Suzuki Motor USA , LLC ( SMO ) announces that , as of March 1 , Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation ( SMAC ) is a 100 percent subsidiary of SMO .

SMAC , founded in 2001 and based in Rome , Georgia , is Suzuki ’ s ATV manufacturing facility and for over two decades , all Suzuki adult KingQuad ATVs have been manufactured at this location . Suzuki ATVs

The Suzuki KingQuad 750AXi is the company ’ s flagship ATV .

A Suzuki KingQuad ATV is assembled at the company ’ s Rome , Georgia , manufacturing plant . Photos courtesy of Suzuki

are sold in the United States , Canada and nearly 25 countries worldwide .

SMAC stock is currently owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation ( SMC ) ( 20 %) and Suzuki Motor of America , Inc . ( SMAI ) ( 80 %). SMAI , owned by SMC , is the holding company of Suzuki companies operating in the United States .

SMO officials cited several reasons for the organizational change . First , by consolidating its ATV sales and production arms , the company looks to strengthen its overall ATV business in the United States and globally .

“ One of the primary goals of this change is to expand our commitment to the growth of our entire powersports business ,” says Masami Haga , president of SMO . “ This evolution will also enable us to build on our relationships with Suzuki dealers and SMAC vendor partners .” Haga noted that strengthening the supply chain and purchasing policies

for locally sourced parts are objectives of the move as well .

By becoming a group company with integrated production and sales functions , SMO and SMAC leaders expect to improve their responsiveness to the ATV market by more accurately linking production to sales demand . Specifically , SMO looks to improve inventory management for both the company and its dealer body . This will help protect sales margins , flooring costs and ultimately the profitability of both groups . ATV industry sales are generally steady throughout the calendar year with demand typically increasing in the fall months .

Additional benefits of the move are more direct communication between SMO and SMAC , resulting in improved staff interaction between the two companies . “ We will create

a more collaborative environment between the production and sales groups of Suzuki ATVs and foster better connection between the Rome- and Brea-based teams ,” Haga says .

Suzuki ’ s United States distribution headquarters are in Brea , California . Suzuki relocated there in 1981 after first coming to the United States in 1963 . Suzuki is credited with offering the first four-wheel ATV in 1982 with the introduction of the Suzuki LT125 . That product created an all-new category of off-road recreational and utility vehicles . Since then , Suzuki has offered a full line of ATV vehicles and its current flagship ATV is the KingQuad 750AXi .

Haga added that SMAC becoming a subsidiary of SMO sets the stage for new Suzuki ATV offerings and enhancements to existing products in the future .

Yamaha has announced significant expansions to its bLU cRU program for the 2024 side-by-side ( SxS ) and ATV racing seasons . With total bonuses reaching nearly $ 150,000 , Yamaha is stepping up its commitment to racers in select series and classes , offering bonuses of up to $ 15,000 for eligible participants competing with a 2022 or newer Wolverine RMAX 1000 , YXZ1000R , YXZ1000R SS or YFZ450R .

“ We are incredibly excited to bolster our support for the 2024 ATV and SxS racing season ,” says Donnie Luce , Yamaha ’ s offroad racing coordinator . “ Our expanded bLU cRU program underscores Yamaha ’ s unwavering commitment to the racing community , offering substantial benefits and bonuses to our dedicated racers . With a lineup of top-tier athletes and a passion for performance , we ’ re eager to see the Yamaha bLU cRU continue dominating podiums across the country .”

SXS RACING Leading Yamaha ’ s efforts in the SxS racing arena are the distinguished father-son duo Owen and Rodney Van Eperen of Powersports 1 and Jeb Bootle of Bootle Motorsports . These seasoned racers will run their YXZ1000R in both the Championship Off-Road Tour and MidAmerica Outdoors short-course racing series .

In the Championship Off-Road Tour , Yamaha is significantly increasing its support , offering $ 15,000 bLU cRU bonuses to the

overall Pro Stock and Pro Turbo SxS champions , $ 10,000 total to the top five in Pro-Am UTV , and $ 7,500 to the top five MORR UTV Sportsman overall finishers . Similarly , in the MidAmerica Outdoors series , Yamaha will offer a combined $ 7,500 bLU cRU bonus to the top three overall Yamahas in the Pro Turbo and Pro N / A classes .

ATV RACING New for 2024 , Yamaha added bLU cRU support to the WORCS ATV classes . A championship bonus of $ 5,000 will be awarded to the overall champion of the Pro ATV class , alongside series-wide bonuses for the top three YFZ finishers in the Pro-Am ATV and Women Pro ATV classes . In addition , Yamaha will be presenting a brand-new YFZ450R at the WORCS ’ year-end banquet to a qualified bLU cRU ATV racer in the series .

Yamaha says it is also increasing payouts and prize opportunities for eligible participants in select ATV classes in the American Motorcycle Association ’ s ( AMA ) ATV Motocross ( ATV MX ) and Grand National Cross Country ( GNCC ) series .

Champions Joel Hetrick of Phoenix Racing and Chad Wienen of Wienen Motorsports will represent Yamaha in ATV MX ’ s AMA Pro class , vying for the 2024 title and $ 15,000 bLU cRU bonus on their Yamaha YFZ450Rs .

Yamaha is also introducing top five bonuses for the overall Pro-Am and WMX finishers and various bonuses for other ATV

Owen Van Eperen will be teamed up with his father , Rodney , in the YXZ1000R for the Championship Off-Road Tour and MidAmerica Outdoors short-course racing series . Photo courtesy of Yamaha Motors USA

MX class champions .

In the GNCC XC1 Pro ATV series , Brycen Neal of Phoenix Racing and Walker Fowler will compete for the XC1 Pro ATV title and $ 15,000 bLU cRU racing bonus on Yamaha YFZ450Rs . Yamaha will offer additional bonuses for top overall finishers in various classes .

Racers will need to sign up for bLU cRU , even if they did so in the past , to ensure they

stay up-to-date with the latest perks and offerings . Benefits begin immediately upon approval , including a free swag bag of exclusive Yamaha items . As a member , riders will be eligible for championship bonuses and exclusive access to special events , promotions , training opportunities and more .

To become an official member of the Yamaha bLU cRU and view full details , visit YamahabLUcRU . com .