Can-Am wins Canadian championship

Can-Am DS 450 riders took the two top spots in the 2008 CMRC Canadian Pro 450 ATV championship. Can-Am X-Team racer and Quebec native Richard Pelchat pulled the second-moto holeshot and never looked back as he dominated the rest of the field to win the overall race and championship at Ste-Julie near Montreal.

This is Pelchat’s sixth national championship and is the first Canadian national championship for the DS 450. Michael Ouellete, who races for NDB Sport / PLX Sport, took second overall in the championship aboard his DS 450.

“Spectacular is the first word that comes to mind after going first and second in the Canadian championship race this year,” says Del Bohlman, racing manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Everyone at BRP has worked extremely hard developing the Can-Am DS 450 race program and to see Richard lift the championship plate rewards the hard work everyone from the factory to the racers has put in this season.”

This championship is especially poignant for Pelchat as he overcame a mid-season injury to keep his points lead heading into the final race. He went into the last race of the season with a 16-point lead on Quebec’s own Ouellete. Both riders had a chance at the championship, but it was Pelchat that was victorious.

“It has been a big year for me; from January on we were testing, training and racing,” says Pelchat. “In the end it was all worth it and I can say that the Can-Am DS 450 made my job easier; it is so powerful and handles really great.  Thanks to all my sponsors for believing in me and making this championship possible.”

This is the second overall championship for the DS 450, the other being Team Motoworks / Can-Am racer Josh Frederick  in the 2008 WORCS championship.