Hello!

On February 21st at the Grand Prix de Valcourt, the 450cc ATV were introduced to the program. Being a factory Can-am racer and Valcourt being the home town of the Can-am brand, I had to line up for the race and be READY. I am new to the Ice racing world but I did a few race during the winter and I was competitive right away. To say that I was HOOKED is a good word because I have a blast doing it and also the traction we get with the Ice screw is just amazing. The GP de Valcourt is quite an event, more than 10 000 die hard fans line up the fence to watch Snowmobile Ice racing, Snowcross racing, Moto Ice racing and now the ATV race. The fans favorite is definetely snowmobile Champ 440 racers Jacques Villeneuve Sr., brother of late F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve and uncle of Jacques Villeneuve Jr., the F1 and Indy driver. But on that weekend Jacques Villeneuve Sr. is all the name you need. He is one heck of a racer at some 56 years old.  Check out the news on his scary 100mph crash in the final on Sunday:

http://fr.canoe.ca/sports/nouvelles/archives/2010/02/20100221-203228.html The lastest news on him are good. I witnessed the crash from the side line and it froze my blood!

The race track was a 5/8 mile man-made ice speedway that is so big and long that you get dizzy watching it, but racing it you get one of the best feeling! ATVs were getting close to 80mph at the end of the straightaway and not slowing down much for the corner.

Competition was fierce with some ICE race specialist like JF Theriault, Karl Lebanc, Dany Fiset, PY Deneault and also Jasmin Plante, ready to race and the old timer Sylvain “Arsene” Arsenault. All in all, 15 quad racers were invited for the event. I made sure my Can-am DS 450 had the best possible setup and all the power we could get out of it because horsepower would be the name of the game.  I actually made a special drag style pipe that ran out on the side of the nerf bars, my mechanic Mathiew gave the OK after some Dyno runs that were screaming loud but hey, that’s what the fans like! And the sound was still no match to the Open piped Champ 440 two-stroke snowmobiles, now that’s something!

Practice went really good, I changed the gearing a bit after practice 1 as I was hitting the rev limiter in 5th gear with a already tall gearing! I quickly checked off the Wideband to get the EFI on the edge and my Rotax engine was running perfect. The racers were split in two groups for the Qualifier. I got a good jump out of the gate and made a drag race to the first corner with Dany Fiset, just sneeking him on the inside for the Holeshot. With a clear view, I could hold my line to the checkered flag for the win.

Final race, I had the first pick and chose a straight line to my race groove in the first corner but it was young gun Marc-Antoine Auger on the inside with the best start and the Holeshot in Corner 1. I was able to use the fast race groove to edge him out of Corner 2. The race was on! I ran the nine first lap like a clock hitting my marks like a Nascar driver until lap 10 of 12. I went wide a bit and hit some loose snow and I lost some time. Number 391 JF Theriault was on the move and made some time on me but I was able to keep it together for the last 2 laps to edge him for the win. Let’s just say that the BRP/Ski-doo/Can-am fans went crazy. It was a good feeling to deliver a big win like that in BRP home turf, or rather home ice I should say!

A thumbs-up to the events promoter for including quads at this event. It was a great way to showcase some ATV racing! They know how to put an event together with great racing, demo rides, games for the kids and a true bragging rights atmosphere! See you next year!

Check out the ATV qualifier:

http://www.flagworld.com/photos/v/2010/2010-02-21/Videos/2010-02-21+-+Grand+Prix+Ski-Doo+de+Valcourt+-+VTT+web.wmv.html

Richard Pelchat

www.rpevolution.com

Hi!

My name is Mike Estes, I’m the NW Cove Rep for Oregon and Washington, I also handle Alpinestars apparel for men and youth. In addition to all that- I’m one of the 4 contributors to Pinkbike, I’m the MC/Host for the Fluidride Cups from 08-09 and this year I will voice the newly formed Port Angles NW Cup (with a PRO GRT stop) and the Fluidride Series (on Mt Hood Oregon). I live in Hood River OR and am also an avid trailbuilder here with 3 trails I steward.

Just wanted to thank you guys for making the Stage 5 so incredible and I look forward to getting more riders rolling Elka!

2009 Overall 40+ DH Champ, 2009 Washington State DH 40+ Champ, 2009 Oregon State 40+ DH Champ, NW Regional 40+ Champ, and ended my season #2 ranked in the USA.

Cheers!

- Mike

OIL CITY, PA …It was a tough choice with all of the offers, but Hetrick Racing Pro-Am rider Joel Hetrick has made his decision and is once again set to ride Kawasaki for the 2010 season.

Hetrick Racing’s own Joel Hetrick has made the decision to once again ride the Kawasaki for the 2010 season. Because of intense interest in Hetrick, there were many offers on the table, which made the choice a challenging one.  “The main reason for my decision is because I can win both Pro-Am divisions on this ATV,” said Joel Hetrick. “Confidence is everything in the racing world and this bike gives me plenty of it.”

The 2010 season has changed in some ways from last season, and the sponsors that have come on board to help the proud, young racer are very substantial.  Hetrick is pleased to be working with Kawasaki, Elka Suspension, JB Racing, DWT with Maxxis Tires, Motoworks exhaust systems, Rath Racing, Kal Guard racing lubricants, Precision, Hetrick Racing, Maximum RPM, Yoshimira, Rebel Gears, Walsh Racecraft, Hinson, Quad Tech, Oury Grips, Quadfast, CP Pistons, and 65 designs. He is also grateful to Jimmy White.

Most of these companies have worked with Joel in the past, and he strongly suggests their products to fellow racers.

Hetrick has spent most of this winter in Splendora, Texas training for the 2010 season. Hetrick is well aware that the competition is fierce; however, he is determined to win. The young rider has worked a deal with Patrick Flanagan from Quadfast to be his tech for the 2010 season.  Flanagan worked with Kawasaki and Josh Creamer during the 2009 season.

Hetrick Racing has teamed up with Maximum RPM to put together one of the toughest national race teams for the 2010 season. With Joel Hetrick as a team leader, expectations are extremely high.  With the help of all of his sponsors, 2010 is looking promising for Team 2K10 rider, Joel Hetrick. Thank you all !!!

French Elite Quadcross Champion Romain Couprie finished second in the Le Touquet Endurance Race in France riding Elka Suspension’s Factory Shock.

Congratulations Romain !

Surprise, AZ (01/31/2010) – After a very successful 2009 season with Beau Baron taking the WORCS Pro Championship, the pressure was on at the 2010 WORCS season opener to see if the team had what it takes to stay on top. There were no disappointments as Beau Baron charged his way to the top of the podium and team manager Mike Cafro would take his first ever WORCS Pro podium position.

“This was exactly what we were hoping for,” said Cafro. “We wanted to come out here and start the season off on the podium. We are really stoked because it couldn’t have gone any better!”

Beau Baron took an early lead in the first lap, but battled back and forth for several laps with Dustin Nelson before taking over the lead permanently just after the mid way point. “It felt great to come out here and win round one. I have a good program in place again this year so plan to be on the podium a lot because I don’t want to give up the championship,” said Baron.

Mike Cafro was in mid pack off the line, but the veteran racer made a hard charge to take over fourth place early on. Cafro held that position for several laps until his pit crew informed him was up to third place. “They said I was in third when I came through the pit area and there was no way I was going to give up a podium position,” said Cafro, who would have his hands full the last four laps of the race. “Robbie Mitchell had caught up to me and I wasn’t about to let him get past me, so we were bumping and battling for about three laps. Then in the last lap, I just pushed as hard as I could and pulled away from him,” explained Cafro, who would hold on to the number three spot to take his first ever pro podium position.

MCR/Maxxis’ Josh Row still managed to take a top ten position in the Pro class despite a nasty wreck in the first lap. Row came on strong as he did all last season and claimed a respectable ninth place.

Julie Russell also put in a solid run in the Women’s A class. The competition was fierce for round one as Russell went up against Traci Cecco and Tammy Balser. Julie would hold down a steady third place, finishing within just seconds of Cecco and Balser. “There was a lot of competition in the Women’s class this time and Julie did a great job out there. We are very proud of her,” said Mike Cafro.

This year, there are a couple of new names added to the Team MCR/Maxxis roster. Pro-am riders Keith Johnson and David Haagsma made their team debut this weekend and put on an impressive show as Johnson would finish in third, and Haagsma would come in a close fourth. “Keith and David rode really well this weekend and we are looking forward to seeing them both on the podium a lot this season,” stated Cafro.

After coming off of such a promising first round, the team is confident and ready to tackle round two. “I have to thank Maxxis for their part in this because they really stepped up for us this year. We are really looking forward to this season. We are in it to win and with the support we have I think that this will be a very successful season for us,” Cafro concluded.

Round two of the 2010 WORCS series that will be held at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm, NV on February 27-28 where Beau Baron will be trying for his second win in defense of his of his championship title.

Mike Cafro Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors: Maxxis, Roll Design, Elka Suspension, DWT, Motoworks, Ricky Stator, Alba Action Sports, K&N, Streamline, Golden West Cycle, Tire Balls, Moto Pro Training, Pro Honda Oils Works Connection, Tsubaki, Hinson, IMS, Quad Tech, PWR, Fasst Co., Maier, Trinity Graphics, Zing racing, O’Neal and Smith