Polaris takes out second and fifth in the Quad Class

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 2^nd and 5^th place respectively in the Quad Class of one of Australia’s most gruelling off-road events.

After finishing the prologue in 17^th 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 off-road 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 11^th 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.

To cap off a memorable weekend for Polaris, Smokin’ Trailers racer Vivian Hoy on her Outlaw 525 IRS was the first female racer to cross the line and was the only female to finish the course within the four hour per day time limit.

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 20^th July.

For more information on the Polaris Racing Team visit www.polarisindustries.com.au

Photo courtesy of SmugMug (http://chuckinoz.smugmug.com)

Photos, product testing, and other media requests:

Alan Collins
Polaris Industries
(03) 5330 4718
0419 016 501

alan.collins@polarisind.com

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