Press Release –

Team Suzuki/Yoshimura will be campaigning the full WPSA PowerSports SuperQuad Pro 450 series for the 2007 racing season

Defending champ Doug Gust will be heading up the Suzuki/Yoshimura team with new teammate, and 2006 runner up, Dustin Wimmer. Wimmer is hungry for the 2007 WPSA title since he lost it to Gust by only two points in 2006.

Suzuki won the coveted WPSA Manufacturers Championship title in 2006 and has recently announced that it will continue on as a series sponsor for the WPSA PowerSports ATV tour.

WPSA is happy with Suzuki’s decision, “We’re pleased to again partner with American Suzuki on the PowerSports ATV Tour,” said PowerSports Entertainment, Inc. CEO Rick Murphy. “Suzuki proved itself an extremely valuable partner in 2006, and we’re excited that partnership will continue.”

American Suzuki ATV Operations Manager Rod Lopusnak is also excited about next year: “After an incredible 2006 season, Team Suzuki/Yoshimura is excited to get back on the track. WPSA gave the fans the best, most competitive ATV race coverage ever!”

“Suzuki’s long history of excellence was exemplified in 2006 with its dominant run in WPSA competition,” said Scott O’Malley, PowerSports Entertainment, Inc. president. “This is truly an exciting announcement.”

2006 Team Suzuki/Yoshimura rider Jeremiah Jones will work as the ATV race team coordinator during his rehabilitation process. Jones received substantial back injuries at the Unadilla GNC event.

Jeremiah will be coaching riders, helping in chassis set-up, and working to add a 2007 championship title for the Suzuki/Yoshimura team. Jeremiah will also be working with young up and coming Suzuki support riders.

Yoshimura Vice President Brant Russell feels that the 2007 WPSA season will be even better than the 2006 season: “Yoshimura is really looking forward to racing the full WPSA series in 2007. The WPSA came through on their commitments and gave us an even playing field on which to compete. The television exposure, a thoroughly professional structure, and nice people make us really glad to be back. We were fortunate in coming out with several titles this season. It will be tough to repeat, but we are certainly going to try!”

Press Release –

The seventh annual UP 300 sponsored by Moose Racing, Alpinestars and Thor ride was held in Marquette, MI September 17-20th, 2006.

Nearly 150 dealer personnel and vendors made their way to the Upper Peninsula for some of the greatest single track riding in the country.

With the help from 8-time Enduro Champion Dick Burleson and the Sandstormers Motorcycle Club, the trails were prepped and marked to perfection for all levels of riding abilities.

Also added in for this years ride were some ATV trails as well as a 64 mile loop that took place during the second day of riding.

To kick off the ride, riders were required to be at the fairgrounds for tech inspection and registration from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A phenomenal pig roast was prepared by a local catering company and served with all the fixings for the opening nights meal followed by a bonfire and bench racing.

After a good nights rest and a full belly from breakfast, participating dealers were given the chance to stroll through “Vendors Row” and grab free swag from each vendor.

After lunch and a quick stop by the Moose truck for a group photo, everyone finished suiting up and headed out for the first day of riding under perfect weather conditions. The UP ride provides riders with multiple trails ranging from easy to difficult.

The second day of riding gave dealers a chance to sign up and ride with one of their favorite professional riders such as; Greg Albertyn, Jimmy Jarrett, Scott Summers, Fred Andrews, and Dick Burleson just to name a few.

Many participants used the second day to ride the newly created 64 mile ATV ride while others chose to go out in their own group and enjoy the perfect riding conditions.

After a full day of riding, everyone was invited to a reception and dinner for more bench racing, cold beverages and a great meal. During dinner, donations were handed out to local clubs on behalf of everyone from the Parts Unlimited family.

Tom Parker of Tom’s Cycle in Indiana, PA received a special award from the guys at Moose Racing for attending each of the past seven UP 300 rides. The last day of the ride provided riders with breakfast, lunch and open riding for those who weren’t too sore from the previous days of riding.

Everyone at Parts Unlimited would like to thank each dealer that participated in the Seventh Annual UP 300 and look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Parts Unlimited would also like to give a special thanks to the Sandstormers Motorcycle Club for creating such a great ride and thanks to all the top vendors for attending and making the ride what it is.

Lastly, big thanks to the guys at KTM for bringing a half dozen demo bikes that were prepped daily for riders to try.

Quebec’s Richard Pelchat locks down the CMRC Pro ATV National Championship title for his third consecutive year aboard the Yamaha YFZ450.

Press Release –

The 24 year old racer from Saint Romuald QC struggled through a difficult season, chasing evasive mechanical gremlins in the face of fierce competition.

The championship decision would come right down to the last lap of the final moto offering the crowd an exciting and dramatic finish to the year.

The following is taken from an interview with Richard following the event:

‘The final round was held in Notre-Dame, Quebec, the home town of my strong opponent Jasmin Plante. The battle was hard-fought in the first moto and I won over Jasmin by only a few seconds. The second moto proved to be a real drama! I was now only 1pt back from the overall. Jasmin and I diced it out aggressively for the first few laps, when suddenly we collided and both stalled. I got the Yamaha running first, and now I was in the ”bring it home mode”. But James Bank had another plan, as I was smoothly going around the track he was on FIRE trying to catch me. I did not understand my crew sign urging me to get on the gas with only 2 laps to go… turns out he was only a short way back. I upped my pace and increased the gap a bit. I took the checkered flag…and won the championship by only a few lengths and a mere 2 pts.’

Congratulations to Richard and his sponsors including Toyota, Elka and RP Evolution ATV Products. You have proven once again to be a very worthy champion.