Austin, TX - 2008 has been a battle for supremacy
in the 450 Sport class of ATVs. The Japanese manufacturers,
who have been dominating the top segment of racing quads
since the 1980’s, have come under hard pressure
from three companies from the U.S., Austria, and Canada
that are all determined to take over the reigns of this
all-important class of competition ATVs.
Polaris, who has been pushing their big bore race
quads for the last few years, used the shared technology
of new partner KTM to offer their first 450cc racing
machines utilizing the Austrian company’s proven
powerplants. KTM unleashed a 450 of their own, showing
well in their first full year of quadcycle production
with a reliable machine and good race results.
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For
2009, BRP Can-Am has expanded its DS450 ATV
offering to three models with the base DS450(center)
along with the DS450X XC(left) and DS450X MX(right),
so serious sport ATV riders / racers can purchase
an ATV equipped and ready for either motocross
or cross-country track |
The challenger that has taken on all aspects of the
sport quad spectrum is Can-Am, who unveiled their
DS450 after several years of development and secrecy.
Can-Am completely reconfigured several major components
of standard racing quads whose designs had been seemingly
etched in stone for years. Then they took their creation
and threw it head first into every major racing series
in the U.S. at the hands of experienced riders in
an attempt to completely upset the existing ATV racing
hierarchy. While the results have not always been
up to the level they had hoped for, it is very hard
to argue the fact that Can-Am has shown their goal
is within reach and their dedication to achieving
it is unquestionable.
Can-Am’s onslaught of all the major racing series
in the U.S. is unprecedented. After years of dominating
in the GNCC Series in most of the utility classes, in
2007, Can-Am debuted the DS450 in the WORCS Series with
Josh Frederick claiming his first Pro ATV Championship
on the DS450, and for 2008, Can-Am expanded its racing
focus beyond to all the nationally recognized series
with race teams in the ITP Quadcross, GNCC, WORCS, and
AMA Pro ATV Motocross Nationals.
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For
2008, Motoworks / Can-Am's Josh Frederick
wraps up his 2nd straight WORCS Pro ATV Championship
on the BRP Can-Am DS450
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In the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Nationals, John Natalie
and Jeremy Lawson have delivered moto wins and podiums
against the tried and true Japenesse manufacturers.
Also, in the WORCS Series, Motoworks’ Josh Frederick
has once again wrapped up the Pro ATV Championship
with five wins under his belt, and teammate Brandon
Smith has excelled in the ITP Quadcross Series with
fives wins, and finished in the 2nd spot on year followed
by Josh Frederick.
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John
Natalie Jr earned Can-Am their 1st Moto Win
on the DS450 at Round 3 of the AMA Motocross
Nationals, and Natalie secured the 1st Podium
finish at Round 5
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After
a slow start, the Pro GNCC racers dialed in
the DS450 for the 2nd half of the race season
with Chris Bithell claiming the win at the Unadilla
GNCC on the DS450 |
Warnert Racing’s Chris Jenks and Chris Bithell
struggled early in the GNCC season dialing in the
DS450 for 2 hours of abuse, but the pair headed into
the summer break with two top 10 overall finishes
at Mountain Ridge, and Bithell claimed the first Pro
GNCC win for the DS450 at Unadilla, and he followed
it up with a sixth and fifth place finish to end out
the 2008 season. All this racing breeds development,
and the things that Can-Am has learned this year have
been applied to their 2009 DS450 EFI. Already a cutting
edge machine, small refinements have made the newest
DS 450 even more of a contender in any ATV arena.