In the first quarter of 2005 the new BRP (Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, ATV, Johnson/Evinrude, Rotax) increased its gross profit by 28% to $115.3 million on sales of $594.0 million. The same period a year earlier recorded a gross profit of $90.2 million.

Looking at BRP’s financial performance since becoming a stand alone recreational powersports manufacturer, it would appear things are going well in spite of a strengthening Canadian to US dollar ratio – the only issue having a negative impact on results thus far.

Press Release –

The wins just keep coming for Yamaha snowmobiles in the popular Midwest 500-ft. grass drags. At the PSGDRA meet in Greenville, Mich., Brian Tyler jetted to Stock 600 Multi wins aboard his new 2006 Yamaha Apex on both Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, Steve Agdorny took his new Nytro to second place in Stock 500 on both days.

The new Apex also grabbed the top two places in the Stock 600 class at the NSRA event in Princeton, Minn. on Saturday. Jerry Fix took the win over Pat Hauck, while Matt Theis came in third on his RX-1 to make it a Yamaha sweep.

Hauck turned the tables to capture Improved Stock 600 aboard his RX Warrior, with Fix second on another RX Warrior and Randy Stodola third on an RX-1. Then Jim Jones topped the Stock 600 S (single pipe) class on his Yamaha RS Vector.

In NSRA action on Sunday, Jerry Hauck and Jones finished 1-2 on their Vectors in the Stock 500 class. Randy Stodola topped Stock 600 on his trusty Yamaha RX-1, with Fix second and Hauck third on their new Apex sleds. Fix and Stodola also claimed the Improved Stock 600 class for Yamaha, with Fix aboard an RX Warrior and Stodola on an RX-1.

Also on Sunday, Allen Ulmer won the Stock 600 class on an Apex at the SDSDRA event in Wheaton, Minn. Weekend score for Yamaha: 10 wins, including four for the new Apex. Looks like a great head start for 2006!

Albeit a sales success, Arctic Cat currently only produces one 4-stroke sled (with variants). For the company to deliver a credible 4-stroke based product line, weight technology will have to be advanced significantly.

Arctic Cat’s hallmark has been lightweight performance in every segment. On the other side of the coin, Cat’s now legendary 600 and 700 2-stroke twins produce unequaled performance in their classes, though these engines appear vulnerable to EPA compliance issues in the short term.

No SDI, DI or groundbreaking clean-air 2-stroke technology has been unveiled by the TRF crew. With Firecat tooling due for an update, and 4-stroke power being openly crowed, we suspect AC may soon make a diametric shift toward 4-stroke power, exploding conventional wisdom along the way.

Known for delivering amazing handling and ride, Cat is faced with a formidable challenge entering the clean air age. In the short term its still 2-stroke at the green camp but indicators run hot for a 4-stroke future.

Mixing two engine technologies together is where Polaris has staked its claim. With Ski-Doo diving head first into clean 2-stroke water and Yamaha with all its eggs in the 4-stroke basket, Polaris has elected to keep its feet on both sides of the fence.

Interestingly, the company’s new clean 755 and 900 2-strokes are not its most profiled models, rather, an EPA compliant, re-invented 600 2-stroke is capturing all the attention.

Both the FST 4-stroke turbo and the lower performance FS work exceptionally well. With 80HP on tap, the FS is targeted at the Polaris dominated 500 class buyer.

Virtually everything Polaris is building this year is in the new and effective IQ chassis. It’s too early to call but we strongly suspect Polaris will keep both engine technologies in its stable in the long term future.

After emerging from a decade long sales slump, the future looks very bright, however, Yamaha still occupies fourth place market share.

The Apex and Vector are a pair of exceptionally impressive 4-stroke snowmobiles and have driven renewed credibility to Yamaha’s front door.

These 4-strokes produce competitive power in their targeted segments and are priced to meet the competition. More powerful and fuel efficient than conventional 2-strokes, while eliminating the need for oil injection, these sleds are truly the best 4-stroke snowmobiles offered thus far.

Although not particularly light, they do an amazing job of masking it. Add in this powerful reality: 4-stroke perception and acceptance is on Yamaha’s side. Another no-brainer. Yamaha is going 4-stroke at WOT.

The market’s sales leader, BRP Ski-Doo has plotted a totally 2-stroke course for the immediate and long term future.

The company’s exclusive SDI and DFI technology proves it has the stuff to meet and exceed EPA emission standards while producing formidable 2-stroke power, light weight and fuel economy equal to 4-stroke mileage.

The platforms Ski-Doo is bolting clean 2-strokes into are not just good, they’re the industry benchmark. “Rider Forward” ergos are now copied by everyone else.

We’ll go out on a limb here and conclude Ski-Doo will continue to advance the state of the 2-stroke engine.

The 600 class has always been competitive, but it’s never been as tight as in 2006. Polaris has singlehandedly taken us back to the glory days of 2000 when the Liberty 600 was the strongest sled in the 600 category.

Of course, at that time AC was still three years away from the insanely quick Firecat 600 and Ski-Doo had yet to grind bigger holes for an HO Series III 600.

This year, even Yamaha’s “600 class” competitor, the 1000cc Vector is a player in the 120 horsepower game.

While it’s too soon to name a new champion of the sport’s most popular displacement class, after initial pulls at altitude with the four sleds mentioned here, we expect the rules to be re-written.