#JimmieO-Dell

It may be a new season, but Can-Am 4×4 ATV racers continue to outshine the competition in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series. Can-Am machines swept all five 4×4 class and placed two riders on the overall morning podium at the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Ga.

In the first round of side-by-side vehicle racing in Georgia, a total of 11 Can-Am Maverick 1000R racers competed with four Can-Am vehicles earning a podium finish in each of the four UTV classes.

“Having Can-Am ATV racers dominate their morning 4×4 classes and to see Kevin Trantham and Robert Smith on the morning podium was great. It was a good weekend in Georgia overall, as we had numerous podiums, including two for the new Can-Am Maverick 1000R in its GNCC side-by-side racing debut,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “It was a close finish for Kyle Chaney and his Maverick 1000R X rs in its first GNCC side-by-side event, as he narrowly missed taking the overall race win. This was a good debut for the Maverick and we fully expect to improve our results at round two in late April.”

For the 2012 ATV and side-by-side racing season, BRP has added certain Can-Am Outlander and Renegade ATV models and Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicles to its amateur racer support program that has included the Can-Am DS 450 ATV for the past three racing seasons. To complement the additional models added, BRP will also support new 4×4 ATV and side-by-side classes and series adding to its industry-leading Can-Am X-Team Racing contingency program.

“BRP understands the value of an ATV racing contingency program and has already established itself as an industry leader with the DS 450 Amateur Racer Support Program,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “We added 4×4 ATV models and side-by-side vehicles as way to support those amateur racers who choose to race 4×4 ATVs and side-by-sides. BRP wants to fuel their desire to compete and make it more feasible to chase their dreams, whether it be on a local or national level.”

Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 racer Jeremie Warnia won the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) Pro-class Championship with a second-place finish at the finale in Surprise, Ariz. Teammate Josh Frederick, who was tied with Warnia for the Pro class points lead heading into the final race, finished third and only two points behind Warnia in the chase for the series title. Collins Webster won the WORCS Pro-Am Championship by winning the final race aboard his Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450.

“I couldn’t be happier for Jeremie Warnia and for the Motoworks / Can-Am team’s outstanding effort in 2011,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Both Jeremie and Josh Frederick were extremely competitive and very consistent all season long, which is the mark of both a top-notch program and a professional approach from a riders’ perspective. They only missed one Pro class podium the entire season and notched six victories in nine races. While they both deserved to win, Jeremie prevailed and I’m thrilled that he could earn his first WORCS title.”

The WORCS finale was held at Speed World MX and featured wet, muddy conditions due to heavy and steady rains throughout the night. The poor conditions early on made the start of the race even more important. Warnia got a good start as he rocketed off the line and tucked into second place behind the race leader. Frederick was less fortunate than his teammate but still was in the top five at the start. However, the 2010 WORCS Champion fell to seventh after the first lap and had to play catch up the remainder of the race. By lap six, he had passed his way into third place, but could not catch the top-two racers.

Racer Productions, producers of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, and BRP Can-Am are excited to announce Sunshine “Sonny” Willis, of Indianapolis, Ind. as the winner of a brand-new 2011 Can-Am Outlander 650 XT. Can-Am Race Manager, Jimmie O’Dell, drew Sunny’s name during the ATV podium celebration at Saturday’s Ironman GNCC.

Several thousand GNCC fans entered the season-long sweepstakes at the first twelve rounds of the series, including the Amsoil Ironman GNCC, where the drawing took place.

“I am super excited to win the Can-Am Outlander 650, it’s a pretty cool ATV – I like it a lot!” says Willis. “I’m probably going to let the family have fun with it, it’s a great all-terrain vehicle and we will get a lot of use out of it! Thanks to GNCC and Can-Am for the opportunity to finally own an ATV to go riding with my friends!”

Adam McGill fought his way to a third-place finish at the Ironman GNCC.

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 Pro racer Adam McGill stood tall on the all-pink GNCC cancer awareness podium after finishing third in the Pro XC1 class despite gruelling conditions at the Ironman GNCC course in Crawfordsville, Ind. Can-Am X-Team members Clifton Beasley, Forrest Whorton and Zac Zakowski each won their respective class in morning action.

“McGill and Bithell really battled out there today and I was proud of the effort they put forth on their Can-Am DS 450 ATVs. Adam notched his fourth consecutive XC1 podium and led three laps of the race. Chris put in an inspiring ride, coming from dead last at the start of the race to finish fourth,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Can-Am X-Team racers Cliff Beasley and Zac Zakowski each made a powerful statement with their class victories in Indiana.”

Coming into the Ironman GNCC, McGill held second place in the XC1 point standings and needed to win at the final two rounds of the series for a shot at the championship. After leading the first three laps, it looked as if McGill would keep the hopes for a 2011 title alive, but lapped traffic slowed his pace on lap four and he dropped to fourth place. He then picked up the pace to reclaim the third-place position. He moved to within striking distance of first and second place at the end of the race, but had to settle for third.

A broken chain derailed Josh Creamer's championship hopes.

Can-Am DS 450 racers won seven class championships and earned a total of 15 top-three finishes in other classes after the final race of the 2011 New England ATV Motocross series.

Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 Pro class competitor Josh Creamer came up 15 points short in his quest for a Pro championship due to a broken chain in the first Pro class moto.

“I was proud of Josh Creamer’s effort this year and second place is nothing to be ashamed of that’s for sure. A broken chain is out of your control, but, sadly, it’s part of racing,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “I was pleased to see so many Can-Am DS 450 ATVs compete in the New England MX series this year and to have seven amateur class titles.”

Creamer held a 10-point advantage in the Pro class standings coming into the finale at Hemonds MX in Minot, Maine. However, a broken chain on the first lap of the first Pro class moto resulted in a DNF and mathematically eliminated Creamer for the Pro title chase. The skilled pro remained focused, however, and won the second moto to go along with a double-moto sweep in the Pro-Am class. Creamer ended up second overall in both the Pro and Pro-Am classes aboard his Can-Am DS 450.

In front of 45,000 fans, Can-Am X-Team Pro ATV racer Richard Pelchat topped an all-Can-Am DS 450 podium in winning the ATV portion of the Montreal Supermotocross event held at Olympic Stadium in Quebec, Canada. Fellow Can-Am racer Mark Holz also recorded a class victory, piloting the No. 673 Holz Racing / Motoworks / Can-Am Commander 1000 X to an historic win in the inaugural Side-By-Side class event. Can-Am ATV racers Cody Miller, reigning 2010 NEATV-MX Champion, and John Natalie, 2011 AMA ATV MX Champion, joined Pelchat on the podium.

“It was another great year for Can-Am at the Montreal Supermotocross. To have a Can-Am DS450 podium sweep, and actually the top 4 finishing spots, was outstanding. I’m proud of Pelchat and happy for him to get his first Montreal win and to accomplish it on a DS 450,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Holz knew he had his work cut out for him, but he did it and came out on top. To have the Motoworks / Can-Am Commander 1000 X take a very convincing win in the inaugural SSV event was icing on the cake, especially against a full gate of competitive side-by-sides. It was mission accomplished for Can-Am in Montreal and a great result for all BRP employees.”

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 ATV Pro racers Adam McGill and Chris Bithell finished second and third in the Pro class this past weekend at the Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, Pa. In the Can-Am GNCC morning session, UXC Racing / Can-Am X-Team racer Michael Swift won the morning overall and the highly competitive 4×4 Open class aboard his Can-Am Outlander 800R X xc.

“McGill was close to earning his third win of the year, but he had a minor miscue on the final lap and had to settle for second in the Pro class. He gained some valuable ground on the Pro class points leader and that’s always good. To have both McGill and Bithell on the podium together, again, was great for team Warnert Racing / Can-Am,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We continue to excel in the morning session, winning four classes and earning 10 of the top 20 morning finishing positions, highlighted by Michael Swift, who won both the a.m. overall and the 4×4 Open class.”

McGill, who led for much of the race, regained the lead on final lap as he passed another two miles before the finish line. However, in a slippery rock section, McGill said his handguard caught on a tree and swung him sideways. By the time he recovered, he had lost the lead. He finished less than two seconds behind the winner. McGill, with his second-place overall finish, now trails the Pro class points leader by 27 points with three rounds remaining in 2011. Bithell, who earned his second straight afternoon podium, ran inside the top five all day, but worked his way into third place on the final lap. He is currently in third place in the Pro class points race, 14 points behind McGill.

“In the first lap, there were about five of us that were really close and seemed like they were just kind of playing around so I went out there and took control and set the pace,” says McGill. “I was able to make up some valuable points, but I really want to win so I am going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got for the last three rounds.”

Can-Am X-Team pro ATV racer Chase Snapp won both the 2011 Texhoma Quad Racing Association Pro and Pro-Am class championships aboard the Can-Am DS 450 ATV.

With two convincing wins at the TQRA finale held at Valley MotorSports in Tuskahoma, Okla., Snapp held off defending TQRA Pro champion and fellow Can-Am X-Team racer Hunter Miller for the Pro and Pro-Am titles.

“Chase has had a great season aboard the Can-Am DS 450, winning two TQRA titles and finishing sixth overall in the AMA ATV MX series,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “In just his first full season as a professional, we’ve witnessed Chase grow into a fast, confident racer who has developed the skills to compete with anyone on the motocross track. I congratulate him and his family for their hard work, dedication and success.”

The AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series has announced that Can-Am will be the recipient of the 2011 Manufacturer’s Cup, edging out Honda by less than forty points.

Each year, AMA Pro Racing awards the manufacturer that accumulates the most points in the AMA Pro class throughout the course of a season with the Manufacturer’s Cup. The series points are configured race-to-race, based on each manufacturer’s best overall finisher. Can-Am finished out the season with seven of the eleven victories, aided by Can-Am riders John Natalie, Chad Wienen and Chase Snapp.

“On behalf of BRP and Can-Am we are extremely proud of our racers and teams that contributed to winning this year’s Manufacturer’s Cup championship aboard the DS450. The entire Can-Am / Motorworks team has worked extremely hard, investing countless hours and making numerous sacrifices to help us achieve our common goal,” says Can-Am Race Manager, Jimmie O’Dell. “Our team riders John Natalie and Chad Wienen were true inspirations this season by both overcoming adversity and have also taken training and preparation to another level. I also want to thank Can-Am X-Team rookie pro Chase Snapp and his team as they worked extremely hard this season and have contributed to Can-Am winning this manufacturer’s cup title.”

Motoworks / Can-Am pro ATV racer and current AMA ATV MX Championship series Pro-class points leader Chad Wienen crashed last week while training at his practice track in Illinois suffering a season-ending injury to his back. Medical crews were on the scene quickly and he was transported to an area hospital. At the hospital, it was discovered Wienen broke two vertebrae in the middle of his back, but he suffered no major spinal cord injury and has feeling in his extremities.

Wienen underwent surgery on Saturday to stabilize his back. The surgery to fuse several vertebrae in his back was successful and he is conscious and talking; he may be moved out of recovery today. He is anxious to get back on his feet and will start rehabbing as soon as he gets approval from the doctors.

“Chad is a hard-working and dedicated racer and I am sure he will tackle his recovery from this injury just like he tackled his training: with 100-percent commitment,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “I was glad to hear the surgery was successful and Chad is in good spirits and ready to move on and start recovering. He is in the thoughts and prayers of everyone here at BRP.”