Bryan Buckhannon, defending 4×4 Open class champion, won in Florida on his ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am Outlander 800R.

Valcourt, Québec, March 15, 2013 – Five Can-Am® 4×4 ATV racers won their class at the opening round of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series in River Ranch, Fla. Robert Smith, who won the U2 class aboard his Can-Am Renegade® 4×4, was the top finishing Can-Am racer and also took second overall on the morning podium. Reigning 4×4 Open class champion Bryan Buckhannon notched a victory on his Outlander™ 800R. XC1 ATV Pro class racer Jarrod McClure earned fifth in his first GNCC race competing on his Can-Am DS 450™ ATV.

“We had a good opening round of GNCC racing, earning five class victories, a top five in the Pro class and having Can-Am racers Robert Smith and Bryan Buckhannon reach the overall morning podium,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We’re excited to be back racing in the GNCC series and are already looking ahead to this weekend in Georgia. Not only will be looking to notch more victories with Can-am ATVs, but we will debut the exceptional Can-Am Maverick™1000R in GNCC side-by-side action.”

The Florida course lived up to its reputation as being one of the most difficult races of the season, as the extremely dusty 10.5-mile track was very rough, sandy and full of palmetto tree roots and stumps. In morning action, Smith not only won the competitive U2 class aboard his Can-AM Renegade, but also surprised himself in the process. Smith, who overcame a somewhat serious arm injury suffered a month prior to the race, outran every 4×4 in the field to earn second overall in the morning session. Renegade ATV racers Jordan Phillips and Corry Savage rounded out the U2 class podium.

(From left) Bo Jones, Robert Smith and Bryan Buckhannon made up the 4×4 Podium, finishing third, first and second, respectively.

“It’s big to win the opening round. I never thought it would happen because I’ve been off the quad for a month. To go out there and get a win was unbelievable,” said Smith.

“The track was rough with lots of roots and rough edges. It was a lot of fun to be on a four-wheel drive Renegade and stay on top of everything.”

ATV Parts Plus / Can-Am X-Team racer Buckhannon won the 4×4 Open class by more than two minutes and stood on the overall morning podium (third) and the 4×4 podium (second). It was his second straight year winning the 4×4 Open class at the Florida opener. Earning his first GNCC podium finish, Bo Jones rode his Can-Am Outlander to second place in the 4×4 Open class, followed closely by JB Racing / Can-Am pilot Sam Williams.

Corydon, Kentucky’s Bo Jones finished second in the 4×4 Open class and earned his first GNCC podium finish.

“It got a little bit tough at the end of the day, but I was able to pull off the class win,” said Buckhannon. “All I want to do it have fun and try to win my class this year.”

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

Battling all day long with defending champion Dylan Dixon, Ellis passed Dixon on the last lap during the first moto to take the Race 1 win.

Anaheim, Calif. – March 14, 2013 – GBC Motorsports riders kicked off the opening round of the 2013 Dirt Series with a bang, recording several class wins at the series’ first trip to Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. 

The Quad Pro class proved to be not only an exciting battle in both motos, but it marked the return to competition for the former ATV pro and current GBC Motorsports Sales Rep Kory Ellis. Battling all day long with defending champion Dylan Dixon, Ellis passed Dixon on the last lap during the first moto to take the Race 1 win. Race 2 ended up much the same, with another late pass by Ellis locking away the Overall win. It was a good start to the season for the pair of GBC riders and featured strong performances on GBC Bomb Squad MX tires.

“The Dirt Series is really run well and it looked like so much fun last year that I decided to give it a go at the opener,” Ellis said. “We’re thrilled to once again be a part of the Dirt Series. GBC Motorsports is proud to support local race series like this because it gives us the chance to interact with the young racers that are going to carry this sport into the future.”

The Dirt Series started to pick up a lot of steam towards the end of the 2012 season, and that is highlighted by the expanded presence of UTV racing in this year’s opener. GBC Motorsports racers claimed the top spot in three of the four UTV classes, all aboard the new Kanati Mongrel tires.

Leading the way was James Hill, who pulled both hole shots with his Mongrels and finished 1-1 to take the first round victory in the UTV Unlimited class. In the UTV Production 1000 class Tommy Scranton finished in 12th after a tough day.

Leading the way was James Hill, who pulled both hole shots with his Mongrels and finished 1-1 to take the first round victory in the UTV Unlimited class. In the UTV Production 1000 class Tommy Scranton finished in 12^th after a tough day.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

Minneapolis, March 11, 2013-Thirteen side-by-sides, including Jagged X’s Matt Parks and Jason Spiess in their 1932 Jagged X/Polaris RZR XP 4 900, lined up for the first SCORE race of the season, the San Felipe 250. The race was the inaugural race for the “Pro UTV” class in the series and when the dust settled, Parks and Spiess would take the checkered flag and be one of only two side-by-sides to finish from the class.

The San Felipe 250 is notorious for being the roughest race in North America with endless whoops, deep silt and rocky sand washes.  But after Parks did his pre-run, he knew that this would be a race of survival.

“The UTVs start dead last in SCORE races and after 240 vehicles had been through the course, it was unbelievably rough. So, we just decided to set a steady pace and take care of the car,” Parks said.

At the 100 mile mark, the Jagged X RZR XP 4 900 was in second place and was working its way through some of the trucks and buggies.  At the second fuel stop at race mile 173, Parks was leading by more than 20 minutes and they just needed to bring it home. Driving the last two hours in the dark, the team took the checkered flag and sprayed champagne on the podium at the famous San Felipe arches.

“I am super stoked that we started the year with a win,” Parks added. “Jagged X did a great job prepping the RZR and Jason Spiess did a great job calling corners and keeping me patient. I’m excited for the 500!”

The next SCORE race is the Baja 500, in Lake Ensenada, Baja Mexico May 31-June 2.

Jagged X is sponsored by Polaris, Walker Evans Racing Shocks, Kroyer Racing Engines, Pure Polaris Extreme Duty Oil, Muzzy’s, OMF, Team Industries, CR Designs, Vision X and Simpson Safety Equipment.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joey DiGiovanni // UTVUnderground.com

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

Rookie Brycen Neal Takes the XC2 Pro Am Win

River Ranch, Fla. (March 11, 2013) - Four-time GNCC champion Chris Borich picked up where he left off in his championship winning season in 2012, capturing the win at Round 1 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series in River Ranch, Florida. In a hard fought two-hour battle to the finish, West Virginia’s Adam McGill and Ohio’s Walker Fowler rounded out Sunday’s podium behind Borich at the 4th Annual Moose Racing Westgate River Ranch GNCC.

XC1 Pro class rookie Braden Henthorn grabbed the first holeshot of the 2013 season aboard his Team Woodhead/DeRisi Racing Honda machine, battling with teammate Eric Hoyland early on. However, it wasn’t long before the GNCC veterans of Lonestar Racing/Precision/ITP’s Adam McGill and reigning champion Chris Borich took over the lead battle, followed closely by fellow Maxxis-backed rider Chris Bithell. The trio flip-flopped for the lead throughout a majority of the two-hour race before Borich eventually set a pace that was hard to match up front.

Rookie Braden Henthorn grabbed the XC1 Holeshot

Borich’s new Suzuki counterpart, Chris Bithell, made the switch to yellow in 2013 and the Pennsylvania boy held the pressure on Borich in the beginning of the race and the two began to gap the field around the halfway point. McGill eventually put himself between the Suzuki duo, where they remained until the checkered flag.

AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler experienced carnage in the first corner, setting the young Ohio native to the back of the pack right off the start. It didn’t take long for Fowler to push his way inside the top five, eventually contesting the podium battle by the end of the two-hour competition.

Pennsylvania’s Jarrod McClure debuted his all-new JB Offroad/Can-Am ride this weekend; staying inside the top five all day. McClure battled with Fowler early on before experiencing a small machine issue that caused his Can-Am team to fall back a few positions, maintaining fifth for the day.

Borich and Bithell battled for the lead for a good portion of the race

Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jeff Pickens kicked off the season with a sixth place finish, edging out BNR’s Kevin Yoho, who is fresh off a pre-season injury that kept him off the machine for the weeks leading up to Round 1. Rookies Braden Henthorn and Greg’s ATV & Cycles rider Gabe Phillips made the jump to XC1 this season, finishing eighth and ninth respectively in their pro class debut at River Ranch. Yamaha/GBC/HMF’s Johnny Gallagher rounded out the top ten.

GT Thunder’s Yamaha-mounted Brian Wolf stuck with the leaders early on aboard an all-new machine for this season but after an early crash, Wolf wasn’t able to finish the race.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

Lorenzo Santolino and Team MB Racing of Raga Garcia started the season on the right foot by winning the first race of the Spanish Championship held in Santiago de Compostela.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

2013 GNCC Series Kicks off in Southern Florida

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (March 6, 2013) – The setting is all too familiar to four-time GNCC champ Chris Borich as he heads into Round 1 of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series with the number one plate in tow. On Sunday, Borich will attempt to fight off America’s fastest XC ATV racers at the Moose Racing Westgate River Ranch GNCC, while the rest of the field prepares to dethrone the champ in 2013.

Borich’s closest pursuer in 2012, Ohio’s Walker Fowler, returns to the front line this year aboard an all-new AmPro Yamaha team. As a rising star in the GNCC ranks, Fowler has chalked several wins throughout his career-including one win over Borich last season-but the young gun has found that beating the champ isn’t an easy feat. It’s also not one that Fowler plans to back away from any time soon.

Can Borich hold off the rest of the field in 2013?

West Virginia’s Adam McGill switched to a privateer-backed effort in 2012, causing a little bit of stress on his final results due to mechanical failures along the way. However, McGill managed to grab a race-win late in the season to give him fourth place overall in XC1 and a high level of confidence leading into the new season. McGill returns aboard his Lonestar/Precision/ITP Honda with high hopes of contesting the championship.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

]]> http://offroadhub.com/borich-looks-to-defend-his-title-at-this-weekends-gncc-opener/feed/ 0 http://offroadhub.com/polaris-initiative-puts-focus-on-commercial-audiences/ http://offroadhub.com/polaris-initiative-puts-focus-on-commercial-audiences/#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:09:00 +0000 Off-Road Hub Mag http://offroadhub.com/?p=16008 Company’s first purpose-built commercial vehicle line BRUTUS™ leads its work vehicle portfolio MEDINA, Minn., (March 6, 2013) Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, today announced an initiative to expand into the commercial vehicle market. As a result of this initiative, Polaris® unveiled the Polaris BRUTUS™, the company’s first purpose-built commercial [...]

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

]]>

Company’s first purpose-built commercial vehicle line BRUTUS^™ leads its work vehicle portfolio

MEDINA, Minn., (March 6, 2013) Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, today announced an initiative to expand into the commercial vehicle market. As a result of this initiative, Polaris^® unveiled the Polaris BRUTUS^™, the company’s first purpose-built commercial vehicle line and the first side-by-side utility vehicle in the market to deliver front-end power take-off (PTO) capability.

As the recognized leader in the powersports industry with 2012 sales of $3.2 billion, Polaris applied the company’s industry-leading utility vehicle expertise to create a diverse product portfolio of commercial-grade vehicles. The new BRUTUS models are specifically engineered for individuals and businesses that seek capable, durable task vehicles.

In addition to the BRUTUS line of work utility vehicles, Polaris’ commercial offerings include current vehicles utilized by customers as reliable daily workhorses. The portfolio consists of models from the hardest working, smoothest riding family of RANGER^® side-by-sides and SPORTSMAN^® all-terrain vehicles, as well as the GEM^® line of premium compact electric vehicles.

“The introduction of the BRUTUS product family is part of our commitment to offer the commercial customer innovative and relevant vehicles that best suit their needs,” David Longren, Polaris Vice President, Off-Road Vehicles (ORV) and ORV Engineering said. “Through our 60 years of engineering experience, strategic alliances with other industry leaders and our incredible network of dealers, we are able to provide the commercial market with the most productive, reliable and versatile vehicles.”

The BRUTUS product line is an outcome of the strategic alliance formed between Polaris and Bobcat in 2009. The co-developed vehicles leverage the strengths of both companies with Polaris’ expertise in utility vehicles and the powersports market, and Bobcat’s experience in work vehicle technology and attachments.

Manufactured at Polaris’ Spirit Lake, Iowa, facility, the BRUTUS models leverage technology found in the Polaris RANGER line and are comprised of three models – BRUTUS, BRUTUS HD and BRUTUS HDPTO. The line was built to be the most versatile, most capable and most comfortable side-by-side utility vehicles ever created, enabling users to complete more tasks without spending more time and energy.

The BRUTUS models offer a 24-horsepower diesel engine with hydrostatic transmission which delivers all the torque and power needed to get the job done. An innovative treadle pedal allows travel in forward or reverse without shifting gears, providing an ideal setup for commercial applications. BRUTUS vehicles provide a class-leading six inches of suspension travel, which combined with On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive, allows for safe and comfortable transportation of passengers and cargo over virtually any terrain.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

BREA, CA – March 2, 2013 – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (the “Company”) today announced that the Honorable Scott C. Clarkson of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana approved the confirmation of the Company’s Chapter 11 Plan, which creditors overwhelmingly accepted. Confirmation of the Plan clears the way for the Company to complete its restructuring process, which is expected to occur on March 31, 2013.

As previously announced, the Plan approved the Company’s sale of its Motorcycles/ATV and Marine divisions and Automotive parts and service operation to a newly organized, wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation. The subsidiary will operate in the continental U.S. as Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. and will use the Suzuki products brand name

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

CYPRESS, CA – February 13, 2013 –  Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., announces the fifth anniversary of its OHV Access Initiative, the industry leader in Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails (GRANTs). Launched in January 2008, the program has aggressively funded the ever growing and diverse needs of the OHV community in support of its mission of promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable access to riding areas. A few of the highlights of the past five years include:

• 200 GRANTs and more than $2 million in funding and equipment in pursuit of the program’s mission.
• GRANT-funded projects in 37 of our 50 states. The GRANT tracker map showcases the program’s cross-country appeal and highlights future opportunities for underrepresented areas.
• Yamaha employees have personally embraced the tenets of OHV Access Initiative, putting in more than 1,500 volunteer man-hours planting trees, clearing trails and supporting restoration efforts on company-adopted trails in the San Bernardino National Forest.
• A new address, www.yamahaohvaccess.com is where you can download our application and submission guidelines and find our calendar of deadlines.

“Yamaha is very proud of everything the OHV Access Initiative has accomplished throughout these five years, but the challenges before us remain,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha will continue to focus on the OHV program’s mission and reach out to riding groups and other appropriate organizations to strengthen opportunities for motorized recreation today and in the future.”

As part of its on-going program, the OHV Access Initiative closed out the 2012 funding cycle awarding more than $76,000 in GRANTs in the fourth quarter bringing the year’s total to $375,000. The following organizations received GRANTs in Q4 2012:

• Johnson County, Tenn.
• Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League, N.J.
• Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association, Montana
• Straddleline ORV Park, Ore.
• Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), N.Y.
• Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD), Calif.

“New Jersey became the latest state with a GRANT-awarded project this quarter, bringing the OHV Access Initiative’s total to 37 states,” Nessl said. “This is a great achievement, but there’s more work to be done.”

Yamaha is actively seeking qualified projects at local, state and federal levels. The current OHV Access Initiative GRANT application form and guidelines are available online at www.yamahaohvaccess.com. The next deadline to submit a GRANT application is Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine

Polaris today introduced a new limited-edition RZR S 800 EPS Sunset Red available in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, MS, SC, TN, LA, NC, OK and TX. The unit includes the following features and is available for $15,999.

Off-Road Hub ---> Your Off-Road Information Engine