By: Zap
* Friday was full of amateur motocross racing leaving the track dusty and dry. There was talk of overnight rain which everybody thought would be a good idea.
* Quite a few Yamaha YZ450F riders were either planning to run an oversized IMS gas tank (2.4 gallons) or try to expand their stock (1.6 gallon) tanks to get additional fuel. Grant Langston's large gas tank was most evident.
* "Is this the track with the rattlesnakes on it?" Pro Circuit's Tyla Rattray said when he walked up to the team rig.
* The James Stewart rumor in the pits was that he planned to ride the last four Nationals and maybe the Motocross des Nations.
* Look for the entire Moto Concepts Racing team to be aboard their Yamaha's at the USGP at Glen Helen.
* Don't forget that Speed will be providing next day coverage of both the 250 and 450 motocross races (plus MotoGP from France).
Chad Reeds Ride #1
This is about as swanky as you can get for freeway travel.
Chad Reed's Ride #2
There's a #5 and #800 that have their sights set on this number plate....it's gonna be a great season.
Ryan Villopoto was showing off the scars left behind after his ankle surgery. RV said following the crash in St. Louis he had an external fixator put on, drove back to Los Angeles and then flew to Seattle where he endured two tough rounds of surgery—the last coming three weeks after the injury. The soonest that he'll be back on a bike? "Too long from now," said Ryan (which could translate into October). As to his picks for the win this weekend? RV's first response was, "It's pathetic," before he hoped for good things to happen for the returning Ben Townley—"He might might not get it this weekend, but I hope he's up on top through the year. After that, I guess Alessi, Chad and Dungey. Dungey's already had like 9000 strokes of good luck, so hopefully somebody else will get some too."
"It took me to the last lap to get 'er done, but I won it!" Shaun Palmer following his first moto win (from last) in the celebrity cross-over race.
"I'm gonna look like Palmer pretty soon....that dude looks rustic!" Ryan Villopoto on where he's headed in appearance as he recovers from his broken ankle. RV said he plans to show-up at quite a few Nationals this year so search him out and wish him well.
The last time we say Ty Hames he was winning the second moto of the World Two-Stroke Championships. At Hangtown he is was the lucky winner of the FMF/KTM "win a factory ride for Hangtown" contest. The word in the KTM pit is that he's made the (temporary) transition to the 450 KTM quite well. Time will tell.
It was pretty cool to see ten-time, yes, ten-time World Champ, Stefan Everts in the pits getting warmed-up for next weeks GP at Glen Helen.
Journeyman racer Michael Byrne had a ride with the JGR team to replace the injured Josh Grant. Grant got healthy for the outdoor series and Michael lost hisJGR ride. But then JGR's Justin Brayton got hurt, but by then Michael had already accepted a ride at Valli Motorsports to replace the injured Ivan Tedesco. Here, Byrne discusses bike setup with his new mechanic, Frankie Latham.
You know a team has welcomed you aboard when they roll your new bike out of the team semi and your bike is already running the personalized hub stickers.
Well, I'm sure there were some Eli Tomac stickers somewhere in the Geico team truck, but he was rolling on KW's old wheels.
Heeee's back!!! Ben Townley was showing his Troy Lee Designs teammate Tarah Geiger where the 101 graphic will be seen soon.
ZipTy sponsored Bobby Garrison hopes to be the first Husqvarna 250 to qualify for an AMA National since, oh, about 1977 (we're looking it up).
After missing the entire Supercross season due to injury, DeCoster's latest find, Australia's Matt Moss, will finally make his Suzuki debut.
AS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS FOR HANGTOWN
2011 O'NEAL GEAR MAKES ITS DEBUT
Honda of Troy announces that Les Smith will fill in for Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing’s Levi Kilbarger at the AMA Outdoor Series.
Kilbarger suffered a leg injury in a first turn pileup at the Dallas Supercross in March and has been plagued with fatigue issues that will unfortunately sideline the popular rider for the first half of the outdoor season. Smith will step under the Honda of Troy / Kilbarger Racing Tent and will join Darryn Durham, Michael Willard and Sean Lipanovich on the team.
Smith, a 19-year-old AMA rookie hailing from York, South Carolina, will make the switch to the CRF250R Honda. A bike he should feel comfortable on due to the fact that Les spent most of his amateur career with Honda. His mother commented “Ever since his bike support changed in 2008, all he has ever wanted was his Honda’s back! He has had so much success with Honda in his amateur career – and he has missed the feel of the bikes ever since.”
Les has had a highly decorated amateur career and was able to test the Pro-Am waters last season in the 450 class at the last few outdoor races- earning himself the National Number 87 in the process. Les will be a strong asset to the Team and Honda of Troy is looking forward to giving him the tools to excel at the Professional level.
The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.
Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR - We All Ride, FOX Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, LeoVince Carbon Fiber, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rock’s Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan
Fly Racing Signs Kyle Regal
Fly Racing is pleased to announce the signing of Merge Racing’s Kyle Regal for the 2010 AMA Outdoor Motocross Series. Regal, last year’s AMA 450 Class Rookie of the Year, will wear Fly Racing’s Kinetic Mesh and Evolution race wear as he once again competes in the premiere 450 class.
“We’re excited to add Kyle to the Fly Racing team roster for this year’s outdoor series,” states Fly Racing’s Terry Baisley. “Kyle has shown that he has the speed, fitness, and mental toughness to run at the front of the 450 pack. We’re happy to have him onboard to showcase our professional race wear.”
Look for the #41 of Kyle Regal as he makes his Fly Racing debut at this weekend’s Hangtown season opener.
David Bailey and Jeff Emig Highlight 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Broadcast Team
When race fans tune in to Speed and NBC's coverage of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, they are going to hear some familiar voices. Former AMA Motocross and Supercross champion David Bailey returns to the booth as color commentator, splitting races with another multi-time champion, Jeff Emig. The two Hall of Fame riders will join host Jason Weigandt and sideline reporter Erin Bates to provide comprehensive television coverage of the 12 rounds that determine the best racers in motocross.
The action starts on Speed on Sunday May 23 with two full hours of coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Each of the following rounds will air live on NBC or Speed or enjoy same-day coverage (450 Class) and next-day coverage (250 Class) on SPEED.
"The anticipation of who will shine in AMA Motocross is always exciting, and this year it's no different," says veteran broadcaster Bailey. "I think the talent is deeper than it has been in a long time."
"I can't wait for Hangtown," adds Emig, who just wrapped up providing color commentary on Speed's coverage of AMA Supercross. "There is a tremendous amount of excitement for the opening round. This is a contract year for many of the riders, so you know there won't be any sandbaggers this summer. It's go-time for everyone!"
Both Bailey and Emig have spent their entire lives around motocross, first as top racers and now as television analysts. After traveling the circuit for more than a decade, Bailey took a long hiatus from the TV booth but returned last year for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross tour.
"The improvement of the facilities has been amazing," Bailey says. "From the upgrades to the tracks, combined with the attention to detail at each event site, the presentation is impressive. I also like how proactive MX Sports is in organizing everything. Problems don't linger and better ideas are always being considered."
"I attended my first AMA Motocross race way back in the '70s at Agency, Missouri," recalls Emig, a former Yamaha and Kawasaki factory rider. "So much has changed since then, especially how professional the events are. Every form of racing has a charted growth and trajectory that it must maintain to continue, and I'm happy that the AMA Motocross promoters are making the necessary improvements to keep the racers and the fans happy."
Riding for Team Honda, Bailey was a winning force on the AMA circuit in the 1980s before turning his attention to television, just as the sport was starting to finally see some regular coverage.
"When motocross was first on TV, I used to do the voiceovers with Art Eckman in post-production-for airing the following weekend," he explains. "Now half the series is live! You can flip back and forth from NASCAR or any other major league sport and there's no difference in quality, but the there's a big difference in excitement. Motocross is such a unique sport, and the new TV crew did a fantastic job capturing it last summer. With a year under their belts, this season will be even sharper."
"If people could only see what happens behind the scenes with the TV crew, they would know that to do an AMA Motocross race live on TV or the internet is a very big job," adds Emig, a four-time AMA Champion from the 1990s. "We have a kick-ass crew in the truck and some very dedicated cameramen out in the dirt. With everyone on the production crew's dedication, we get to see Lucas Oil AMA Motocross live, so it's all worth it."
As for his expectations for racing action this summer, beginning with the 42nd Annual Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic, Emig thinks it will be..."Mind-blowing! Both classes have a tremendous amount of returning talent, plus some gifted newcomers. It's a recipe for success in my book. It's going to be a fantastic summer of motocross racing."
Besides Speed and NBC, you can hear David Bailey and Jeff Emig, along with Jason Weigandt and Erin Bates, on the live video stream of the first set of motos from every round of the series on www.allisports.com, beginning on Saturday, May 22, at 4 p.m ET.
World's Best Motocross Riders Set to Battle for Prestigious
Edison Dye and Gary Jones Motocross Cups
At the conclusion of last season's Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, a pair of perpetual championship trophies were introduced for the 450 and 250 classes: the Edison Dye Cup and Gary Jones Cup are commemorative awards that honor the strong legacy of American motocross, in name and in spirit. Each cup goes to the team that captures the championship in each class, the Edison Dye Cup for the 450 Class and the Gary Jones Cup for the 250 Class. Both cups return for 2010, ready to be claimed by the riders and teams able to overcome and endure the challenges that make motocross one of the toughest sports on the planet.
Edison Dye was one of the pivotal figures in the development of professional motocross in America. As the organizer of the first professional motocross championship in the U.S., he set the standard for an elite competition pitting the best riders on the planet against one another in a quest for fame and glory. By importing such legendary figures as Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster, and more to his Inter-Am tours beginning in 1966, Dye set the stage for what is now the most prestigious motocross series of all, the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Gary Jones was a product and beneficiary of Edison Dye's series and, as a result, became the first true AMA Pro Motocross Champion in the 250 Class in 1972. Jones, who hailed from Hacienda Heights, Calif., went on to defend his title in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first multi-time champion in AMA Motocross history. Even more impressive is the fact that Jones won those three titles on three different brands: Yamaha, Honda, and Can-Am.
Because each cup is awarded to the team of the rider who claims each respective championship, both the Edison Dye Cup and the Gary Jones Cup presently reside at the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki race shop in Chino, Calif. Last summer, Chad Reed (450) and Ryan Dungey (250) claimed the championships under the guidance of yet another historic motocrosser, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki Team Manager Roger DeCoster. Recognized globally as "The Man," DeCoster accepted both cups on his team's behalf.
With the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship on the immediate horizon, the Edison Dye Cup and the Gary Jones Cup will both be up for grabs. Dungey is still with Rockstar/Makita Suzuki, only now he's moved up to the 450 Class. There he will face his former teammate Reed, now a member of the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team, and other top motocross athletes including Andrew Short, Josh Grant, Davi Millsaps, Mike Alessi, Grant Langston, Ben Townley, Brett Metcalfe, Ivan Tedesco, and more, all hoping to claim the #1 plate and the Edison Dye Cup for their teams.
Dungey's departure means a new 250 Class rider will claim the Gary Jones Cup for his team in 2010. The list of talented young contenders is seemingly endless: Christophe Pourcel, Jake Weimer, Trey Canard, Justin Barcia, Tyla Rattray, Austin Stroupe, Tommy Searle, Broc Tickle, Wil Hahn, Blake Wharton, Dean Wilson, Max Anstie.... Any one of these terrific riders (and more) could end up as champion when the series concludes.
MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship
The success achieved at last season's Women's
Motocross Championship (WMX) has carried over into 2010 as the nation's
top female competitors prepare for another exciting eight-race
championship featuring two new tracks, a new title sponsor and more
support for the riders and the series than ever before.
Highlighting
the 2010 season is title sponsorship from MotorcycleUSA.com, which
covers the all aspects motorcycling and off road riding, and who will
also serve as the sponsor for the WMX Class Holeshot Award. Also
creating considerable buzz is the introduction of a pair of new venues
to the schedule. For the first time, women will be featured at the
legendary Rockstar Energy RedBud National on 4th of July weekend as
well as the very popular and historical Rockstar Energy Spring Creek
National on July 17.
The remaining rounds of the season return
to some of the most legendary tracks on the planet in Hangtown,
Freestone, High Point, Thunder Valley, Moto-X 338 and Steel City-all
key stops on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship schedule.
In
addition to the title sponsorship, MotorcycleUSA.com will also sponsor
the WMX Class Holeshot Awards - $250 for each moto - providing the
ahletes with some extra incentive to get out front early.
Defending
two-time champion Ashley Fiolek will lead the way for Honda Red Bull
Racing as challengers Jessica Patterson, who now races from DNA Shred
Stix/Star Racing Yamaha, Sherri Cruse, a member of the Suzuki City
squad, Vicki Golden, of MotoConcepts Yamaha all give chase. In
addition, Tarah Gieger, the newest member of Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil
Honda, will also be a part of the talented lineup looking to dethrone
the phenom's two-year dominance with support from some of the most
well-known teams in the industry.
Additional series sponsorship will come from Rekluse Motor Sports, Dunlop Tires, Rockwell Watches and Able Plant Services.
Fiolek Pursues Third Straight Title as MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship Kicks Off at Hangtown
Since joining the elite level of women's motocross in 2008, Honda Red Bull Racing's Ashley Fiolek has become the most dominant woman in the U.S., ending the half-decade reign of the legendary Jessica Patterson by capturing the last two WMX Class titles. On Saturday, the 2010 MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship kicks off eight rounds of intense action with the season-opening Dunlop Tires Women's Motocross Championship at Hangtown in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
Last season, Fiolek's inclusion on the factory Honda Red Bull Racing team broke new ground for women's motocross in America. By virtue of the success she achieved, the high level of talent in the class, and the stellar racing the women displayed on the track, Fiolek started a trend of support from some of the most well known teams in American motocross.
"It really is almost like a dream come true to see so many prominent teams stepping up to support the women this season," Fiolek said of the trend that has landed several of her top rivals on top-notch racing programs. "We work just as hard as the men to be the best we can be, and we put it all on the line each and every weekend as well. I knew that one day the women would be recognized for their talent, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of this sport right now."
This season, in addition to Fiolek, six of the most talented riders in the WMX Class are receiving top-level support from teams that have gained considerable notoriety supporting the men's 250 and 450 Classes. Five-time WMX champion Jessica Patterson has joined DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha, a factory-supported 250 Class team. Also getting well-earned support from major programs is 2009 third-place title finisher Sherri Cruse, who will race for Nitro Circus/Suzuki City. Last year's WMX Rookie of the Year, Sara Price, will be under the Monster Energy Kawasaki tent this season alongside defending 450 Class champion Chad Reed and Nick Wey. The MotoConcepts Yamaha stable will welcome fifth- and sixth-place WMX finishers Mariana Balbi and Vicki Golden to its talented lineup, while Tarah Gieger, one of the most recognizable figures in women's motocross, joins forces with Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda.
"I really want to get three in a row," Fiolek said of her own plans for 2010, where she will park her Honda Red Bull Racing CRF250R between the factory 450s of Andrew Short and Davi Millsaps under the team tent. "But it looks like I'm going to have to deal with some stiff competition from a lot of fast females. It's going to be exciting."
While the stars of the WMX are receiving more support than ever, the series is also taking the next step thanks to title sponsorship from MotorcycleUSA.com, the source for all things motorcycle-related. In addition to the title sponsorship, MotorcycleUSA.com will also sponsor the WMX Class Holeshot Awards, awarding $250 for each moto and providing the ladies with some extra incentive to get out front early. Additional series sponsorship also comes from Rekluse Motor Sports, Dunlop Tires, Rockwell Watches, and Able Plant Services.
When the gates drop this Saturday, May 22, at Hangtown, a new era of women's motocross will begin and the battle for glory will commence between the fastest females in the country. And with MX Sports providing $5,000 in prize money for each WMX round, the action will be even more intense. You can watch the first women's moto live from Hangtown on www.allisports.com, following the opening set of 450 and 250 Class motos.
Justin Brayton Out At Hangtown
Justin Brayton, of the Joe Gibbs Racing/Muscle Milk/Yamaha team, will miss at least the opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the 42nd Annual Hangtown Classic in Sacramento, California, this weekend. Brayton crashed while practicing yesterday, leaving him with a pair of bruised lungs and "damaged" ribs.
According to a release from the team, his recovery will be carefully evaluated by his doctors and the Muscle Milk Training Center staff at the Joe Gibbs Racing Sprint Cup headquarters in Huntersville, North Carolina. Brayton is hoping to return for round two in Texas, two weeks after the Hangtown race.
Brayton finished fifth in the recently concluded Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.
In other JGR news, Josh Grant, who sat out the entire 2010 Supercross Series after injuring his shoulder just prior to the start of the Supercross Championship, will make his 2010 debut at Hangtown.
2010 Moose Racing MX Rider Line-Up
The 12 round series will crisscross its way across the United States and Moose Racing is fielding a talented stable of riders who will be competing for holeshots and podium appearances all summer long. Here is a quick breakdown of the team and a full race schedule:
John Dowd (#16) - Dowd will be competing at selected rounds of the Nationals this summer and will no doubt be in contention when the gate drops at his home track, MX338 in Southwick, Mass. Fans can pick-up their exclusive John Dowd MX Nationals series sticker at the race on August 28th.
Michael Willard (#92) - As a member of the resurgent Honda of Troy team, Willard is looking forward to heading outdoors where he can build on his consistent rides throughout the Supercross series. Moose Racing caught up with Willard at the final Supercross round for a quick interview. Click HERE to view.
Matt Lemoine (#31) - Finishing right behind Willard, his Moose Racing teammate in the East Coast Supercross Lites class, Lemoine will be focused on jumping into the top-10 overall as he blasts around the tracks on his all-white Team Suzuki City/Nitro Circus ride.
Steven Clarke (#43) - The second member of the Team Suzuki City/Nitro Circus squad, Clarke will most likely be making the jump up to the 450 for the outdoors. With a handful of top-10 finishes under his belt indoors, look for Clarke to put in some solid rides in the Great Outdoors.
Phil Nicoletti (#175) - After spending the last few rounds of the Supercross series as a member of the Factory KTM squad, Nicoletti is looking to carry the momentum of his top-10 overall finish in the Supercross Lites class into the outdoors.
Kelly Smith (#107) - Smith had a strong Arenacross showing earlier this year before stepping up as a fill-in rider at selected East Coast Lites Supercross races. One of the best starters around, Smith will surely be bringing home his fair share of holeshots throughout the summer.
Ryan Mills (#167) - After sitting out the Supercross season, Mills will be back in action starting this weekend as he battles in the premier class aboard his big KTM450.
Tyler Bowers (#37) - With the Arenacross class title all but wrapped up, Bowers suffered a series ending injury with only a few races left. Despite this injury, Bowers' early season success earned him enough points to finish third overall in the Arenacross Championship. This summer, he will be back on the bike and charging forward as he attempts to replicate his Arenacross success outdoors.
2010 PMF Fantasy SX Champions Named - Sign-Up For MX!
After 17 Rounds and 54 prize winners, only a select few rose to the top to become the 2010 ProMotoFan.com Fantasy SX Champions! With the exclusive PMF/DeCal Works Championship #1 Plate in hand, these proud competitors have also earned the title of greatest ProMotoFan in the world, and all the bragging rights that go with it.
ProMotoFan.com congratulates these bench racing warriors on a very hard fought battle and successful 2010 Fantasy Supercross Series. Additionally, we would like to thank all ProMotoFan’s who competed week in and week out. Remember, there’s always Motocross and next year!
Thank you to all of our 2010 SX sponsors who ultimately make bench racing possible for the fans. DeCal Works, Fly Racing, Smooth Industries, O’Neal, Mechanix Wear, Fuel Clothing, Warthog Racing, Pit Posse Motorsports, MotocrossGiant.com, MadRacingMX.
SX Series Champion: Jerry Lee – Jonesboro, AR. “Thanks for the chance to win the best fantasy league in motocross! Get ready, I am coming for the outdoors!”
SX 450 Champion: Ashley Green – Brandon, MS. “I can’t say enough good things about ProMotoFan.com. You have found a way to make SX/MX interactive for us fans. My Son and I have a great time making our picks every week and pulling for our favorites.”
SX 250 West Champion: Dale McNeill – Austin, TX. “A special thanks to everyone at ProMotoFan.com. This is the first time I have ever played any fantasy game, and I am hooked! That #1 Plate will be the center piece of my garage!”
SX 250 East Champion: Jerry Lee – Jonesboro, AR. “Thank you for the opportunity to have a great time following the best sport in the world.”
SX 250 East/West Shootout Champion: Harvey Holcombe – Locust Grove, VA. “Thanks for a great game!”
2010 PMF Fantasy MX Series presented by MotocrossGiant.com is now open for registration.
Have fun, compete and win great prizes including the Perfect Card by DeCal Works for $50.000! Please visit
ProMotoFan.com and Get in the Race!
|
|