Australia (6/19/2008) - Polaris
Racing Team continued its stellar 2008 form
with a strong performance at the Finke Desert
Race in Alice Springs over the Queens Birthday
long weekend.
The nation’s first fully-professional
ATV racing team secured 2nd and 5th place
respectively in the Quad Class of one of Australia’s
most gruelling off-road events.
After finishing the prologue in 17th place
in the wet and muddy conditions, Polaris racer
Luke Beechey – the only rider in the
top 10 never to have ridden the track before
- had a clean run to Finke on his Outlaw 525
IRS, finishing day one in third position.
Despite running out of fuel some 25km from
the finish line on the return leg, Beechey
was able to re-fuel and cross the line in
second position overall, only five minutes
behind winner Paul Smith.
“I took it easy in the prologue due
to the excess water and mud, but by day one
the machine was feeling fantastic and I had
a pretty clear run through to Finke,”
Beechey said.
“The Outlaw 525 IRS is made for the
rough stuff, and handled the conditions brilliantly.
It’s another great demonstration that
Polaris not only have great machines for the
track, but the ultimate trail machine too.”
Showing the trademark determination that
has been evident all season, Aaron Ovens overcame
the conditions and injury to finish the race
in fifth position overall, some 18 minutes
behind team-mate Beechey.
After failing to complete the prologue the
previous day due to excess mud, disaster struck
only 500 metres into the first stage after
a collision with a dirtbike cartwheeled Oven’s
Outlaw 525 IRS and left him with a broken
collar bone.
Despite the injury, Ovens was straight back
in the saddle and made it to Finke in 11th
place at the end of day one. In a Herculean
performance on day two, Ovens stormed home
to cross the line in fourth place, to take
an overall fifth to complement his second
place in the Finke Desert Race last year.
The Polaris Racing Team will be next seen
in action in Round 4 of the Polaris Super
Series 8 at Gippsland’s Outtrim MX track
on the 20th July.
For more information on the Polaris Racing
Team visit www.polarisindustries.com.au
About Polaris:
With annual 2007 sales
of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers,
manufactures and markets allterrain vehicles
(ATVs), including the Polaris RANGER(tm),
snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational
and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized
leader in the snowmobile industry; and one
of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the
world. Victory motorcycles, established in
1998 and representing the first all-new Americanmade
motorcycle from a major company in nearly
60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads
into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace.
Polaris also enhances the riding experience
with a complete line of Pure
Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available
at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc.
trades on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol "PII," and the Company
is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock
price index.
Information about the
complete line of Polaris products, apparel
and vehicle accessories is available from
authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from
the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com
.
