TILLER STEPS DOWN AS POLARIS CEO

Polaris Industries announced CEO Tom Tiller is expected to step down from his position by the end of 2008 when his current employment contract expires. Tiller, 46, has been with Polaris since July 1998 and has served as the company’s CEO since May 1999, said spokesperson Marlys Knutson. “After considerable thought and extensive discussion with the board of directors, I felt 2008 was the right time to leave,” explained Tiller, who added, “I am confident that we will identify a successor that will benefit our employees, dealers, suppliers, shareholders and communities for the long run.” Tiller will reportedly continue his position on the Polaris board of directors for a transitional period after a successor is named. “We are thankful to Tom for the direction and success he has provided in the decade in which he has led the company and support his decision to take some time away from the life of a public company CEO,” said Greg Palen, chairman of the board of directors.

Through the Honda Riders Club of America, American Honda reported it will be awarding $92,050 in bonuses in its contingency program for the 2008 ITP/Moose Racing ATVA Motocross Championship. “Honda’s contingency program helps prestige and popularity for America’s top ATV racing series,” explained ATVPG Director Sam Gammon, who added, “It provides opportunities to earn money on Visa debit cards for parts, expenses or anything else needed.” Honda Riders Club of America spokesperson Dave Thomforde continued by saying, “Through this contingency support, Honda’s riders have the tools to succeed in the 2008 ITP/ATVA series.”

Don Amador of the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) reported an Appeal Deciding Officer for the USDA Forest Service reversed a decision that would have closed over 14 miles of historic off-highway vehicle (OHV) motorized trails in a Northern California Forest. “This decision was in response to appeals filed by the BRC and Del Norte County to the Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) Road Management and Route Designation Project on the Six Rivers National Forest,” Amador explained. The County and BRC had reportedly filed appeals based on concerns that the Six Rivers National Forest’s Decision Notice and FONSI approving Alternative 2, as modified, would close many of the motorized trails to local users. “I think our main goal in filing this appeal was to champion the concept that important OHV travelways in roadless areas should not be arbitrarily and summarily excluded from the route designation process,” Amador concluded.

Collier County (FL) commissioners have agreed to keep its 2006 decision to prohibit ATVs on county roads in place for the time being, stated the Naples News Web site. According to the site, there is one possible exception to this rule, a three to four mile stretch of Turner River Road in the Big Cypress National Preserve that would connect an offroad trail system north and south of Interstate 75. Preserve Superintendent Karen Gustin warned riders that opening the stretch of Turner River Road to ATVs would be done only as a part of the existing preserve trail system, the News explained.

“The US Forest Service’s plans to restrict off-highway or ATV travel in the Ouachita National Forest is a hot issue in southeastern Oklahoma,” stated NewsOK.com. The US Forest Service plans to close more than 2,000 miles of roads in the Ouachita National Forest, the site explained, and many residents of McCurtain and Le Flore counties have spoken out against these new rules, calling them overly stringent. C.J. Norvell, spokesperson for the US Forest Service, said the lack of money and manpower to maintain roads is part of the reason for the restrictions as the Forest Service’s budget is shrinking. However, safety issues and protecting the forest from the explosion of offroad use are the primary reasons for the restrictions, Norvell added.

Titan Tire Corporation Communication Coordinator Courtney Leeser reported the company welcomed the US Commerce Department’s preliminary decision to impose antidumping duties on imports of pneumatic off-the-road (OTR) tires from China. “This decision will help to restore conditions of fair trade to the US market for OTR tires by requiring Chinese imports to be priced fairly,” stated Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor. He continued by saying, “Now, importers and producers will have to compete on the same level field as other producers.” The US Commerce Department preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters have sold new pneumatic off-the-road tires in the US at 10.98 to 210.48 percent less than fair value, with a majority of exporter/producers at 24.75 percent less than fair trade value, described Leeser. The agency will reportedly continue the proceeding by holding hearings, conducting verifications of information and reaching a final determination by early June 2008.

The Raleigh County (WV) Commission has been working to establish an all-terrain vehicle trail system, designed to attract tourism for the county, for the past two and a half years, stated The Register-Herald. Commission President Pat Reed told us the new Burning Rock Offroad Park, located in the Tams Mountain, will stretch approximately 8,000 acres with 80 miles of trails. The park’s land lease agreement will provide for ATV trail development, sale of permits and maintenance, plus operation of the trail system and was unanimously approved by the commission, explained The Register-Herald. The park will reportedly work to promote safety, responsibility, recreation and ownership as they relate to ATV use, as well as offer ATV trails that are monitored by county officials.