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Suzuki unseats Yamaha as New ATV Super Challenge "King"
 A large crowd in Bruce Crossing, Michigan, saw history in the
making over the 4th of July Weekend. For the first time in 3
years, it is not a Yamaha Grizzly that can lay claim to being
the "Top Dog" in the Y-101/Mi-TRALE ATV Super Challenge Series.
This past Saturday's ATV Super Challenge in Bruce Crossing saw
Jeff Walters of Ontonagon,. Michigan defeat Eli Gustafson of
Bruce Crossing, Michigan in the Top Dog Class.
Walters and his Suzuki King Quad went into the Finals as the
second seed. Gustafson and his Yamaha Grizzly went through the
first three rounds of qualifying undefeated. That meant that
Walters would have to beat Gustafson twice to lay claim to the
Champion of the Top Dog Class. This is the class that features
the biggest 4-Wheel Drive ATV's.
In the first match up between Walters and Gustafson, Walters
had such a demanding "hole shot" that Gustafson saved his best
race for the final race against Walters. In the final race,
Gustafson and Walters exchange lead 3 times, with Walters edging
Gustafson by less then 5 feet at the finish line.
This was the first time in 3 years, that a Yamaha Grizzly
driver had not taken a first in the Top Dog Class.
Earlier in the competition, Gustafson drove his Honda to a
win in the 2WD Sport Dog Class. Gustafson went undefeated in the
class. Anthony LaPlant on a Suzuki took second, and Leo Nippa
took a third. Gustafson is the defending High-Point Driver from
last years Mi-TRALE ATV Super Challenge Points Series.
That class opened the competition when Jeremy Hudson appeared
to have the first race won, until he was unable to stop within
the parameters of the Stop Box. That put Hudson in the
elimination brackets, where he lost to Nippa in the
quarterfinals.
In the 4WD Hunting Dog Class, Polaris captured it's first
ever Championship, as Ewen, Michigan's Jeff La Plant took a
first on a 400 Sportsman. LaPlant beat Andrew Gustafson and his
Yamaha Wolverine. Taking a third was Bruce Crossing's Jordan
Kurti on a Honda.
The Y-101/Mi-TRALE ATV Super Challenge series now goes to
Greenland, Michigan for a race during the Ontonagon County Fair.
This will take place at the permantly built ATV Super Challenge
Track. Those races will be on July 30th at 2:00 Eastern Time.
Registration will take place at Noon at the track.
An ATV Super Challenge is considered to be the 'truest test
of an ATV." It involves 2 ATV's racing side by side on a closed
course. The course consist of water, mud, hills, jumps, 's'
turns, stutter bumps, and the popular "Stop Box." This form of
racing now takes place in Michigan, Wisconsin, and in New York.
For more information about the Y-101/Mi-TRALE ATV Super
Challenge series, contact Shawn Bailey at 906-988-2775, or Skip
Schulz at 906-884-9668. For information on the ATV Super
Challenge Series taking place in Wisconsin, contact Randy Harden
at 920-565-7531. The ATV Super Challenge Championships will be
in Gilett, Wisconsin on October 1st. More information about the
Championships, go too:
www.atvsuperchallenge.com
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