| Suzuki
& Yoshimura ATV Racing History |
Suzuki, along with Yoshimura, got serious
about ATV racing soon after the release
of the incredible QuadSport Z400 in 2002.
This off-road trail quad, although not a
pure racing machine, was a good platform
to build on. Wayne Hinson, considered the
“Godfather” of ATV racing and
owner of Hinson Clutch, and Yoshimura got
to work on making it race worthy. In 2003,
Suzuki’s Rod Lopusnak got behind the
team with some added support and the seed
was planted. Racer Doug Gust won the inaugural
Pro Production title and came close in the
last year of the Pro ATV class with a QuadSport-powered,
custom-framed hybrid.
| |
|
#55
Doug Gust racing the Suzuki LTZ400
ATV |
When the 2004 season started, Yoshimura
had built some incredibly fast engines
that were nearly unridable for mere mortals.
“Digger” Doug Gust felt right
at home on these brutally fast Suzukis
and in the end dominated the competition,
setting many win records in the process.
The QuadSport Z400 transformed from a
trail quad into a full-tilt screaming
racer thanks to Yoshimura. It simply decimated
the competition.
In 2005 Team Yoshimura Suzuki shocked
the ATV world again by showing up with
a 53-foot semi tractor-trailer big rig,
and with it the return to full factory
racing. The company that started it all
when it came to four wheels had come full
circle. The following year, the venerable
QuadSport Z400 racer retired and the revolutionary
new Suzuki QuadRacer R450 arrived. This
fuel-injected, race-specific ATV was groundbreaking.
Designed with input from Doug Gust and
the race team, this quad was built with
one thing in mind: racing motocross. In
spite of a slow start, Gust’s teammate
Jeremiah Jones loved the new fuel-injected
Suzuki and from mid-season on, Jones was
the man to beat. No one could come close
to his incredible raw speed on the R450.
Tragically, Jones suffered a career-ending
injury at the Unadilla round; his racing
career was over, but his spirit remained
the same. For the 2007 season, Jones returned
as Team Coordinator for the Suzuki team.
| |
|
#191
Dustin Wimmer 2007 WPSA ATV Tour |
In 2007, Doug and team newcomer Dustin
Wimmer focused on the newly formed WPSA
series. Both riders elected to race a
few of the ATVA GNC Pro races, but the
focus was on WPSA. Although neither won
the title, they looked forward to dominating
in 2008. Wimmer emerged as the ATV racer
to beat that year. He quite simply owned
the track from the beginning of the season
until the end. He easily won the Pro ATV
title.
In 2009, Wimmer came out of the gates
and dominated in every way. However, a
kink was thrown in when he was injured
in a practice crash. His shoulder was
operated on and it looked like his season
was over. That’s when the ATV world
learned that Dustin was not only fast,
but he was also tough. He came back from
his injury to miraculously win the title
for a second straight year, leaving his
competitors wondering what they had to
do to beat this kid.
And here we are. The 2010 season will
be an interesting year for Rockstar Makita
Suzuki ATV racing. Original team racer
and ATV legend “Digger” Doug
Gust has hung up his helmet and retired.
In his place Josh Creamer has stepped
up and hopes to fill those mighty big
boots. In the meantime, Dustin Wimmer
looks to add title number three to his
belt. Yoshimura is making the already
dominant QuadRacer R450 even better and
there is no weakness in the team. Look
for them to be on top of the podium a
lot this year.
