Let's take a look at the facts. First, there is NO stock YXZ that has more HP than a turbo XP1000 - that's just silly. Turbo XP1000 on our dyno is around 110HP. My STOCK, piped YXZ1000 is 94HP. Second, this is the Production 1000 UTV class that we are talking about. This is a stock class, for NA motors not to exceed 1000cc - not to have ANY motor mods - and to be run as a stock, production machine from the factory. Yamaha has come to the class with a machine that fits perfectly within the rules as they are written.
The Polaris' are allowed to have clutch modifications in this class (weights/ springs / helix) - as we all know, that is a pretty big deal when it comes to getting the power to the ground with the XPs. The Yamahas are not allowed to do ANYTHING to their clutch. Nothing. Nada. Bone stock. The Yamahas are also required to weigh a MINIMUM of 1720lbs.....which is almost 100 lbs more than the 2014 XP1000s have to weigh:
- 2014 RZR: 1625 pounds including driver
- 2015-16 RZR: 1675 pounds including driver.
Is the YXZ a superior machine? I think so, but I am a tad biased......kudos to Yamaha for rising to the challenge of competition. For anyone who races motocross, what happens when an OEM makes a better dirt bike? Does the series change the rules to allow larger displacement models from certain manufacturers? Does the series change the rules because they feel it's not a fair race?? NO! The OEMs step up the next year and come out with a better model that fits within the rules of the class they are all racing in. It's called competition, and it is what fuels the market and gives the consumer a better product and plenty of choices to choose from when it comes to buying a new machine.
This is no different. It's dumb to say that the rules need to be changed because the YXZ is doing such a good job in the class. Pretend this is SX....or ANY motocross class out there. If your Honda isn't cutting it, sell it and buy the model that IS cutting it. When the YFZ450 came out, I was the first one in my class to buy it, because I knew it was going to be awesome. And it was.....it killed everything in it's class. And you know what happened? The next race I came to, 1/3 of the field had the YFZ450. And the next race.....over half. And the racing got REALLY good after that and we all had to step it up to compete. The following year, the Kawi 450 and Suzuki 450 came out, and then it was game ON for all the OEMs. THIS is what it's all about......
To change the rules and whine because another OEM stepped up to the plate is just stifling the ENTIRE market.......and it goes against everything racing is even designed to do, which is give the OEMs the incentive to continue to make the best products they possibly can for US, the consumer. Brand wars are good for everyone, and now the Prod 1000 class actually has people coming to watch it again, because it just started to get interesting.