Yamaha sign-up champs
By Andy Foulkes on 8th Mar 13
Yamaha Motor Corporation has announced its 2013 ATV race team with championship-calibre riders in motocross and cross-country racing.
Yamaha also continues to support riders throughout the ranks with trackside programs and other benefits.
They have 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 represent Yamaha in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) XC-1 Pro Class.
Their support of these riders and more – and theircombined 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 calibre ATV race teams, with top riders competing in the country'sleading 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 honour and further cements Yamaha's commitment to ATV racing both on and off the track.”
The 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 the 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 DJ Noerr.
The 2011 AMA ATV Racer of the Year and XC-2 Pro Am champ Walker Fowler 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.
