Second Annual XT-R Challenge Showcases Yamaha’s Proven Off-Road Prowess
MARIETTA, Ga. – October 17, 2019 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, brought out the red carpet, along with major mud and off-road obstacles, for Grizzly, Wolverine, and YXZ owners earlier this month during the second annual Yamaha Extreme Terrain Challenge (XT-R Challenge) at the iconic Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
The three-day event was filled with Yamaha owners, enthusiasts, family,
and friends, featuring a festive atmosphere complete with live
entertainment, camping, Yamaha giveaways and demos, instructional
classes, and extreme fun.
Based on the success of the inaugural XT-R Challenge in 2018, Yamaha upped the ante in 2019 with new obstacles and nearly double the off-road course length at just under 22 miles. In addition to piloting through the undulating woods and mountainous terrain, this year’s XT-R Challenge’s obstacles included:
- “The Wash Out”:
- A very tight, narrow, and winding Side-by-Side (SxS) trail in a gully, requiring ultimate skill, capability, and finesse to navigate.
- “The YamaHollar”:
- A section comprised of traversing a lengthy pile of boulders, several logs, stacked and staggered culverts, bulldozer tires, and mud.
- “The Wolverine Ravine”:
- Featured climbing a rock face followed by numerous log crossings in a semi-circle shape, then balancing over parallel logs before descending a rocky log pile and heading back into the woods.
- “The WARN Winch” obstacle:
- With the aid of WARN Industries professionals, this obstacle required the use of a winch due to the steep grade, powdery-soft dirt, and very large off-camber log crossings.
- “Winch Way”:
- Over 100 yards of soupy, sloppy, sticky, and deep mud.
Yamaha’s XT-R Challenge – now an annual celebration of fun, family, and
superior off-road capability – put YXZ1000R and Wolverine SxS drivers and
their co-pilots up against the demanding natural and manmade
obstacles while spectators cheered them on. A first this year, Yamaha
Grizzly owners got in the mix, kicking off Saturday’s festivities through
the rugged and diverse trails in the Tennessee hill country. This
year also included tutorials by WARN Industries, the stock winch on the
all-new XT-R Edition Yamahas, with a “Winching 101” class and Bama Grill
Master Tim Van Doren on outdoor adventure cooking with Camp Chef,
along with a display by the tire manufacturer GBC Motorsports, also
equipped on select 2020 XT-R models.
“This event is truly extreme – from the off-road course to the Yamaha
customers who show up to challenge themselves and prove their Yamaha ATV
and Side-by-Sides are the most off-road capable machines in their
respective classes,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports group
marketing manager. “Considering the terrain and
motorsports history, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch is the perfect
spot for the XT-R Challenge with some amazing natural off-roading
elements complimenting the crew’s creativity to make the course and
obstacles a blast to ride, and we’re seeing folks coming in
from throughout the U.S. to enjoy it all.”
Yamaha is already planning the next Extreme Terrain Challenge, and dates
will be announced in early 2020.
Every Yamaha SxS and full-size ATV is proudly Assembled in the USA at
Yamaha’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia, for
worldwide distribution.
To view Yamaha’s Proven Off-Road lineup and learn more, visit YamahaOutdoors.com.
Connect with Yamaha on your favorite social channels at Facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, Instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors,
and Twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors.
Additionally, find Yamaha Outdoors on YouTube, or search the following
hashtags on all
platforms: #XTRChallenge #Yamaha #ProvenOffRoad #REALizeYourAdventure
#AssembledInUSA #Yamaha10YearBelt
About Yamaha
Motor Corp., USA
Yamaha
Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the
powersports industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings
include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side
vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard
Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power
Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Machines,
Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products
are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the
United States. YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate
offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory
operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional
U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC)
with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida) and Kracor Systems
(Wisconsin), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats
(Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
