ATVConnection.com

By and large magazines devoted to ATV racing have been few and far between. Sure a few pages are often set aside in the glossy rags to highlight a national or two but it’s a far cry from the personality-rich, lifestyle oriented literature enjoyed by many other powersports. To such complaints, we’ve always answered, “Check out ATV Insider Magazine”.

After a few years of laying low, it appears as though the boys of ATV Insider aren’t only back but back with a mission.

Having just released their Spring 2013 issue with the first SxS / UTV on the cover featuring Holz Racing / Polaris’ Beau Baron driving his Polaris RZR XP 900 SxS / UTV. With the ever growing popularity of SxS Racing, ATV Insider has decided to change its name to ATV & SxS Insider as we continue to expand our focus to also include the best of SxS Racing.

There many features in the premier issue ATV & SxS Insider that we are excited about including recaps of the opening rounds of 2013 GNCC Racing season, WORCS Racing Series, Mtn. Dew AMA ATV Pro Motocross Series. There is also an depth look at the WORCS SxS Racing that seems to grow in numbers each round.

Of course, there is also the fan favorites which include the ATV & SxS Exposed section and PULSE photos featuring Chris Borich, 2013 Arctic Cat Wildcat X 1000 SxS / UTV, GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Racer Johnny Gallagher, GNCC SxS Racing, WORCS Pro ATV Racer Robbie Mitchell, 2013 Polaris RZR XP 900 Jagged X Edition, and a special tribute to Josh “The Animal” Frederick.

The ATV & SxS Insider Spring issue will be available this weekend at WORCS Sand Hollow in Hurricane, Utah and at select racing events throughout the United States including the Big Buck GNCC in Union, SC, Mtn. Dew AMA ATV MX Ballance MX in Oakland, KY, AMA MAXC River Run in Bloomfield, IN, KCCR Hardwicks Creek in Clay City, KY, and numerous other events around the country.

To subscribe to ATV Insider please visit their site and be sure to like their Facebook page.

After a long and obnoxious winter, signs of spring are popping up all over. If you’re like us (and for the sake of your bank account, we certainly hope not), you’re already plotting on the trails you’ve been missing out on for the past few months.

The only snag is mud, mud everywhere! If you fancy yourself a mudder, this isn’t in a bad thing. Trail riders and racers alike however can be lugging on average 150-200 additional pounds of muck on the underside of their ATV.

Weight low on the chassis like this can not only greatly affect handling but it reduces fuel economy as well.

We’ve been experimenting with some low-tech solutions this season and are pleased to share the findings. In a word: foam!

Mud Free Foam Kit from Power Madd – $25

An ATV can collect over 300-pounds of mud in just a single race. This added weight slows you down, effecting your stamina and control. Riders spend a lot of time and money reducing the weight of their ATV and even a little mud can add it all back on.

- Kit contains 3 cut-to-fit sheets, enough for one sport ATV
- Can be used for more than one race
- Can be power washed
- Can be removed when not needed

Dynamite Mud Cap $32.99

Enter the Dynamite ATV Inside-Out Mud Cap, a foam insert that fits on the inside of the ATV rim to keep heavy mud and trail crud out. Bob Marshall owner of Dynamite ATV has come up with a simple yet effective solution to a problem many quad riders and racers face on tracks and trails all over the globe.

These black caps will fit the following 8-inch beadlock rims: Douglas, ITP Trac Lock (no reinforcement ring) and Hiper 9″ rims. Additionally the caps will fit most original DWT rims. The new G-2 Inner Mud caps are also available.

Radiator Foam Sheets $9.99

Having mud pack up on your ATV’s radiator is double trouble: Not only does it add unwanted weight, it restricts critical air flow. A radiator unable to flow air through its numerous nooks and crannies no longer has the ability to cool antifreeze being pumped through it.

-Cut to custom fit
-Will not restrict air flow
-Keeps radiator and engine clean
-Prolongs the life of radiator & engine
-Keeps mud out of cooling fins

Some of the most thrilling woods racing in the country will kick off on April 13 as the AMA Mid America XC National Championship Series gets under way in Madison, Ind. The 10-round hare scrambles series features a wide range of challenging venues that test riders’ skills on everything from high-speed courses to tight single-track trail.

The series, which launched in 2010, continues to grow and flourish, attracting more AMA members every year. It is promoted by Mike Gibbs and Mid America XC in Monrovia, Ind. The full schedule is available here.

“Mike and his crew continue to operate one of the most professional AMA-chartered promoting organizations in the country,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Chuck Weir. “They keep raising the bar for our off-road competition members in the Eastern United States, advancing what is already a superb program. Like the vast majority of AMA-sanctioned competition, they also offer competitive classes at every level of age, skill and displacement.”

Gibbs said that Mid America XC prides itself on running a series that appeals to everyone.

“Racers can expect to see a very family-oriented series and friendly atmosphere, with several families showing up the night before the event for camping and social activities,” Gibbs said. “They can expect a very organized event, which we pride ourselves on starting things on time as advertised and running the race day program in a very professional manner.”

Gibbs said that in 2013 riders will directly benefit from the series’ growth in recent years.

“We are stepping up the program this year with some very exciting venues and races for 2013,” Gibbs said. “We have Lucas Oil on board with us for the season and they are allowing us to have TV coverage for our race in Nashville, Ind.: The Big Nasty XC. MAXC is running this race on June 29 in conjunction with the first annual Indiana Bike Week. This will have a very generous payout for the pro racers and a lot of things going for the lower classes, as well.

For more on the AMA Mid America XC National Championship Series, click here.

Wienen Wins First AMA Pro ATV Championship aboard YFZ450RBrown’s Fifth Place Finish Helps Secure AMA Pro ATV Manufacturer’s Title for Yamaha 

CYPRESS, Calif.–Yamaha’s Chad Wienen secured his first AMA Pro ATV championship aboard his YFZ450R this past weekend at the 2012 season finale in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Thomas Brown, who finished an impressive fifth overall for the season, helped Yamaha secure the AMA Pro ATV Manufacturer’s title.

Racing a Yamaha YFZ450R for his Wienen Motorsports team this year, Wienen put together a smart pair of 3-4 moto finishes on August 11 to claim the historic championship with a 31-point advantage over his nearest rival. In all, Wienen took six wins and 10 straight podiums in his first season racing for Yamaha.

“After my injury last season, I was determined to make some major changes to my program and come back stronger than ever,” Wienen said. “With the support of Yamaha and the YFZ450R, Wienen Motorsports had the complete package to take the 2012 championship. The YFZ450R was bullet proof, and this was my first pro season with zero DNFs. We never missed the podium taking six wins, three second places and one third on our way to the Championship!”

“Chad and his Ryan Cox-prepared YFZ450R have added their names to the Yamaha history books by winning the most prestigious championship in ATV MX racing,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha’s ATV racing coordinator. “This is a great championship for Chad, the entire Wienen Motorsports team and Yamaha Racing.”

Brown, a five-year Yamaha rider, grabbed 5-3 moto results on the weekend to claim fifth in the 2012 overall season standings. Brown and Wienen have secured their place as a threatening pair in AMA ATV racing through countless hours of team training and winning performances on their YFZ450Rs.

“Yamaha congratulates Thomas Brown on another great season,” Luce said. “Brown has been a solid competitor consistently riding his YFZ450R to podium finishes in 2012 and was a key reason Yamaha captured the AMA ATV Manufacturer’s title.”

Yamaha Racing increased its presence in the AMA series this season adding Wienen and ramping up its trackside support for all ATV racers at each stop. Layne Barnes and Pro Motorsports from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, supported all AMA ATV national events on behalf of Yamaha stocking replacement parts and providing technical assistance to riders on race days. Yamaha, the number one brand in sport ATVs, also supports racers in the Grand National Cross Country series, World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) and Yamaha Quad-X Series. Follow more Yamaha racing at www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa.

About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS) a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States.

Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.
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ATVs over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older.

We can’t help but snicker when we hear of collaborations by companies with common themes- in this case one need only look skyward at night to find a correlation: Blingstar, Rockstar, Polaris (which is commonly known as the North Star) and J Star Motors have put together a race team they’re calling Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack is slotted to race in the Lucas Oil Regional Series and we’ve got their exclusive sponsor video clip here: