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BRP Expands Dealer Network in Europe

Press Release –

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is marking a new phase of its international development by reinforcing its presence in European markets.

Starting in the fall, BRP will establish direct commercial operations in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland, where Jets Marivent has served as its distributor.

The shareholders of Jets Marivent have agreed to sell the company to an affiliate of BRP and as of October 1, 2006, BRP will distribute its products directly through its own dealer network in the aforementioned countries. Until that date, BRP products will continue to be supported in these markets by Jets Marivent.

Following BRP’s decision to establish its own dealer network in France in 2005, this move constitutes the second phase of its European growth strategy.

BRP has already established dealer networks in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, France and Scandinavia and has been present in Europe for over 30 years, with manufacturing facilities in Austria (BRP-Rotax) and in Finland (BRP-Finland).

Jets Marivent has been importing and marketing BRP products in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1993. Over the years, they have greatly contributed to building strong brand equity for the BRP product brands in all their markets.

“Along with our dealers and business partners, we built this business from the ground up, starting out with only two models of Sea-Doo personal watercraft (PWC) in Spain over 10 years ago,” said Oliver Fröls, founder and president of Jets Marivent. “Today, Jets Marivent distributes the entire line-up of Sea-Doo PWC and sport boats, Can-Am ATVs, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines and a wide variety of accessories. This would not have been possible without the experience and business support of our dealers, and BRP’s excellent product innovation and continuous support,'” added Mr. Fröls.

This decision affects all Sea-Doo personal watercraft and sport boats, Can-Am all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, as well as related parts, accessories and clothing businesses. All BRP products will continue to be available in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland, thus reaffirming BRP’s objective to offer its customers the ultimate motorized recreational experience.

“Over time, we firmly believe that this decision will provide significant benefits to dealers and consumers in these markets, including increased efficiency in customer service and logistics support as well as branding, product positioning and market responsiveness,” concluded Michel Hade, vice-president and general manager, BRP International Sales and Marketing.

Both Jets Marivent and BRP are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to maximize continuity of business as usual for everyone involved.

What Else Lights Your Fuse?

The All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine staffers are really interested in knowing what our readers – that’s you – are up to when not riding trails or dunes on your ATV.

Are you a die-hard snowmobiler, a motorcycle enthusiast or do you soak up the rays in your personal watercraft? Take part in our latest poll and let us know What else lights your fire.

Scroll down the page and cast your vote today!

Yamaha YFZ 450: Delivering The Sizzle

Despite an unbelievably successful racing record since its introduction, Yamaha knew the competition would be stepping up to take a bite out of the YFZ 450. The solution? Give us more!

For 2006, the engineers stepped up the displacement ten cubes, modified its 5-valve head for better fuel scavenging and added more magnesium and titanium than the Space Shuttle.

The 1.4mm increase in stroke added tons of bottom end for lugging down in those tight corners or ramping up to jumps. Underneath, the rear shock linkage was altered and the rear Kayaba now strokes an extra 13mm.

The brakes have been improved, the cooling system has more capacity and rider ergonomics have been drastically modified. All these improvements have been targeted at the bulls-eye Yamaha wants you to hit every time you ride it: Winning.

This Yamaha carries much more than just its feature load. Every YFZ comes with a racing heritage earned at hundreds of race events around the world. Look up “racer” in your Funk & Wagnalls and there’ll be a picture of the YFZ there. There’s a lot more than just sizzle with this blue-rare beefsteak. It delivers!

How Fast Is Fast Enough?

When the All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine crew attended the new Can-Am introduction earlier this spring in Georgia we were allowed to drool over and rev-up but not ride a couple of the race team’s factory mod Outlanders exclusively built for flat-out desert racing.

These things were just too horny for words, featuring trick stuff from front to back. Interestingly, these modified 4x4s had the front diff and half shafts removed. We were told 100 MPH was not out of reach with these highly altered vehicles.

How much horsepower does it take to go that fast on four wheels? Unofficially speaking (that means BRP doesn’t want you to talk about this to your power crazed friends) these modified Outlander 800 V-twin EFI engines were putting out a rumored 80-85 horsepower! Yikes.

DURO Buffalo Meat

Duro’s Buffalo D1s use an aggressive V-shaped tread design that offers a multi-dimensional pattern with lugs at different heights so debris and sludge clears the contact patch quicker and more thoroughly.

This is a real traction bonus as clogged lugs, depending on the kind of muck you’re trying to ride through, can really limit traction.

Available in either 4-ply or 6- ply, these tires offer good puncture resistance, excellent rim protection and enough sidewall stiffness to be completely versatile on gravel, hard pack or mud.

Visit DuroTire.com and call 866.788.2060 for more information.

SplashnDirt.com

If you’re looking for just about any kind of ATV or UTV accessory, why not go to SplashnDirt.com. and check out the amazing line of accessories available from this master distributor.

If you like, contact your local dealer and find out if they do business with Splash’nDirt.com. If they do, Bob’s your uncle, if they don’t, just call (514) 493-6988 or, as we said already, go to SplashnDirt.com.

These guys distribute a list as long as your arm of the coolest and best ATV accessories.

Team Yoshimura/Suzuki dominate Macon WPSA Scorcher

Press Release –

The third and fourth rounds of the new WPSA Super Quad Pro 450 racing series took place this Saturday and Sunday near Macon, Georgia. Donny Bank’s beautifully maintained Echeconnee track is a tough enough  on a good day. Lot’s of sand, deep whoops, and challenging terrain make this track well respected by the ATV Pro’s. This year it had all that plus triple digit temperatures to really test the riders.
 
The end result of both days racing was predictable; Team Yoshimura/Suzuki continues to win.
 
Saturday’s race was a scorcher with the best-conditioned athletes coming out on top. “Digger” Doug Gust came off the line about 4th with teammate Jeremiah “The Gunslinger” Jones a few places back. Doug put in some nice moves and soon was challenging John Natalie Jr. for the lead. On lap nine, Gust passed John on the outside and set sail. Gust dominated the rest of the race while teammate Jones moved up to second place.
 
Gust was pretty happy after the main event win, “I came out about 4th.  I passed a couple of guys and then passed John Natalie for the lead. I was a little stronger than him today… and just won it! Jeremiah got passed him too and got second. Man, it was really hot out there!”
 
The Suzuki one-two punch has been a common occurrence lately and one that team manager Wayne Hinson likes. “The team is hitting on all cylinders right now. Things are coming together pretty well. Doug and Jeremiah are really riding fast and these new Suzuki’s are just flat awesome. The LT-R’s respond to every change we’ve done in set-up. They just keep getting better every race”.
 
On Sunday, John Natalie pulled out an early lead only to be run down and passed by Jeremiah Jones on lap three.  Jones seemed to be poised to pull away but a bobble in a turn let Natalie back into the lead. Jones re-fired his LT-R450 Suzuki and took off after the hard charging Natalie. With two laps left to go, Jeremiah re-passed Natalie and headed on to the checkers and the win. Yesterday’s winner, “Digger” Doug Gust rode a steady but uneventful race to third.
 
Jones was tired but thrilled by his, and the teams results, “My heat races didn’t go to good.  I got 4th in both.  As for the main, I had to fight hard in the end to win.  I got a bad start, probably 4th, and had to pass Wimmer and Natalie.  They had got out front and had set a pretty fast pace.  It took me a while before I got up to Wimmer.  I got around Wimmer and then two to three laps later John started fading out cuz it was around 100 degrees out there.  I ended up catching up to Natalie and then pressured him and then got around him.”
When asked why the heat didn’t seem to impact him so bad he answered: “I’ve been training down at my father-in-law’s place in South Carolina.  So I’m used to the heat… and I’m in pretty good shape – probably the best shape that I’ve ever been in.  We’re racing every weekend, so it that also helps keep me fit.”

After the heat of Macon, everyone is ready for a weekend off.  Back to back races every weekend with both the GNC and WPSA series makes for a grueling schedule for riders and crew alike.  Time for a little R&R and then on to Steel City and hopefully another Team Yoshimura/Suzuki podium domination.

Unsticking The Stuckest of Stuck

With all the interest in the side by side UTV market you just knew it wouldn’t be long until someone came out with a winch specifically designed for these extremely rugged but somewhat heavier off-road vehicles.

Ramsey now offers the Honcho 5000 with, you guessed it, 5000 lbs of rated line pull. This is extreme and most certainly adequate for hauling deeply mired UTVs out of the worst imaginable muck.

The Honcho comes with 60 feet of galvanized aircraft cable and, like all Ramsey winches, uses a 3-stage planetary gear system for fast line speed.

Thinking torque? This baby uses a gear reduction ratio of 294 :1. Total weight is just 32 and a half pounds.

Visit Ramsey Winch at RamseyATV.com

Husqvarna Expands UTV Model Lineup

Husqvarna has expanded its line of UTVs announcing the arrival of four new models.

While Husqvarna is relatively new in the side by side biz, it’s a seasoned and veteran builder of tough, high performance recreational and utility vehicles.

Included in the new line up are two electric (that’s right!) powered UTVs that use a 48-volt powerplant and offer a four year battery warranty.

All of the new models (gas and electric) are built on aluminum frames.

Get all the info at Husqvarna.com

Yoshimura One, Two, Three in Memorial Day Thriller

Press Release –

Muddy Creek was in perfect condition for this weekend’s GNC event. Hot temperatures greeted the competitors, separating the men from the boys. Jeremiah Jones and Doug Gust dominated the event with 1-2 finishes in both motos aboard the blazing fast LT-R450 Suzuki QuadRacers®.

Team Yoshimura Suzuki manager Wayne Hinson was feeling good at the end of the day, “Jeremiah is just ‘on’ right now. These Suzukis are incredible, and with the way he’s riding – he’ll be tough to beat… The day could have only been better if both of them won. But somebody’s got to get first and somebody’s got to get second. As it turned out, Doug gained a lot of points and Jeremiah keeps inching closer. It’s a long series and we are looking at being up front when it’s all over.”

At the start of the first moto, a seemingly smooth start for everyone turned to chaos as too many quads tried to fit into one spot.

Teammates “Digger” Doug Gust and Jeremiah “The Gunslinger” Jones were running 5th and 6th respectively rounding out the first lap. Yoshimura support rider and series point leader Joe Byrd got together with John Natalie Jr. with Natalie getting the short end of the stick. Joe emerged in 7th right behind Jones and Gust, while Natalie went back to 9th.

By the third lap Jeremiah had passed through to the lead and started to pull away. Gust meanwhile was scrapping in a pack of riders that included Joe Byrd and Keith Little. Natalie had gone up to second as Jones pulled away.

Around the halfway point, Gust passed up to second and took off after his teammate. The moto ended that way with a 1 – 2 finish for Team Yoshimura Suzuki. Yoshimura support rider Joe Byrd rode his Dan Lamey tuned machine to a well-earned 3rd.

In Moto two, Jeremiah started second but quickly moved to the lead before the second lap was done. Gust powered up into second place and the race was on.

The rest of the race saw Jeremiah putting the “bit in his teeth” and checking out. “Harold Goodman got the holeshot,” Jones said. “I picked him off in about a lap and a half over in a whoop section. It was pretty much clear sailing from there.”

Jones had a huge lead by mid race on his Ryan Cox tuned LT-R, and was riding smart maintaining his gap. Gust rode in second while once again Byrd and Natalie got together. This time Natalie ended up flipping and by the time he got back going was well down the field.

Jeremiah ended up winning the second moto with a comfortable margin over teammate Doug Gust. Gust had a large margin over Joe Byrd with the rest of the field being fairly spread out as well. It seemed the heat and humidity had taken its measure of some of the competitors.

John Natalie Jr. ended up 6th overall on the day, thus losing valuable points to Joe Byrd and Digger Doug. The points are under protest due to an incident back in Birch Creek, so depending on how the ATVA rules, the points are either very close, or Byrd has a 40 point lead.

Jeremiah however was just enjoying his success, one race at a time. “I’m at the breaking point right now – just trying to collect points from the three guys ahead of me. Just trying to click away. Doug’s third, I’m fourth. All I can do is just keeping winning races. This LT-R450 Suzuki is really working and I’m feeling really strong.”

Jones was really happy to finally to share the podium with Doug. “It was really great be up there with Doug. I’ve been waiting for this all season.” Gust agreed in a post race conversation, “Jeremiah was on a mission today. If it isn’t me, I’m really glad to see him win it,” Doug proudly said of his teammate. In Wayne Hinson’s understated words: “It was a good day.”