YXZ1000R making big strides in racing series
TORC series sees Yamaha Sport UTVs atop standings
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, factory-supported and bLU cRU racers are dominating the 2017 off-road racing series across the nation, piloting Yamaha’s pure-sport YXZ1000R side-by-side.
Yamaha continues to be the preeminent side-by-side manufacturer competing in The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series, currently sweeping the podium in the YXZ1000R, featuring a Yamaha-exclusive manual-transmission.
Undefeated so far in the 2017 TORC series, Yamaha factory-supported racer CJ Greaves leads the Pro Stock UTV class with 76 points after going three-for-three in his #933 Monster Energy/Maxxis/Greaves Motorsports/Yamaha YXZ1000R. Additional Yamaha bLU cRU racers Kenny Masch and Zachary Martin round out the pack in second and third overall, respectively, each driving the YXZ1000R.
Following Yamaha’s domination during the 2016 season, the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Racing Series’ (LORORS) field of vehicles in both Southern California (So Cal) and Arizona has predominantly shifted, with the majority of racers in the Pro Production 1000 class now driving the unmatched YXZ1000R, offering a vehicle-to-driver direct-connection only available from Yamaha.
In the So Cal series, bLU cRU racer Brandon Arthur stands second overall with 246 points, thanks to four of five podium finishes in his #906 Toyo Tires/MAVTV/Yamaha YXZ1000R. He also has back-to-back first place finishes in the LORORS of Arizona. Third overall in the So Cal Series is bLU cRU racer Keith Brooks with his #942 Chaparral Motorsports/Kartek Off-Road/Yamaha YXZ1000R. In five rounds, Brooks secured three podium finishes, including one so far in the top spot.
Leading the LORORS Arizona circuit for the 2017 season is 2016 LORORS AZ runner-up, Pro Stock UTV TORC champion and bLU cRU racer Corry Weller in her #948 Dragonfire Racing/Lucas Oil Racing TV/Yamaha YXZ1000R. So far, Weller landed on the podium in five of six Production 1000 UTV class races in Arizona — three of which were first place finishes.
In the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), bLU cRU racer Nic Granlund captured back-to-back victories over the weekend, winning the side-by-side Pro Production and Pro Stock classes in round nine while driving his #68 STV Motorsports/Fox/DWT/Weller Racing/Yamaha YXZ1000R. Granlund is currently fourth in the side-by-side Pro Stock class standings with five podium finishes, and has three podium finishes in the Pro Production class.
The Yamaha YXZ1000R, along with every Yamaha side-by-side and full-size ATV, are assembled at Yamaha’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia, for worldwide distribution.