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Yamaha's
5x QuadX Champion Dustin Nelson |
Cypress, CA (3/8/2012) - Yamaha
Motor Corp., U.S.A., is a strong supporter of
ATV racing including the West’s leading
motocross series, the Yamaha QuadX Series. As
title sponsor, Yamaha is fully engrained in the
QuadX Series and has been preparing for the season
opener which is this coming Saturday (March 10)
at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.
As part of its participation throughout the series,
Yamaha has established a track-side support program
including donating Yamalube products available
through Roy Bloodworth and Big Kid Racing, established
GYTR and Yamaha Generator holeshot awards for
pros and amateurs, and hosted a year-end celebration
and awards ceremony giving away a Yamaha Generator
along with many other awards and prizes. Yamaha
Racing also sponsors the returning and five-time
QuadX champ Dustin Nelson. We talked to Nelson
leading up to this weekend’s race to find
out how he’s been preparing and what he
expects …
Yamaha Racing: What have you
been up to in the off-season? How do you train
to stay in shape and sharp for motocross?
Nelson: With the long schedules
of both the WORCS series and the Quad X Series
there isn’t much off time so it’s
almost hard to fall out of shape. I have enjoyed
taking my kids to the desert a few times with
friends and family, so we can take the Rhino
out and they can ride their quads. For training
I pedal a mountain bike quite a bit, and I’ve
been spending lots of time on my YZ450F motorcycle
as well as my YFZ450R.
Yamaha Racing: After all of
these championships, what keeps you motivated
coming into a new season?
Nelson: Every year there are
new challenges, whether it be an up-and-coming
rider, a guy you’ve raced before who is
stepping up his game or new tracks. Staying
motivated is easy for me. I’m a very competitive
person, and I’m never truly happy unless
we are winning.
Yamaha Racing:How’s
the YFZ450R working for you in practice this
season?
Nelson: The YFZ450R has been
working great. We have such a good foundation
from racing the last couple years, and we still
keep making small adjustments that we hope will
keep us on top.
Yamaha Racing: What do you
think will be your biggest challenge in QuadX
this year?
Nelson: Every year the field
changes, and I have to figure out new ways to
stay ahead of the competition. Staying healthy
with no crashes is always very important as
well as good starts. It’s going to take
being mentally and physically strong and maybe
a little luck to be consistent all year and
bring home title number six.
Yamaha Racing: The QuadX Series
has a new schedule including more double-headers
and more races closer to home for you in Southern
California this year. How does this impact your
preparation and planning? Are you a fan of the
double headers, or no? How about the travel?
Nelson: The double headers
I’m not so sure about, because we really
like to get a full prep on the bikes between
races and there is no chance of that racing
back-to-back days. The travel schedule staying
a little closer to home is definitely nice.
The gas prices have made getting to the races
even more expensive, so I’m sure all the
So Cal racers appreciate it.
Yamaha Racing: What’s
your favorite track and why?
Nelson: I really like Speedworld.
It’s a night race and has a fun kind of
atmosphere. The track is also usually very slippery,
so it takes just the right amount of aggression
and smarts to get the most out of every lap.
Yamaha Racing: Take a look
at the field -- who’s your biggest competition?
Nelson: Well, you never really
know how fast everyone is going to be until
that first gate drops, but I see Beau Baron,
who I had lots of good battles with last year,
and his new teammate Davi Haagsma to be tough.
Josh Row is also back from 3 shoulder surgeries
at the end of last year, and he has been riding
great when we practice and train together.
Yamaha Racing: You’re
also racing WORCS again this year. Can you briefly
describe some of the main differences in the
tracks and competition? Is there one you prefer
over the other?
Nelson: The WORCS series is
more Off-road than MX. The tracks are usually
based around a moto track, but they also include
3-5 miles of trails. The pro main event is one
hour and forty five minutes long, so it’s
a much different kind of conditioning and bike
set up than Quad X. All the players in the Quad
X series are at the WORCS series as well with
the addition of Josh Frederick and Dillon Zimmerman.
I grew up racing MX on motorcycles, so I’m
more comfortable at the Quad X Series.
Yamaha Racing: Just last year
you brought in Josh Row to race under Nelson
Racing. Tell us a little about Josh and how
it feels to have another member of Nelson Racing
gunning for your title.
Nelson: Josh is a real good
kid, and I thought he deserved to be racing
on good equipment. He’s a very hard worker
and actually amazingly fast out in the desert.
If I had to lose “my” title, I would
definitely rather Josh takes it than anyone
else. That way at least all the team sponsors
would still be happy ... Josh will have to work
really hard to take it from me, though!
Yamaha Racing: As a veteran
of both motorcycle and quad MX, what advice
do you have for new racers or people just considering
racing?
Nelson: Racing at the entry
level is all about fun. Getting out on the track
and testing your skills against others can build
friendships and stories that will last a lifetime.
Whether it be on two or four wheels, I will
always love racing and the memories I have from
it.
Yamaha Racing: Any predictions
for this season?
Nelson: I predict lots of
good racing. Of course I want to be on top again
this year, but it will be tough. There are plenty
of fast guys out here, and they are all gunning
for me.
About Yamaha Motor
Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS), is
a leader in the motorsports market. The company’s
ever-expanding product offerings includes ATVs
and Side-by-Side vehicle, motorcycles, outboard
motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats,
outdoor power equipment, race kart engines,
accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products
are sold through a nationwide network of dealers
in the United States.
Headquartered in Cypress,
Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha
also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia,
as well as factory operations in Tennessee and
Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit
www.yamaha-motor.com.
