New Rocky Mountain Motorsports Racing Team To Campaign Polaris Race Sleds On WPSA Circuit
MEDINA, MN (September 9, 2006) – The Rocky Mountain Motorsports (RMM) racing team is temporarily relocating to the Midwest to optimize its competitive position while campaigning Polaris race sleds on this winter’s complete WPSA schedule.
Eight members of the team owned by Jim Hogue of Klamath Falls, Oregon, are moving to facilities in Minnesota for the 2006-2007 racing season. They will establish a new home base where they have lodging, a place to tune their race sleds and access to a practice track.
“We had several talented riders in the West and I wanted to give them the opportunity to race at the national level,” said team owner Hogue. “I’m real excited about this new team and new venture and I think I have a real good group of mechanics and racers. We look forward to racing the WPSA circuit.”
Along with moving to the Midwest for the race season, this new team is upgrading equipment such as its team transporter.
“Most definitely this is a big change for us,” the team owner said. “We’re moving up from a 28’ trailer to a 53’ elite trailer and a full-fledged team for the first time.”
RMM Crew Chief Shawn Ellis feels the move to the Midwest will greatly benefit the team.
“It’s what everybody on the team has wanted and it’s time to step up,” he said. “We’ll have our trailers right there and will get several days of practice a week.”
He expects the RMM racers to have break-out seasons.
“Barring injuries, I think we have a couple of riders who are definitely developing. I feel Willie is right there and capable of winning and Joe is ready to make a break,” Ellis said. “They’re all training hard and will be ready.”
YOUNG, ACCOMPLISHED RACERS
The RMM team features four young racers who have previously completed primarily on the Mountain West Racing (MWR) circuit: Willie Elam, Joe Parsons, Derek Ellis and Rylie Hogue.
• Willie Elam just turned 20 in August but he is the team’s ranking veteran. After several successful seasons racing out West, he has raced on the WPSA circuit the past three seasons. Last winter he finishing 10th in WPSA Semi-Pro Open points and seventh in Semi-Pro Stock. His Western racing highlights include: 2004 MWR Pro points champion; 2004 RMXCRC Pro points champion; and RMXCRC points champion in Semi-Pro (2002 and 2003) and Sport (2001). He will race in the WPSA Pro classes this winter.
• Joe Parsons finished second in MWR Pro (Stock) 440 points last winter and second in Pro Open. He’ll race WPSA Pro Open and Pro Stock.
• Derek Ellis finished eighth last season in both MWR Pro Open and Pro (Stock) 440. He will race WPSA Semi-Pro Stock and Sport Open this season.
• Rylie Hogue finished second in MWR Semi-Pro (Stock) 440 and fourth in Semi-Pro Open last season. He will race WPSA Semi-Pro Stock and Sport Open this season.
The team’s sponsors include: Polaris, Woody’s, Starting Line Products, B-Line Control, Scott USA, ORE-CAL Land Development, Blue Marble Oil, HMK Boots and Carlisle Belts. The team is incorporated as Rocky Mountain Motorsports LLC and its website address is: www.rmsnocross.com.
About Polaris
With annual 2005 sales of $1.9 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory Motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use. Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.
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