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Evolution
of the Sport ATV & Racing Preview
::Continued::
If you’re not old enough to know these
names, you will have to trust me when I say it
was the hayday of our sport, until now. A new
chapter is being written with new names and the
choices those riders have to make are unprecedented.
On the cross country side of things, names like
Yamaha’s Bill Ballance, Suzuki’s Chris
Borich, Polaris’ William Yokley, Can-Am’s
Chris Bithell, and KTM’s Adam McGill among
other big names will be battling not only for
victory on factory rides, but for the manufactures
rights to be the lead dog in this fast evolving
and ultra competitive marketplace where being
number 1 on the track means sales on the showroom
floor.
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| Yamaha's
Bill Ballance is racing the all new YFZ450R
for 2009 as he chases after his 10th straight
GNCC Pro Championship |
Suzuki's
Chris Borich made the switch to the Suzuki
LTR450 QuadRacer in 2008, and he is back
with Suzuki again for 2009 |
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KTM
released their new 450SX & 505SX at
the end of 2008 |
On the motocross scene, there is Suzuki’s
Wimmer & Gust, Honda’s Byrd & Goodman,
Kawasaki’s Creamer & Wienen, Yamaha’s
Pat Brown, Can-Am’s Natalie & Lawson,
Polaris’ Mitch Reynolds among others who
will be doing their best to shut the others down
and bring their quad to the forefront of publicity
for the manufacture. With Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha,
Kawasaki, Can-Am, and Polaris all poised to strike
another blow this season, a new hat will be tossed
into the ring with the recent release of the KTM
450SX. KTM hasn’t announced any Pro racers
attending the AMA Pro ATV MX Nationals as of yet,
but by the end of this season, conceivably we
could see 7 major manufactures offerings on the
gate!
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| For
2009, Mitch Reynolds makes his Motocross
Pro Class debut on the newly updated Polaris
Outlaw 450MXR with the Rath Racing Team |
In
2008, Can-Am released their MX & XC
Version of the DS 450, and Can-Am will have
2 race teams at the AMA ATV MX Series for
2009 |
As the 2009 ATV race season gets ready to rip
its way to a track near you, the decision on which
model to buy is probably more muddled then ever.
Not only are there more models to pick from, but
they are all so close in terms of performance
that one can go batty trying to decide which quad
will best serve our purpose. Power, handling,
styling, contingency, aftermarket parts availability,
manufacture preference and even down to the color
you like all swarm around the decision making
process like a group of mullet heads at the t-shirt
stand at a Twisted Sister concert!
For some, the choice will be easy, for others
it will be agony as the last time I checked money
did not grow on trees especially since the economical
downturn. A $7,000 purchase, another $5,000+ in
parts to bring it to race spec are not taken lightly
by those not getting a free ride from the sponsorship
gods. I am awaiting the first report of a rider
having a nervous breakdown when faced with the
decision at the local mega dealership that happens
to have all the models side by side just begging
for you to take one of them home. I have experienced
this, it is not pretty, however picking what donuts
make up a dozen lacks the impact of such a large
financial purchase. Maybe a few "enie meanie
miny moe's" will be helpful as well!
Whatever the outcome, no matter which model gets
the nod, 2009 will mark a new page in our history
as the racing fever ramps up to a fevered pitch.
Riders are discussing the options, salesmen are
being versed in how best to counter the competition
and the battle has started and the first wheel
hasn’t even turned. Good luck with your
decision, and have a safe season in 09!
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