Our last poll asked you which big-inch sled deserves to be Best In Class. From 998 votes, the results were as follows:

27.66% – Ski-Doo MX-Z TNT 800R (276 votes)
24.55% – Yamaha FX Nytro RTX (245 votes)
24.25% – Polaris IQ 800SP (242 votes)
14.13% – Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo (141 votes)
09.42% – Arctic Cat Crossfire 1000R (94 votes)

Take part in our latest poll!

The Best in Class 4-stroke should be:

1. Yamaha Nytro
2. Yamaha Vector
3. Yamaha Apex
4. Ski-Doo 1200 4-TEC
5. POLARIS IQ Turbo
6. Arctic Cat Z1 (including Turbo)

Vote Now!!

Press Release –

Consumers Can Now Benefit From the Safety and Peace-of-Mind Associated Satellite-based Roadside Service over the Inherent Limitations of Cellular-Based Offerings

SPOT LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NASDAQ: GSAT) and a leader in personal satellite messaging and emergency communications, today announced SPOT Assist, a new roadside GPS safety service for its award-winning SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger.

SPOT Assist offers the world’s only roadside assistance that operates solely on satellite technology for virtually seamless coverage independent of cellular networks.

SPOT is showcasing its products and new services this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in booth number 5218 in the Tech Zone located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SPOT Assist’s roadside service will offer complete 24 hour assistance 7 days a week in the Continental United States and Canada later this spring. By simply activating SPOT Assist with the “Help” button on the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, users can instantly alert a national roadside response center of their GPS location.

Backed by a leading provider of national roadside assistance, SPOT Assist services include roadside towing, auto-accident assistance, fuel services, tire repair, battery service, lost key and lockout.

Unlike conventional services, such as OnStar, that relay positioning through cellular networks, SPOT Assist combines a GPS receiver with satellite communications technologies to deliver location-based messaging independent of cellular coverage.

The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is a small, rugged and hand-held GPS unit that can access a world-wide satellite network system to keep you connected virtually anywhere you roam. The SPOT Assist roadside service is expected to be available in other countries later in 2009.

“Our customers have been using SPOT primarily off-road and outside of cellular range to check-in with loved ones or to get help in a real emergency resulting in increased safety and security for outdoor enthusiasts,” said Tom Colby, COO of Globalstar and President of SPOT LLC. “SPOT Assist is an innovative extension of the SPOT product portfolio, and represents one more in a growing list of ways in which SPOT is continuing to deliver services that help to ensure the personal safety and security of our customers around the world at a very modest cost.”

Now with SPOT Assist roadside service, SPOT customers can benefit from a complete GPS safety system which includes four functions that transmit messages based on varying levels of need:

. Help notifies the SPOT Assist roadside response center or others of your GPS location
. Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
. Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress using Google MapsT
. Alert 9-1-1 notifies an emergency rescue coordination center of your GPS location

Since its introduction in December 2007, the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger has helped initiate close to 100 rescues, many which resulted in lives saved, and has transmitted more than 5 million “peace-of-mind” and “track me” messages world-wide.

SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger retails for $169.99 SRP Customers will be able to purchase SPOT Assist for $129.99 per year at www.findmespot.com. SPOT Assist will include national roadside assistance and unlimited basic SPOT service including Check-in and 9-1-1 emergency response messaging. SPOT Assist is scheduled to be available for purchase in spring 2009.

About SPOT LLC The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, the world’s first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer’s location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT LLC., a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSAT), provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge personal safety device, the company offers people peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT LLC is helping users live to tell about it (SM) – from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes – visit www.findmespot.com.

Press Release –

Hibbert Continues His Unbeaten Streak; Tremblay Nabs Victory for Ski-doo in Semi-Pro

With one of the biggest crowds on hand in over ten-years at Canterbury Park, Tucker Hibbert (Arctic Cat) continued his season unbeaten streak in the Pro ranks with two driving away victories.

Fans also got a taste of the new one-day three-hour main event format, which featured an all-final show with back to back to back Pro and Semi-Pro finals.

Tucker Drives Away Twice for Victory in Pro-Open Final

With his unbeaten streak on the line and the competitors hungry to end it, Tucker foiled their efforts once again by gaining the lead on the first lap by overcoming the holeshot lead of fellow Cat rider Brett Turcotte and proceeding to check-out.

In his wake, a swarm of Polaris red lead by Levi LaVallee, DJ Eckstrom and Ross Martin followed Turcotte.
 
In the early laps, DJ went wide and off the track, shuffling him back in the pack while TJ Gulla (Pol), picked off Malinoski and settling in to the fifth place position.

The running order remained Tucker, Turcotte, LaVallee, Martin and Gulla until lap 13, when Martin and Levi began to battle for the third place position, swapping the spot several times over the course of five laps.

The grueling 26 lap final was prolonged when Robbie Malinoski who was running sixth at the time, had an off on lap 19 forcing a red flag and a single file restart for the remaining 7 laps.

With the field tightened up, the chance for Tucker to be knocked off his game was on once again, but a clean restart put Tucker in the clear for the win. A late lap charge by Gulla put the finishing order at the flag Tucker, Turcotte, Gulla, LaVallee and Martin.

Kaufman Shows His Stamina While Tucker Pulls Away in Pro-Open

In Pro-Super Stock a melee’ immediately following the start set the stage as Ryan Simons, TJ Gulla, Ross Martin and Andrew Johnstad, all legitimate podium contenders, were forced to regroup and/or re-tether and work from deep behind the leaders.

That set the stage for another Tucker Hibbert victory, continuing his unbeaten streak for the season and further securing his points lead.

At the close of the first lap of the 26 lap final, it was Tucker edging out Polaris pilots Levi LaVallee and Brett Bender with Garth Kaufman (Cat), DJ Eckstrom (Pol), Brett Turcotte (Cat) and Shaun Crapo (Pol) rounding out the seven riders in the 16 rider field.

The running order remained consistent for over half the race, as Tucker began to checkout and encountered back runners on lap nine.

While the Tucker Hibbert show continued at the front, it was Garth Kaufman who perhaps put on the second most impressive ride of the night, as he slowly edged towards the front, picking off Bender on lap 16 and then having an impressive battle with Levi during the closing laps.

The two swap the bridesmaid position several times during the closing laps, with Kaufman eventually getting the bouquet. At the line is was Tucker, who lapped every sled in the field except the top four riders, followed by Kaufman, LaVallee, Bender and Eckstrom to complete the top five.

Tremblay Scores a Victory for Ski-doo in Semi-Pro Super Stock

In Semi-Pro, the ride of the weekend came from Ski-doo pilot Tim Tremblay, who gave Ski-doo their first major win of the season with an impressive ride, charging from fifth place after the close of the first lap, and taking the checkered in front of Dan Ebert (Cat) and Derek Ellis (Pol) at the line.

Notably missing from the top finishers was early season podium regular and Swedish standout, Christian Salemark who experienced an early race get-off and failed to return to the race.

In what proved to be one of the most exciting races of the evening, a series of battles shaped up early as Dan Ebert held the lead with Alaskan rider Cory Davis also on an Arctic Cat; Mike Bauer on a Polaris; and Derek Ellis also on a Polaris tightly in tow.

By lap eight, Davis made the pass on teammate Ebert and looked to be the clear winner of the race as the laps began to wind down. However, a mechanical on the second to last lap, opened the door for the hard-charging Tremblay.