Press Release –
The Monster Energy Kawasaki ATV Racing Team is expanding for 2008 season after completing its first year aboard the Kawasaki KFX®450R, racing in more series with more riders who are determined to prove that the KFX450R is the quad to beat.
Fielding a three-man team in the World PowerSports Association (WPSA) ATV Tour, Kawasaki returning rider Josh Creamer will lead the charge.
Creamer has been a substantial part of the development of the KFX450R and his hunger to be at the front of the pack has driven the team to improve the new quad.
At the first-ever AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational last year, Creamer took home a fourth-place finish against top-riders from around the country.
Veteran ATV racer Keith Little will be riding along side Creamer aboard the KFX450R.
Racing for the first time in the WPSA series in 2007, Little turned out a notable fifth overall in the series standings. Completing the team in the WPSA series will be Russell Shumaker.
Coming off an eighth overall in the WPSA series, Shumaker will round out Monster Energy Kawasaki’s triple-threat in the SuperQuad Pro 450 class.
As a part of the expansion in the WPSA series, Kawasaki has brought in a satellite team with the help of Hetrick Gabriel Racing. The team will field Trent Kendal in the SuperQuad Pro 450 class, Mark Kendall in the SuperQuad ProAm class, and two additional riders in the A class.
The Kawasaki KFX450R saw its first championship in the 2007 World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) ProAm class with the help of Dats Racing Team’s Bronson Bundy.
Teammate Dax Snow earned an inspiring third-place overall in the series. In 2008, Bundy and Snow return to the ProAm class, while the Dats Racing Team will enter the Pro class with team newcomer Robbie Mitchell.
Another part of the increase of the presence at other large series, Kawasaki will have Joe Haavisto compete in the New England ATV series (NEATV). Kawasaki offers a large contingency in the series, which sees over 500 entries a race.
“Looking at where we were last year, I wanted to improve not only on our program but our presence at the races we attend and the big races that are out there,” said Team Green™ Manager Reid Nordin. “The addition of a pro class rider for the WORCS series is big for us. We wanted to contend in that series and to have the Dats Racing Team there has really been great for Kawasaki. Last year, our factory team had a pretty good start and with the addition of Keith and Russell, I really think we have the full package of experience and young enthusiasm. This season has the potential to be very successful.”
The WPSA ATV Tour is in its third year and features eight events primarily held on the East Coast from May through August. The WORCS ATV Series will also host eight races with the events moving along the West Coast between January and October.
