Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Awards More Than $190,000 in First Quarter 2008

    CYPRESS, Calif., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. is
 proud to announce the first GRANT awards, totaling more than $190,000, from
 its OHV Access Initiative designed to support safe, responsible riding and
 sustainable, open riding areas. GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to
 our Nation's Trails) were given to 19 organizations across the country to
 fund projects including OHV trail and park development, trail mapping,
 safety and land stewardship programs and lobbying efforts to increase OHV
 access on public land.
 
     Yamaha's OHV Access Initiative was launched in January 2008 as a
 proactive, grassroots program enabling Yamaha dealers and customers to fund
 deserving projects in support of responsible, open access. Today's
 announcement reflects the Initiative's activity for the first submission
 period; more than 35 applications were submitted by the February 29
 deadline.
 
     "We are pleased at the enthusiastic response to the OHV Access
 Initiative in just the first few months," said Mike Martinez, Yamaha's
 general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) Operations. "It is truly
 gratifying to see the amount of work that is being taken on by OHV
 enthusiasts and public land managers across the nation in support of this
 important issue."
 
     The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative review committee will award GRANTs in
 amounts ranging from $1,000 - $35,000 to the following organizations:
 
 

     Advocates for Access
     ATV Association of Minnesota
     Colorado OHV Coalition
     Coos County Sheriff's Office
     Economic Development Alliance for Oscoda County
     El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services
     Friends of Florida State Forests
     Grapevine/Chavies Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept.
     Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association
     Idaho ATV Association
     Jefferson County Soil & Waiver Conservation District
     Morrow County Public Works/OHV Park
     Motorcycle Riders Association
     North Folk John Day Ranger District/Umatilla National Forest
     Thunder Mountain Wheelers
     Tri County ATV Recreation & Rescue Association
     Tri County Trail Riders
     United Desert Gateway
     McClellan Creek OHV Trail/Black Kettle National Grassland
 
     "GRANT requests came from all types of organizations large and small
 including riding clubs, National Forests, even a volunteer fire
 department," said Steve Nessl, Yamaha's ATV/SxS marketing manager. "We look
 forward to our work with these and future OHV Access Initiative GRANT
 awardees to help establish and maintain open riding areas."
 
     As a requirement of funding, GRANT recipients will provide project
 status and completion reports to help ensure each project is successful.
 The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative will see projects to fruition and help
 each GRANT recipient communicate their successes through the program's new
 web site and more.
 
     Detailed information on the OHV Access Initiative, including
 downloadable guidelines and application forms, is available at:
 http://www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess. For questions regarding the OHV
 Access Initiative, groups can call Yamaha's dedicated OHV Access Initiative
 number at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamaha-motor.com
 or write to: Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee, 6555 Katella
 Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.
 
     Each quarter, Yamaha will accept applications from organizations such
 as non-profit or tax-exempt OHV riding clubs, national forests and
 associations and national, state and local government agencies. A committee
 then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects.
 Applications for the second quarter will be accepted through May 31, 2008.
 
     Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not
 limited to:
 
 

     -- Trail development, restoration and maintenance
     -- Trail signage and map production
     -- Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
     -- Safety and education
 
     About Yamaha:
 
     Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered and built tough!
 Yamaha Motor Corp., USA headquarters are located in Cypress, California.
 For more information on Yamaha, visit http://www.yamaha-motor.com.
 
 

     MEDIA CONTACT:      Van Holmes
                         Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
                         (714) 761-7370
                         van_holmes@yamaha-motor.com
 
 

SOURCE Yamaha Motor Corp.