The Buzz Happenings Around the Industry Week of June 24
June 24th, 2011
by Jason Giacchino
Yamaha Helps Customers Identify Expert Dealerships
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has launched a new online resource to help customers identify leading motorsports dealers who have been trained and recognized by Yamaha as product experts in sales, service, parts and accessories.
A new section of Yamaha’s website helps explain the Pro Yamaha dealer excellence program to motorsports customers and contains valuable information for anyone shopping for a motorsports product.
Internationally known motorsports broadcaster Dave Despain introduces the website in a video stating: “When you’re putting down your hard earned cash, you want a dealership that gets it. Gets you. Someone that understands your machine inside and out.”
The new website delivers the Pro Yamaha Mission; outlines the High Standards that customers can expect from a Pro Yamaha dealer; defines what a Pro Yamaha Specialist is in the categories of Star, Sport and Outdoors; and offers Customer Testimonials so site visitors can hear directly from other enthusiasts.
“Pro Yamaha identifies and supports the best motorsports dealers, and this new website will help customers find these dealers,” said Mike Nolan, Yamaha National Dealer Network Manager. “This program is really about providing the best possible customer experience, and we’re seeing this happen more and more on Yamaha showroom floors and in service departments across the country as the program expands.”
Whether shopping for an ATV, motorcycle, generator or other motorsports product, customers can check out all of the new information and videos online at: www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/pro_yamaha/pro_yamaha_details.aspx
Customers should also look for the Pro Yamaha badge next to participating dealers listed on Yamaha’s online dealer locator: www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/dealers/dealerhome/home.aspx
Matlock Racing Wins in Baja
The #1A Matlock Racing Pro ATV Team of Matlock, Miller & Caster once again find themselves in the winner’s circle at the 2011 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 on June 4th in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico.
On June 4th over 250 entries started at the 43nd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with the expectations to finish the race and hopefully cross the finish line first. The Matlock Racing team once again covered the rough and boulder strewn course with the fastest time in class 25 for the 4th year in a row.
Less than a month before heading south to Baja, team leader Wayne Matlock had a mountain biking accident that ended with a torn ACL in his knee. A week before the race, the Matlock Racing team headed south of the border to Ensenada and began prerunning. With his injury, Matlock was unable to ride a quad until he began prerunning, however this did not hold him back and his knee seemed to be holding up during the week of riding. After a week of prerunning, each team member was prepared to take on the course at race speeds.
Not only did the #1A Matlock Racing Team finish a full hour and 56 minutes ahead of the next class 25 quad but they also averaged 39.90 mph over the extremely rough course to finishing just 5 minutes behind the overall quad. This finish was good enough for the Class 25 Pro ATV win and would move the Matlock Racing Team back into the points lead.
Dustin Nelson Takes Round 4 at Quad-X
The 2011 Yamaha Quad-X Series has reached the halfway point, and Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson continued his domination of the series on Saturday at Speedworld MX in Surprise, AZ. Despite soaring temperatures, difficult track conditions and the unique challenge of racing at night, Nelson strung together two first place moto finishes to take his fourth overall victory of the 2011 Quad-X season.
Nelson’s Yamaha/GYTR teammate Josh Row turned in his best performance so far this season, fighting off the advances of Beau Baron, Dirkie Baard and David Haagsma to take second overall behind Nelson. Rounding out the podium was David Haagsma, who went 2-3 for third overall.
MCR/Maxxis rider Beau Baron struggled at Speedworld MX, suffering a blown engine in the first moto with just two laps remaining, and battling to a 7th place finish in moto 2 for 9th overall. Baron remains in second place in the race for the 2011 championship with 80 points, the gap between Baron and points-leader Nelson has widened to 20. With four rounds remaining in the 2011 series, the battle between these two racers is sure to heat up.
For more information, go to www.quadxseries.com
Top Five Results
1) Dustin Nelson (Yam)
2) Josh Row (Yam)
3) Davi Haagsma (Hon)
4) Dirkie Baard (Hon)
5) Jesse Goss (Suz)
Top Five Points
1) Dustin Nelson 100
2) Beau Baron 80
3) Dirkie Baard 76
4) Ethan Thatcher 75
5) Josh Row 70
St. Lawerence Radiology Pitches in to GNCC Purse
The Motosport.com Snowshoe GNCC is always a unique stop on the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, with its scenic atmosphere and beautiful location in the Allegheny Mountains. But what sets Snowshoe apart from other stops on the circuit is the enhanced purse that is offered up to the racer who claims the afternoon race overall.
St. Lawrence Radiology Imagining Sites and Hospitals have stepped up to provide a ,000 purse to the racer who claims the overall win in the afternoon ATV and bike races respectively.
“I have been a long time off-road motorcycle and ATV racing enthusiast and want to do something that has an immediate impact on the riders that race GNCC,” said Mike Maresca.
“My wife Barbara and I admire the efforts of Racer Productions and their quest to organize premier races in the country. What better way than to supplement the purse for the toughest race in America,” Doctor Maresca added.
Spectator passes for the race run for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.
For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com
BlueRibbon Coalition Testifies on Behalf of Riders
A spokesman for the BlueRibbon Coalition, a national trail-based recreation group, has testified at a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on June 22.
In 2002, Dirt Rider Magazine listed the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) as one of the top 10 OHV recreation sites in the country. This popular off-road area was closed by an emergency closure order issued by the Bureau of Land Management in May of 2008. The unit remains closed to all publics. While the closure only “technically” closed 33,000 acres, it functionally closed 75,000 acres, since practically all route networks originate in the closure area.
Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, “I believe the Hollister Field Office, with the Environmental Protection Agency as an accomplice, has failed to fulfill its congressional multiple-use mandate via its current effort to use junk science and personal agendas in an ongoing scheme to close public lands and create de facto Wilderness at CCMA without Congressional approval or direction.”
“I believe that Congress must intervene and help the public get answers to the many unanswered questions regarding the bizarre and historic closure of CCMA to all human uses and the ongoing decision-making process surrounding the May 2008 emergency closure,” Amador concludes.
Congress Told OHV Industry Good for Economy
Testifiers also told this key U.S. House subcommittee on June 22 that off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation puts billions of dollars into the U.S. economy, and public land needs to be opened up for motorized recreation, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
Supporters of H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, testified that the bill would free up almost 43 million acres of public land that now may be off-limits to off-highway riding.
The testimony came during a House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands oversight hearing on “Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands, chaired by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah).
The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 would remove stringent use restrictions on 6.7 million acres managed by the BLM and on 36.1 million acres of U.S. Forest Service land that was evaluated for strict congressional Wilderness land-use designations.
The federal agencies have determined the 43 million acres aren’t suitable for Wilderness designation, yet because of various laws and rules they must continue to strictly manage the land until Congress “releases” it for other possible uses, which H.R. 1581 would do.
To urge your federal lawmaker to support H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, go to www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/issueslegislation
STI on the Web
STI Tire & Wheel has announced the launch of its all-new website: www.stitireandwheel.com/.
The new site is loaded with information and images regarding all things STI. Visitors will find in-depth news on products like Black Diamond and Tech 4 tires, HD Alloy and Sport Alloy wheels, and pre-mounted tire/wheel kits for utility and 4×4 ATVs, side-by-side UTVs and sport quads. They have press reviews and testimonials from product owners, photo and video galleries, a tech info page and event reports. The media center will provide the industry with numerous photo, logo and press release file downloads. It’s everything anyone needs to know about STI, all in one convenient location.
PRP Seats Race Sponsorship
PRP Seats is making it easier for you to race the 2012 King of the Hammers. Whether you’re building a UTV, Stock, Stock Mod, our Ultra 4 car, PRP Seats has created the perfect package for you.
One simple package lets you buy all the required parts from PRP for a discounted price, and the best part is when you win, PRP Seats will write you a check for what you paid for the package.
This offer applies to all classes at the 2012 King of the Hammers event to both new and existing PRP customers. To be eligible for payback you must run all PRP Products included in the package and the required stickers on the race vehicle.
The ,028.00 package includes the following items:
2 Comp Seats
2 Window Nets
2 Seat Belts
4 limit straps
2 Tool Bags
1 Impact Bag
2 Large Decals
4 Small Decals
PRP seats will be on the lakebed for the 2012 running of the King of the Hammers and verify that you have the correct equipment and sticker placement. Then, when you win, they pay you. It’s as simple as that!
Order your race package today by calling (800) 317-6253 or visiting www.prpseats.com