Yamaha Racers Set to Dominate the ATVMX, GNCC, and WORCS Seasons
Friday, March 7, 2025 | 12:30 PM
Yamaha Racers Set to Dominate the ATVMX, GNCC, and WORCS Seasons
Proven Performance: Yamaha’s BLU CRU Gears Up
for Another Championship Year
MARIETTA, Ga. – March 5, 2025 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is set to kick off another thrilling year of ATV racing with its elite BLU CRU racers leading the charge aboard the industry’s premier high-performance sport ATV—the legendary YFZ450R. With reigning champions returning to defend their titles and hungry contenders making their comebacks, the 2025 ATV racing season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet across ATV Motocross, Grand National Cross Country, and the World Off-Road Championship Series.
ATVMX: Hetrick and Wienen Return to the Gate
The 2025 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship (ATVMX) season kicked off March 5th in Daytona, where Yamaha’s top contenders battled for supremacy once again.
- Joel Hetrick (Phoenix Racing ATV Yamaha) returns as the defending Pro ATV MX Champion, coming off a perfect season in 2024. Hetrick also helped lead Team USA to victory at the FIM Quadcross of Nations, further cementing his dominance on the YFZ450R. Yesterday, Hetrick continued his win-streak with a commanding victory at round one of the series in Daytona.
- Chad Wienen (Wienen Motorsports Yamaha)—an 8-time ATV MX Champion—is back with unfinished business after an injury at last year’s opening round in Daytona sidelined him for the season. Now fully recovered, Wienen is eager to reclaim his place at the top.
Yamaha continues to back amateur and WMX racers through its BLU CRU program, offering lucrative payouts to eligible riders aboard 2023 or newer YFZ450Rs in multiple ATV MX classes.
![Chad Wienen]()
Chad Wienen Yamaha ![Joel Hetrick]()
Joel Hetrick Yamaha
GNCC: Neal and Fowler Set for an Epic Showdown
The 2025 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series is already underway, with Yamaha’s best proving their mettle in the XC1 Pro ATV and WXC ATV classes.
- Brycen Neal (Phoenix Racing ATV Yamaha), a 3-time reigning XC1 Pro ATV Champion, is already off to a strong start—winning Round 2 this past weekend after finishing second in the opening round. Neal is determined to keep his championship streak alive.
- Walker Fowler (WFR Kenda Yamaha), a 7-time GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Champion, is back on the track following last year’s injury. Fowler made an immediate impact by winning the season opener, setting the stage for a thrilling battle between him and Neal.
- Jessica Elioff, the back-to-back WXC ATV Champion, is returning strong to defend her title after winning round one and continuing to showcase the YFZ450R’s dominance in the premier women’s off-road class.
Yamaha’s BLU CRU GNCC payouts reward top performers across multiple classes, reinforcing the YFZ450R’s reputation as the undisputed king of ATV racing.
![Jessica Elioff]()
Jessica Elioff Yamaha ![Brycen Neal]()
Brycen Neal Yamaha ![Walker Fowler]()
Walker Fowler Yamaha
WORCS: Yamaha Sweeps the Podium
The 2025 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) season is already heating up, with two rounds completed and Yamaha riders making an early statement.
- Travis Damon enters the season as the defending WORCS Pro ATV Champion, aiming to add another title to his resume.
- At Round 2, Yamaha riders swept the Pro ATV podium, with Damon taking the win, followed by Logan Huff in second, and Joseph Semas in third—further proving the YFZ450R’s supremacy in the rugged West Coast series
Through BLU CRU, Yamaha continues to support WORCS racers, offering championship bonus incentives to those competing on the Proven Off-Road YFZ450R.
BLU CRU Racing Support Continues in 2025
For the 2025 season, Yamaha’s BLU CRU program once again offers substantial payouts across ATV MX, GNCC, and WORCS.
- $15,000 to the ATV MX Pro and GNCC XC1 Pro Champions
- $5,000 to the WORCS Pro ATV Champion
- Additional bonuses available for top finishers in multiple classes
Riders looking to take advantage of Yamaha’s support can sign up for BLU CRU, gaining access to championship bonuses, special promotions, and exclusive Yamaha swag. Visit YamahaBLUCRU.com for details.
Proven Off-Road. Assembled in the USA.
The YFZ450R continues to set the standard in ATV racing with its podium-proven performance, race-ready durability, and unmatched reliability. Every Yamaha Side-by-Side and full-size ATV is proudly Assembled in the USA at Yamaha’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia for the world. For more information on Yamaha’s 2025 Proven Off-Road lineup, visit YamahaMotorsports.com or contact your local Yamaha dealer. Follow Yamaha on social media via @YamahaOutdoors or @BLUCRUofficial and use the hashtags: #Yamaha #YamahaRacing #REALizeYourPodium #REALizeYourAdventure #ProvenOffRoad #BLUCRU #YFZ450R #AssembledInUSA
YFZ450R is recommended for use only by experienced operators 16 years and older.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, 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, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing USA (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of YMUS, offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.