The terrible news: There will be no yamaha factory effort in the GNC, GNCC, desert series, stadium, or anything else this season. I read an article in ATVSport that interviewed all the major PR guys from Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Bombardier, Arctic Cat (why?), and that was about it.

Suzuki is managing a full-on effort supporting Gust with backing from Yoshimura. They are also partly supporting Yokley, but he isn't considered a "factory rider." We all know Honda is paying Farr in the millions to "sell product" essentially. Ballance is even riding a YFZ, and Yamaha is not giving him a bike, money, mechanics, nothing. Their PR rep., and I forget his name, said that...

"Yamaha has given the sport the best machine out their now. They will see what develops with this machine, and how the sport reacts to it. There will be considerations then for a possible effort for the '05 season."

What a bunch of bull! I can't believe Yamaha isn't putting money back into the sport. Instead they built the best bike available (as far as competetive racing is concerned) and are going to simply sit back and collect the dividends. What does this say for Yamaha? Are they scared? Or are they going to blow us away next year with a rig like they have for the supercross guys like Reed and Viullemin?

However, Yamaha's PR guy did throw in some sublties that suggest Yamaha is not bowing out. Since they don't even have a contingency program (which Honda does), I am somewhat erked.

In the mean time, next time I go to my local dealer I'm going to voice my complaint. Maybe word will get round to the big guys.....who knows.

 

They were probaly talking with Artic Cat to see if they would be entering the backing a DVX 400.

 

As long as the majority of the field are running YFZs, there is no reason for factroy support. That's the purpose behind it to begin with.

 

Very true.

Support in the form of salary...maybe Yamaha isn't put forth.............but support in the form of new YFZs as the platform to their race quads for this year is better than nothing.

And don't forget about Chad Duvall. He has gotten YFZs to contest the GNCCs this year as well. Not rumor, but fact.

I think the PR guy speaking to Sport doesn't have a clue......OR the interview took place before any deals were made.


BTW.......The FST YFZ470 featured in the new DW is awesome.

 

Well, found something interesting here.

Acording to ITP, they are furnishing equipment for the following FACTORY riders for the 2004 season.

Tim Farr................GNC MX Series.....Team Honda
Jerimiah Jones......GNC MX Series.....Team Yamaha/Sparks Racing
Chad Duvall..........GNCC Series........Team Yamaha/Am-Pro
William Yokley.......GNCC Series........Team Suzuki/Yoshimura
Doug Gust............GNC MX Series.....Team Suzuki/Yoshimura
Jeremy Schell........QCC Series..........Team Green/Duncan Racing

Seems that Jones and Duvall are getting bikes only.

It's like the dirtbike guys in SX. You have about 7 factory guys out on the track running "works" parts and the other 15 guys get bikes from the factories, but are backed up by aftermarket companies.

Either way.......The sport was nothing like this last year!!