FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE.

CONTACT: Scot Harden, Sales & Marketing Mgr, Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
Tel (201)930-3200 scot.harden@husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

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HUSKY HEROICS CONTINUE AT SOBOBA GRAND PRIX AND
AMA NATIONAL HARE & HOUND ROUND 2
Rookstool swims to Soboba podium, Burson 4th OA @ Spangler Hills National.

February 11, 2009 -- Woodcliff Lake, NJ -- Off-road racers always dream of competing in dust-free conditions, so last weekend in Southern California the dream came true... at least for Team Husqvarna. Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna rider Kevin Rookstool, a hot up-and-comer recruited by Ty Davis to race Huskys this season, was definitely living the dream. In his maiden voyage (pun intended) competing in SoCal's fabled Soboba Grand Prix, the talented 21-year-old former motocrosser finished on the podium.

Conditions were more nightmarish than dream-like but being from Oregon, Rookstool rarely gives a hoot about a little rain shower. By the end of the first loop, however, the rookie had new respect for terms like "sandwash" and "flash flood".

"Because of the rainy weather the race got off late, around 3:30pm, and I remember wondering if we'd be finish before the sun went down. Never really thought about the rain being a factor," said the waterlogged podium finisher. "This was my first time at Soboba so I would've bet money (at the Soboba Tribe's casino gaming tables, no doubt) that my biggest challenge would be battling with the other guys lined up next to me on the starting line. Was I in for a surprise!"

While his competitors faded from fatigue or lost their battles due to worsening conditions and rapidly deepening water crossings Rookstool continued to pour it on. The harder it rained, the more he twisted the throttle. Lap after lap for 90-minutes, he aimed his Husqvarna TC450 into wider and deeper torrents, somehow always managing to find traction on the other side.

"It was pure survival," said Rookstool. "During the last lap I sucked in so much water I thought my Husky was done for. But it just kept on pulling all the way to the finish, and only six of us made it. Six finishers!"

An amazing end to an amazing race that most would consider a victory by just finishing. For Rookstool who managed to claw his way to third and enjoy his first podium on a Husky, a dream did come true.

FINAL RESULTS: 2009 SOBOBA GRAND PRIX 1. Chris Johnson, Suz 2. Bobby Bonds, Hon 3. Kevin Rookstool - Husqvarna TC450 4. Justin Soule, KTM 5. Colton Udall, Hon

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AMA National Hare & Hound, Rd. #2, Ridgecrest, CA

Like the Soboba Grand Prix major, the AMA's 2nd Hare & Hound of the season "benefited" from Southern California's unseasonably rainy last week. While Kevin Rookstool stayed down in the lowlands, his fellow Zip-Ty Racing teammates Ty Davis, Gary Sutherlin and Nick Burson took their Husqvarnas to Spangler Hills Off-Highway Vehicle area in the high-desert near Ridgecrest.

"Thanks to the rain that drenched the West Coast last week, the desert was in rare, once in a million conditions with no dust and incredible traction," claimed Davis. "The timing of this National event could not have been better."

Right from the start, the Husky-mounted trio of Davis (TC450), Sutherlin and Burson (both on TC510 models) ran with the race leaders. Things went well on the technical 42-mile first loop and the entire pack maintained a blistering clip. Mile after race mile the ride was trouble-free, but as is often (always) the case, the terrain and mad pace began to take a toll. Crashes, injuries, broken hardware... The usual.

Still in it to win it, Davis and his men were on their way when the fickle wheel of fate spun their way. One minute he's blazing up a long, loamy, dust-free wash when BAM!!! Davis was out with a stuck piston. "Oh well," he sighed, "we still had two dogs in this fight."

Sutherlin and Burson remained in the thick of battle with no apparent problems... At least not until Sutherlin took a stick through the left-side radiator, lost all coolant and blew the big 510 motor. Left as a solo act, Burson pinned his ears back and pointed it for home. In the end, it was Burson all the way with a 4th overall.

FINAL RESULTS: AMA NATIONAL HARE & HOUND, RD. 2 1. David Kamo, KTM 2. David Pearson, KTM 3. Jake Argubright, Kaw 4. Nick Burson - Husqvarna TC510 5. Matt Henderson, Kaw

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Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC

Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC is part of BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America is located in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC returned to off-road racing competition in 2008 and during 2009 Husqvarna will expand its professional race team to compete in AMA GNCC, Endurocross, National Hare & Hound, the AMA Hare Scrambles Series, and WORCS competition. Husqvarna team riders will compete in the premier classes of each series aboard 2009 Husqvarna TXC 450, TXC 510, and WR 300 off-road models.
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Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
300 Chestnut Ridge Road
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 USA

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