YFZR - First-year Champion

YFZ450R takes Quadcross title in its first production year

Yamaha posted this short video on YouTube about Dustin Nelson claiming the Quadcross title last season on the YFZ450R in its first year of production. That says a lot about a machine's performance, reliability and potential when the defending champ can go out on a brand new quad and still take the title. Check it out.

The 2010 Quadcross season kicks off March 14 at Glen Helen Raceway in California. Will Nelson repeat?

ATV-related injuries on decline

ATV.com is reporting the number of ATV-related injuries and deaths are on the decline, according to the latest injury report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to the report, ATV-related injuries decreased by 10 percent from 2007 to 2008.

These stats should further the argument that the CPSIA, better known as the "lead ban," instituted by the commission should be amended or revoked altogether. Here's the latest on the lead ban from the Motorcycle Industry Council. We've seen this before, it happened with the "Consent Decree" in the 1980s when the CPSC forced manufacturers to stop selling three-wheelers and, ultimately, performance sport quads until the decree expired early in the last decade.

Check out StopTheBanNow.com for more information.

ATVMotocross.com

INTERVIEW: DUSTIN WIMMER

Rachel Fluharty over at the AMA ATV Nationals promoter's group interviewed Dustin Wimmer and posted the brief interview at ATVMotocross.com Friday. Read Dustin talk smack about his former teammate and competitor Chad Wienen here.  

It's good to see Dustin talking to the media, even if it is answering softball questions from the ATVPG reporter, in anticipation of round one of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship at the end of March. I challenged Dustin in an editorial earlier this year to do just that and open up more about his ride, career and even personal life.

Keep it coming, Dustin!

The reigning ATV motocross champ sets up for a corner at Unadilla last July.

R.I.P. Team Kawasaki

A Salute to Team Green

Whether you bleed blue, yellow or red, every ATV rider lost a friend when Kawasaki announced late last year it would no longer fund an ATV motocross effort. That meant no more factory Kawasaki riders. No more big, green semi in the pro pits. And one less sponsor amateur ATV motocross racers could aspire to ride pro for.

The loss of Kawasaki will make a big impact on the sport come round one in Alabama at the end of March. As team manager, legendary ATV racer Jimmy White put together a professional effort that came close to winning a championship last season.

Maybe they pulled the ATV motocross effort because not enough KFX450Rs were selling. Maybe they couldn't afford it with having to pay Ryan Villopoto and Chad Reed to race the KX450F. Perhaps Kawasaki should have developed their sport ATV more into a motocross-ready racer like Yamaha, Can-Am, KTM and Suzuki have done.

Whatever the reason, I thought I would pay tribute to Kawasaki one last time for the efforts they made in fielding a competitive pro ATV motocross team. Here's hoping the Kawasaki rig will return to the ATV nationals some day soon.

No more factory Kawasaki mechanics will be spinning wrenches on pro quads, at least for now.

Count 'em. One, two, three Kawasaki guys cheering on their pro rider. This will be a scene sadly missed.

Say goodbye to Kawasaki support riders like Russell Shumaker.

Don't expect to see too many close battles this year, even in the pro-am classes. Not even the amateurs have an incentive to ride green, unless they have half a dozen left-over race quads from last year, which is unlikely.

Perhaps the saddest fact of all. Don't look for the 2010 ATV Motocross champion to win it all on a green machine.

YFZR build tip #1

FMI controller mount

In building the Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R, we encountered several common obstacles in prepping the new Yamaha for pure racing applications. A lot of new Yamaha owners have to find solutions on their own for some of these tasks, so we thought we would alleviate some stress for YFZ-R owners by periodically posting one of the solutions we came up with to prep the YFZ-R for motocross.

In our YFZ-R build tip #1, we'll briefly show you how we addressed mounting our Motoworks electronic Fuel Management Interface.

Every YFZ-R owner who wants to improve performance with an exhaust or airbox modification, and do it the right way, will have to install a fuel management interface. After installing our Motoworks FMI, we took a block of high-density impact foam, sliced it partially open and carved a pocket the depth and width of the FMI box, about 2 inches by 3 inches. We then adhered the velcro to the foam and the quad's plastic beneath the seat. We used the velcro to anchor the foam to the plastic, and the foam provides a secure, protective space for the FMI.

We mounted the TPR project YFZR Motoworks FMI tuner in the pocket where the factory toolkit is located.

Our FMI stays put even during the hard impacts dealt on the motocross track. And we can easily remove the foam during maintenance thanks to the velcro. We did not waterproof our Motoworks FMI because we didn't think we would need to just racing the quad only on motocross tracks, but if we tackle that we'll be sure to post how we did it. With the cost of the foam and a little duct tape for peace of mind, our first tip protects our Motoworks FMI for a cost of about $2.

Stay tuned for more tips on the new Yamaha YFZ450R.

TPR project YFZ450R                             

Before and After ... Suzuki and Kawasaki

'Greener' pastures for former Kawasaki riders

The demise of Team Kawasaki's ATV motocross support has yielded positive results for at least three riders who saw great success piloting KFX450R quads last season. Chad Wienen, Josh Creamer and pro rookie Cody Gibson are all on strong teams for 2010, but Creamer and Gibson share one thing in common. They will both compete on Suzuki LTR450's this year. Wienen took a tour of duty with the Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura team in 2008 with mixed results. Can the LTR yield a championship for one of the former Kawasaki stars?

Before...

Cody Gibson dominated the Pro-am ranks last season on a Kawasaki KFX450R by winning both Pro-am titles. The young rider looked to have a spot all but wrapped up with Team Kawasaki before the factory pulled all its ATV support.

 ...After

Gibson will enter his rookie year in the Pro class on a Mushin Racing LTR450. Look for Gibson to be a threat if he has improved his endurance during the off season. Check out the  Mushin Racing team  announcement at ATVRiders.com.

Before...

Josh Creamer developed the KFX450R into a contender as the now defunct Team Kawasaki's longest supported pro rider. Creamer lost his green ride when Kawasaki pulled its funding for ATV motocross last fall.

...After

Fans of number 9 got a treat this week when Creamer posted some pics of him training on his new Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura LTR450 in Florida on his Facebook page. If Suzuki can build him a DNF-free quad like they have for Dustin Wimmer and Doug Gust, then expect Creamer to be on the podium a lot. Check out Josh Creamer's profile at SuzukiCycles.com.

Gusset work discount

Fortify your ATV Frame

This is how your quad frame should start the season. The crew at Tarantula Peformance Racing sandblasted, repaired, gussetted and then powdercoated this Yamaha Banshee frame for a recent customer.

The off-season is arguably the least-favorite time of the year for every quad rider. Tracks are closed. Winter weather prohibits practice in most of the U.S. And it's time to fix all those things you broke tearing up the terra firma during the season.

Winter is commonly the time when most riders tackle a complete tear down and rebuild of their ATV. That means stripping it to the frame to replace bushings, bearings and to break a sweat on those time-consuming jobs that don't make sense during the season.

And it all starts with making sure your quad's frame is strong, straight and sealed to prevent rust and corrosion. Not everyone can weld, and repairing a frame incorrectly can lead to failures. So let Tarantula Performance Racing handle the dirty work. TPR is running a special on frame repair, gussetting and powdercoating until the end of March 2010.

The Gusset Kit

TPR starts with one of their precision laser-cut gusset kits, like this design for a Yamaha Banshee. TPR's gusset kits are available for most of today's top sport quads, including the new Yamaha Raptor 250. Most kits retail for about $90. TPR's certified welders will install the gusset kits for an additional, affordable cost. All of TPR's gusset kits are designed specifically for each ATV model to create the appropriate amount of flex without making the frame so rigid it can snap or crack.

The Frame

TPR starts with a bare frame and sandblasts it to remove any existing coating or paint. Expert welders then inspect each frame for cracks or bends and then conduct the necessary repairs.

The Weld

After a frame is repaired, TPR's welders install the appropriate precision-cut gusset kit. The welders at TPR have a combined 40-plus years experience riding and wrenching on ATVs. They know how and where a frame should experience the appropriate amount of flex, and TPR's gusset kits are designed to strengthen a frame without making it too rigid.

This picture shows a repaired and gussetted Banshee frame. Smooth, consistent and straight weld lines characterize the welding finesse and concentration exhibited at TPR.

The Finished Product

After your frame gets a day of beauty treatment at TPR's powder coat shop of choice, Capital Powder Coating in Suffield, Ohio, the crew at TPR packages your frame up and ships it out looking and performing better than it did when it rolled off the factory floor.

Don't set your quad up to fail before the season even starts. Contact TPR and give your quad's frame new life. Their current discount drops the price of all these services - sandblasting, repairing, gusset installation and powder coating - from $460.00 to $399.95 until the end of March.

Start your season with confidence. Start the season with a strong frame. Contact TPR today at 330-273-1123, or visit their site at www.tprusa.com/

Killer desktops

I thought I'd share some killer photos I came across while rummaging through shots from our photo shoot with Holly Winchester for an upcoming ATV Scene Girl.

The first shot is of the TPR project YFZ450R at Tarantula Performance Racing's CNC shop in Mentor, Ohio. Not bad for just a Nikon D3000 with a Nikkor 200mm lense.

The second shot is courtesy SEKrell Photography. Either or would make a killer desktop. I'll let you guess which one I'm using. Here's a hint: there's a quad in the photo.

We'll let you know when the remodeled ATVScene.com debuts with Holly as Scene Girl. Until then, you can keep your eyes peeled at www.atvscene.com

Summit Indoor - round one

Kandel wins Money Quad

Trent Kandel powers out of a corner at Summit Indoor round one sporting a TPR MX-Series front bumper.

Trent Kandel piloted his 751 HMF/ATV Four Play/TPR Suzuki LTR450 to the top of the podium during the money quad moto at Summit Indoor Motocross Saturday night.

Kandel ripped the holeshot on the night's fastest quad moto and led the entire race in front of Summit's biggest crowd in recent history. Northeast Ohio race fans were packed four deep around the track fence and overflowed from the bleachers to witness Kandel school the field.

Get used to seeing Kandel out front. He'll be running his HMF/ATV Four Play/TPR Suzuki LTR450 in the pro-am classes at the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship series beginning in March with round one at Alabama.

Trent will be running ATV Four Play long-travel front a-arms and Soft Bars, HMF engine work and TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars with a TPR MX-Series front bumper this season.

CRA announcer 'California' Ben interviewed the money quad moto winner at the end of the race in front of the huge crowd. Racers and fans came from all over the northeast to Summit Indoor, which has become a popular venue for amateurs and pros alike during the frigid winter months. A few years ago, Baldwin Motorsports pro rider and Ohio native Josh Upperman made an appearance and dominated in similar fashion to Kandel's run this weekend.

One race dad who stopped by the Tarantula Performance Racing/DRR booth said he came all the way from New York so his son could get some time in on his DRR race quad. In case you missed it, you can check out the TPR project YFZ450R at Summit Indoor Round Two, which gets underway Friday, Feb. 26.

The TPR booth at Summit Indoor round one will return for round two in February.

Indoor MX in Ohio

Tarantula Performance Racing will be set up at the Summit Indoor motocross races set for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge, Ohio.

Just look for the TPR banner!

TPR will be on hand with our latest motocross project, the Yamaha YFZ450R featured on ATV.com, and our DRR DRX70 build from last year. Stop by the booth and say hi!

ATV Nationals on TV?

ATVision 'Motosodes' back for 2010

'Televised' coverage of the ATV MX Nationals returns for 2010. Well, sort of. ATVision is returning to provide video coverage of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship this season with their 'Motosodes' to cover all 11 rounds.

Krista Watson and the ATVision crew get set to film a Motosode under the Suzuki tent at the 2009 Unadilla national.

We heard straight from the source Jason Weigandt and the crew are returning this season. ATVision had been based on QUAD magazine's Web site, but with news of QUAD folding in December it was unclear if the TV-like coverage from ATVision would return.

The fact that they're coming back is great news for the sport, considering whether any actual televised coverage of the races will occur is reportedly up in the air. Check out this story from the ATVRE Media Group for more on possible televised coverage of the nationals: http://www.atvyoungguns/ATV_Racing_Newsletter-01-11-10.html

Our sport definitely needs TV coverage. The WPSA series gave ATV racing a huge boost when its promoters televised the races on ESPN. You can credit the WPSA's TV coverage for getting factory rigs back in the pits.




Check out the ATVision Motosode Archive on YouTube or at www.atvmotocross.com

ATV.com Story 1

ATV.com posted the first story documenting the build of the TPR project YFZ450R.

http://www.atv.com/features/tpr-project-yamaha-yfz450r-1522.html

Look for the second story reviewing the quad's performance soon.

Turbulent Times

ATV Pros jump ship as factories pull support

The 2010 pro class in the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV National Championshp Series is giong to look very different when everyone lines up for the first moto in Alabama in March. At least 5 pro quad riders will be sitting on machines from different manufacturers than they competed on last year.

The reason? Blame the economy, but several factories either pulled or reduced their funding for the world's premiere ATV motocross series with little or no public explanation.

Let's take a look at some of the riders who will be switching up rides or running a different "color" quad to start the 2010 season.

Josh Upperman

Josh Upperman's on-track performance has steadily improved. If Honda actually stepped up and put a semi in the pits, like they should, Josh would be guaranteed a spot under the Red awning. But this year they pulled what little funding they were providing to his program with Baldwin Motorsports, and the move is visibly noticeable. Josh is tearing up the DWT World ATV Motocross Championship out west on a white Baldwin Honda and is likely to show up sans the red plastic at Alabama.

Josh may not have "jumped ship," but I can't blame him given the inventory he probably has in parts and the fact Mark has his quad dialed in. But switching to the white plastics and not running the "factory" color is about the sharpest jab they could make at this point. Upperman finished sixth in the pro class for 2009.


Pat Brown


Pat Brown and Yamaha have been synonymous for about the past five years. Pat did well on the original YFZ, even taking the win at the inaugural Open Pro ATV Invitational at Steel City in August 2007 on the same weekend as the bikes national. But Pat's performance of late has lacked, and he finished 2009 out of the top 10.

Yamaha put all their eggs in one basket for 2010 with Thomas Brown (no relation), who is coming off a solid rookie pro debut on the new Yamaha YFZ45oR. Rumor has it Pat could be competing with the ATV Media All Stars team, but on what quad remains to be seen.


Jeremy Lawson

Number 16 helped turn the Can-Am DS450 into a contender in just a few short years. He gave Joe Byrd a run for the title in 2007 when most everyone else threw their hat into the now-defunct WPSA ring. Lawson finished eighth in the pro class for 2009.

Jeremy is back with long-time sponsor Walsh Racecraft for 2010 and will compete on a Suzuki LTR450. Last we heard, in mid December Jeremy was still trying to put the finishing touches on his sponsor program for 2010. Best of luck, Jeremy.

Josh Creamer

Josh Creamer's move in the off-season involved probably the two biggest announcements in pro ATV motocross. First, news broke Kawasaki completely pulled its funding, eliminating the semi and any factory-backed pro riders. Then, Suzuki announced they snapped Creamer up to run out of their truck with defending champ Dustin Wimmer on a Yoshimura LTR450. Creamer finished fifth in the pro class for 2009.

Creamer's move is big because it raises two questions: What will happen to ATV legend and Kawi team manager Jimmy White? And, where will Doug Gust be in 2010?

John Natalie, Jr.

The Ironman is one of the few pros who won't experience a drastic change to his program for the 2010 AMA ATV MX National program. The friendly Pennsylvania native returns on a DS450 but will compete with Chad Wienen and Team Motoworks/Can-Am after campaigning with Can-Am Warnert Racing last season.

Unlike most of his competition, Natalie has the advantage of seat time. He won't be adapting to a new machine like many of the pros. John is arguably the sport's best spokesman, and if he earns another title it may be one of the best things that could happen to ATV motocross in 2010. "Lucky" number 13 finished seventh in the pro class for 2009.

Doug Gust

A living legend, Gust is the man who helped develop the defending champ's Suzuki LTR450 and arguably created the first motocross ready ATV right from the factory. Suzuki would have done well to keep Doug on in a development and testing capacity, but we've also heard that Gust may not even compete in 2010. He secured a spot on the team in 2009 only after finishing third in 2008. Had he finished any lower, Digger may not have been riding yellow last season. He finished fourth in the pro class to wrap up 2009.

Doug will be running several ride schools this year, and rumor has it he could be working with Polaris in some capacity for 2010.


Chad Weinen

The perpetual journeyman, Wienen repeatedly told the ATV press in 2009 he liked the program under Kawasaki's awning and wanted to finish his career there after moving from Suzuki's rig. Fate, it seems, would not agree with him. Word came of Wienen's jump from Kawasaki long before news broke of the team folding and Creamer's eventual move.

Number 44 proved his ability to adapt quickly once again and has already won the Montreal Supercross this winter on his new Can-Am ride. He joined former champ John Natalie on the Canadian built DS450 with Team Motoworks/Can-am, and Wienen has also won the first four rounds of the DWT World ATV Motocross Championship this year. Look for Chad to be Dustin Wimmer's toughest competition in the AMA ranks, if he can keep the DNF gremlins at bay.

We'll see if Chad has found a home he can settle into instead of moving on after just one season like his past two rides. He finished in third in the pro class for 2009.

Joe Byrd

Like Upperman and fellow Honda rider Harold Goodman, "The Professor" lost his support from Honda for 2010. It's unclear what Byrd has planned in his shop to roll out in March at the opening round, but my guess is he'll be on a Honda. Byrd hasn't changed brands since before his days on a 250R, and, like Upperman, he probably has a healthy inventory of Honda machines and parts he can rely on for the season.

Admittedly, we'd love for the earlier rumors to have been true of him rolling up on a factory KTM ride, but it doesn't look like those are going to play out.

The Byrdman is always a threat, but if he's got a limited parts allowance or just a handful of race quads, then he could be susceptible to mechanical gremlins throughout the season. Joe experienced a handful of mechanical problems in 2009 but still finished second in the pro class.

When will it end?

Other notable changes in the pro class for 2010 include Goodman, who is expected to focus exclusively on desert racing in 2010. Former pro-am star and 2009 amateur champ Cody Gibson looked ready to join the Kawasaki factory team, but we hear he'll be competing in the pro class with JB Racing in light of Kawasaki's departure from ATV motocross.

We don't know what the fate of Kawasaki satellite riders Keith Little and Russell Shumaker is. Other young pros including Cody Miller, Greg Gee and Nick DeNoble are anticipated to return to the nationals in 2010.

As for the rest, we'll have to wait until March in Alabama at round one to see how the 2010 season will play out for the pro class. These are certainly turbulent times for the ATV racing industry. Let's hope we can weather the storm and avoid another "lost decade" like we saw during the 1990s. One thing to be thankful for is the current abundance of high-tech, motocross ready sport ATVs still available at a dealer near you.

ATV Editorial

Calling Ricky Carmichael…

By Matt Fredmonsky

I’ve got a challenge for returning AMA ATV Motocross champ Dustin Wimmer: Pin the throttle, dump that back-torque limiting Hinson clutch and don’t look back. Sounds easy for the two-time champ, right? Tell that to the GOAT.

No other rider has proven more dedicated or more talented on two wheels than Ricky Carmichael. For more than a decade, from 1996 to 2007, Carmichael set countless records and won practically every championship in dominating fashion.

Undeniable records, like winning 24 of 24 motos during the 2002 outdoor nationals season, are what helped Carmichael earn the attention of mainstream media outlets like Sports Illustrated and bring televised motocross races into the homes of millions. In the past decade, Ricky Carmichael became a household name for motor sports enthusiasts. He is a supercross and motocross legend.

The Florida native earned his nickname, the Greatest Of All Time, and became the face of two-wheeled motocross during his career before successfully using his brand to jump into car racing. The GOAT his since passed the job of promoting dirt bike racing on to the likes of James Stewart and Chad Reed, whom you just might recognize from T.V. commercials for global icons like Nike and Toyota trucks.

We all know ATV racers have it rough compared to our two-wheeled cousins in more ways than one. ATV racers don’t have glamorous venues like AMA Supercross to help boost their fan base. And, despite recent cutbacks, motorcycle factory riders far outnumber the guys on four wheels pitting out of factory semis.

Those challenges hold true despite the fact annual motorcycle sales in the U.S. – about 1 million – continue to top ATVs by only about 250,000 units, give or take, according to recent figures from the Motorcycle Industry Council. Ironically, ATV sales have actually increased since the start of the decade.

With the struggling economy, there’s been a lot of talk in the ATV industry that the big shows like the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV National Championship Series don’t need the pros. After all, the amateurs far out number the guys with their pro cards. And the amateurs are the ones who truly support the industry by paying for many of their parts and actually buying their quads from dealerships.

So why spend millions on one or two racers?Because those premiere racers are where every amateur wants to be. Dedicating every moment, training day and night to win races – and getting paid to do it – is every rider’s dream. Our sport has some incredible amateurs, but not many of them are endearing enough to avoid getting lost in the crowd. That’s where the pros come in.

On Sunday afternoons, the track fences are the most crowded for the pro and pro-am motos, when strength of will, preparation and machine are put to the test. And it’s not just their families watching. It’s that guy who drove from Tennessee to Kentucky with a number “7” painted on his chest. Or it’s those weekend warriors from Ohio who’ve never seen Doug Gust in person, so they made the short drive to Pennsylvania to watch just how fast the legend is.

There’s no doubt we need the amateur racers. They are the sport of ATV racing’s life blood. But we also need riders who can be ambassadors, who can be spokesmen, and who can transcend the sport and appear in a dirt bike magazine ad – like Gust – or look like they belong on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

But maybe more than anything the sport of ATV racing needs its own GOAT, someone who can capture the world’s attention for their strong will, seemingly superhuman achievements and respectable demeanor. And who else is young enough, dedicated enough, and has the right support to earn the crown for ATV motocross? Coming back from a shoulder injury to win four motos in a row last season and take back the title is proof enough in my book.

So consider this part of the challenge, Dustin, for your next guaranteed appearance atop the podium. Your prowess on a quad seems unmatched, so take a promotional lesson from one of our sport’s best ambassadors, John Natalie Jr., and share some insight with your fans and talk up that hot Suzuki ride that got you there.

Fredmonsky is a professional newspaper journalist whose byline has appeared in Dirtwheels and on ATV.com. He has been racing and riding ATVs since the age of 5 and also freelances by writing promotional materials for some of the ATV industry’s top companies. Look for him at the track with Tarantula Performance Racing.

SEKrell Photography

A serene moment. That's what still photos capture of an ATV rider. The image is calm and motionless - a juxtoposition to the actual intensity of that moment.



The TPR project YFZ450R is indeed a work of art, so we enlisted the help of a true artist to document this build. Expert, Akron-based photographer Stephanie Krell has shot some of the action and still images of the finished quad. You'll see some of her best work when ATVScene.com launches their new site.

To check out a slideshow of her work, check out this link; it includes pics with our ATVScene Girl model, Holly Winchester: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamerakrell/sets/72157622885870943/show/

Special thanks to Steph for helping sponsor the build. To peruse more of her professional work, click on the link for SEKrellPhotography under the sponsors banner at the right. You'll be seeing more of her work on the TPR project YFZ450R soon!