skidoo polaris unveil snocross sleds
Amsnow
Ski-Doo and Polaris have unveiled their latest snocross sleds, the Ski-Doo is all new and the Polaris is an update of last year's successful racer.
The 2008 MXZ X 600 RS (Racing Special) from Ski-Doo rides on the light, new REV-XP chassis and will most likely be the lightest sled on the snocross track this season.
The new 600 RS has tunnel brackets, racing shock calibration and a thicker drive axle than the consumer version. Also the 600 H.O. engine received a revised cylinder, new head, V-force reeds, powerjets and newly tuned pipe with sensor. Ski-Doo claimed horsepower from the powerplant at 128. There's also an EGT record mode on the new gauges, you'll need 92 octane and this sled is not oil-injected.
Suspension on the 600Rs is the new SC-5 with reinforced rails and 4 idler wheels. C-36 clicker racing shocks are placed up front and in the sled's rear skid. TEAM again lends its clutch to this machine, and there's a BRP slip gear. Finally, racers get a stronger jackshaft, exhaust deflector and 5.2 gallon (10 liter) tank.
Meanwhile, over at Polaris, there's a revamped 600 IQ Racer with a new 600, as mandated by WPSA. Polaris says this engine isn't based on its Liberty 600 H.O., which has proved a strong motor. This, they say, is new from the case up. Plus, the sled gets a slightly larger gas tank at 4 gal., up from 3.2.
But, Polaris says, it wanted to increase durability, so it built a stronger rear torque arm, strengthened the front suspension's lower spindle and added tougher coupler blocks in the rear suspension. More importantly, engineers say, is the driveshaft now becoming a slip shaft to reduce stress on the chaincase. This is an area that takes tremendous hits during snocross racing, and Polaris believes the change will increase durability.
To help the drivers, a new EZ Steer system that takes less effort and is lighter and quicker, has been added to the race sled. Couple that with a new Sno-XT track with 1.75-inch lugs that is hoped to help holeshots, and Polaris feels it's on track for a better season.