Valcourt, Quebec – Behind a third-consecutive UTV Pro Turbo class win by racer Phil Blurton and a stellar UTV Short Course victory by fellow Can-Am Maverick X3 racer Cody Miller, Can-Am dominated the 2019 UTV World Championship races, winning five classes, in Laughlin, NV.
Can-Am racers also competed around the world over the weekend, earning a win at the 2019 Afriquia Merzouga Rally in Morocco, Africa, and tallying another podium at the SCORE International San Felipe 250 in held on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.
“This was a statement-making weekend for us, winning the two main Pro classes here in Laughlin, but also grabbing three other wins and making history in the process,” said Jeff Leclerc, Team Leader, Can-Am race department. “Blurton and Judge continue to impress behind the wheel of the industry’s most formidable platform. Three straight UTV World Championship trophies is huge for Phil, our racing program and the Can-Am brand.”
The 2019 UTV World Championship race, which serves as round three of the 2019 Best In The Desert race series, easily had more than 400 entries and what many described as one of the toughest courses in years. All eyes were on defending two-time UTV Turbo champion class Phil Blurton, who has had great success at the UTVWC. Blurton and (co-dawg) Beau Judge didn’t disappoint as the tandem piloted their No. 944 Can-Am XPS No Limit RD Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R side-by-side vehicle to the UTV Turbo class win, making history. No other Pro level racer had ever posted three straight wins, but Blurton drove his turbocharged Can-Am to new heights.
“This was a fantastic race for us, as the our No Limit RD-prepped Can-Am Maverick X3 performed flawlessly and helped us win three straight,” said Blurton. “With the level of competition and number of entries continuing to increase, it just proves our determination and the performance of the Can-Am are as formidable as they come.”
Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R pilots Derek and Jason Murray (Can-Am ITP Murray Brothers) continued their impressive driving in BITD competition, earning third in the UTV Turbo class, finishing less than 10 minutes behind their Can-Am teammate. William Long (sixth) and Cole Freiday (ninth) also completed all 10 laps in their Can-Am Maverick X3 vehicles to secured top 10 finishes Saturday evening.
Australian Brett Comiskey (Comiskey Mining Services LSR Can-Am), the reigning BITD UTV Unlimited champion, notched his own remarkable 10-lap victory in the Nevada desert, winning his class and crossing the finish with co-pilot Daniel McKenzie in just under three hours and 30 minutes. Racer Michael Isom and James Konces (Mobbin’ Racing No Limit RD Can-Am) grabbed the holeshot and then the runner-up spot in the UTV Unlimited class, just ahead of another Maverick racer in third-place finisher Jeramiah Drew
Can-Am Maverick X3 racers also had great success in both the UTV Rally and UTV S ranks, earning two wins. Justin Bor and his co-driver Abbie Farris got the day started by winning the UTV Rally class, completing all six laps and winning by more than a minute. Cameron and Logan Meister also scored a victory in the five-lap UTV Sportsman race.
Sunday was reserved for short course racing and former ATV motocross racer and former two-time Grand National Cross Country champion Cody Miller had his Maverick X3 Turbo R locked in. Miller battled with his Can-Am factory teammates Kyle Chaney, and his brother Hunter Miller, but eventually outlasted everyone to record his first UTVWC title. The Texan completed eight laps in roughly one hour and four minutes to earn the win. Chaney finished second, just eight seconds behind, giving Can-Am another 1-2 podium finish.
“This Maverick X3 is one tough vehicle and was perfect today. I couldn’t be happier with the results,” stated Miller. “I’m pumped to finish on top of the podium against this field of talented racers in the one of the most prestigious racers I’ve ever competed in.”
Can-Am UTV World Champions & Podiums
Saturday
- UTV TURBO: 1. Phil Blurton (CA), 03:25:22.567
- UTV TURBO: 3. Derek and Jason Murray (CA), 03:34:34.204
- UTV UNLIMITED: 1. Brett Comiskey (AZ), 03:29:36.450
- UTV UNLIMITED: 2. Michael Isom (UT), 03:40:35.409
- UTV UNLIMITED: 3. Jeramiah Drew (NV), 03:51:19.314 0
- UTV Rally: 1. Justin Bor (CA), 02:08:08.324
- UTV S: 1. Cameron Meister (CA), 02:11:45.074
Sunday
- UTV PROD TURBO: 1. Cody Miller (TX), 01:04:13.285
- UTV PROD TURBO: 2. Kyle Chaney (OH), 01:04:21.719
- UTV PROD 900: 3. Brook Lynn Deman (NV), 01:11:34.562
More Success On A Global Level
Reigning 2019 Dakar Champion (car) Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Mathieu Beaumel competed in a Red Bull South Racing Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo R for the first time at the 10th edition of the Afriquia Merzouga Rally in Morocco, Africa. The talented off-road driver, who stated he wanted to try something new and hinted at the possibility of a future Dakar effort in a Maverick X3 SSV, proved his moxie in the Moroccan desert by winning the SxS category.
On the heels of American Casey Currie’s recent victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, another American and Monster Energy athlete Marc Burnett also tasted podium glory on foreign soil. He earned third place in the Pro UTV FI class at the 33rd annual SCORE International San Felipe 250 in Mexico. Can-Am racers earned five top 10 finishes in the premier SSV racing class at the opening round of the four-race SCORE 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship series.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the full 2019 schedule and the contingency program, e-mail: atvracing.can-am@brp.com. For more information about Can-Am off-road products, visit CanAmOffRoad.com.
