Polaris Snocross Racer Levi LaVallee Scores First-Ever Gold in X Games Speed & Style as Polaris Athletes Finish Sweep Podium

MEDINA, MN (Jan. 25, 2008) – Polaris snocross racer Levi LaVallee became the answer to a trivia question on Thursday night. The question? “Who was the first to win the gold medal in Winter X Games Snowmobile Speed & Style?”

A parallel question might be: Which brand of snowmobile swept all three podium positions in that first-ever Speed & Style Event? Polaris, natch!

The Hentges Racing star who has his own website – www.launchinlevi.com – displayed the greatest combination of racing speed and freestyle ability to win the first-ever Winter X Games Snowmobile Speed & Style gold medal in Aspen, Colorado, on Thursday night.

LaVallee scored a decisive victory in the final running head-to-head against fellow Polaris racer Sam Rogers. Joe Parsons, also of Hentges Racing, won the bronze by running smooth and strong against crashing freestyle specialist Ski-Doo rider Heath Frisby.

So, history will note that the first-ever Speed & Style results read:
1. Levi LaVallee, Polaris
2. Sam Rogers, Polaris
3. Joe Parsons, Polaris

Speed & Style
In this new form of snowmobile competition, one racer runs the first lap on a “speed” course comprised of tight corners and a series of whoops. The other runs lap one on the “style” course, which includes two launch ramps – the first of which demands a back flip (or else). The competitors switch courses for the second lap. Competitors score points for finishing first (speed) as well as earning subjective points from judges for their performance on the style course.

A Former Medalist
LaVallee is a former Winter X Games medalist, having won gold in Hillcross in 2004 and silver in snocross in 2006. this year he is gunning for three golds, and he has successfully earned the first of those. He still has the ultra-competitive snocross ahead of him as well as snowmobile freestyle.

The Broadcast Schedule
The X Games are the creation of ESPN, a subsidiary of the ABC parent company. Thus, X Games are broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.

Note:
– All times are Eastern Standard Time
– Consult ESPN.com or your local listings for exact broadcast times and channels.

This weekend’s X Games broadcasts are:

Friday, January 25
9:30-11:30 p.m.: ESPN and ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)

Saturday, January 26
3-6 p.m.: ABC & ABC HD
9-11 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)

Sunday, January 27
2-6 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
9-11 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)

About Polaris
With annual 2006 sales of $1.7 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), including the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory Motorcycles 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 and touring 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 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 are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.