Yamaha 2026 Race Contingency Program

Yamaha expands who gets paid in 2026.

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA is expanding its 2026 competitive ATV racing program with increased contingency support for BLU CRU racers competing across the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC), AMA ATV Motocross (ATV MX), and World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS). The BLU CRU program increased its potential bonus payouts this year, with defending champions Brycen Neal and Joel Hetrick returning to extend their four-season win streaks.

2026 BLU CRU Program Highlights:

Increased potential BLU CRU bonus payouts available across all premier supported ATV series
Defending champions Brycen Neal and Joel Hetrick both seek to extend their four-season win streaks
ATV MX, GNCC, and WORCS pro ATV classes will each receive championship BLU CRU bonus payouts
BLU CRU bonus payouts for GNCC’s WXC – ATV women’s class doubled
BLU CRU-eligible Yamaha models expanded with 2024 or newer Grizzly and Kodiak ATVs purchased in the United States, in addition to YFZ450R
All BLU CRU racers and vehicles must be registered annually at YamahaBLUCRU.com for eligibility

GNCC: Neal, Fowler, and Merritt Face Off Again in 2026

Brycen Neal chases his fifth consecutive GNCC XC1 Pro – ATV title, representing the BLU CRU aboard his Phoenix Racing / Moose / Kenda / Elka / Walsh / Racecraft / Yamaha YFZ450R. Neal ended 2025 with eight victories and twelve podium finishes on his way to the championship. He will be joined by fellow BLU CRU YFZ450R racers, seven-time XC1 Pro – ATV champion, Walker Fowler (WFR Racing Yamaha), and BLU CRU ambassador, Josh Merritt (Merritt Racing Yamaha), who respectively finished second and third overall in 2025.

Reigning WXC – ATV champion and BLU CRU YFZ450R racer Chloe Harper will defend her title against fellow BLU CRU racer, ambassador, and two-time champion Jessica Elioff, who returns in 2026 aboard her Elioff Racing / BNR / GBC / Fly Racing YFZ450R in pursuit of the increased women’s BLU CRU contingency payouts.

Additional GNCC classes eligible for a total of $45,500 in Yamaha BLU CRU contingencies include XC2 Pro-Am – ATV, Junior A (20+) – ATV, Junior B (19+) – ATV, College A (16-19) – ATV, College B (16-18) – ATV, and the all-new 4×4 Sport class for single-cylinder utility ATVs, encompassing the Grizzly and Kodiak models. The GNCC series begins February 14, 2026, at the Big Buck Farm in Union, South Carolina.

Retired Yamaha ATV pro GNCC racer, Johnny Gallagher, will continue to provide onsite BLU CRU support at every GNCC round.

ATV MX: Hetrick Looking to Stay on Top

Joel Hetrick returns to defend his four-season championship streak aboard his Phoenix Racing / Moose / Maxxis / Elka / Walsh / Racecraft / Yamaha YFZ450R. He capped off the 2025 season with nine overall wins for his sixth AMA Pro class championship.

Yamaha racers secured several ATV MX class championships and podiums in 2025 across the Pro-Am, WMX, Pro Sport, Production A, Production B, and Production Stock classes in 2026. The BLU CRU program will continue to support racers in these classes with payouts with a combined series contingency totaling $43,500. The ATV MX season begins March 14, 2026, at Decker Training Facility in Fountain, Florida.

Eight-time ATV MX pro champion Chad Wienen will continue his legacy with Yamaha as an ATV brand ambassador for BLU CRU, focusing on the ATV MX series, along with attending other special events in 2026.

WORCS: Yamaha Continues the BLU CRU Program Support

The WORCS series offers premier competition for ATV riders on the West Coast, with events hosted at various tracks starting in Blythe, California, on January 23, 2026, and concluding on November 6, 2026, in Parker, Arizona. Racers competing on the Proven Off-Road YFZ450R are eligible for a total of $19,750 in contingency payouts in the ATV Pro, Pro-Am, and Woman Pro ATV classes.

BLU CRU Membership

Racers and qualifying YFZ450R, Grizzly, and Kodiak ATVs must be registered annually with BLU CRU at YamahaBLUCRU.com to claim contingency payouts. All newly registered racers receive a BLU CRU swag bag, along with all other perks including special promotions and exclusive Yamaha merchandise. To register, view all BLU CRU requirements, membership details, renewal information, and more, visit YamahaBLUCRU.com.