International Motorsports Industry Show kick-off and PRI quick reviews

Broken Arrow, OK – December 22, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – IMIS (Indianapolis) was a big hit. Most exhibitors had the smaller “tester” booths. The energy on Wednesday was very high. Also the hall was packed.
Thursday was lighter on attendance but everybody I talked to there was very positive. This show will at least double next year and double again the year after since the construction of the new hall will be complete.

The Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando also showed a positive image toward the economy in general. Everyone seemed to be upbeat about the coming season. The exhibitors portrayed the attendees as quality instead of quantity. Even though the exhibitors were down about 30%, the attendee count was up. This may also be due to the economy concern.

I look at both shows as a success. It will be interesting to see how things play out over the coming years.

It is difficult to spread these show dates out due to the bordering holidays.

It was good to see my customers and future customers at both shows. I look forward to dealing with everyone in the coming year. I hope it is prosperous for us all. I look forward to discussing the success of either show.

We have been running 3 shifts to get all of the printing needs attended to. We always do what it takes to keep in tune with our customers needs.

I will be here today, Tuesday the 22nd, and Wednesday the 23rd returning on the 4th of January. If I can do anything for you these two days, please email or call. Otherwise, I will have experienced colleagues standing by to help as needed. Please email if I need to prepare for any projects starting early January.

Please enjoy the holidays.

Steve Dodge
Communication Graphics, Inc
1765 North Juniper
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
800-331-4438 x 233
steved@cgilink.com
www.cgilink.com

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Channel Ideas, Announce “SalesMaster” Sales Training Day Before Dealer Expo 2010, One day Intense Role-Play Session

“This program is designed for pro’s and newbie’s”

Golden, CO – December 21, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) -  Today Neil Frame, President of Channel Ideas announced they are presenting a salesperson training seminar on Thursday February 11^th 2010.

“We will provide this positive sales training program for salespeople of all experience levels. We know getting a refresher course can be huge help when preparing for the new season. New people will gain knowledge and confidence and at the same time “hear it” from the seasoned salespeople attending. All of the training is step-by-step, hands on role-play. No long speeches, just handling objections and learning how to move a sale to a deal.” There will also be techniques on how to handle incoming and outgoing sales calls and the best way to follow-up with a customer after the sale. The class will be kept small to assure the best exposure to the information provided.

The class will be held on Thursday February the 11^th the day before Dealer Expo begins. This is a great opportunity to get training tied into the show of the year. SalesMaster training will be held at the Omni Severin hotel downtown Indianapolis.

SalesMaster is a “steps of the sale, real world results training program.

Neil Frame and Steven Zarwell will use their years of sales floor and management experience and present this training in a way that the attendee will be able to go back to his or her dealership and apply what they learned immediately. We are also providing two free “sales support calls” for each attendee after the class. Dealerships signing up before January 15^th will save $30.00 per person. Call 303-526-9620 to register for the class.

About Steven Zarwell and Neil Frame

Steven Zarwell is an industry speaker and has provided solutions for hundreds of dealers across North America. His years of business operations consulting along with working in virtually every store department and managing in numerous dealerships gives him a great base of knowledge to work from.

Neil Frame, President of Channel Ideas spent 27 years in dealerships in virtually every department and also provides dealer operation services for dealers seeking help, building profit centers and business standards and policies. Neil has performed sales and management seminars across the country. Contact Steven and Neil at helpmewin@channelideas.com or call at the numbers below.

For more information:

(Neil Frame), (303-526-9620), (nframe@channelideas.com)
(Steven Zarwell), (916-316-0182), (sbz_co@pacbell.net)

For more information on the Web:
http://www.channelideas.com/aboutus.htm

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Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young Talks About Upcoming Season

BREA, CA – December 16, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Rockstar Makita Suzuki is gearing up for another spectacular year racing the championship-winning GSX-R1000, and the team riders are talking about winning in 2010. Following his teammate Tommy Hayden’s appearance on Pit Pass Radio two weeks ago, Blake Young was a guest on the show last night. Young, the 22-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin, talked about his rookie 2009 Superbike season, the upcoming 2010 season, former teammate Mat Mladin, and his new crew chief Peter Doyle.

Young started the interview by expressing his optimism for the 2010 Superbike season, as he and his crew are in preparations to dominate the series. “I think we’ve got something really good this year, and I’m really excited for it,” Young said. “This year is going to be really, really good and I think we have one of the best teams if not the best team in the paddock. We’re going to be pretty hard to beat.”

With his rookie year behind him, Young is looking forward to the upcoming season and using the knowledge and skills he acquired in 2009. “Last year was a huge learning experience for me,” Young explained. “This upcoming year I’m working with Peter Doyle, Mat’s [Mladin] crew chief, and I have a lot of respect for him. The whole team puts us on the top of the box at the end of the day, but you need to surround yourself with the best people you can, and when it comes to crew chiefs, Peter’s the best in the paddock.”

Young also expressed his respect for former teammate Mat Mladin, who retired after winning the 2009 Superbike championship, the seventh of his spectacular career. “Someone as experienced as Mat, to learn from him, watch him, and see the things he does, it was a huge learning experience being his teammate. He’s going to be missed. I wish I could’ve been his teammate for another year,” Young said. “It’s sad to see him go, but while he was there I definitely had my pen and paper out and was taking notes.” Young also talked about his current teammate, Tommy Hayden, who placed third overall in the 2009 Superbike series. “Tommy is a really good teammate,” Young explained. “To have two experienced teammates like Tommy and Mat last year, that said something, and it was really awesome. Racing Superbikes is where I want to be, and this is something I’ve worked hard for, and to share the podium with those guys is awesome.”

To hear more about Blake Young and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s plans for the 2010 season, you can listen to the interview in its entirety at www.pitpassradio.com.

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Suzuki Announces Rockstar Makita Suzuki Amateur Team

BREA, CA – December 18, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – American Suzuki announced the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Amateur Team plans for the 2010 season. Led by Motocross Support Specialist Brian Noah, the 2010 amateur MX team will consist of 16 racers ranging in ages 10 to 17 and will focus on grooming this young talent for success. The racers will be competing on Suzuki’s lineup of championship-winning bikes, including the RM85, the all-new RM-Z250, and race-proven RM-Z450.

“This year will be an exciting year for Suzuki and our sponsors. Beginning at the Mini O’s in November, Suzuki destroyed the competition gaining more championships than any other manufacturer in the most competitive classes, which included the 85 age group, Supermini, 250/450A, 250/450B, and Schoolboy classes,” stated Brian Noah. “There is no doubt in my mind that this solid group of riders will be capable of doing more of the same in 2010.”

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki riders slated to compete on the RM85 in the 85 9-11 class are Sean Cantrell from Newbury Park, Calif., Jake Masterpool from Austin, Nevada, Tristan Miller from Alpine, Calif., Michael Mosiman from Sebastapol, Calif., and Rookie White from Winchester, Calif.

Also competing on the RM85 in the 85 12-13 class will be Alexander Frye of Huntingtown, Maryland, Steven Gretchen of McMechen, West Virginia, and Jordon Smith of Belmont, North Carolina. Competing in the 85 14-15 and Supermini classes will be Jesse Masterpool of Austin, Nevada, and Jace Owen of Charleston, Illinois.

Aboard the all-new Suzuki RM-Z250, Joey Savatgy, from Thomasville, Georgia, and Jeremy Martin, from Millville, Minn., will compete in the 250B and Schoolboy classes. Bryce Stewart from Canyon Lake, Calif., will be competing on the RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 in the 250B and 450B classes.

In the 250A and 450A classes, Gannon Audette, from Cairo, Georgia, Austin Howell, from Red Bluff, Calif., and Nick Paluzzi of Riverside, Calif., will all be utilizing the RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 motorcycles in 2010.

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki Amateur Team would like to thank the following sponsors for providing support to the team in 2010:

Boyesen, Braking, Cometic, CTI2, Dunlop, Excel, E-Z Up, Hinson Racing, Hotcams, Lightspeed, Makita, Matrix, Maxima, Millenium Technologies, Motion Pro, Moto Tassinari, One Industries, Pivot Works, Pole Position Raceway, RK, Rockstar Energy Drink, Sunline, Tag Metals, TCR Wheel Lacing, Thor, Twin Air, Vortex Ignitions, Vortex Racing Components, VP Race Fuels, and Wiseco.

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2010 Cam-Am Roadster Spyder RT recall

December 17, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. (BRP) is recalling model year 2010 Cam-Am Roadster Spyder RT SM5 and SE5 motorcycles manufactured between October 13 and October 30, 2009. The connector on the key switch harness may not be locked and the ignition switch harness may be routed too tight. In some situations, the connector may unplug.

Consequence

If this occurs, the vehicle may stall without warning and could potentially cause a crash.

Remedy

BRP will notify owners and authorized dealers will inspect to ensure that the connector is locked and that the ignition switch harness is not routed too tight and correct the harness if needed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about December 18, 2009. Owners may contact BRP at 1-888-638-5397 or 1-819-566-3366.

Notes

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov.

NHTSA ID Number: 09V473000

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Kawasaki exits 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing

Santa Ana CA, – December 18, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. announced the company will not participate in the AMA Pro Racing road racing series in 2010.

“While we’ve always considered road racing an integral part of our sportbike development process, the realities of the current economic situation dictate the temporary suspension of our U.S. road racing activities,” said Bruce Stjernstrom, marketing director.

Kawasaki’s long history of successful road racing includes 20 AMA series championships. Among the many champions who have worn the Kawasaki lime green racing leathers are Reg Pridmore, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Miguel Duhamel, Scott Russell, Doug Chandler, Eric Bostrom and more recently Tommy Hayden and Roger Hayden.

“We expect to see eventual improvements in the general economic condition and Kawasaki will reevaluate its road racing position as we monitor those issues,” said Stjernstrom.

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Jagermeister Drives Industry with Sponsorship of the 2010 Monster Energy(R) AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship

Number One Selling Imported Liqueur in America Serves as First and Only Spirits Sponsor of Supercross

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – December 15, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Jagermeister, the brand known for consumer level innovative marketing programs and promotions, will once again be recognized as the official and exclusive spirit sponsor world’s premiere stadium off-road motorcycle circuit: the 2010 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship. Jagermeister is the first distilled spirit to sponsor AMA Supercross.

Monster Energy® Supercross fans will experience “Jager World” through the brand’s various initiatives on the 17-stop racing circuit. In addition to sponsoring the 2010 supercross season, Jagermeister will sponsor the Freestyle Motocross Jump Team to perform at supercross races, which includes top riders from around the world, including – Mike Metzger and “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram. The state-of-the-art Jagermeister Mobile Stage will be setup in the pit area of the stadiums* and will feature live music and DJs throughout the day. Jagermeister also plans to host riders and VIPs 21 years of age or older in the Jagermeister Dome, complete with the world renowned Jagerettes and various interactive games. At select Monster Energy® Supercross races throughout the 2010 season, Jagermeister will be conducting a text to win sweepstakes. Prizes include a brand new KTM/Jagermeister motorcycle and Jagermeister Tap Machines.

“Monster Energy® Supercross has proven to be a great platform for Jagermeister and we look forward to increasing our presence in the 2010 season,” stated Bill Henderson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. “We are excited to continue building momentum in the supercross arena with the best in the industry, Feld Motor Sports(SM) and top FMX riders Metzger and Bartram.”

“We are looking forward to another successful season with the Jagermeister supercross partnership,” said Todd Jendro, Senior Director of Operations, Feld Motor Sports(SM). “Their global brand awareness and on-site activation will continue to enhance the overall supercross experience.”

“I am looking forward to getting back to my roots of supercross again,” says Bartram. “Even though I am not racing in the race, I feel like I am a big part of supercross again with the Jagermeister FMX team.” Mike Metzger adds, “I’m excited to be at the Supercross and Outdoor Nationals and ride with Cowboy Kenny Bartram and the MOB Syndicate riders Rob Distler & Thomas Alves.”

Activation of the Jagermeister supercross sponsorship begins with the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on January 9, 2010 and will take place in 15 markets throughout the country. The 2010 Monster Energy® Supercross schedule is located on Jagermeister’s newly redesigned website, www.jager.com.

Know your limits. Always Drink Responsibly.

*The Jagermeister Mobile Stage will be present in the following cities: Anaheim, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Houston, St. Louis, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

About Jagermeister

Jagermeister, which translates to “master hunter”, is the #1 selling imported liqueur in the United States and one of the top shot brands in the world. The liqueur is based on a secret recipe of 56 herbs, blooms, roots and fruits from around the world. Jagermeister, with the distinctive square bottle, was first developed in 1934 in Germany and the brand quickly gained global fame through its innovative marketing, unique taste profile and its association with good times. Jagermeister Liqueur is 35% Alc./Vol. and imported exclusively by Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., New Rochelle, NY www.jager.com. Jagermeister is available in the following sizes in the United States: 50ml, 100ml, 200ml, 375ml, 750ml, 1L, 1.75L. DRINK RESPONSIBLY

About Feld Motor Sports(SM)

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, Nuclear Cowboyz(SM) and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

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J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Customer Satisfaction With the Motorcycle Ownership Experience Improves Considerably

Ownership Experience Reaching a Record-High Level

Dealers Who Follow Up after a Sale May Positively Impact Overall Satisfaction with the Sales Experience

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA – December 17, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Overall satisfaction with the motorcycle ownership experience increases for a seventh consecutive year to its highest level yet, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Motorcycle Competitive Information Study(SM) released today.

The study finds that overall motorcycle ownership satisfaction averages 838 on a 1,000-point scale in 2009, up 24 points from 2008. Satisfaction improves across all five factors measured in the study–product; quality; cost of ownership; sales; and service–with the most substantial increases occurring in the sales and service factors.

In addition, product quality has improved compared with 2008, primarily due to a decrease in the number of engine and braking/ride problems experienced. On average, the overall number of problems reported is 126 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is an improvement of 26 PP100 since 2008.

“Given that industry sales are down roughly 30 percent during the past year, manufacturers are competing more than ever for every customer,” said Todd Markusic, senior director of the powersports practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “The result of this increased competition is that the quality and performance of bikes is at an all-time high, and dealers are paying much more attention to their customers’ sales and service experiences.”

The study also finds that dealers may positively impact satisfaction with the sales aspect of the ownership experience by following up with their customers after the sale. On average, the sales satisfaction score among customers who received a follow-up phone call is 170 points higher than among those who did not get a follow-up call.

“The follow-up phone call is a simple concept that may have a significant impact on customers’ sales or service experiences,” said Markusic. “While it might seem that calling customers after a visit would be standard practice for dealers, 20 percent of customers don’t receive a call after a new bike purchase and 56 percent don’t receive a call after having their bike serviced.”

Motorcycle owners who take their bike to a dealer for maintenance or repair-related service work present dealers with an opportunity to make a lasting impression, as the length of time a motorcycle is in for service greatly impacts overall service satisfaction. The average repair time for maintenance work is one day, while the typical repair takes three days to complete. Dealers who are able to complete repairs in less than three days may benefit greatly, as their customers tend to be significantly more satisfied with their service experience. The average satisfaction score among customers who have a repair completed in less than three days is 857, compared with 753 among those who receive their bike back in three days or more.

The 2009 Motorcycle Competitive Information Study, now in its 12th year, includes responses from nearly 8,000 owners who purchased a new 2009 model year on-road or dual-sport motorcycle between September 2008 and May 2009. The study was fielded August through October 2009.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, Capital IQ, J.D. Power and Associates, McGraw-Hill Construction and Aviation Week. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Media Relations Contacts:

Jeff Perlman; Brandware Public Relations; Agoura Hills, Calif.; (310) 589-7749; jperlman@brandwaregroup.com

John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; media.relations@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

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Muscle Milk Announces Sponsorship of JGRMX’s Josh Grant & Justin Brayton

BENICIA, CA, – December 11, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Muscle Milk, CytoSport’s leading Ready-to-Drink protein enhanced beverage, announced today the sponsorship of the Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross (JGRMX) team and its supercross and  motocross program.  JGRMX is owned by Coy Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs, a three-time Super Bowl Champion as head coach and championship NASCAR team owner.

Team riders Josh Grant and newcomer Justin Brayton will compete as part of the “Muscle Milk Toyota Team.”  Sponsoring JGRMX marks Muscle Milk’s continuous support of motocross sports and their popularity among action sports and lifestyle enthusiasts.

“We are very excited about Muscle Milk’s partnership with JGRMX,” said Nikki Brown, CytoSport’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We look forward to a strong and competitive year.”

CytoSport is also the official nutritional supplement provider for the Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR program. As part of the Muscle Milk sponsorship, the Joe Gibbs Racing Complex in Huntersville, N.C., will feature a state-of-the-art CytoSport training facility for both the motocross and NASCAR team members.

“It’s a pleasure to be working with a brand such as Muscle Milk. Our motocross riders as well as the pit crew teams at our NASCAR facility use their products on a daily basis to help them perform at the top of their game,” commented Coy Gibbs.

Newcomer to the JGRMX team, Justin Brayton, has been a part of the Muscle Milk athlete program since 2008. The Muscle Milk Toyota team recently debuted in Genoa, Italy where Brayton and Josh Grant finished first and second, respectively.

ABOUT MUSCLE MILK
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes exercise recovery, lean muscle growth, and healthy, sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was recently named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com.

ABOUT JOE GIBBS RACING:
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program.  Its driver lineup consists of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano in the Sprint Cup Series; Hamlin, Busch, Logano and Brad Coleman in the Nationwide Series; and Matt DiBenedetto and Darrell Wallace, Jr. in its driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs – a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships, and two Nationwide Series championships along with more than 100 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500. JGRMX is the organization’s motocross race team which debuted in 2008 and features riders Josh Grant and Justin Brayton.

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Last Buell Heads to Barber Motorsports Museum

EAST TROY, WI – December 18, 2009 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The final Buell motorcycle produced at the company’s East Troy, Wis., factory, a 2010 Buell Lightning XB12Scg, has been donated to the Barber Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Ala., along with several other representative models from the company’s 26-year production history. A total of 12 motorcycles were donated to the collection, including a 1996 S3T Thunderbolt, a 1999 X1 Lightning, several clay model prototype mock-ups, and a pair of modified motorcycles used by stunt riders Craig Jones and Bubba Blackwell.

“We’re very pleased to be able to add to the Barber Museum’s already extensive collection of Buell motorcycles, and hope that the many motorcycle enthusiasts who visit their museum will enjoy seeing these motorcycles along with the rest in their fine collection,” said Jon Flickinger, President and Chief Operating Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company.

SOURCE: Harley-Davidson

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