ATVConnection.com

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA, has announced its 2013 ATV race team with championship-caliber riders in motocross and cross-country racing. The clear leader in sport ATVs, Yamaha also continues to support riders throughout the ranks with trackside programs and other benefits for riding blue.

Yamaha has signed Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown to race the AMA ATV MX pro class, Dustin Nelson to compete in the Yamaha QuadX Series and World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), and Walker Fowler to represent Yamaha in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC-1 Pro Class.

Yamaha’s support of these riders and more – and their combined successes in 2012 – earned it two of the industry’s most coveted awards: the AMA ATV MX and GNCC ATV Manufacturer’s titles.

“Yamaha is excited to announce its championship caliber ATV race teams with top riders competing in the country’s leading motocross and cross-country series,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha ATV/Off-Road racing coordinator. “Earning the manufacturer’s cups last year from both the AMA and GNCC series is a great honor and further solidifies Yamaha’s commitment to ATV racing both on and off the track.”

The reigning AMA Pro ATV champion Chad Wienen will again be racing a Yamaha YFZ450R for his Wienen Motorsports team this year. Wienen claimed his first-ever AMA championship last year aboard the YFZ-R with a 31-point advantage over his nearest rival capturing six wins and 10 straight podiums. Thomas Brown is also back for Yamaha and racing under the Wienen Motorsports banner after a strong fifth overall finish in the AMA series last year. A formidable pair, Wienen and Brown also took first and second place, respectively, at the 2012 Montreal Supermotocross event in Quebec in front of 40,000 fans.

Dustin Nelson of Nelson Racing, who holds a record five QuadX Series titles, returns for the 2013 season aboard his YFZ450R. Nelson will continue to focus his efforts on both the Yamaha QuadX Series and WORCS along with teammate Josh Row. The Nelson-Row combo comprises decades of experience across a variety of race series and events including a 2012 Baja 500 Open Pro 450 class team win alongside Travis Dillion and D.J. Noerr.

The 2011 AMA ATV Racer of the Year and XC-2 Pro Am champ Walker Fowler will lead the way for Yamaha in the GNCC series. He looks to continue his climb up the ranks in the 2013 season and maintain Yamaha’s winning history of championship cross-country racing.

“The 2012 season was the start of a refocused effort to further strengthen our team and trackside support programs, which proved very successful with championship runs and strong finishes from all of our riders,” Luce said. “Yamaha will continue to focus not only on these top riders, but also on the broader field of enthusiasts and up-and-comers through our dealers, trackside support programs and participation at major events throughout the year.”

Yamaha will continue its ATV trackside support program working with Layne Barnes and Pro Motorsports from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, covering all AMA ATV national events. Barnes is a longtime ATV enthusiast, and he and his staff will offer support for Yamaha riders by stocking replacement parts and providing technical assistance on race days.

Yamaha will also continue to support the Yamaha QuadX Series with help from Roy Bloodworth and his Big Kid Racing team (http://www.bigkidracing.com/). Bloodworth and his crew will continue providing parts, service, technical assistance and race information to competitors throughout the season.

“Yamaha is excited about this ATV race team’s potential for another championship season, and we wish all Yamaha riders the best of luck this year,” Luce said.

Racing enthusiasts now can keep up to date on all their favorite Polaris Factory Racers and racing news on the new Polaris Off-Road Racing Web Site.

This new site includes includes information on upcoming races, racer bios, news, contingency information and videos.

It’s been a long winter for sure but there’s hope on the horizon- racing series are starting to heat up. All of this off-season preparation can finally start paying off!

This weekend February 23-24 begins the season of two of the Midwest largest racing series IXCR and MWXC.

Not only are they both starting this weekend they are co-sanctioning for all out battle in the sand at the Badlands Off Road Park located in Attica, IN. Badlands not only is a nationally known off road park, they have some of the most unique riding terrain anybody can find. With a mixture of sand, whoops, creeks, hills, woods, open fields, mud, mx track and more Badlands has a combination that no other location can offer. The park will be fully closed to recreational riding on race day which is expected to be a big event. What better way to prepare for GNCC Florida than hitting the sand with some of the best racers in the midwest.

With classes to fit all skill levels any racer will find a class him or her can come out and have some fun while keeping it pinned.

Event schedule includes Side X Side action on Saturday with youth and adult bikes and quads racing Sunday. Dislike sitting in those long lines at registration? They have that covered for you too, head to the website where you can pre-register for the race. This automatically lets you skip the lines and grab your stuff for the race. For more information on times of event and details click here.

Central Oregon Off-Road Race Park, Oregon’s premier off-road short course racing returns to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds for 2013 with four high-speed race weekends. Race trucks, Tuff Trucks, off-road buggies, UTV’s, and Mini Trophy Karts will jump, slide, and roar through the .6 mile high-desert short track toward a season championship. Spectators, fans and motor sports enthusiasts are treated to door banging, and dirt throwing off-road racing with easy access to the Central Oregon track and Pit access to get up-close to the race machines and racers.

After a successful 2012 season, this year’s expanded four race season will also host a Ladies-Only race at each event.

2013 Schedule:

April 27th
June 29th
August 10th
September 21st

Next Race:
Date: Saturday April 27
Location: Deschutes County Fairgrounds – Redmond, Oregon
Time: Gates open at 8 am, Racing starts at 10 am
Cost: $12 Adults, Children 10 years or Under FREE!
Tickets: Available at Central Oregon NAPA Auto Parts Store and at the gate.

Are you a racer or thinking about some fun? Central Oregon Off-Road Race Park has entry fees as low as $50! See all classes and rules on the website.

NATIONALS

The ATV MX Championships have officially kicked off their 2013 season with the next event taking place Mar 23-24 at Washington, GA.

Full schedule can be viewed at their official site.

GNCC is also getting into the swing of things with the next event coming Sat Mar 9th – Tue Mar 12th 2013 at the Moose Racing River Ranch in River Ranch, FL.

Full info can be found on their official site.

WORCS has already been underway for the 2013 season since January with their next event coming in March 22-24 at Crazy Horse Lake Havasu CIty, AZ.

Full schedule and registration info can be found on their official site.

Yamaha Quad Cross hasn’t begun yet for 2013 but the opening round approaches: Round #1 Sunday – March 17th Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA.

Their complete info can be found here.

Dear ATVC:

I have a Honda 400EX that serves as my single all-conditions quad. Trouble is I often find myself alternating between technical trails and wide-open dune riding within a matter of days. Is there some magic gearing combination that offers the best of all worlds?

Generally speaking, stock ATV gearing choices are going to offer you the greatest range of conditions because after all, Honda has no way of knowing if your definition of fun involves tight technical trails, wide open dune riding, or carving laps on a track. They remedy the sheer number of possibilities by offering a sprocket combination that can do a bit of anything. That said if you’re the type of rider who likes to “set it & forget it”, your best bet would be to simply stick with the stock gear ratios.

If however you find you want to spice up a specific area of your quad’s power spread, here’s what you need to know: Additional low-end torque for conquering rocks, logs and steep climbs, reduce the number of teeth on your front sprocket or (since its typically easier to access, we would) raise the number of teeth on the rear sprocket.

Conversely if it’s top end gains you seek, raise the number of the teeth on the front sprocket or reduce the number on the rear.

When it comes to your sprockets, the general rule is that for every tooth you drop or add to the front sprocket is equivalent to 2.5 teeth in the rear.

Got questions for us? Ask them here!