Husqvarna Canada Announces New Off-Road Team for 2010
December 11, 2009 11:18am
Toronto, ON - On the heels of the announcement that Husqvarna Corporation has chosen Barrett Marketing Group (BMG) as the new Canadian distributor of their motorcycle products, Husqvarna Canada is pleased to announce an exciting new off-road race team for 2010.
Canadian off-road icons Marty Halmazna from Alberta and Guy Giroux from Quebec will compete at select events in 2010 including the Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) rounds and various regional events across Canada. Halmazna also has his sights set on some of the worlds most extreme races including a return to the notorious Erzberg Hare Scramble in Austria.
“It has been an exciting and satisfying process to put this race effort together” explains Husqvarna Canada’s Josh Barrett. He indicated that he has been working closely with Feeding Performance Inc.’s Race Team Director, Marc Coffin to select the best combination of racers for their program. “We really wanted a solid combination of proven racers” indicated Coffin. “Halmazna and Giroux were easy choices when it came to picking seasoned racers. They both have had amazing careers and are still keen on continuing to add to their trophy collections and causing grief for their competition.”
In addition to numerous regional titles and an ISDE medal, Halmazna has accumulated four Canadian National Cross Country Championships and has earned the respect of fans and fellow racers in Canada and around the world with his outstanding performances in International events including finishing the nearly impossible Erzberg Hare Scramble on his first two attempts and solid results at Last Man Standing in Texas and Hell’s Gate in Italy”.
“Giroux is one Canada’s most versatile and well known off-road racers and has been a force to be reckoned with for many years” said Coffin. Guy has an impressive list of accomplishments including 17 Quebec Off-Road Championships, 2nd in the E2 Class and 4th overall in the 2009 CEC series and 3rd at the Endurocross race that was held during this year’s Montreal Supercross. He also has a ridiculous laundry list of results including an ISDE Gold Medal, 3 top 10 overalls in the Canadian Motocross Nationals, over a dozen main event appearances at the Montreal Supercross and is one of only a handful of Canadians to finish the legendary Paris to Dakar Rally. “I have known Guy for many years” adds Barrett. “We have worked together in the past and he has also raced for me on other brands. He is a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish and I am very pleased to have him on board.”
The team will operate under the direction of Feeding Performance Inc. and in addition to having direct factory support from Husqvarna; the team will have some serious assistance as a result of securing backing from Ty Davis and his Zip-Ty Racing program. “I called Cory Graffunder, who has earned a Factory ride with Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna in the USA, to get the scoop on some Canadian riders that I was considering for our program” says Coffin. “That led to discussions with Ty Davis about what I was trying to accomplish in Canada. Ty was very receptive and has agreed to not only provide us with technical and parts support, but has also opened the door for our riders to train with his crew in California. With the success that Ty has had as a racer and in preparing Husqvarna’s for battle, I could not have dreamed of a better fit. My whole goal is to provide better support for Canadian racers and to raise the bar in our sport. I think this is a huge step forward. The off-road racing scene in Canada is really gaining momentum. It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to how things will develop in the coming years.”
In an addition to racing for the new FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada team and working with Coffin to run its race program, Guy Giroux is joining Husqvarna Canada as an employee. Guy will be providing technical support to dealers across the country and will also have responsibility for Husqvarna Canada’s race program for dealer supported riders.
Following its launch at the Toronto motorcycle show, FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada will be promoting its new team at the upcoming shows in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal. Look for announcements about additional riders to this new team in the coming weeks.
About Husqvarna Motorcycles
Tradition on two wheels since 1903.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a part of the BMW Group since October 2007, are widely known and respected in the off-road world for a heritage of competition and have accumulated over 70 World Championships in Motocross, Enduro and Supermotard. Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna motorcycles have been designed and manufactured in Varese, Italy since 1987.
For more information on Husqvarna Motorcycles, visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
Canadian off-road icons Marty Halmazna from Alberta and Guy Giroux from Quebec will compete at select events in 2010 including the Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) rounds and various regional events across Canada. Halmazna also has his sights set on some of the worlds most extreme races including a return to the notorious Erzberg Hare Scramble in Austria.
“It has been an exciting and satisfying process to put this race effort together” explains Husqvarna Canada’s Josh Barrett. He indicated that he has been working closely with Feeding Performance Inc.’s Race Team Director, Marc Coffin to select the best combination of racers for their program. “We really wanted a solid combination of proven racers” indicated Coffin. “Halmazna and Giroux were easy choices when it came to picking seasoned racers. They both have had amazing careers and are still keen on continuing to add to their trophy collections and causing grief for their competition.”
In addition to numerous regional titles and an ISDE medal, Halmazna has accumulated four Canadian National Cross Country Championships and has earned the respect of fans and fellow racers in Canada and around the world with his outstanding performances in International events including finishing the nearly impossible Erzberg Hare Scramble on his first two attempts and solid results at Last Man Standing in Texas and Hell’s Gate in Italy”.
“Giroux is one Canada’s most versatile and well known off-road racers and has been a force to be reckoned with for many years” said Coffin. Guy has an impressive list of accomplishments including 17 Quebec Off-Road Championships, 2nd in the E2 Class and 4th overall in the 2009 CEC series and 3rd at the Endurocross race that was held during this year’s Montreal Supercross. He also has a ridiculous laundry list of results including an ISDE Gold Medal, 3 top 10 overalls in the Canadian Motocross Nationals, over a dozen main event appearances at the Montreal Supercross and is one of only a handful of Canadians to finish the legendary Paris to Dakar Rally. “I have known Guy for many years” adds Barrett. “We have worked together in the past and he has also raced for me on other brands. He is a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish and I am very pleased to have him on board.”
The team will operate under the direction of Feeding Performance Inc. and in addition to having direct factory support from Husqvarna; the team will have some serious assistance as a result of securing backing from Ty Davis and his Zip-Ty Racing program. “I called Cory Graffunder, who has earned a Factory ride with Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna in the USA, to get the scoop on some Canadian riders that I was considering for our program” says Coffin. “That led to discussions with Ty Davis about what I was trying to accomplish in Canada. Ty was very receptive and has agreed to not only provide us with technical and parts support, but has also opened the door for our riders to train with his crew in California. With the success that Ty has had as a racer and in preparing Husqvarna’s for battle, I could not have dreamed of a better fit. My whole goal is to provide better support for Canadian racers and to raise the bar in our sport. I think this is a huge step forward. The off-road racing scene in Canada is really gaining momentum. It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to how things will develop in the coming years.”
In an addition to racing for the new FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada team and working with Coffin to run its race program, Guy Giroux is joining Husqvarna Canada as an employee. Guy will be providing technical support to dealers across the country and will also have responsibility for Husqvarna Canada’s race program for dealer supported riders.
Following its launch at the Toronto motorcycle show, FP Husqvarna / Zip-Ty Racing Canada will be promoting its new team at the upcoming shows in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal. Look for announcements about additional riders to this new team in the coming weeks.
About Husqvarna Motorcycles
Tradition on two wheels since 1903.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a part of the BMW Group since October 2007, are widely known and respected in the off-road world for a heritage of competition and have accumulated over 70 World Championships in Motocross, Enduro and Supermotard. Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna motorcycles have been designed and manufactured in Varese, Italy since 1987.
For more information on Husqvarna Motorcycles, visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com