Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/511164
26 • May 25, 2015 • Powersports Business ATV/UTV www.PowersportsBusiness.com While March weather in much of the country was predictably unpredictable, spreading mixed reports of overall retail sales, Suzuki dealers recorded year-over-year sales gains for a variety of Suzuki motorcycles, scooters and ATVs. The dual sport and enduro segments were strongest overall, and bright spots in other product segments are signs of future sales blooms. While it's not the prime selling season for ATVs, the Suzuki KingQuad 500AXi mod- els moved in March, showing a 30 percent year-over-year sales gain. Suzuki credits this increase in sales to the 2015 model improve- ments and a new aggressive pricing strategy that lowered the base model of the KingQuad 500AXi by $500. To further spur sales of all Suzuki motor- cycles, scooters and ATVs, Suzuki created the Zero Excuses sales event to help consumers and dealers connect on any Suzuki model. This sales promotion gives consumers financ- ing as low as zero percent or cash back up to $1,000 and covers a wide range of Suzuki models and model years. YAMAHA VIKING VI AUCTION RAISES $22,000 FOR SEAL FAMILIES Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, recently donated a new Special Edition Matte Silver Viking VI to the SEAL-Naval Special War- fare Family Foundation. The assembled-in- USA Viking VI was auctioned at a foundation fundraiser near San Diego, raising $22,000 for the organization's mission of supporting SEAL members' families. The SEAL-Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Family Foundation is a San Diego-based 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds for special programs in direct support of the NSW families on a local, national and global scale. "Yamaha Motor USA is proud to support the SEAL-NSW Family Foundation and its important mission for a second year," said Steve Nessl, Yamaha's ATV/side-by-side group marketing manager. "The funds raised by the Viking donation go directly to a very worthy cause, and we hope that the event and support from all the donors helps raise aware- ness for this valuable organization." The new Special Edition Viking VI comes in Matte Silver paint with aluminum wheels, a soft sun top, mud flaps, overfenders, under seat storage and a bed rail accessory mount. MSRP is $14,999. ITP RACERS ON THE PODIUM AT GNCC RACE The ITP Tires Grand National Cross Coun- try (GNCC) racing team had an impressive April 25-26 weekend, tallying five wins and seven podiums, at a mud-caked Limestone 100 in Springville, Ind. Westley Wolfe put together his best race of 2015, earning a class victory and a top ATV amateur award at the fifth round of the series in Indiana. "We couldn't be more pleased with the amount of wins earned by our racers in such difficult conditions at the Limestone 100," said Pat McGuire, ITP public relations and race support. "Westley Wolfe, who has matured tremendously in just one year, put in a very impressive run in the mud, earning the Top ATV Amateur Award in the afternoon. And it was extremely nice to see Dave Sim- mons stretch his current winning streak to eight straight races, dating back to last year." Wolfe was the top finishing ITP racer in the afternoon session, finishing 12th overall among all racers, including XC1 Pro, and first in the College A (16-21) class. Wolfe ran 6-ply ITP Holeshot GNCC tires on his Yamaha. PARTS UNLIMITED OMA SERIES OPENS IN MISSOURI The 2015 Parts Unlimited OMA Series sponsored by Moose Racing got off to a great start April 4-5 in Memphis, Mo. Because of the Easter holiday, it was the only race series that was running, but it turned out to be great for Moose Racing-sponsored riders. The series has implemented a new, two-race format this year, and with great weather overhead, every- thing shaped up nicely. The ATVs got things rolling, and when it was all said and done, Moose Racing's Chance Kellison won his first OMA Pro ATV race. Four-time OMA champion Jimmy Jarrett went into the first round re-energized and ready for action. He came out swinging and narrowly missed taking the overall, but ended up on the podium with a third-place finish. ARCTIC CAT, BASS PRO PART OF TREAD LIGHTLY! MEMBERSHIP DRIVE The national nonprofit Tread Lightly! and its partners Bass Pro Shops and Arctic Cat announced a new program designed to advance stewardship of the outdoors by grow- ing Tread Lightly!'s member base. Individuals who join or renew their membership between now and Sept. 30 will be automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Arctic Cat 2015 Wildcat Trail XT side-by-side and high-value Bass Pro Shops gift cards. Those who join or renew their Tread Lightly! membership at higher levels can increase their chances of winning an Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail XT side-by-side or a $1,000, a $500 or a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift card by receiving more entries into the drawing. Additionally, participants who visit a Bass Pro Shops store can join using a specially- marked form to earn double the automatic entries in the drawing. Winners will be announced on Oct. 15. "Membership in Tread Lightly! is an excellent way to help protect the great out- doors and our access to enjoy it," said Lori McCullough, Tread Lightly!'s executive director. "We're thrilled that Bass Pro Shops and Arctic Cat are offering such an exciting incentive for people to raise their level of good stewardship." Ninety percent of funds Tread Lightly! raises go directly to supporting its on-the- ground initiatives, including an expansive library of educational materials, comprehen- sive public awareness campaigns, educational volunteer training and Restoration for Recre- ation projects. Its work encompasses nearly every form of outdoor recreation. To join now, visit JoinTreadLightly.org. STI LAUNCHES ROCTANE XS STI Tire & Wheel has introduced a new and improved Roctane XS tire that features a lighter carcass and a rounded contour that greatly enhances high-speed handling. Two new 14-inch sizes — 28/10R-14 (MSRP: $179.25) and 30/10R-14 ($202.55) — are DOT- approved for use on paved roads (where legal). The Roctane XS was designed to be a lighter version of the heavy-duty Roctane XD, a favorite of off-roaders exploring rugged canyons and extreme trails. With these fresh updates, the Roctane XS delivers an improved level of performance and maintains its dura- ble heritage. The new XS tires use 8-ply rated construction and have been tested in racing conditions nationwide. The tires' symmetrical center tread pattern has been revised slightly for improved performance on hardpack sur- faces. This change helps improve cornering traction while keeping the tire's smooth- riding character. Roctane XS tires feature RocWall sidewalls and super-deep rim guards for wheel protec- tion. The XS tires are also available in 30/10R- 15 and 31/10R-17 sizes (not DOT approved). ELKA SUSPENSION LAUNCHES 2.5-INCH STAGE 5 SHOCK Elka Suspension Inc. has released its new 2.5-inch Stage 5 shocks for UTVs. This new product has been in development for more than two years and is now becoming available on the market in limited quantities for the Polaris RZR XP 1000, Can-Am Maverick DS and Arctic Cat Wildcat series. More applica- tions are currently under development and will soon become available. "The design of this platform is derived from our latest Stage 5 technology that allows massive oil displacement combined with a less restricted oil flow, providing arguably the smoothest feeling shocks ever made for UTVs. The suspension feels firm and planted yet smooth enough to absorb all types of impacts using only the travel that is needed without bottoming out, no matter where the shock is in its stroke," said Martin Lamoureux, presi- dent of Elka Suspension. Built to withstand the abuse thrown at newer long-travel high-power vehicles, the 2.5-inch Stage 5 delivers the suspension per- formance needed for drivers who want to push their limits. This new product features Elka's new generation dual-speed compression, rebound and spring preload adjustments. It also provides a new feature that allows fine-tuning of the springs' crossover spac- ers to precisely control the transition from the dual-rate springs to the main spring, allowing fine tuning of the plush initial portion of the wheel travel vs. a firmer spring platform deeper in the travel to prevent bottoming-out. Other features include low-friction Teflon-coated body (PTFE), a sturdy induction-hardened 3/4-inch (19mm) steel shaft and durable hard- anodized billet machined aluminum components. The Stage 5 technology has been race-proven for years in the ATV world, and it is now being further developed and tuned specifically for UTVs with the help of pro drivers such as former ATV legend and long-time collabora- tor William Yokley and his teammate and nephew John Yokley (Polaris/Coastal/ CST/Yokley Racing) in the GNCC Series, Can-Am Factory driver Matt Hancock in the WORCS and Best In The Desert Series and Desert Toyz's Cory Sappington in the BITD Series. Several other pro drivers such as Alex Fortune and (Arctic Cat Factory Team), brothers Cody and Hunter Miller (Can-Am Factory Team) and Shawn Hess (Hess Motorsports/Houser Racing) are also long- time development partners with Elka. Elka Suspension is also teaming up with select reputable partners to offer engineered packages combining the best UTV products catering to those who expect more than what the stock vehicle has to offer: DragonFire Racing, Houser Racing, Lonestar Racing and RacerTech. PSB DIGEST Suzuki KingQuad 500AXi posts March sales gains awareness and funds for special programs in Yamaha donated a Special Edition Viking VI to the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation. Westley Wolfe (left) won the College A (16-21) class and also took home the Top Amateur Overall Award at the Limestone 100 GNCC in Indiana, using ITP Hole- shot GNCC tires on his ATV. Elka's newest shock, the 2.5-inch Stage 5 for UTVs, brings a 56mm aluminum body and reservoir.