Pleasant Prairie, WI – After a huge statement victory at the World Championship Hill Climb in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Yamaha hillclimb racers asserted their top-of-the-mountain performance with an impressive collection of podiums and top-ten results at the Ultimate Snowmobiler competition in Crested Butte, Colorado.
As the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association (RMSHA) season heads into the home stretch, the momentum and podium finishes for Yamaha racers and the new SR Viper M-TX continues to gain speed and credence. First year pro rider Gavin Balls punctuated his top podium finish from Jackson with a string of top-five finishes in Crested Butte, including a second in the 700 Improved class.
The adaptability, maneuverability, and broad-shouldered performance of the Viper M-TX was evident by the close of racing on Sunday, as nearly every Yamaha racer tasted success. Chad Jorgenson captured a pair of third place finishes in 600 Improved and 700 Improved; and long time Yamaha racer Nathan Titus scored his first podium of the year with a third in Pro-Masters Mod.
“No doubt, our sleds can compete and win,” said Mountain Race Team Manager Troy Johnson, who was excited by Sunday’s performances. “Crested (Butte) was the largest course we’ve seen…with climbs of more than 2,000 (vertical) feet, it was definitely the longest and fastest track we’ve seen and our Viper’s were strong…real strong.”
Perhaps nowhere was the performance of the SR Viper M-TX more evident than in the hotly contested Pro Mod 800 class, where the competition likes to lay claim to being the best on the mountain. Facing undoubtedly the biggest names in hill climb competition, and squaring off against higher horsepower sleds, Gavin Balls and his SR Viper M-TX narrowly missed the podium by a mere eight-tenths of a second, and was just 7-seconds out from the win.
“There was some big-time names in that class,” said Gavin. “Our Viper has such a thick powerband, I feel it can compete with just about anyone.”
- 600 Improved: Chad Jorgensen – 3rd; Gavin Balls – 6th
- 600 Mod: Gavin Balls – 4th; Chad Jorgensen – 5th, Nathan Titus – 9th
- 700 Improved: Gavin Balls – 2nd, Chad Jorgensen – 3rd
- 700 Mod: Gavin Balls – 4th, Chad Jorgensen – 8th, Nathan Titus – 9th
- 800 Mod: Gavin Balls – 4th
- Pro Master Improved Stock: Nathan Titus – 4th
- Pro Master Mod: Nathan Titus – 3rd
Just two races remain on the RMSHA schedule with Beaver Mountain in Logan, Utah next on the docket. Team members hit the road almost immediately after the close of racing at Crested Butte in order to prepare for the final two weeks where more podium finishes appear to be almost assuredly waiting. You can follow all the action throughout the season at facebook.com/YamahaSnowmobilesUSA and at youtube.com/user/YamahaSnowmobilesUSA