Yamaha Celebrates the Legacy of the YXZ1000R with Final Championship
VanEperen Clinches Pro SxS and Pro Stock SxS Titles in the Iconic Pure Sport Side-by-Side / Oct 1, 2025 /
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is officially commemorating the end of an era with the final chapter of the YXZ1000R – the industry’s first and only true manual-transmission Side-by-Side (SxS). As 2025 marks the last model year for both the YXZ1000R and YXZ1000R SS (Sport Shift) models, the machine went out in the best way possible: on top of the podium and atop the championship standings.
Yamaha factory-supported racer Owen VanEperen secured the Championship Off-Road series’ Pro SxS and Pro Stock SxS titles in his YXZ1000R, capping off the model’s incredible run with even more accolades to its name. Joined by his father and long-time YXZ1000R factory-supported racer, Rodney VanEperen, on the Pro SxS podium, this series marks only the third time in history a father-son duo has earned multiple championships in both the Pro Stock and Pro SxS classes in the same season. The YXZ received a fitting send-off at Glen Helen Raceway, a renowned track the YXZ won many races at, where fans, racers, and enthusiasts gathered to honor the machine that helped define the Pure Sport SxS segment.
Originally introduced as a purpose-built model for true powersports enthusiasts, the YXZ1000R exceeded expectations not just with its specs, but with a philosophy built around the driver. Featuring a distinctive high-revving three-cylinder engine, precise manual gearbox, and unmatched direct connection between driver and machine, it offered an experience unlike any other SxS. The YXZ was not designed for everyone, and that was the intention.
From desert runs and dune rides to short-course domination, the YXZ built a loyal following and a proven, championship-winning reputation. Since 2024 alone, YXZ racers have amassed 16 Pro Stock SxS Championships, 7 Pro Mod/Turbo SxS Championships, 4 Pro Am SxS Championships, and 6 Sportsman SxS Championships — a résumé underscoring the vehicle’s competitive prowess. That legacy closed on a high note, with Yamaha factory-supported driver, Owen VanEperen, securing both the Pro SxS and Pro Stock SxS titles in the 2025 Championship Off-Road series, and fellow YXZ racers finishing on the overall podium in the Pro Am SxS class.
The 2025 YXZ1000R lineup remains available through Yamaha dealers while supplies last. For those seeking a true connection to their vehicle, this marks the final opportunity to own a piece of Side-by-Side history.
Every Yamaha Side-by-Side is built with pride and Assembled in the USA at Yamaha’s state-of-the-art facility in Newnan, Georgia, ensuring premium quality for global markets.
For updates on Yamaha’s model lineup, visit YamahaMotorsports.com, and follow @YamahaOutdoors and @YamahaMotorUSA on social media.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of YMUS, offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.