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Monster Energy Kawasaki’s ATV Racing Team Gears
Up For the 2008 Season
IRVINE, Calif. –The
Monster Energy Kawasaki ATV Racing Team is
expanding for 2008 season after completing its
first year aboard the Kawasaki KFX®450R, racing
in more series with more riders who are
determined to prove that the KFX450R is the quad
to beat.
Fielding a three-man team in the World
PowerSports Association (WPSA) ATV Tour,
Kawasaki returning rider Josh Creamer will lead
the charge. Creamer has been a substantial part
of the development of the KFX450R and his hunger
to be at the front of the pack has driven the
team to improve the new quad. At the first-ever
AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational last year, Creamer
took home a fourth-place finish against
top-riders from around the country.
Veteran ATV racer Keith Little will be riding
along side Creamer aboard the KFX450R. Racing
for the first time in the WPSA series in 2007,
Little turned out a notable fifth overall in the
series standings. Completing the team in the
WPSA series will be Russell Shumaker. Coming off
an eighth overall in the WPSA series, Shumaker
will round out Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
triple-threat in the SuperQuad Pro 450 class.
As a part of the expansion in the WPSA
series, Kawasaki has brought in a satellite team
with the help of Hetrick Gabriel Racing. The
team will field Trent Kendal in the SuperQuad
Pro 450 class, Mark Kendall in the SuperQuad
ProAm class, and two additional riders in the A
class.
The Kawasaki KFX450R saw its first
championship in the 2007 World Off Road
Championship Series (WORCS) ProAm class with the
help of Dats Racing Team’s Bronson Bundy.
Teammate Dax Snow earned an inspiring
third-place overall in the series. In 2008,
Bundy and Snow return to the ProAm class, while
the Dats Racing Team will enter the Pro class
with team newcomer Robbie Mitchell.
Another part of the increase of the presence
at other large series, Kawasaki will have Joe
Haavisto compete in the New England ATV series
(NEATV). Kawasaki offers a large contingency in
the series, which sees over 500 entries a race.
“Looking at where we were last year, I wanted
to improve not only on our program but our
presence at the races we attend and the big
races that are out there,” said Team Green™
Manager Reid Nordin. “The addition of a pro
class rider for the WORCS series is big for us.
We wanted to contend in that series and to have
the Dats Racing Team there has really been great
for Kawasaki. Last year, our factory team had a
pretty good start and with the addition of Keith
and Russell, I really think we have the full
package of experience and young enthusiasm. This
season has the potential to be very successful.”
The WPSA ATV Tour is in its third year and
features eight events primarily held on the East
Coast from May through August. The WORCS ATV
Series will also host eight races with the
events moving along the West Coast between
January and October.
Team Sponsors will include: Kawasaki Motors
Corp., U.S.A., Monster Energy, Elka Suspension,
ITP Tires, Parts Unlimited, DTW, Maxima Oil, Pro
Circuit, RK/Excel, Roll Design, DG, Renthal,
Moose Racing, N-Style, Shoei Helmets, Smith
Optics, VP Racing Fuel, Pro Design, Streamline,
Hinson Racing, Quad Tech, Axcalibur, Gaerne USA,
NGK Spark Plugs, Inc., Sunline, PWR
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