Legendary Polaris Cross-Country Racing Success Continues With Impressive Start on USCC Circuit

MEDINA, MN (February 8, 2006) – Chassis get updated and engines get refined, but one constant in cross-country snowmobile racing for over 40 years is the Polaris heritage of performance and durability that adds up to victory.

The 2006 chapter of Polaris cross-country success has begun unfolding in the first three races on the USCC circuit as Josh Davis and Eric Slominski have scored major victories. The Polaris racers are competing on race-prepped 600 HO Fusions – with the smooth-handling IQ® chassis and powerful 600 HO engine – and the result was the same as it has been for nearly a half-century: Polaris coming out on top.

In USCC racing in Barnesville, Minnesota, on January 28, Slominski had a great day, winning the Pro Open class and taking second in Pro 600.

During the two-race opening weekend of USCC racing in Minot and Grafton, North Dakota, earlier in January, about the only thing Polaris racer Josh Davis didn’t win was a coin flip. He did, however, ride his 600 HO Fusion to two Pro Open victories and a Pro 600 class win.

In Pro Open racing on January 7 in Minot, Davis recorded the exact same time as former Polaris racer Corey Davidson, so USCC officials split the purse money for first and second places. The racers flipped a coin to see who won the first-place plaque, and Davis didn’t win, but he wasn’t disappointed. After all, the Bagley, Minnesota, star had more racing to focus on.

Gabe Bunke of Moorhead, Minnesota, showed his durability and versatility by winning the Pro 600 class and finishing third in Pro Open in Minot.

The following day in Grafton, N.D., Davis won the Pro Open class outright and also won the Pro 600 class.

Looking for Polaris racing heritage? Bunke’s father, the late Jerry Bunke, was a legendary Polaris racer in the 1970s. And John Bosek, a Hall of Fame Polaris cross-country and enduro star in the 1980s and ‘90s, raced at Minot and finished second in the Pro Vets 35+ class (which was won by the considerably younger Davidson).

“We’re thrilled to have captured this early momentum on the Cross Country circuit,” said Polaris Racing Manager Tom Rager, Sr. “The sleds have changed and the racers have changed over the years – but one constant for us has always been, and will always be, Cross Country. It’s a very important part of the Polaris heritage and we’re proud of what our racers have accomplished thus far on the 600 HO Fusion and IQ Chassis.”

Polaris IQ Technology on the Trails
Recreational snowmobilers can enjoy the same outstanding performance and reliability Polaris racers rely on by riding any of the 2006 Polaris production models built on the IQ Chassis. Performance models such as the 600 HO Fusion, 700 Fusion and 900 Fusion have the Rider Select™ system, which allows a rider to adjust the handlebar height to suit the riding style that’s right for the current conditions. With Rider Select, the snowmobile ergonomics adapt to the rider’s needs.

IQ Chassis design creates a well-balanced sled optimizing the performance of the long-travel IQ front and rear suspension. Several 2006 Polaris trail luxury and two-up touring models are built on the IQ Chassis, and the 900 RMK, 700 RMK and 600 HO RMK deep snow models are built on the IQ RMK Chassis.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers o r anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.