Following an exciting 2018 season, Luke highlights what is to come from Textron Off Road in 2019 including a number of youth vehicles, entry-level ATVs and exciting sport side-x-sides.
Mark capably demonstrates how the Yamaha Grizzly has maintained its iconic reputation over the years as he reviews the winter-ready 2019 Grizzly 700 EPS SE.
AJ looks to paint the snow with mud as he reviews the 64-inch wide, 100 horsepower 2019 Can-Am Maverick Sport 1000R X mr.
In the Season Finale of Dirt Trax 2018, Luke travels south just outside of Dallas, Texas to TexPlex Park – which is a 1000 acre outdoor Powersports paradise catering to every form of off-road discipline imaginable. While there he connects with the 2018 Can-Am sponsored racer and GNCC Champion – Hunter Miller to get some insight on his success as a professional racer and to also check out his race ready Maverick X3.
In the Trail Tech shop, AJ prepares for winter as he installs and reviews a KIMPEX CLICK-N-GO 2 Snow Plow on our Can-Am Outlander.
And Luke reveals the differences between what we need and what we want as off-roaders as he reviews the 2019 Textron Off Road Alterra 570 XT.
The new Dalton Industries clutch kit for 2017-2019 Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R offers a more positive belt engagement, better belt grip and improves overall performance.
The kit includes new clutch springs and new adjustable weights, which means if you change tire sizes you can easily calibrate properly, all with one kit.
There is a set-up guide in the instruction manual explaining how to set the adjustable flyweights correctly for each tire size and situation.
The Can-Am factory belt has proven to be the best for this application. Belts are expensive, so if you are using this vehicle with larger tires or riding in extreme conditions, proper CVT clutch calibration is crucial.
Visit daltonindustries.com
Luke heads to Oakville, Ontario to visit one of CFMOTOs flagship dealers – Maxxim Motorsports – to see how they have been utilizing the Wind Zone model to become one of North Americas fastest growing CFMOTO dealers in less than a year. Then, Luke gets the inside scoop on some of the hottest and newest vehicles from CFMOTO: the 2019 UFORCE 1000 EPS LX and the all-new 2-up 2019 CFORCE 800 XC EPS.
AJ is back in the shop putting the finishing touches on our custom RZR RS1 rock crawler as he installs a Pro Armor Light Bar and cube lights. With the build complete, AJ heads out to Rays Place Lodging and Campground to put the rock crawling RS1 to the test while giving his thoughts and opinions on the finished build.
– Can-Am Racers Show Global Dominance with Big Victories in North America, South America, Africa and more
– DAKAR Champions: Reinaldo Varela & Gustavo Gugelmin
– Back-2-Back BITD Titles: Phil Blurton & Beau Judge
Valcourt, Québec, Dec. 18, 2018 – Can-Am racers won multiple off-road championships in 2018, including the famed Dakar Rally and consecutive Best In The Desert series titles, making it another banner year for Can-Am racing.
“The season kicked off with monumental success as Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R racer Reinaldo Varela and Gustavo Gugelmin won the world-famous Dakar Rally in South America,” said Jeff Leclerc, Team Leader, Can-Am race department. “From there, the wins and titles just kept on coming in many different series and racing formats. We had a great GNCC season, winning the 4×4 Pro ATV class and the final XC1 Pro Turbo UTV season and then added the Best In The Desert UTV Pro Production Turbo class title as well.
“Our racing success on the track is attributed to our intensive research and development, as well as the innovative design and the performance supplied by Can-Am off-road vehicle,” he added. “Winning these championships also speaks to dedication and passion to succeed shown by our design, product, engineering and marketing teams at BRP as well as the many sponsored racing teams out in the field.”
2018 DAKAR CHAMPIONS
Team South Racing Can-Am duo Reinaldo Varela and co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin won the SxS category driving the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R vehicle in its inaugural Dakar entry last January in South America. With five stage wins and a runner-up finish during the final stage, Varela-Gugelmin finished the Dakar Rally in a total time of 72:44.06, which was almost an hour ahead of the closest competitor.
The tandem will defend their crown next year as part of the Monster Energy Can-Am racing team managed by South Racing. The other two driver / co-drivers on the squad are Casey Currie / Rafel Cordoba and Gerard Farrés / Dani Oliveira. More than 20 total Can-Am racing teams will compete in Peru for the ultimate Dakar prize in January, 2019.
2018 BITD CHAMPIONS
Phil Blurton won the final race of the 2018 Best In The Desert series to secure back-to-back UTV Pro Production Turbo class championships with his No Limit RD-prepped Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R side-by-side vehicle. Blurton has gone from a virtually unknown rookie racer a in 2017, to a two-time Best In The Desert UTV champion in just two years in the desert scene. After the first round that saw Blurton finish off the podium, the determined pro racer never looked back and crossed the finish line physically first in every single race, winning four races and earning two runner-up finishes.
Giving the BITD series a more global feel, Can-Am Maverick X3 pilot and Australian Brett Comiskey won the UTV Unlimited championship.
GNCC CHAMPIONS
Hunter Miller (Miller Racing Can-Am) won the 2018 XC1 Pro Turbo UTV championship, earning his first career No. 1 plate and the fourth in the last five seasons for the Can-Am factory team. Miller was the most consistent racer on the series earning five podiums in six races. Miller will go down in history as a GNCC Can-Am side-by-side vehicle champion alongside Kyle Chaney and his brother Cody Miller as GNCC has cut side-by-side racing from its series.
Can-Am Renegade X xc 1000R ATV racer Kevin Cunningham won nine of 12 rounds this past season to earn his third straight GNCC championship, becoming the first three-time 4×4 Pro ATV class champion. Since the 4×4 Pro ATV class came into existence in 2014, Can-Am has won every title. In fact, Can-Am has won at least one 4×4 championship each year since it officially started competing in GNCC racing in 2005, making it the most dominant 4×4 ATV brand in the national series.
LOORRS CHAMPION
Weller Racing Can-Am racer Corry Weller finished the 2018 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series strong by capturing the Production Turbo Championship. Weller piloted the No. 748 Weller Racing / Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R side-by-side vehicle to six wins on the season to capture the inaugural Turbo UTV championship. She also took home the Lucas Oil Regional Series season championship in her home state of Arizona.
HEARTLAND CHALLENGE CHAMPION
Kyle Chaney (Can-Am / XPS / CT Race Worx) won the 2018 Heartland Challenge UTV race in his Can-Am Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle in Carlisle, Iowa. Chaney dominated the difficult four-hour, day-night endurance race that blends woods racing, short-course and endurocross obstacles. It was the second consecutive Heartland Challenge championship for Chaney.
LATIN AMERICA & AFRICA CHAMPIONS
The off-road racing scene in Latin America has a large following and Can-Am racers did not disappoint in 2018, winning several big races, including the aforementioned Dakar Rally. The tandem of Bruno Varela (son of Reinaldo) and co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin won the Afrique Merzouga Rally in Morocco, Africa. Enrico Amarante and Breno Rezende took the victory at the Rally dos Sertoes, which marked the sixth straight title for Can-Am. Casey Currie, won the Desafio Inca championship with his South Racing / Can-Am Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle as well this year.
The BRZ (Brazilian) Cross Country Nationals championship was earned by Deni Nascimento and Idali Bosse, while Rodrigo Varela too home the 2018 BRZ Baja Nationals championship in a Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle. Can-Am Maverick racers won all the titles and every round of the Nationals for the second year in a row.
Belgian Marc Lauwers, and co-pilot Bob Geens, successfully defended Lauwers crown, piloting their Can-Am Maverick X3 race vehicle to victory in April at the 10th Annual 2018 Morroco Desert Challenge Extreme Rally-Raid in Northern Africa.
AUSTRALIA CHAMPIONS
Can-Am Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle racing in the Australia and New Zealand region continues to grow and again had a successful year. Can-Am racers earned two championships in various series, including the Australian Off-Road Championship. Toby Whateley, who won the SxS Turbo class win at the celebrated Finke Desert Race, ended as the season champion. In fact, Can-Am racers took the top three spots in the season standings. David “Red” Loughnan won the 2018 Class 6 ARB Australian Off-Road Championship in his Can-Am Maverick X3 side-by-side vehicle.
RUSSIA CHAMPIONS
In its 9th season and continually growing, the Can-Am X Race Russia, is cross-country rally racing series that pits drivers, co-pilots and their vehicles against the elements and many obstacles in a three-race format to find true champions. It also offers four total SSV classes (based upon performance) and also a quad class.
Anatoly Kuznetsov / Alexey Smolin finished fourth at the Chelyabinsk Region finale to earn enough points to win the Can-Am X Race SSV Standard class title in their Can-Am Maverick X mr 1000. Guided by the victory at stop 1 on the circuit and two additional podium finishes, drivers Azat Minnikhanov / Ilnaz Gizzatullin won the SSV Sport class championship in their Can-Am Maverick X3 X ds Turbo R. The relatively new SSV Super Sport segment was the largest SSV class. Sergey Karjakin / Anton Vlasyuk secured the season championship in their Maverick X3 X rs Turbo R by winning the third stage of the series. The SSV Absolute class title went to Artem Khairullin / Alexey Kuzmich, who, despite not earning an overall win, proved to be the most consistent, scoring enough points to earn the series championship.
GERMAN CHAMPION
Racer Christian Böhnke (Moto Car Wiesmoor) won the German Side-By-Side Championship overall in his Maverick race vehicle. Böhnke won seven events to easily earn the series title.
For more information about Can-Am off-road products, visit the website here: https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/
About BRP
BRP (TSX:DOO) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of powersports vehicles and propulsion systems. Its portfolio includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am off-road and Spyder vehicles, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft. BRP supports its line of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and clothing business. With annual sales of CA$4.2 billion from over 100 countries, the Company employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide.
Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Evinrude, Rotax, Can-Am, Maverick, X3, Spyder, Smart-Lok, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Like a kid on Christmas Eve, Luke gets excited to give a full test review on the off-road racing inspired 2018 Textron Off Road Wildcat XX.
MARIETTA, Ga. – December 18, 2018 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, launched a new Build Your Own (BYO) function for the 2019 YXZ1000R and YXZ1000R Sport Shift (SS) pure-sport Side-by-Sides (SxS) on https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/pure-sport-side-by-side/byo/buildyourown/yxz1000r-ss-se/2019. Now YXZ owners and shoppers can customize and visualize their off-road dream machine online with Yamaha Genuine Parts and Accessories, including the new GYTR turbo kit, spare tire carrier, Torque Assist Gear (TAG) kit, tire and wheel packages, four-point harness, and more.
Yamaha currently offers over 55 accessories on www.ShopYamaha.com for the Pure Sport YXZ, allowing customers a multitude of options to tailor their Proven Off-Road SxS to their ideal riding environments and styles. The new BYO feature makes it easy for customers to shop, envision, construct, and price their ultimate and ideal YXZ1000R, further allowing a simple transaction and process when arriving at a local Yamaha dealer.
The site features new accessories for the 2019 YXZ1000R including:
• GYTR Turbo Kit: 60 percent increase in power with stock exhaust, less install time, air-to-water intercooler,
and liquid-cooled ball bearing Garrett GT2860RS turbo.
• GYTR Spare Tire Carrier: Refitted for both the new 2019 YXZ1000R bed and cargo box design for easy
installation without any modification, while maximizing storage area.
• GYTR TAG Kit: Updated for the new 2019 YXZ1000R models with an additional 32 percent reduction to
first gear for low speed crawling, and 22 percent reduction on gears second through fifth for optimal close-
ratio performance.
• GYTR Four-Point Harness Kit: Includes both harness and forged aluminum mount for strength and
durability, while offering quick and easy installation.
“The new 2019 YXZ1000R has been optimized to offer coast-to-coast pure sport performance in nearly any environment – from open desert to tight wooded trails,” said Steve Nessl, Yamahas motorsports group marketing manager. “With the new BYO feature on the Yamaha website, off-road enthusiasts can customize and accessorize their pure sport YXZ to match their specific needs, and experience nearly any adventure.”
Every Yamaha SxS and full size ATV is assembled at Yamahas U.S. factory in Newnan, Georgia, for worldwide distribution. View Yamahas entire Proven Off-Road lineup and Build Your Own SxS or ATV online at www.YamahaOutdoors.com.
Follow Yamaha Outdoors on your favorite social channels at www.facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, www.instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors, and www.twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors. #Yamaha #YXZ1000R #GYTR #ProvenOffRoad #REALizeYourAdventure #AssembledInUSA #ShiftJustGotReal
About Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the powersports industry. The company’s ever- expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Outboard Motors, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States. YMUS has a corporate office in Cypress, California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Further U.S.-based Yamaha companies include Skeeter Boats (Texas), G3 Boats (Missouri), Bennet Marine (Florida), Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana), and Kracor, Inc. (Wisconsin).
DIRT TRAX is an international award winning offroad motorsports program with National broadcast coverage on Sportsman Channel in the United States and in Canada on City TV, Wild TV, REV TV, Cowboy Channel, RFD TV and Sportsman Channel Canada, as well as international coverage on our popular YOUTUBE channel.
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