering its third year of an Off-Highway Vehicle outreach program targeting elementary age children in grades K-5. The program is put on by the HMRRA’s Law Enforcement Division.

Designed to teach safe riding habits to children, the program features information from national authorities on the subject such as NOHVCC, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, the ATV Safety Institute, the Motorcycle Industry Council, 4-H, and the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

“We’re very proud of the trail system’s safety record, but as a whole West Virginia has set a new record for ATV–related deaths year after year,” said HMRRA Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk. “Its programs like these that will help teach the next generation how to ride safely and help to improve WV’s ATV-safety record.”

To date, the program has reached over 7,500 elementary-school aged students on the importance of safety when operating ATV’s and other off-highway vehicles.

Each in-school visit by the HMRRA’s Law Enforcement staff includes discussion of the use of proper riding gear including helmets, proper training and supervision, and an interactive CD demonstration that kids enjoy.

The safety education award wasn’t the only award Hatfield-McCoy picked up at the conference however. HMRRA Marketing Director Mike Pinkerton also won the NOHVCC award for ‘2007 State Representative that Walks the Talk.’

“This was a great honor to be mentioned among my peers at this year’s national conference for my work as an NOHVCC State Representative and as an employee of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System,” Pinkerton said.

Press Release –

Jon Guetter aboard his lightly modified Can-AmTM DS 450 XTM wrote himself into the Guinness Book of World Records by completing a ramp to ramp distance jump front of a thousands of cheering fans.

The distance, 176.11 feet, represents a new record in the ATV category and smashed the old record by more than 27 feet.

Guetter’s jump was part of the Crusty Demon’s Night of World Records show in Melbourne, Australia; his record was one of six world records set that evening.

“We are always pleased when someone chooses the Can-Am DS 450 X for any type of riding,” said Del Bohlman, Product, Media Relation and Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs. “However, to choose the DS 450 for such an amazing feat proves the confidence Jon Guetter had in our product; we are honored he used our ATV to complete the historic jump.”

The rider is known for his performances with the Akraix freestyle team, which uses Can-Am ATVs exclusively.

He is also known across the world as the man who attempted and landed the first backflip on an ATV. He will be performing with the rest of the Akraix riders at events across North
America in 2008.

Guetter was proud to break the old record aboard a DS 450 X, “This ATV represents the cutting edge in ATV design and performance,” he said. “To break the old record on a machine that is basically stock proves how capable the DS 450 really is, I am extremely excited to hold a new
record not only for myself, but Can-Am as well.”

The Akraix freestyle team performs all over the world using Can-Am ATVs exclusively.

Visit www.akraix.com for more information on the performance team and upcoming performances.

Press Release –

Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc., today announced its partnership with Akraix, one of the most respected names in the world of ATV freestyle.

Akraix will use Can-AmTM ATVs in all of its shows and will perform its exhilarating aerial tricks using the highly advanced DS 450TM sport ATV.

“This is a great way to showcase the capabilities of the DS 450 and is also a great way to reach new audiences,” said Del Bohlman, Product, Media Relation and Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs. “Everyone who witnesses the astonishing tricks at an ATV freestyle show walks away completely amazed; we are proud to partner with Akraix, whose members have established themselves on the cutting edge of this sport.”

The Akraix team consists of four recognized and respected names in the ATV freestyle world. Jon Guetter was the first person in the world to attempt and land a backflip with an ATV.

He is also the current world-record holder for a ramp-to-ramp jump on an ATV – accomplished on a DS 450 at a distance of 176.11 feet.

His brother, Derek Guetter, is one of the true innovaters of ATV freestyle; Derek is constantly coming up with new tricks to continue the evolution of ATV freestyle.

Ben Bettis is a former professional ATV racer of 13 years. He now races occasionally, but is focused on ATV freestyle. Bettis brings his own flair and style to each of the Akraix performances.

The final member of the team is Steve Weissenger. Anyone who has seen Weissenger perform immediately recognizes his style while in the air, the performer has been with Akraix from the start.

“We’re extremely excited to be riding Can-Am ATVs this year!” says Derek Guetter. “We basically have been riding them stock, and Jon is already doing advanced backflips and just set the Guiness world record distance record last week on a nearly stock DS 450! It’s going to be a great year for ATV freestyle and everyone on the team can’t wait to show the capabilities of the DS 450.”

The first performance of the team will be at the ATV Mud Nationals near Jacksonville, Texas. The team will perform its show in front of record numbers of ATV enthusiasts for the weekend.

For more information on the Akraix team, visit www.akraix.com.