Rainbow Studios MX vs. ATV Game Family: Prior to Rainbow Studios' video game Producer Robert Baumsteiger there was no one really trying to push the ATV Racing segment in the rapidly growing video game market. "Rainbow Rob" (as he became known) is not only a gamer, but an avid ATV racer, and with his experience in both fields was able to push the physics of the games to new heights. The feel of the games was second only to riding an actual ATV, making the game series the best selling game on the market for multiple seasons. Rainbow Rob, and the entire studio literally changed the game.
The rise of the WPSA: Shortly after the previously mentioned Great Outdoor Games (G.O.G) the ATV Racing Industry as a whole realized that things could indeed be better, and a flurry of activity ensued in an effort to recreate the magic of the G.O.G., the result was the creation of the WPSA ATV Racing Series. 2006 saw a whole new series, set of rules, classes, and level of professionalism in the sport thanks to the new series. Racers, sponsors, spectators, and the media flocked to the new ESPN presented series. The WPSA's impact forever changed the way we race.
The fall of the WPSA, and the re-emergence of the ATV MX Nationals: By 2007 the WPSA had seemingly won the war, riders had chosen sides, and thanks to great exposure, sponsors were throwing more money at ATV Racing than any other time in the history of the sport. The new "Quad Terrain Challenge" or QTC, brought Utility racing to the forefront, and the QTC segments of the broadcast were literally stealing the show. The competition presented by the WPSA made the ATVPG step their game up, and most of the rider gripes were addressed and fixed. By 2008 the ATV MX Nationals were ready to meet the challenge head on. The riders were split down the middle as to where to head, and who to support. The WPSA made the decision easier by filing for bankruptcy, and leaving hundreds of riders without a series. WPSA loyalists feared repercussions from the ATVPG, instead they were greeted with open arms, and a new open mind. The fall of the WPSA seriously changed the game.
Team Yoshimura Suzuki: Everyone prayed for the return of Factory Racing, and in 2004 Team Yoshimura Suzuki delivered. Big rigs, infrastructure, and big budgets made their way to the GNC MX Series via the newly formed team. The professionalism they displayed, and the Supercross-like approach was a spectacle to a series where showing up with an ATV in the bed of the truck was still commonplace. From day one the team redefined the sport of ATV racing, and while most of the other OEMs followed suit, no one has enjoyed the level of success of Team Yoshimura Suzuki. Coming into 2010, despite economic hardships they're still at it, and still raising the bar. The game will never be the same.
The Yamaha Rhino: In 2004 Yamaha released the Rhino side by side, or UTV as they're now called, and inadvertently created an entire new lifestyle, and subculture. At the time, the Rhino was nothing short of ridiculous, and no one really knew what to make of it, or how to receive it. Popular mechanics called it "a cross between the Kawasaki Mule that professional gardeners use and some goofy new ride at Disney World". Fast forward to 2010, and the side-by-side market is literally booming (well as booming as can be expected when the entire country is broke, and on the brink of disaster). The Rhino paved the way for the Polaris RZR, Kawasaki Teryx, Redline Riot, and a slew of other followers. UTVs now make up a huge segment of our magazine, and readership, and have been included in all kinds of racing including short course, BAJA, and GNCC. Off road parks are flooded with the machines, and you can't wave a stick at an off road rally without hitting one. The Rhino reinvented the Game.