Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Awards More Than $190,000 in First Quarter 2008
GRANTs Approved for 19 Projects Supporting Responsible, Open Access Across the Country

CYPRESS, Calif. – April 9, 2008 – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. is proud to announce the first GRANT awards, totaling more than $190,000, from its OHV Access Initiative designed to support safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open riding areas. GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) were given to 19 organizations across the country to fund projects including OHV trail and park development, trail mapping, safety and land stewardship programs and lobbying efforts to increase OHV access on public land.

Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative was launched in January 2008 as a proactive, grassroots program enabling Yamaha dealers and customers to fund deserving projects in support of responsible, open access.  Today’s announcement reflects the Initiative’s activity for the first submission period; more than 35 applications were submitted by the February 29 deadline.

“We are pleased at the enthusiastic response to the OHV Access Initiative in just the first few months,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) Operations.  “It is truly gratifying to see the amount of work that is being taken on by OHV enthusiasts and public land managers across the nation in support of this important issue.”

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative review committee will award GRANTs in amounts ranging from $1,000 – $35,000 to the following organizations:

Advocates for Access
ATV Association of Minnesota
Colorado OHV Coalition
Coos County Sheriff's Office
Economic Development Alliance for Oscoda County
El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services
Friends of Florida State Forests
Grapevine/Chavies Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept.
Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association
Idaho ATV Association
Jefferson County Soil & Waiver Conservation District
Morrow County Public Works/OHV Park
Motorcycle Riders Association
North Folk John Day Ranger District/Umatilla National Forest
Thunder Mountain Wheelers
Tri County ATV Recreation & Rescue Association
Tri County Trail Riders
United Desert Gateway
McClellan Creek OHV Trail/Black Kettle National Grassland

“GRANT requests came from all types of organizations large and small including riding clubs, National Forests, even a volunteer fire department,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS marketing manager. “We look forward to our work with these and future OHV Access Initiative GRANT awardees to help establish and maintain open riding areas.”

As a requirement of funding, GRANT recipients will provide project status and completion reports to help ensure each project is successful.  The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative will see projects to fruition and help each GRANT recipient communicate their successes through the program’s new web site and more.

Detailed information on the OHV Access Initiative, including downloadable guidelines and application forms, is available at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess.  For questions regarding the OHV Access Initiative, groups can call Yamaha’s dedicated OHV Access Initiative number at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamaha-motor.com or write to: Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee, 6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.

Each quarter, Yamaha will accept applications from organizations such as non-profit or tax-exempt OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations and national, state and local government agencies.  A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects.  Applications for the second quarter will be accepted through May 31, 2008.

Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not limited to:

Trail development, restoration and maintenance
Trail signage and map production
Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
Safety and education

About Yamaha:
Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered and built tough!  Yamaha Motor Corp., USA headquarters are located in Cypress, California. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.