Press Release –
Yoshimura held a press conference Friday to launch the Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing ATV team.
The event was held at the Yoshimura / Suzuki racing facility in Chino, California. In attendance were most of the ATV U.S. press corps, many of the team sponsors and the team itself.
Yoshimura Vice President Brant Russell began by introducing the new 2009 sponsors – Parts Unlimited/Moose Racing, Fulmer Helmets, Memphis Car Audio, Falicon and Pro Armor.
A number of sponsors were unavailable as they were attending Daytona events sent along prepared quotes. Greg Blackwell, Vice President of Sales for LeMans Corp. wrote:
“All of us at Parts Unlimited are very proud to be associated with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Yoshimura ATV Team. Our involvement with this high caliber, race winning team allows us to continue to deliver our “We Support The Sport” philosophy to the market.”
Brad Kruckenberg, General Manager of Moose Racing sent this along:
“Moose Racing is proud to continue its long-standing relationship of sponsoring top tier teams and riders by welcoming the Rockstar Makita Suzuki ATV Team into our family. Â An obvious part of this is working closely with key suppliers like Yoshimura and we appreciate their willingness to share this opportunity with us. Moose Racing’s sponsorship of this team is a perfect match to our support of the 2009 ITP / Moose Racing / AMA / ATVA National Motocross Championship Series and we look forward to much success with both Doug and Dustin throughout the season.”
Brant Russell spoke about the other new sponsors of the team: “We are excited to welcome our new sponsors to the 2009 ATV team,” “Suzuki and Yoshimura were there in the infancy of this series, and are excited that as we grow we see more and more companies become involved in this exciting sport. We especially want to thank Rockstar and Makita without whom we wouldn’t be able to put out this tremendous effort each year,” Russell explained.
He then turned the microphone over to Suzuki’s Glenn Hansen who explained how the Suzuki QuadRacer R450 exemplified the passion of the company’s commitment to racing. “The QuadRacer R450 was designed to win races,” Hansen said. “Dustin Wimmer’s 2008 Championship proved that once again last year and we’re looking to see these riders securing first and second this year. Racing is a huge part of what we do at Suzuki and it’s why we made the QuadRacer R450 – that is the whole purpose of this quad and what it is designed for. It’s all about racing and this year we’re going out there again to prove what we can do with the QuadRacer R450. It is there to celebrate what we love at Suzuki – racing.”
Team Manager Kory Ellis then introduced the two-man team of Dustin Wimmer #1 and Doug Gust #55. “We are proud to have such a talented team this year,” Ellis explained. “It will be an exciting season, for sure. Dustin Wimmer is coming off of a stellar year clinching the Championship and returning multi-time Champion and racing icon Doug Gust is determined to take the title back.”
Ellis went on to introduce Kevin Mummah who returns this year as crew chief and Gilbert Lujan who is taking over engine building duties. Glenn Schlude is back as Dustin’s mechanic and Doug has a new wrench in Joe Havel.
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing effort also includes Chris Borich in the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. He placed 2nd overall in the 2008 series and is hungry for first.
The evening concluded with interviews and photos of the riders, mechanics and of course, the ever-popular Rockstar Girls.
