Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. has announced its 2013 ATV race team with championship-caliber riders in
motocross and cross-country racing. Yamaha also continues to support
riders throughout the ranks with trackside programs and other benefits for
riding blue.
Yamaha has signed Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown to race
the AMA ATV MX pro class, Dustin Nelson to compete in the Yamaha QuadX Series and
World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) and Walker Fowler to compete in the
Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC-1 Pro Class.
Yamaha's support of these riders and others-and their
combined successes in 2012-earned it two of the industry's most coveted awards:
the AMA ATV MX and GNCC ATV Manufacturer's titles.
"Yamaha is excited to announce its championship-caliber ATV
race teams with top riders competing in the country's leading motocross and
cross-country series," said Donnie Luce, Yamaha ATV/Off-Road racing
coordinator. "Earning the manufacturer's cups last year from both the AMA
and GNCC series is a great honor and further solidifies Yamaha's commitment to
ATV racing both on and off the track."
Reigning AMA Pro ATV champion Chad Wienen will again be
racing a Yamaha YFZ450R for his Wienen Motorsports team this year.
Wienen claimed his first-ever AMA championship last year aboard a YFZ-R with a
31-point advantage over his nearest rival, capturing six wins and 10 straight
podiums. Thomas Brown is also back for Yamaha and racing under the Wienen
Motorsports banner after a strong fifth overall finish in the AMA series last
year. A formidable pair, Wienen and Brown also took first and second
place, respectively, at the 2012 Montreal Supermotocross event in Quebec in front of 40,000
fans.
Dustin Nelson of Nelson Racing, who holds a record five
QuadX Series titles, returns for the 2013 season aboard his YFZ450R. Nelson
will continue to focus his efforts on both the Yamaha QuadX Series and WORCS
along with teammate Josh Row. The Nelson-Row combo comprises decades of
experience across a variety of race series and events including a 2012 Baja 500
Open Pro 450 class team win alongside Travis Dillion and D.J. Noerr.
Walker Fowler, the 2011 AMA ATV Racer of the Year and XC-2
Pro Am champ, will lead the way for Yamaha in the GNCC series. He
looks to continue his climb up the ranks in the 2013 season and maintain
Yamaha's winning history of championship cross-country racing.
"The 2012 season was the start of a refocused effort to
further strengthen our team and trackside support programs, which proved very
successful with championship runs and strong finishes from all of our riders,"
Luce said. "Yamaha will continue to focus not only on these top riders,
but also on the broader field of enthusiasts and up-and-comers through our
dealers, trackside support programs and participation at major events
throughout the year."
Yamaha will continue its ATV trackside support program working
with Layne Barnes and Pro Motorsports from Mt. Pleasant, IA,
covering all AMA ATV national events. Barnes is a longtime ATV enthusiast
and he and his staff will offer support for Yamaha riders by stocking
replacement parts and providing technical assistance on race days.
Yamaha will also continue to support the Yamaha QuadX Series
with help from Roy Bloodworth and his Big Kid Racing team. Bloodworth and his
crew will continue providing parts, service, technical assistance and race
information to competitors throughout the season.
"Yamaha is excited about this ATV race team's potential for
another championship season and we wish all Yamaha riders the best of luck this
year," Luce said.
