BRP, world leader in power sports with leading brands in its line-up such as Evinrude E-TEC®, Sea-Doo® and Can-Am®, has crowned an exciting year of innovation and impressive growth by welcoming Andrew "ET" Ettingshausen to the team at BRP Australia. The announcement this week of such a high profile major sponsorship deal really has BRP and the marine media buzzing.

As host and executive producer of the hugely successful Escape With ET (now into it's eighth season on Network Ten), ET provides a well established TV presence and a high profile sporting and fishing personality that suits BRP's stable of brands.

ET himself, is set for an exciting year with his recent investment into the recently developed Groote Eylandt . Famed for its pristine waters and 50 species of fish, Australia 's third biggest island which is situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria is paradise found for the world's anglers. ET's new 24 guest Escape Sportfishing Lodge compliments the adjacent 5 star Dugong Beach Resort and ensures the world's anglers can enjoy their paradise found in supreme comfort.

The importance of official support and endorsement from a well respected fisherman and businessman such as ET is not lost on BRP Asia Pacific General Manager Gregoire Dupont: "We're delighted that Andrew wants to be powered by Evinrude and Sea-Doo on the water, and Can-Am ATV quadbikes when on land. Having someone like ET stand behind the technical innovation and environmental integrity of our brands makes us all very proud and humbled", beamed Gregoire. "He's a passionate and very successful guy who likes what he sees in our products."

ET explains that it was the progress made by Evinrude E-TEC engines that sparked his interest initially and drew him to BRP. "It's never been much of a secret that Evinrude two-stroke technology outperforms the four-stroke alternatives for torque, acceleration and top-line speed. And with a couple of hundred fewer parts they will obviously win on durability, quality and reliability. The clincher for me though, was the breakthrough on emissions and the fact that they're the only two-stroke DI engine with a 3-star rating across the whole range."

Ettingshausen added "now that E-TEC is clean and quiet as well, the evolution from four-stroke to two-stroke engines was complete for me." "Sustainable fishing is the only option for a place like Groote Eylandt . That's our goal up there and if I can be powered around that wilderness cleanly and quietly by an E-TEC then I'm a happy fisherman" reasoned ET.

Such an endorsement from the former Rugby League speedster with the clean image and reputation for environmental sensitivity is big for E-TEC and welcomed by Duncan Knight, BRP Australia's Marketing Manager. "ET was renowned for showing the opposition a clean pair of heels as a Shark in his footy days. E-TEC plans to show the four-stroke engine brigade a similarly clean pair of heels!" quipped Duncan .

Duncan explains that what excites BRP as much as anything is the opportunity to further strengthen the relationship with ET's other brands of choice. "We've always had a lot of mutual respect for brands like Haines Hunter, Toyota , Lowrance, Sportsfish Australia and Shimano . ET's presence will only cement our relationship with and support for these strong marine names."

"We're all predicting big things this year for our line-up of leading power sports brands" enthuses Duncan . "These are really exciting times for Evinrude E-TEC and BRP, especially when you're in the company of a guy like ET".

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo® and Lynx® snowmobiles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude® and Johnson® outboard engines, direct injection Technologies such as Evinrude E-TEC®, Can-Am® all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, and Rotax® engines and karts. www.brp.com
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