| Powersports
ATV Tour Links |
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Rumors had been surfacing for months in regards to whether
or not there would be a WPSA ATV series this year.
As the 2008 season began to draw near, the financially
troubled company cancelled round one, which was
scheduled to kick off in May, and set off warning
bells for many teams and manufacturers that were
committed to racing the series. Repercussions
were soon felt throughout the ATV industry, as
the inevitable announcement was made on May 1st,
that there would be no 2008 season for the WPSA.
The cancellation of the series was a huge blow
to racers and manufacturers who had dedicated
their time and budgets to racing and supporting
the 2008 season. Race teams, such as Rath Racing,
who had been contracted through Polaris to specifically
race in the WPSA, are now scrambling to get
things in order so that they can race what is
left of the AMA ATV MX Nationals and the GNCC.
Unfortunately for the Rath team and many other
racers, they will be going into the AMA sanctioned
events with a serious points deficit, which
practically eliminates their chances of putting
their sponsors names on the podium at the end
of the season.
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With
the release of Outlaw 450MX & Outlaw
525S in 2008, Polaris & Rath Racing
put together a seven man race team (left
to right) Landon Hurst, Rich Stambach,
Cody Anderson, Daryl Rath, Brock Lyons,
Frank Batista, Jay Corey. The team made
their 2008 racing debut at Sunset Ridge
and will be attending the remaining AMA
ATV Motocoss Naionals along with the GNCC
Series
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“We had to go with our back up plan,”
said Daryl Rath. “We had to meet with
Polaris and our other sponsors and we worked
things out to where everyone is happy. We’re
going to run the balance of the MX Nationals
and the GNCC. Our riders are ok with it because
they know that there’s really nothing
that we can do about it except make the best
of the situation.” Rath explained. “It’s
really unfortunate that this had to happen because
the WPSA really brought ATV racing into the
limelight because of all the TV coverage. I
think it will definitely have an impact on the
industry in that respect.”
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| Jesse
West - Arctic Cat's 2007 WPSA Quad Terrain
Challenge Champion |
Jesse West, who was going to be racing his first
season with full factory backing from Arctic Cat
in the WPSA Quad Terrain Challenge has also had
to deal with last minute changes and set backs.
“We were pretty disappointed, but what can
you do?” said West. “The plan now
is that my brother and I are going to be racing
the rest of the GNCC races in the 4x4 Open Class
once we get the green light from Arctic Cat. We’ve
always enjoyed the GNCC and are actually really
looking forward to getting back into it,”
Jesse stated. West was a cross-over racer on the
WPSA’s snow side as well until he signed
his deal with Arctic Cat to race quads full time
for them. “Luckily, I’m not involved
with the Snocross this year, so at least that
side of it won’t be affecting me,”
West concluded.
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| In
2007, the West Brothers (Jesse & Josh)
traveled to the races in their pickup
truck & trailer, but with Jesse winning
the 2007 WPSA Quad Terrain Championship,
Arctic Cat has supplied team with a factory
rig for 2008, now they are just waiting
to find out what they will now be racing
in 2008 without the WPSA series.
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