Team Geico Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham has been racing for a long time, but the popular veteran from Louisiana is still going strong. We caught up with Windham to see how he felt about the development of his race bike, the current state of racing, and the upcoming Motocross Nationals.

Read more

We caught up with Team Yamaha's Josh Hill right after his third-place finish at the Toronto SX. To say that Hill was relieved to earn his first podium finish of the year would be an understatement...

Read more

A glitch in the system prevented us from posting Kickstart on Monday, so we proudly present TUESDAY Kickstart! See what Swap saw in Toronto, right here...

Read more

March 30th, 2009 – Estonian Tanel Leok delivered a victory to Sidi in the MX1 class at the first race in the 2009 World Cup Motocross circuit which took place on Sunday, March 29th under torrential rain on the Italian circuit in Faenza.  Leok, nicknamed “The Estonian Express” by his fans, beat out the Belgians [...]

Read more

A sell-out crowd of 43,000 FMX fans packed Mexico City’s famous Monumental Plaza de Toros on Friday night to experience a true sensation at the first stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2009.

Read more

TAKESHI TERANISHI NAMED NEW KAWASAKI PRESIDENT AS SCOTT KIYAMA RETURNS TO JAPAN New company president to assume position April 1. IRVINE, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2009)–Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has announced that Shigehiko (“Scott”) Kiyama, company president since 2006, will be succeeded in that position by Takeshi Teranishi, effective April 1, 2009.  Kiyama has been at Kawasaki since [...]

Read more

Last week, we shared over 200 spy photos of the Japanese works bikes with you, including Electronic Fuel Injected Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda 250Fs. Swap finally woke up from his jet lag-induced coma long enough to whip together this video of those same bikes!

Read more

Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tanel Leok takes his first victory aboard the blue bike, while Frenchman Gautier Paulin scores his first-ever win in MX2 amongst a podium of first-timers.

Read more

The 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship starts today at Faenza, Italy, and once again Youthstream and FIM welcome another World Championship season.

Read more

The 2009 FIM Motocross World series kicked off today with the qualifying of the MX1, MX2 and Veterans classes.

Read more

Supercross rolled across the border and into the Great White North this weekend, and James Stewart and Christophe Pourcel came away the big winners, eh.

Read more

Toronto Supercross Results Supercross Lites 1. Christophe Pourcel 2. Austin Stroupe 3. Broc Tickle 4. Branden Jesseman 5. Matt Lemoine 6. Wil Hahn 7. Matt Goerke 8. Vince Friese 9. Daniel Blair 10. Blake Wharton 11. Nico Izzi 12. Jason Thomas 13. Kyle Keylon 14. Kevin Johnson 15. Steven Clarke 16. Jacob Saylor 17.Daryn Durham 18. Fred Karrle 19. Tyler Wharton 20. Brady Sheren Supercross 1. James Stewart 2. Chad Reed 3. Josh Hill 4. Josh Grant 5. Ivan Tedesco 6. Kevin Windham 7. [...]

Read more

James Stewart set the fastest lap time in the second practice session in Toronto, but his 5151.170-second fast lap was identical to the fastest lap set by Chad Reed in the first practice session...

Read more

Qualifying has wrapped up here in Italy, and not a moment too soon. The final riders had no more than threw their bikes on the stands when the rain started to come down. Tomorrow's races will more than likely be muddy, rainy messes.

Read more

Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel can wrap up his first Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Championship this evening in Toronto. We caught up with the friendly Frenchman just before the afternoon practice sessions in Toronto got underway...

Read more

The first practice session of the afternoon at Toronto's Rogers Stadium is done, and Christophe Pourcel and Chad Reed topped the lap time wars on the soft, rutted track.

Read more

CLICK HERE

Read more

The GP of Italy, which is the opening round of the 2009 MXGP World Championships this season, is under way in Faenza. Later this afternoon, the qualifying races will commence for gate pick for tomorrow's races. Stay tuned for results from qualifying; but until then, enjoy some photos from free practice.

Read more

With a premier television package on both the national and global level, MX Sports continued its dedicated effort to broaden the exposure of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship by reaching an agreement to bring American Motocross to our nation’s deployed military.

Read more

Motorcycling legend Malcom Smith recently appeared in USA Today for his defiance of the CPSC Lead Ban.  The new law has hurt the motorcycling industry deeply, and Malcom took the initiative to do something about it. To read the article please click here, USA Today. For More Information on the Lead Ban Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov Consumer [...]

Read more

LAST CHANCE to Win $ 1000.00 from LocoMX.com!

Read more

With a premier television package on both the national and global level, MX Sports continued its dedicated effort to broaden the exposure of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship by reaching an agreement to bring American Motocross to our nation’s deployed military.

Read more

On March 19th, 2009 motorcycling icon and retail store owner Malcolm Smith, took on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and their ban on the sales of youth motorcycles and ATV's per the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that went into affect February 10th, 2009.

Malcolm sold three youth motorized vehicles in protest to the ban at his store Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, CA risking a $100,000 fine per unit. That's $300,000 if anyone's counting...

Read more

RONNIE RENNER HONORED AS “PRESIDENT OF PLAZA” AT REDBULL X-FIGHTERS EVENT IN MEXICO CITY THIS FRIDAY NIGHT Oceanside, CA (March 26, 2009) –Ronnie Renner,  on of the most recognized names in the Motocross industry, has been honored as the “President of Plaza” for the RedBull X-Fighters event this Friday night, March 27th,  in Mexico City. Following the [...]

Read more

Goerke leaps from 10th to 6th in points with a strong top five finish Round 6 – Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Series St. Louis, MO Edward Jones Dome March 21, 2009 Biloxi, MS - The Suzuki City Lites team has their best race of the season this past Saturday night in St. Louis, with Matt Goerke carding a season-high [...]

Read more

If you are a global motocross fan, then you should already know who Tyla Rattray is. However, if you only follow the US racing circuit, his name is probably new to you.

Read more

There was plenty of action in St. Louis, from the year long Reed vs. Stewart battle to Blake Wharton's first win and, of course, the presence of Travis Pastrana.

Read more

Today, FMF held its first annual Wiskey Tango Roost Day out at the picturesque Rynoland facility, which is owned and operated by Ryan Hughes. In addition to everyone getting a chance to spin some laps on one of the numerous tracks found on the property, FMF's Donnie "Little D" Emler organized the Manly Cup team race.

Read more

The World Motocross Championship will start this weekend in Faenza, Italy, where the series ended in 2008 with the Titles of David Philippaerts (MX1) and Tyla Rattray (MX2).

Read more

Sonoma, Calif. – Highway 12 Vineyards and Winery, in association with Vintage 54, and legendary motocross champion Broc Glover have released a 2006 Carneros Chardonnay commemorating Glover’s storied career and his commitment to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. The unveiling will take place at the 2nd Annual Breath Easy Ride Against Cystic Fibrosis on March 29 in Old Town Temecula, CA.

The Breathe Easy Ride Against Cystic Fibrosis was founded in 2008 by American Motorcycle Association Hall-of-Fame motocross champion, Broc Glover, shortly after his 6-year-old son, Dayne, was diagnosed with the cruel and life-shortening disease. In its first year, the ‘Ride’ exceeded all expectations, proving the motorcycle community is unmatched in its compassion. This commemorative wine benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s search for a cure as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to this heartfelt cause.  The event takes place March 29 in Old Town Temecula, CA.

Broc Glover, a leading motocross racer in the late 1970s and 1980s, earned six AMA National Motocross Championships, a record which stood for nearly 20 years. In 1977, at the age of 17, Glover won the 125cc National Championship in his first full year riding as a pro and became the youngest AMA motocross champion in history; a record that stood until 2000. After defending his crown in 1978 and 1979, he moved to the 500cc class in 1981 and won the national championship that year. He added 500cc championships in 1983 and 1985 then retired after the 1988 season holding the AMA all-time wins record in both AMA 125cc motocross and 500cc motocross.

Vintage 54 is made up by multi-time motocross & supercross champion Darryl Atkins and his business manager John Papola. Together the pair has teamed up with Highway 12 to create an exciting turnkey private label fundraising program for athletes and their causes.  Atkins and Papola have had a relationship with the winery from its inception and creating commemorative labels has become a nature progression and a great way to support many wonderful cause.

The wine, a 2006 Chardonnay, hails from the Carneros appellation, a micro-climate in the southern Sonoma Valley known for producing some of the world’s finest Chardonnay.  The wine’s vibrant gold color, symbolic of Glover’s ‘Golden Boy’ image, is met with opulent notes of pear and apple leading to an inviting creaminess and finishing with a delicate crispness.  It was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months then bottled at the Sonoma-based winery.

The ‘Golden Boy Chardonnay’ retails for $28.00 a bottle plus tax and shipping and is available direct from the winery via their on line store or by phone.  Only 1,200 (twelve hundred) bottles will be released.

To purchase, visit www.goldenboywine.com or call 707-939-1047 to place an order. Orders may also be faxed to 707-939-1070.

www.BreathEasyRide.com
www.goldenboywine.com
www.highway12winery.com

Contacts:
Paul Giusto, Highway 12 Winery, 707-939-1047       paul@highway12winery.com
John Papola, Vintage 54, 707-338-2298                   john@vintage-54.com
Darryl Atkins, Vintage 54, 310-347-5455,                darryl@vintage-54.com

nathan anthony

fun riding great track

Just down the street from the TransWorld Motocross offices is where you could say the magic happens for Fox Racing—it’s where all the gear and clothing is designed. But that’s not all that goes on inside the confines of the company’s rather large Southern California headquarters. With two very cool show rooms, a huge entry hall, a photo booth, and of course a mini bike track, there is much more to Fox’s design center than meets the eye. Fox’s Warren Johnson gives you the behind-the-scenes look at what goes on behind closed doors. Like the other tours, this one is rather long, so be patient it may take time to load.

Odd things and unusual action has typified the St. Louis Supercross since the first race was held in Edward Jones Stadium in 1996.  Again for 2009, that tradition holds true, as Travis Pastrana designed one heck of a race course.  In its inaugural race in 1996, Jeff Emig managed to end Jeremy McGrath’s dominance (13 consecutive wins) of the series that year in St. Louis.  This time around, the unique course design would jump up to bite James Stewart, forcing a small crash that had him finish in second place behind an elated Chad Reed.  With Blake Wharton claiming his first Lites Class win, and Pastrana attempting to qualify (he was close, but no cigar) St. Louis was all that a Supercross race should be: fun!

Crashes Mar Stewart’s Night as Reed Wins at

St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome

Rookie Blake Wharton Captures First Career Supercross Lites Victory

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (March 21, 2009) – In front of 55,815 rabid fans inside St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., earned his third win of the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season and extended his series points lead. In the AMA Supercross Lites class, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, broke through with his first-career victory, ending the stranglehold by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was undoubtedly the fastest rider on the track all night, but found himself on the ground on three separate occasions throughout the evening. The ever-consistent Reed took advantage of his rival’s misfortune to persevere and take what could be the biggest victory of the season with just five races remaining.

“Like I say every week, you got to be in it to win it and that’s what we’re doing,” boasted Reed, who extended his advantage over Stewart to 11 points. “I’m having a ball out here. The track was just awesome tonight. Travis (Pastrana) designed a great track. I just love this St. Louis dirt. James started hitting his lines early on and pulled away, but I just kept my head down.”

JGRMX/Toyota Yamaha’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., led the field through turn one with the holeshot as Monster Energy/Cernics Kawasaki’s Paul Carpenter, of Ithaca, N.Y., and Boost Mobile/AMPM/ Troy Racing Yamaha’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., followed. Both Reed and Stewart found themselves inside the top ten but quickly asserted themselves by moving into the top three by the completion of lap 1. On lap 2, Reed made his move on Grant for the lead while Stewart followed into second. Just two laps later, Stewart worked by Reed with an impressive move and began gapping the field. In his heat race earlier in the evening, Stewart crashed on two occasions and snuck into the main event. He experienced similar problems on lap 14, over-ending his motorcycle and allowing Reed to get by and steal the victory. Stewart would hold on for second while Grant brought home third.

“I just hit neutral,” explained Stewart. “I made a mistake in the whoops. Sometimes that’s the way it goes you know. I had a rough night with the heat race and stuff. I’m trying my hardest and that’s the best I can do. I just keep training so I can give it my best each week. I’ll never stop and I’ll fight until the end.”

Wharton blasted out of the gates in the 15-lap main event to nip Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., for the holeshot as Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi, of Murrieta, Calif., followed in third. The trio would remain at the front of the pack throughout the remainder of the main. Wharton fended off the advances of Izzi, who slipped past Stroupe on lap one, throughout the first half of the race and slowly began to pull away. A determined Stroupe reeled in Izzi on the final lap to take second.

“I’m excited,” said Wharton, who turned pro last August. “I got the holeshot and just rode my own race. The track was great. My bike was great. It was just a great night. Getting the podium last week gave me the confidence I needed to ride up front. I just want to thank everyone that’s supported me this season and in my career.”

Points leader, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., suffered from a bad start that placed him in second to last place on lap 1. He would work his way through the field to bring home an impressive fifth place finish and maintain his advantage over teammate Stroupe.

AMA Supercross Class Results, St. Louis

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
5. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
9. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
10. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 271
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 260
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 197
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 172
5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 165
6. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 163
7. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 160
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 158
9. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 152
10. Josh Hill, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 108

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, St. Louis

1. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki
3. Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
4. Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki
5. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha
7. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
8. Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda
9. Darryn Durham, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
10. Shane Sewell, Westville, Ind., Yamaha

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 131

2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 106

3. Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 102

4. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 91

5. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 73

6. Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki, 68

7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 68

8. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, 66

9. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 65

10. Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda, 63

Tonight’s Monster Energy® AMA Supercross was presented live on SPEED. This weekend’s AMA Supercross Lites class race will re-air on SPEED this Sunday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m. EST.

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

Words by Michael Antonovich

Photos by Bayo Olukotun and Michael Sierens

The St. Louis Supercross is always a round of big surprises and after tonight, the tradition will continue. From the first firework explosion to the last victory lap, the crowd was in full frenzy Supercross mode while they watched the best in the world take to Travis Pastrana’s “dream” track. The Missouri clay was manicured into one of the most awe inspiring creations to ever be called a Supercross track, and even though it took up most of the massive stadium floor, many said it felt narrow and one lined. Of course, Travis wasn’t going to let his creation just sit there, and he took it upon himself to see if it was as amazing as he planned. But Feld may have had a little say-so in his Cable worthy adventure; destroying a Monster Truck isn’t cheap, and Travis’ name can put ticket sales through the roof as a way to recoup the loss. Practice took a backseat for many, as the fans filled the adjoining Convention Center well after the 5:30 eviction time soaking in the electric atmosphere that is Feld’s newest acquisition, the AMA/FIM Monster Energy Drink Supercross Series.

Lites Heat One

The first gate drop and dash to the holeshot had Moto Concepts rider Vince Friese’s name all over it. The local boy would lead many of the first laps, holding off the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki of Christophe Pourcel until lap four, when Pourcel slipped by as they criss-crossed the starting line and then slammed the door shut before the finish line jump, forcing both of them to roll the massive double. The pass would stick, and Pourcel would finish the heat in first.
Behind them, Division Seven/ Star Racing/ Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine worked his way around his teammate Darryn Durham on his charge to the front. Lemoine cut the pack to pieces, and would come to the checkered flag in second position.  On the final lap, Durham would come in contact with Friese and both would go down, but both were quick to remount and would safely transfer to the main event.

Qualifying Riders
1.    Christophe Pourcel
2.    Matt Lemoine
3.    Vince Friese
4.    Steven Clarke
5.    Matt Goerke
6.    Kyle Keylon
7.    Darryn Durham
8.    Cody Gilmore
9.    Teddy Parks

Lites Heat Two

The second heat was the Austin Stroupe show, as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki pilot nabbed the holeshot and walked away to the win nearly unchallenged, even with a slight slip up on lap three as he crossed the start straight for the first time. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki sophomore Nico Izzi and Geico Powersports/ Honda rookie Blake Wharton followed his every move, but neither had anything for Stroupe the entire race, and both would run the duration of the six laps single file with little passing. But Wharton gave a preview of his speed towards the latter moments, by charging the numerous obstacles and closing the gap Izzi established. The top three riders built an impressive cushion over the rest of the back, and by the end of the race would be 13 seconds ahead on forth place finisher Sewell.

The riders behind them weren’t so lucky, particularly Canidae/Motosport/ Kawasaki rider Branden Jesseman. Jesseman was buried deep in the pack for the duration of the moto, and his run towards the front was halted when he fell in the back to back tabletop section. Jesseman’s flow and a bit of luck were missing this weekend, as his entire night would sound much the same.

Qualifying Riders
1.    Austin Stroupe
2.    Nico Izzi
3.    Blake Wharton
4.    Shane Sewell
5.    Kyle Gills
6.    Jason Thomas
7.    Jacob Saylor
8.    Daniel Blair
9.    Spencer Dally

Lites LCQ
The Lites class LCQ was a run away for the top two riders of Talladega Cycles’ Chad Ward and MDK Motorsports rider Tyler Wharton. The duo jumped out to first and second, respectively, and held the final two tickets to the main till the conclusion. But there was quite the hustle behind them for third, featuring numerous riders and a handful of passes. MDK Motorsport’s Kawasaki backed rider Dennis Jonon held off Star Racing rider Broc Tickle and Augie Lieber and his Shae Cycle Kawasaki, until the two forced a mistake and slipped past. Coming to the third lap, Tickle made a pass stick crossing over the start and would go on to finish third, collecting the Gas Card. Tickle shook off the disappointment, knowing he gave the LCQ everything he had.

Qualifying Riders

1.    Chad Ward
2.    Tyler Wharton

This time around, most of the riders were up to speed immediately, and seemed to flow around the track much easier.  The odd step-up/triple jump was tamed down on one side to allow for more lines, as no rider seemed willing to attempt the 90 foot gap.  James Stewart once again topped the lap time charts followed by Chad Reed.  In the Lites practices, Austin Stroupe picked up his pace to have the fastest lap time in front of his teammate, Christophe Pourcel.  It should be noted that Travis Pastrana also picked up his pace and claimed third fastest lap time in the unseeded practice and 13th fastest overall.

The word of the day in St. Louis:  Pastrana!  With the first practice section not counting towards qualifying, it gave riders plenty of time to get acclimated to the unusual track design created by none other than Travis Pastrana.  Strange bowl turns and on off sections created a steep learning curve for many of the riders, but as each session ended, most seemed to be getting up to speed.  Best of all, Travis survived his practice and had the sixth fastest time in the unseeded session.  James Stewart topped the charts for the overall fastest time, and Nico Izzi claimed the fastest time in the Lites practices.

Read more

Murrieta, CA – Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory East Lites Supercross rider Martin Davalos will sit on the sidelines for the St. Louis Supercross after an injury from last weekend’s event has worsened.

Davalos was on fire last weekend at the New Orleans Supercross turning fast lap times in both practice sessions. However, misfortune struck in his heat race after he crashed near the end of the heat and was landed on by another rider. “The other rider had no where to go and couldn’t avoid crashing into me. Unfortunately, he landed on my leg. We thought it was just badly bruised at first but found out later in the week that I have a cracked fibula,” commented Davalos.

He continued, “I am pretty bummed right now because I was feeling really good the last couple of rounds. I tried to ride yesterday but it was too painful to come back yet. I am hoping for a short recovery but do not know an exact time that I will be sidelined.”

Check for further updates on Davalos’ status on www.ktmusa.com.

San Diego, California, March 19, 2009 - One Industries, the globally renowned San Diego-based motocross apparel and graphic firm, is proud to announce that the company has formed a relationship with Billy Laninovich. The new alliance will see Laninovich competing in One Industries motocross apparel, helmets and graphics beginning this weekend when the 2009 AMA Supercross Series stops off in St. Louis.

Billy is the newest addition to the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory race team and will compete in the Supercross class aboard his #132 Kawasaki KX450F for the remainder of the SX season.  Having a win and several podium finishes in the AMA Supercross Lites class, Laninovich is now ready to step up to the premier Supercross class.

“I’m pumped to be working with One Industries,” says Laninovich. “As a San Diego native, I have watched them grow from a local company into an industry leader and I’m excited to be a part of their program.”

For more information check out www.oneindustries.com

Malcom Smtih is a pioneer in our sport.  He has done more things on a motorcycle than most have ever dreamed possible; a jack of all trades and a renaissance man who never let anything get in his way.  Today he just pushed the boundaries again, this time though, it was off of the motorcycle.  In an act of defiance, and in protest or the CPSC/CPSIA Lead Ban (which brought the sales of all motorcycles and ATVs designed for kids 12 and under to an abrupt halt on February 10, 2009), Malcom gathered industry friends and fans to watch as he sold three banned vehicles to willing customers.  But the customers were not just random walk-ins, they were moto-legends Jeff Ward, Troy Lee, and Glen Helen promoter Bud Feldkamp.

In front of a packed house at Malcom Smith Motorsports, the proprietar received checks for each motorcycle, showing that the motorcycle industry is not going to accept this new ban sitting down.  It was a proactive event that allowed all in attendance to have their voices heard.  Check out the photo gallery, and be sure to visit the links below to learn more about the Lead Ban and what you can do to change it.

For More Information on the Lead Ban

Consumer Product Safety Commission�www.cpsc.gov

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

To Take Action and Be Heard

Tom Self, California State Representative�www.tomself.com

Americans for Responsible Recreation Access�www.arra-access.com

American Motorcyclist Asscociation�www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Save Motocross�www.myspace.com/savemx

Motorcycle Industry Council www.mic.org

RYDER STEFFY SLIDE SHOW.. FIRST RACE BACK AFTER BROKEN HAND

Barrington, NH (March 19th) –Factory Connection Inc is pleased to announce that Tom Wallace has joined the company. Wallace will work in a variety of rolls over the coming months based in the New Hampshire location. Tom has worked with quality industry companies such as FMF and DR. D most recently.  He is also a former professional team mechanic for Honda and Yamaha factory support teams.

Steve Ross General Manager of Factory Connection commented “Tom has a lot of experience in the industry both technical, marketing and Rider Support he brings an element to Factory Connection that we have not had before.”

His passion for motocross, the motorcycle industry and the desire to work hard and achieve success at the highest level are strengths Factory Connection is excited about
Wallace said on his move “I have always firmly believed that suspension is the most critical element of riding and racing dirt bikes, Factory Connection stands out at every level, I’m very excited to become a part of such a great company.”

Factory Connection is proud to welcome Tom to the team!

Some great riding here-tons of legal trails around Turner,Kingfield,Salem,Farmington,Strong and the surrounding areas


Read more

Wednesday practice at Perris Raceway is always a popular time for the pro riders to do their testing, and today was no different.   West Coast points runner-up Jake Weimer was out there pounding laps, as was Mike Sleeter and WORCS and outdoor rider Robby Bell.   Check out a few photos from the day.

Irvine, Calif. - Monster Energy Kawasaki has tabbed Billy Laninovich to ride the final six rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship. Laninovich has been testing with the team and is now ready to compete.

“Billy has been great for us at the test track,” said Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Manager Mike Fisher. “He has shown good speed and also continues to give us great feedback as we develop the 2009 KXT450F.”

Laninovich is no stranger to the front of the field. Though he will be racing in the supercross class, the 26-year-old rider has five podiums and one win in the AMA Supercross Lites class.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Laninovich. “It’s an awesome feeling. Mike (Fisher) called me while I was testing and told me I would be racing this weekend. I want to race for a factory team and the Monster Energy Kawasaki team has a strong history of being one of the best in our sport.”

Read more

Never heard of Aron Harvey?  Well if you follow the Canadian MX Nationals, then you certainly should know who he is.  The Nevada native has been racing north of the border for the last few seasons, and with some good results too.  Last year, aboard the Toyota/ Yamaha/ BlackfootDirect.com/ Red Bull/ Fox Racing team, Aron was able to capture a few moto wins on his way to two first place overalls in the MX2 class (known as the Lites class in Supercross, and what will be called the 250 class in the 2009 AMA Nationals).  We found Aron and his teammate, Dusty Klatt, putting in some laps at Perris Raceway on Tuesday, getting ready for the Canadian series, which kicks off in June.  Unfortunately, Dusty landed on another bike before he was able to get up to speed, mangling his bike and effectively ended his day before it really started.   Harvey, however, continued to click off some very fast laps, and he plans to not only compete in the Canadian MX Nationals, but in the first few Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Nationals as well.

Nitro Circus Star Travis Pastrana to Compete in Monster Energy® Supercross Race in St. Louis

AURORA, Ill. (March 17, 2009) – Former Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion and multi-time X-Games Gold Medal winner Travis Pastrana will race this weekend’s Monster Energy® Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome. Pastrana, who assisted in the track design process, has not competed in an AMA Supercross class race since 2006.

The winner of eight AMA Supercross Lites class races, Pastrana has never won in the premier AMA Supercross class. Over the past two months Pastrana buckled down and committed to an intense training regimen in preparation for this weekend’s race. During Pastrana’s racing career he enjoyed huge success in St. Louis in the Lites class and is the only AMA Supercross Lites class rider to win in back-to-back years.

“I have three goals heading into this weekend’s race in St. Louis: qualify for the main event, race all 20 laps without hitting the dirt and lead one lap of either the qualifier or the main event,” said Pastrana.

Know for his at times wild yet entertaining style, Pastrana is arguably the most decorated two-wheel motorcycle racer in the world, having won five amateur national championships, an AMA Supercross Lites class championship, an AMA Motocross Lites class championship and nine X-Games Gold Medals to name a few of his accomplishments.

“I want to have fun this weekend and mix it up on the track,” he added.

Throughout his career Pastrana has gained national attention on some of the most recognizable media outlets, including ESPN the Magazine, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman. Pastrana and friends have taken their antics to MTV with their hit reality show Nitro Circus where top action sports stars take part in one-upmanship actions that personify Travis Pastrana.

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com, by phone at 314-241-1888 or 618-222-2900, the Edward Jones Dome box office, Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com,  and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level seats are $45; Goldcircle seats are $30; Mid-Level seats are $25 for adults and $10 for children; Extreme seats are $20 for adults and $10 for children; Treadhead seats are $10. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (March 17, 2009) – Glen Helen Raceway Inc. President Bud Feldkamp announced last week that this year’s Glen Helen National will be known as the “South Point Hotel & Casino Motocross National,” the season-opening round of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The top motocross riders from around the globe will kick off the chase for the world’s most prestigious motocross title on Saturday, May 23.

“We at South Point are no strangers to motorsports,” said Owner Michael Gaughan. “We are honored to support the 2009 Glen Helen Motocross National. These are the best motocross riders in the world competing for the biggest motocross championship title in the world. Southern California motocross fans deserve a high-quality show like this.”

For the first time, the Glen Helen event will be televised with same-day coverage on SPEED.

“Glen Helen Raceway is honored to have Michael Gaughan, a long time off-road racer, and the South Point Hotel & Casino join us as the title sponsor for the 2009 Motocross National,” stated Feldkamp. “I can’t say enough about Michael and his incredible staff. My hope is that through this collaboration, some of our dedicated fans will take the opportunity to experience the South Point Hotel & Casino for themselves.”

To get the “Holeshot” in Las Vegas, visit the South Point Hotel & Casino at www.southpointcasino.com

For more information on this event go to the Glen Helen website at www.glenhelen.com or call the 24-hour information line at (909) 880-3090.

Our good friend Caludio Cabrini attended the Internazionali d’Italia Championship race this weekend in Italy, an International Motocross event in Italy that attracts lots of foreign riders who are looking for a last chance to tune up for this weekend’s FIM World Championship Series opener in Faenza.

Photos by Claudio Cabrino

Metal Mulisha Deegan ghostride

With today’s bikes getting more and more advanced, producing quality engine parts has become increasingly more important. With years of experience in various motorsports including NASCAR, Supercross, road racing, and much more, JE Pistons has arguably some of the most advanced equipment needed to create some very technically innovative pistons and products. We recently had a chance to take a tour of the powerful company’s Huntington Beach, California, facility to find out exactly what goes into making one of the most important parts of a motorcycle’s engine. At seven minutes, the video is a little long, but if you like to see the inner workings of how things are made, you’ll likely enjoy it.

Can’t make it to Oak Hill for the GNC amateur national this year? Stop by MSR, Answer, or Pro Taper’s web sites for live lap times and results from this year’s event. While your there be sure to check out the all new MSR Rockstar line, Answer’s James Stewart Collection, and the new Pro Taper SPI foot Peg.

MSR, Answer, and Pro Taper are proud sponsors of the 33rd annual GNC Amateur National at Oak Hill.

www.msrmx.com

www.protaper.com

Last week, we brought you a video of Trey Canard’s rookie Geico Powersports/Honda teammate Justin Barcia. This week, take a look at what Trey looked like on that same day at Glen Helen. Enjoy!

We are eleven rounds deep into the 2009 Supercross season, and to say it has been exciting would be an understatement. Yes, there have been plenty of predictable occurrences; James Stewart’s speed, Chad Reed’s consistency, Pro Circuit’s podium domination. But despite these, we still have a points chase. Chad Reed has an eight-point lead over James Stewart, but where Reed rides consistently once the race is underway, Stewart starts consistently; then once he’s done that, he checks out. At this point, its still anyone’s game…

Before the Supercross series headed east, many of us hesitated to throw out predictions. Brett Metcalfe seemed a strong candidate for a championship; he is veteran in the class, a mainstay on the podium, and on a new team. Austin Stroupe also seemed a likely bet; he had win in his rookie season, he showed promise early on in 2008; and he has plenty of speed. We didn’t know what to expect from Christophe Pourcel; he was crazy-fast before his injury, but no one had really seen him ride since he recovered from what could have easily left him unable to walk again. Then there was Nico Izzi; really fast, great team behind him, and now with a year experience.

But, as it turns out, Pourcel did heal quite nicely, and he may be faster than he was before. He has three convincing wins and has yet to finish outside the top five. Now the question is, can anyone beat Pourcel? This weekend, inside the Superdome, Austin Stroupe showed that this series isn’t going to be completely dominated by the Frenchman; but after five rounds, Pourcel still has a 31-point lead.

Race Report

First Practice

Second Practice

Stroupe Scores Second Lites Class Win and Moves into Second Place Overall

NEW ORLEANS (March 14, 2009) – Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his eighth race of the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season before 36,754 fans at the Superdome. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., won his second Eastern Regional AMA Supercross class main event of the season and moved into second place in points standings

Stewart jumped out to an early lead with the holeshot as Reed was on his back wheel to start the AMA Supercross class main event. After winning the previous two races, Reed spent the 20-lap race chasing Stewart, who put down 20 perfect laps. Reed settled for second and Stewart moves within eight points of Reed’s championship points lead.

Yamaha’s Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., picked up his first podium of the season with a third-place finish.

“I got a great start,” said Stewart. “I had to win tonight – point blank. I had to win. This is what I needed heading into the race next weekend in St. Louis.”

Stroupe rocketed off to a great start in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event, picking up the holeshot and riding to victory. GEICO Powersports’ Tyler Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, trailed Stroupe through turn one in second place but crashed a few turns later, handing the position to his teammate Daniel Blair, of Modesto, Calif.

Current Lites class points leader Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., started the main event in 12^th place and moved into the fourth-place position on the last lap. On lap three former AMA Supercross Lites class champion Brandon Jesseman, of New Brighton, Pa., made a pass on Blair to secure the number-two position. From there it was give and take as Jesseman would close up a bit and then Stroupe would regain the advantage. In the end, Jesseman held his position and picked up the first podium of his season.

Tyler Wharton’s brother Blake worked his way through the pack and earned a career-best third place finish. “This gives me the confidence to know that I can run up front with these guys,” said Wharton.

“It was a technical track tonight, so I had to ride smart,” said Stroupe. “It was important to get the holeshot because I was able to get out front and ride my own race.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, New Orleans

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, New Orleans

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 115

2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 84

3. Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 82

4. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 73

5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 68

6. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 66

7. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 57

8. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha, 51

9. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 51

10. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki, 50

The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross class will air on SPEED Sunday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

A promo video for MX Vacations. Footage from some of premier tracks of SoCal: Glen Helen, Perris, Comp Edge, Racetown, Rynoland…Includes also few clips of Tyla Rattray, Jeff Ward, Blake Bagged and others. Video by Tunne Productions Oy.

Words by Bayo Olukuton

Although the rain fell down on New Orleans on Friday and Saturday, Supercross stayed dry inside the Superdome. Just a stone’s throw from the historic French Quarter, the Superdome welcomed locals and travelers alike, as they poured into the giant edifice to see James Stewart, Chad Reed, Christophe Pourcel, Austin Stroupe, and the rest of the SX stars battle it out.
Coming into Saturday night’s race, it seemed Chad Reed had the momentum, with wins in the last two rounds (Indy and Daytona). But as we all know, James Stewart doesn’t really need momentum to win regain control of a series. So what happened?

Lites Qualifying

Heat 1

Geico Powersports/ Honda rider Blake Wharton and Division Seven/Star Racing/ Yamaha’s Darryn Durham held the top two positions in the opening laps, while Martin Davalos of the Muscle Milk/ MDK/ KTM team had an early crash pushing him to the back of the pack.  The top five was made up of mostly unproven riders as Jacob Saylor, Levi Kilbarger and Division 7/ Star Racing/ Yamaha’s Broc Tickle rounded out the top five.  With Davalos’ unfortunate first lap crash, he was pushing his way back to the front of the pack and was up to eighth place until another crash pushed him out of contention.  Consistent podium finisher and second place in East Coast Supercross Lites points standings, Rockstar/ Makita/ Suzuki’s Nico Izzi was having terrible luck as he failed to make it into qualifying position.  However, out front the winner was an undisputed Blake Wharton, taking his first ever heat race win with a best lap almost two seconds faster than the next fastest rider.  Heading into the main event, Wharton looked to be a very strong contender for the win.  He was so excited in fact, that he could not remember most of his sponsors during his post race interview.

1.    Blake Wharton
2.    Darryn Durham
3.    Jacob Saylor
4.    Levi Kilbarger
5.    Broc Tickle
6.    Jason Thomas
7.    Chad Ward
8.    Dennis Jonon
9.    Daniel Blair

Heat 2

With another big first turn pile up, Tyler Wharton managed to sneak through with the holeshot, but the start collected a whole slew of riders.  After the first lap, Suzuki City’s Matt Goerke had managed to work his way into the lead.  Branden Jesseman, of the Canidae/ Motosport/ Kawasaki team, finally managed a good start and was being pressured by Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe.  However, Jesseman did manage to work his way into the lead on the following lap and was running some of the fastest laps of the evening so far, in the 52 second range, along with Austin Stroupe.
After getting caught up in that first turn pile up, Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel had somehow managed to work his way into qualifying position and by the finish ended up in 6th place.

1.    Branden Jesseman
2.    Austin Stroupe
3.    Matt Goerke
4.    Tyler Wharton
5.    Wil Hahn
6.    Christophe Pourcel
7.    Bryan Johnson
8.    Phil Nicoletti
9.    Teddy Parks

Lites LCQ

Moto Concepts’ Vince Friese managed the holeshot and held on to the lead for the first few laps until being over taken by Englishman, Steven Clarke from the Suzuki City effort.  While working his way up to qualifying position Martin Davalos collided with Friese and took each other out.  Somehow after a poor start, and a crash a lap later that pushed him out of the top ten, Rockstar/ Makita/ Suzuki’s Nico Izzi zipped through the pack and up to third place and battled for several turns with Division Seven/ Star Racing/ Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine for second place.  After several bumps, Izzi was unable to clear a jump, leaving the door open for Lemoine who took the final transfer position.  With that, Izzi missed out on the main event, which likely took the Suzuki rider out of contention for the championship.

1.    Steven Clarke
2.    Matt Lemoine

Page 1: Lites Qualifying  Page 2: SX Qualifying�Page 3: Lites Main�Page 4: SX Main

Read more

Add Comment posted 3/14/2009 11:00:18 PM |

Practice has come to an end here in rain-drenched New Orleans, and the action inside the Superdome is on a brief break until the fireworks explode later this evening.

After all was said and done, James Stewart retained the fastest lap of the day, but Chad Reed and Kevin Windham are not far off his pace. In the Lites class, Christophe Pourcel posted the fastest lap, and the second fastest overall behind Stewart. Martin Davalos has the second fastest heading into the heats tonight, but it looks as though Pourcel has this track pretty dialed.

Stay tuned for the full race report!

CLICK HERE FOR SHOTS FROM FIRST PRACTICE

Practice is underway in the Big Easy and after the first session, Pro Circuit’s Christophe Pourcel and San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart have the fastest lap in their respective classes. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed posted the second fastest lap, followed by factory Yamaha’s Josh Hill. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi posted the second and third fastest times in the Lites behind Pourcel.

In other news, Nathan Ramsey is making his season debut with the Joe Gibbs/Toyota/Yamaha team. And though he did look calm and comfortable in the B practice session, he did not post in the top five.
We also expected Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster/ Troy Racing’s Jason Lawrence, but he has yet to make an appearance.

Click here. Arigato.

EXCLUSIVE JAPANESE SPY PHOTOS!

EFI-EQUIPPED 250s LEAD THE WAY

The 2009 All Japan National MX Championship Series got underway today at Kyushu Sports Park in Kumamoto, Japan, and several special works bikes made their debut at the Honda-owned and operated facility. Because the machines of the MFJ series are not limited by a production rule, manufacturers are allowed to field prototype, pre-production, a full-works machines.

This weekend, the standout bikes were the Kawasaki KX250F and Suzuki RM-Z250s, both of which featured electronic fuel injection. Both were reported to be pre-production 2010 units, so it appears that EFI will make its way into the Lites class for 2010.

Aside from the EFI throttle body, the Kawasaki KX250F piloted by Shin Inouye looked much like an existing ’09 KX250F. As has become par for the course, the factory Kawasaki’s—even though exotic enough in their own rite—remained the most subdued in appearance.

A few days ago, TransWorld Motocross already spotted the pre-production Suzuki RM-Z250 in action at Glen Helen Raceway Park, but the bike raced in Japan by Suzuki factory rider Yutaka Hoshino was much, much tricker. As they are in the United States, the factory Suzukis in Japan have the highest bling factor.

Also on hand for the third year in a row was the EFI Honda CRF250R, piloted by Yu Hirata. This machine was a pure works bike, however, and we were told that the 2010 production EFI CRF250R will look much like the 2009 CRF450R.

No special Yamaha YZ250Fs were on hand at Kyushu, mostly due to the fact that Yamaha Japan has cancelled its official factory motocross race team effort. The satellite Team YZ squad was mounted on stock-looking ’09 YZ250Fs. Our inside sources at Yamaha Japan, however, indicate that there are no major engine changes in store for the 2010 Yamaha YZ250F, though the bike will receive an all-new chassis and bodywork, plus revised suspension settings.

As for the all-new Yamaha YZ450F, defending All Japan National MX Champion Akira Narita raced a privateer ’09 YZ450F (under the YSP/Narita Racing Team banner) with a combination of works Yamaha parts and Rinaldi Racing parts from Italy. Though the radically all-new pre-production 2010 YZ450F—which features EFI, a forward-tilted engine and an all-new chassis and bodywork—was said to be ready for Narita to race, word in the pits was that Yamaha Motor Corp. USA demanded that the bike not be unveiled in Japan just yet. Poor sales of the ’09 YZ450F mandate that the ’10 model not make its competition debut until September, at the All Japan National MX series finale.

Like Yamaha, Honda Japan dropped its factory motocross race team effort, but special HRC machines were provided to the Dream Honda team, which includes 250F rider Hirata, as well as 450 pilots Yoshihide “The Best Last Name Ever” Fukudome and Kazumasa Masuda. The Dream Honda CRF450Rs boasted plenty of trick parts; most notably Fukudome’s radical works Showa front forks.

The Suzuki RM-Z450s were pre-production 2010 units, with works throttle body parts and EFI components. Though it looks the same to the naked eye, the ’10 RM-Z450 boasts a new chassis with much-improved geometry. The engine settings are also said to be much different for ’10, gravitating towards the more aggressive side.

The factory Kawasakis featured the normal works parts—suspension, triple clamps, etc.—but nothing radically different than stock grabbed our eye. Many expect last year’s IA2 champion, Hiroake Arai, to make a big splash this year as he steps up to the IA1 division in ’09.

Below, you will find a 200+ photo gallery slideshow. To view the photos at your own pace, or to enlarge them to check out the detail, click the link below that says “Click here to download images.” Enjoy! - Swap-san

Get the Flash Player to see this player. check it

2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Will Reach Hundreds of Millions Across The Globe

Morgantown, W.V. (March 13, 2009) – After announcing the strongest domestic television package in the history of motocross, MX Sports and Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, are proud to announce an equally compelling international television package for the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

In partnership with Kneip Media Agentur, an international broadcast and television agent, as well as global networks Motors TV, Nuvolari, FOX Australia, ESPN Brazil, and Greenlight TV, the 2009 racing series will reach far beyond American borders and directly into households and television sets on 6 continents, 80 countries and over 430 million possible homes.

“Making our series accessible to our international fans was a priority for MX Sports. We want motocross enthusiasts all over the world to have access to our programming and racing action” said Nick McCabe, who heads Commercial Development for MX Sports.  “With our world class athletes, sponsors and tracks, we can now deliver a truly global package.”

“It is very good that my family can watch me race this year,” said Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, the French rider who won the 2006 World Championship before moving onto the AMA Circuit. “I am racing in America because it gives me a chance to race against the best riders in the world. With Motors TV showing our races back in France, my family and all of my fans in Europe can see how I am doing.”

Greenlight TV, with its Motorsports Mundial, Planet Speed, and Max Power programming, reaches over 400 million homes throughout the European Union, Russia and the Orient. The network will feature highlights of each round of the 2009 championship. The remaining networks will provide each broadcast in its entirety with Motors TV, FOX Australia, and ESPN Brazil combining to reach over 21 million homes. In total, the series will reach over 430 million homes throughout the globe, which is a new benchmark for global viewership for the historical series.

The 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship begins on Saturday, May 23 at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. The series will complete 12 rounds of action throughout the summer featuring the 450 Class, 250 Class, and the newly introduced Women’s Class. The three-month championship concludes with the Second Annual American Motocross Festival at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. on Saturday, September 5.

For more information, please contact Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

About MX Sports

MX Sports, LLC, owns, manages and produces the two most prestigious and world-leading motocross championships – the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the Air Nautiques AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.  MX Sports is a second generation family owned business that has been in operation for well over 26 years and is an industry leader in the segment of off road/action sports race promotion in the United States.  Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information on MX Sports, please visit www.mxsports.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand.  The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Free Flow Tour; Alli Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

Beginning this weekend in New Orleans, JGMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Nathan Ramsey will make his season debut in the 450 class and we’re pleased to announce that he’ll be wearing EKS(X) Brand goggles throughout the remainder of the AMA Supercross series.
Ramsey, a past champion in the 125 west region and a former 450 supercross winner will be sporting the number 25 out there on his JGMX/Toyota/Yamaha. He’ll wear the Gox Liquid line of goggles and we’re going to lean on Nathan’s considerable experience in helping us make the best possible goggle for the racing and riding public.
For more information on EKS(X) Brand goggles, please visit eksbrand.com.
EKS(X) Brand Goggle is a product of over 25 years of eyewear experience. The world-class design of the GOX goggle has all of the necessary features that a high-end goggle requires to keep you seeing your way clear to the finish line.

GRRRRRR

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Motocross Vacations-Southern California’s Ridding experience

You didn’t think we were just going to post some incredible photos and leave you hanging, right? You know by now that when there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. In this case, where there were still cameras, there was also a video camera. Check out some riding with Geico Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia.

Now that you’ve already likely checked out the spy photos of the new RM-Z250, here is a quick video of it in action. Don’t forget to check back later this weekend for photos from the first Japanese National of the season where Swap will likely be filling us in on all the other new bikes.

Round #10 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series proved to be one of the most
exciting races of the season thus far. As the series rolled into Daytona, it marked the
first time One Industries backed Jason Lawrence would line up the gate in the premier
Supercross Class Main Event. After a first turn pileup, J-Law took an early lead and
held on for fourteen of the twenty laps finishing a very impressive second place in his
first ever Supercross main event.

We spotted Suzuki testing out what appears to be an early 2010 RM-Z250 fitted with fuel injection. With an aluminum tank, and body stylings like its bigger brother, this RM-Z was hard to miss. Check out some photos and stay tuned for another exclusive video of the little fuel-injected thumper in action.

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Champions James Stewart and Chad Reed get vertical in New Orleans! Do not miss AMA SuperCross in NOLA, Sunday March 15 at 6pm EST, only on SPEED! http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/ama-supercross-motocross/

Click Here

Here are some of Lutes’ favorites from the Daytona Supercross presented by Honda.

Spokane, Wash. (March10, 2009) – MotoConcepts Racing (MCRMX) is pleased to announce the signing of former SXGP World Champion Heath Voss to their team.  Voss, riding in the competitive 450 AMA Supercross Series, is currently 12th overall in points and leading privateer of the year honors.

“Heath brings a wealth of experience and a strong history of race results to our team,” stated team owner Mike Genova.  “We are excited to have Heath under our canopy this coming Saturday in New Orleans.  I have a lot of respect for the level of professionalism Heath has demonstrated during his career and he is a great role model for other riders on our team to emulate.”

MCRMX now has the top two candidates for Privateer of the Year in Voss and Ben Coisy, who is currently in 13th place overall.

The MCRMX team consists of Jeff Alessi in the 250 West class, Vince Friese in the 250 East class, Tyler Bowers, Ben Coisy, Heath Voss, and Cole Siebler (injured for remainder of season) in the 450 class.

MCRMX would like to thank team sponsors: MotoConcepts, MDK, FMF, FLY Racing, Pirelli, DeCal Works, Smooth Industries, Alpinestars, Utopia, Vortex, DT1 Filters, TCR, Sunline, Dragon Racing Fuel, Excel RK, Goldfren, Boyesen, Guts, Motion Pro, Motorex, Leisure Concepts, Northwest Steel Fab., and Extreme Motosport MX park.
All interested team sponsor enquires please contact Alison Turner alison@atlantic-promotions.com <mailto:alison@atlantic-promotions.com>  805-214-1106.
###
About  MotoConcepts: MotoConcepts is a Pacific Northwest Manufacturer of Specialty MotoSport products and innovative gear storage solutions designed for the professional and recreational rider.  MotoConcepts is proud to partner with top motocross companies like MDK, FMF, Fly Racing,  Smooth Industries, and DeCal Works to help support the MCRMX team.  For more information visit www.motoconcepts.com <http://www.motoconcepts.com/> .

AMA Supercross Class Stats
The first race in  New  Orleans was held June 4,  1977, and  Marty Smith won on a Honda. That was Smith’s last AMA Supercross class win. On  that night, there were eight different brands of motorcycles on the gate:  Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Bull Taco,  Maico, Husqvarna, and Can-Am
From 1977-1980, the AMA Supercross  was held in New  Orleans. In 1980 the race was a double  header and it was the last race in New  Orleans  until 1998
From 1998-2002, AMA Supercross  took place in New  Orleans.
This will be the 11th time the  gate will drop for an AMA Supercross race in New  Orleans
In 1979, Jeff Ward competed in his  second-career AMA Supercross start and finished 9th. It was the first of many  top ten finishes.
Suzuki hasn’t won in  New  Orleans since 1980 when Mark Barnett won  one of the double headers

AMA Supercross Class Wins by Brand in New Orleans
Honda (4)
Yamaha (4)
Kawasaki (1)
Suzuki (1)

AMA Supercross Class First Time Winners in New Orleans
Steve Wise, 1979 on a  Honda

AMA Supercross Class Recap From Daytona
Chad Reed earned his  37th AMA Supercross win. His second this  season
The win was Reed’s 96th AMA  Supercross podium finish and his third win in Daytona.
Chad Reed is now ahead by 11  points in the standings.
Kevin Windham made his 150th AMA  Supercross start and finished fifth. It was his 89th top  5.
Jason Lawrence finished second in  his first-ever AMA Supercross class start.

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Stats
The first Lites class race in  New  Orleans was March 14,  1998 and  Ricky Carmichael won on a Pro-Circuit Kawasaki.
This will be the sixth time the  gate will drop for an AMA Lites Supercross race in  New  Orleans.
Chad Reed won in  New  Orleans in 2002. Can he join Ricky  Carmichael as riders to win New  Orleans in both  classes.

Lites Class Wins by Brand in New Orleans
Yamaha (3)
Suzuki (1)
Kawasaki (1)

AMA Supercross Lites Class Recap From Daytona
Christophe Pourcel won Daytona and  maintained his points lead
Nico Izzi and Martin Davalos also  finished on the podium

AMA Supercross Laps Led
James Stewart               129
Chad Reed                    27
Jason Lawrence 14
Josh Grant                   14
Kevin Windham              11
Ryan Villopoto               3
Mike Alessi                   2

AMA Supercross Lites Class Laps Led
Jake Weimer                 42
Ryan Dungey                 36
Christophe Pourcel         27
Austin Stroupe               22
Martin Davalos               10
Justin D. Brayton           7
Ryan Morais                  4
Daniel Reardon              2
Matthew Lemoine           1

Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross Class)
James Stewart (Anaheim 1)
Josh Grant (Phoenix)
Mike Alessi (Anaheim 2)
Mike Alessi (Houston)
James Stewart (San Francisco)
James Stewart (Anaheim 3)
Mike Alessi (San Diego)
James Stewart (Atlanta)
Chad Reed (Indianapolis)

Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross Lites Class)
Daniel Reardon (Anaheim 1)
Jake Weimer (Phoenix)
Ryan Morais (Anaheim 2)
Christophe Pourcel (Houston)
Jake Weimer (San Francisco)
Justin Brayton (Anaheim 3)
Ryan Morais (San Diego)
Austin Stroupe (Atlanta)
Christophe Pourcel (Indianapolis)

MMI Top Tech Award
Mark Valcore (Anaheim 1)
Rich Simmons (Phoenix)
Mike Gosselaar (Anaheim 2)
Glenn Hobson (Houston)
Jon Mitcheff (San Francisco)
Carlos Rivera (Anaheim 3)
Mike Gosselaar (San Diego)
Craig Lyons (Atlanta)
Nick Stevens (Indianapolis)

US Smokeless Tobacco Company Pro Privateer Challenge
1. Heath Voss               59
2. Nick Wey                  55
3. Ben Coisy                 51

Asterisk Medic Card
Cole Seely (Anaheim 1)
Derek Costella (Phoenix)
Alex Martin (Anaheim 2)
Fred Karrle (Houston)
Michael Hall (San Francisco)
Chris Gosselaar (Anaheim 3)
Justin Keeney (San Diego)
Spencer Dally (Atlanta)
Matt Georke (Indianapolis)

Racer X Gas Card
Jacob Marsack (Anaheim 1)
Sean Hamblin (Phoenix)
Josh Summey (Anaheim 2)
Ben Lamay (Houston)
Nicholas A. Wey (San Francisco)
Ben Lamay (Anaheim 3)
Josh Hansen (San Diego)
Heath D. Voss (Atlanta)
Thomas K. Hahn (Indianapolis)

AMA Supercross Class Results, Daytona
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
Jason Lawrence,  Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
Mike Alessi,  Apple  Valley,  Calif., Suzuki
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken.,  KTM
Thomas Hahn,  Decatur, Texas,  Kawasaki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki,  224
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha,  213
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda, 163
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki, 153
Ivan  Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 140
Josh Grant,  Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 138
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 136
Mike Alessi,  Apple  Valley,  Calif., Suzuki,  131
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda, 128
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki, 100

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Daytona
Christophe Pourcel,  Corona, Calif.,  Kawasaki
Martin Davalos,  Cairo, Ga., KTM
Nico Izzi,  Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Matt Lemoine,  Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha
Wil Hahn,  Decatur, Texas, KTM
Matt  Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki
Darryn  Durham, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
Broc Tickle,  Holly, Mich., Yamaha
Blake Wharton,  Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
Kyle Keylon,  Brooksville, Fla., Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1.       Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
2.       Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 82
3.       Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 59
4.       Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 56
5.       Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 52
6.       Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 51
7.       Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha, 47
8.       Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 46
9.       Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 40
10.   Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Young riders, parents, state lawmakers and others concerned about the current federal ban on selling youth dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) rallied on the steps of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Wednesday, March 4, to support an exemption to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

The press conference that followed was organized by State Rep. Tom Self (R-Cole Camp), who also sponsored a successful Missouri House resolution urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to “provide a waiver or exclusion for youth ATVs and motorcycles from the lead limit requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.”

Under the CPSIA, which took effect Feb. 10, manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are barred from making, importing, distributing or selling any product intended for children 12 and under that contains more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. According to the CPSC, that includes youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs, which include lead in such things as batteries, brakes and engines. The ban also shelves many parts needed for repair.

The CPSIA greatly concerns the AMA, the industry and the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community because it encourages parents to put their youngsters on adult-sized OHVs. There is also great concern for the survival of powersports dealers and their employees, which are already struggling given the current recession. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the CPSIA could lead to $1 billion in lost economic value annually for the industry.

“Washington, D.C. tells us that this ban is a result of unintended consequences, effectively passing the buck,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, who spoke at the rally. “That’s not good enough. These changes need to be made now before kids are injured, and thousands of small family-owned businesses are needlessly put out of business.”

Moreland added that it is ironic that the agency with which the AMA and the industry have spent years developing youth-sized OHV standards is now charged with enforcing the CPSIA, effectively rendering the standards useless.

“Young riders represent the future of motorcycling and ATVing in America, and shouldn’t be denied their right to ride,” he said.

Paul Vitrano, general counsel for the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the MIC, also spoke at the Missouri gathering. He noted that the potential losses for the powersports industry are massive “at a time when this country cannot afford additional economic losses.” Thousands of small businesses across America are being hurt by the ban, he added.

Moreland asked all concerned parents and riders nationwide to contact their own state lawmakers to urge them to pass resolutions like Missouri’s, supporting an exemption to the law banning youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs. They also need to contact the members of their federal congressional delegations and the CPSC to demand that the law be changed to include an exemption, he said.

The easiest way to do this is to go to the Rights section of the AMA website at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com, and then click Issues and Legislation. There, riders and their parents can contact lawmakers and the CPSC to voice their concerns.

“Nearly 40,000 people have already used the AMA website to voice their displeasure to Congress and the CPSC, but we can’t stop now, we have to keep up the pressure,” said Moreland.

Interested parties can also sign up on the AMA website to get e-mail Action Alerts to learn when action needs to be taken on issues threatening motorcycling and ATV riding.

Awesome Honda shop


Read more

Words and Photos by Brendan Lutes

At one point in his career, Mike Brown was one of the guys to beat in Supercross and motocross. Since retiring from profession SX and MX, though, Brownie has found a second career in off-road racing. And after recently winning the second round of the WORCS series, Brown made a deal with KTM manager Kurt Nicoll that if he won, he would get to race the Daytona SX. Following the first practice session this weekend, we caught up with the always-friendly racer to see how his time back on the SX scene had been going.

How did it come about that you were going to race Daytona?
I was in California the week before a WORCS race and at KTM with Kurt [Nicoll] the off-road manager. I asked him that if I won the WORCS race I could race Daytona, and he agreed. I won and they kind of held me to it, and I think they needed a rider here, though, too. I wanted to do it, but something in me said that I didn’t’ really want to do it, because I haven’t tested for it, trained for it, or ridden Supercross. I just decided, though, to come out here, have fun, and ride.

How has off-road been treating you?
It’s tougher than I thought it would be. I think a lot of people in my position think that too. Going into the WORCS series or GNCC, those guys are in their territory and have done it for so long that they’ve got it down—the racing, the tracks, and the whole thing. It’s hard to get used to. I’ve done five WORCS races so far, and it’s been hard to get used to. It’s good and I like it a lot. The endurance is what I like the most about it though. Two hours or three hours is where I think I do my best. But like I said, the guys are faster than people think they are in that stuff.

Have you had to change your style a little bit for off-road?
A little bit. Like I said, if it’s a WORCS race with a motocross track, those guys go pretty well at that. For sure the GNCC stuff is a mellowed out pace for three hours. Those guys kind of pace themselves for three hours, and if you go and try to race it like a motocross for three hours, it wouldn’t work to well for you. You would probably end up in the trees or really tired. The WORCS is pretty flat out for two hours and the GNCC you kind of have to pace yourself.

What are you looking for from yourself for Daytona?
I’d be happy to qualify. I’ve been watching it every week on the computer and television and it’s hard to qualify. You watch those guys and it’s tough. I’d be really happy to just qualify and get in there.

Words and Photos by Brendan Lutes

Since his first season as a pro, Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Wil Hahn has been one of the young up-and-comers that everyone has been keeping their eye on. Always fast, Wil—the younger of the Hahn brothers—has yet to really come into his own and prove to everyone that he belongs up front on a regular basis. At the previous round in Indy, Hahn won a heat race, but crashed hard in the main, forcing him to limp his bent bike in for 15th. Now in his first trip to Daytona, we caught up with Wil before the race. And as it turned out, he actually did make his goal of finishing in the top-five, even after a nasty crash on the parade lap with Blake Wharton.

Talk a little about the crash you had in the main event at Indy?
Everything was going good after I crashed in the second turn. Then about halfway through the race, I endoed in the whoops pretty hard and it took me a while to regroup. I ended up tweaking the front end so bad that I could barely ride and it took me a while to get it straightened out. I ended up getting 15th after that. That wasn’t really what I went there looking to do, especially after a heat race win. I put myself in a good position on the first start, then off the second start, I just came out bad, people went down, and I had nowhere to go.

You’re on a new team this year. How has it been making the transition?
It’s been completely different. It’s unbelievable the difference it makes being on a factory team. They’re willing to do whatever it takes. We’re still testing throughout the season right now and we continue to make the bike better. Last year, I just had a setup and I ran it that way for the whole year. It’s been good. I couldn’t be happier with the team.

Did it take some time to get used to the bike?
Yes and no. It’s just changing a brand on dirt bikes, and with the linkage thing, it actually does stuff a lot better in some places, and then there’s some stuff that it doesn’t do better. It was kind of mixed emotions, but it’s not like what a lot of people made it out to be.

Have you ever been to Daytona before?
No, I haven’t raced here. I came and watched last year, but I never raced it before.

What do you think of the track?
It looks dirty! It looks like they watered it a little bit, I don’t know. By the puddles and all that, it looked like it hadn’t dried out from last year. It looks good. It looks like it’s going to be a good race.

What are your expectations for this race?
I just want to leave here with a top-five. I haven’t had a top-five finish yet, but I just need to leave here with one and keep being consistent and that’s what it’s going to take. I just need to keep being consistent to stay in the points.

What about the rest of the season?
I’m going to get on the podium for the team. They work their butts off, and that’s what I’m capable of doing. That’s what I need to do.

Words and Photos by Brendan Lutes

While it wasn’t quite as crazy a race as last year’s mudfest, this year’s Daytona Supercross presented by Honda didn’t disappoint, as interesting practice sessions led into a race highlighted by a first-turn pile up, which caused numerous riders including James Stewart to climb their way back towards the front of the pack. Add to that the fact that Jason Lawrence was absolutely flying in his first-ever 450 race, and you have one entertaining night of racing. But without giving away too much, click through the photo gallery below to get the full scoop on the grueling Daytona SX.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

By the TWMX staff

Photos by Brendan Lutes

          �After a torrential downpour during last year’s Daytona Supercross presented by Honda at the famous Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, fans and riders alike were greeted with perfect weather for this year’s race.

          �Having led all but the final lap during last year’s race, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed came to Daytona looking for redemption. But after posting the fourth quickest time in practice, things weren’t looking too good for the speedy Australian. In the main event, though, he managed to overcome a bad start to catch the surprise of the day Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster’s Jason Lawrence in the closing stages of the race to secure his third win at the grueling Daytona SX. As for Reed’s series rival, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart, he was a casualty of a first turn pileup that claimed numerous riders in the main event. Stewart remounted to climb back up to seventh by the finish. Heading into next week’s race in New Orleans, Reed now has a nine-point lead over James.

          �In the Lites class, after loosing last week in Indy, points leader Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel took a hard-fought win to extend his growing lead in the East Coast Lites division. As for last week’s winner, Austin Stroupe, he crashed hard on the opening lap and dropped out of the race. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos finished second while Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi completed the podium.

LITES QUALIFYING

Heat One:

After over coming a bad start, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi fought through the pack to earn a hard-fought win in the first Lights class heat race, leading Star Racing/Yamaha’s Darryn Durham home. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos fought tooth in nail with Honda-mounted privateer Josh Lichtle for most of the race before securing third at the finish.

Results:

1.   �Nico Izzi (Suz)

2.  �Darryn Durham (Yam)

3.  �Martin Davalos (KTM)

4.  �Josh Lichtle (Hon)

5.  �Matt Goerke (Suz)

6.  �Matt Lemoine (Yam)

7.  �Levi Kilbarger (Hon)

8.  �Brad Ripple (Hon)

9.  �Jason Thomas (Hon) 

Heat Two:

Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe controlled the second Lites heat race after taking over the lead early on to score an easy win over his teammate, Frenchman Christophe Pourcel. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Wil Hahn held on for third at the finish. Fourth went to replacement Geico Powersports/Honda rider Daniel Blair.

Results:

1.   �Austin Stroupe (Kaw)

2.   �Christophe Pourcel (Kaw)

3.   �Wil Hahn (KTM)

4.   �Daniel Blair (Hon)

5.   �Steven Clark (Suz)

6.   �Kyle Keylon (Hon)

7.   �Vince Friese (Hon)

8.   �Blake Wharton (Hon)

9.   �Shane Sewell (Yam)

LCQ Results:

1.   �Branden Jessemen (Kaw)

2.   �Broc Tickle (Yam)

Awesome trails and views. good begginner stuff.


Read more

Practice has wrapped up at this year’s Daytona Supercross presented by Honda, and there was a surprise leader in the Supercross class heading into the night program: Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster’s Jason Lawrence. After posting the third fastest time of the class in the first round of practice sessions, Lawrence went out in his second non-seeded session and posted the overall quickest time in the SX class. Behind J-Law—with a 1:07.415 to Lawrence’s 1:06.998—was San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart. Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps was third quickest in the class while Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed was fourth.

As it turned out, though, Lawrence almost didn’t get credited with the fastest time. Following each session, the AMA was conducting random sound tests and Lawrence’s bike was selected. With loud speakers playing music near the test area, though, the first test attempt was over the legal sound limit. Once the speakers were turned off and Lawrence’s YZ450F was re-tested, however, he passed.

In the Lites class, Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel was fastest with Star Racing/Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine second and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi third. Last week’s winner Austin Stroupe was fourth fastest.

Tonight’s race is live on SPEED Channel, so don’t forget to tune in. Also, check back later tonight for a full race report complete with results and photos.

The first practice sessions just wrapped up at Daytona. A few news worthy mentions about them are the fact that Jagermeister/KTM’s Mike Brown is racing as well as Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster’s Jason Lawrence. Lawrence is making a second go at racing in the Supercross class after pulling out of the event last week in Indy with stomach issues. He posted the third quickest time of the day so far in a non-seeded rider practice. We’ll have photos of both of these riders in the second practice gallery as soon as the second sessions conclude in a few hours. It’s also worth noting that the weather is perfect today with no rain in the forecast. Stay tuned…

March, 2009 (Escondido, CA) – Toyota Escondido Sports Network has joined forces with NXTagency and “NCHM” (North County’s House of Motorcycles) to help our friend and fellow rider, Jiri Dostal.

On Friday, December 26th, Jiri Dostal crashed and suffered a broken and displaced C6 vertebra in his neck along with breaking both of his hands. Fortunately, his spinal cord was not permanently damaged and he will make a full recovery. Unfortunately, Jiri has been overwhelmed financially due to his current situation.

“After speaking with Jiri this week, I felt this was something we could do to help alleviate some of the stress he is experiencing“, said Toyota Escondido’s Sports Marketing Director, Dave DeLaTorre. “Jiri needs help selling his 2008 KX 450F and we have the resources to help get this done. We enlisted help from the crew at NXTagency, as we knew they could get the word out to the entire MX community and NCHM agreed to assist with any paperwork/ financing for the future buyer.”

The bike is currently being displayed at Toyota Escondido’s Truck Center located at 231 Lincoln Parkway in Escondido, CA.

For more information on the bike, please contact Dave DeLaTorre at;

delatorre@toyotaescondido.com

760-855-4865

New promotion for the team and its sponsors at each of the remaining
Monster Energy SX rounds features the “Boost Mobile Five @ 5:00”

CARLSBAD, Calif., (March 6, 2009) – Defending 2008 WSX Lites class
champion and soon-to-be 450 class rookie Jason “JLaw” Lawrence (Boost
Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing), along with his teammate, Nick
Wey, will be handing out five autographed items to five lucky fans
that sign up for the “Boost Mobile Five @ 5:00” promotion at the Boost
Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing hauler this weekend at Daytona
International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla., and throughout the rest
of the stops on the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World
Championship, tour.

Dubbed the Boost Mobile Five @ 5:00, the give-away promotion will
feature Lawrence’s One Industry jersey, signed, a set of Spy Magneto
goggles (also signed) as well as Wey’s signed MSR jersey and an
autographed set of his Spy Magneto goggles. Then once that’s all
hooked up some SUPER lucky fan will win a brand new One Industries
signed helmet with custom JLaw graphics hooked up by AP Designs.
Additional items raffled include a set of Grenade Gloves and
headphones from 2XL.

“I haven’t been going through a bunch of gear lately, so I figured
rather than having it all pile up at my house I’d give it away to the
fans,” said Lawrence laughing. “Seriously, this is some pretty cool
stuff we’ll be signing and handing out at the Boost Mobile/ampm/
Monster Energy/Troy Racing trailer and I’ll personally be pulling the
winners out of a hat – so I hope to see you all there at five!”

·         To sign up for the event, catch up with the girls at the
Boost Mobile booth and get your photo with them, score a code card to
get the pic through your phone or online, then fill out a raffle
ticket – it’s that simple!

The Boost Mobile Five @ 5:00 raffle will go off in front of the Boost
Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing trailer right at 5 p.m. at
Daytona on Saturday, March 7th  Both Lawrence and Wey will be hanging
out, signing posters and mugging for photos with all the fans.

Generous sponsors of the Boost Mobile Five @ 5:00 include: Boost
Mobile, One Industries, AP Design, Spy Optic, MSR, Grenade Gloves,
2XL, Boost Mobile, am/pm, Monster Energy and Troy Racing.

With the Daytona taking place tomorrow, we it would be appropriate to cover one of the Sunshine State’s best riders: Jason Thomas.  Jason has been around for a long time and has managed to have a fairly successful career riding as a privateer.  For that last several years, Jason has been a part of one of the most professionally run privateer efforts in the pits, the Butler Brothers MX team.  Roaming through the indoor pits at Indy, we came across the BBMX crew and saw an unfamiliar no.45 Lites bike, and Jason all suited up to ride.  After putting two and two together (whatever that means) we realized that JT$ is restarting his career.

So, what’s up with the black backgrounds on your bike today?

(Laughs) I’m just really far behind the eight ball, injury wise.  I got hurt at the US Open and wasn’t even riding a dirt bike when the season started.  I raced last weekend on my 450 and ended up making the conscious decision, between myself and the team, that I was going to move to the Lites and focus on that this year and possibly the next couple years.  I’m excited about it.  We have a really good Lites program.  It’s something new; kind of a turn around for my career and it breathes some new life back into it.

When was the last time you raced a Lites machine?

The last time I raced one in the US was in ’02 and that was just for a race or two.  I rode one in Europe in maybe ’03, but that’s still six or seven years ago.  It’s been a long time and I am still going through a learning curve.   I’ve only been riding it for four days so I’m struggling a little bit now but I definitely feel that in the next few weeks I should be going pretty fast.

Yeah, but I have some work to do.  I definitely learned a lot by watching in practice.  It’s different.  The way you ride the track on a Lites bike is definitely different: rhythm sections, entering the corners in different places.  So it’s still a learning curve, but I’m confident with it and I know that I can get up there and hopefully get the team some results.

What’s the plan for the nationals?  Will you also ride the Lites bike outdoors and does BBMX plan to run a similar schedule to what they did last season or are they going to contest the entire series?

Actually I’m going to move to the 450 outdoors.  As of right now, Kyle Keylon and myself are going to race, with Kyle on the Lites bike.  I think I’m going to ride the whole series this year, especially after sitting out for three or four months. I got some motivation to want to race the whole year again, so it should be fun.

Thanks Jason.

No problem.

SKULLCANDY is pleased to present this new custom SKULLCANDY BELL MOTO-8 HELMET that East Coast Lites rider Matt Lemoine will be rocking the remainder of the Supercross season.  Matt got with TAGGER DESIGNS and came up with a unique design that fit his personal style and the look and feel of SKULLCANDY.  Tag got a bit crazy and painted a pair of the Rasta and Gold Foil Ti headphones onto the helmet!

Be on the look out for more custom SKULLCANDY lids, as the season moves on and we head towards the Outdoors.

Look for Matt to take his Star Racing/Yamaha to the podium at Daytona this weekend.

For more info on SKULLCANDY and the rest of the SKDY MOTO CREW,  go to www.skullcandy.com and www.skullcandytv.com for all the lastest videos.

TWMX caught up with factory Yamaha’s Josh Hill last week while he was spun some laps in between physical therapy sessions…

FMF Racing will be on hand at the 2009 Lake Whitney and Oak Hill Nationals to provide riders with the exceptional support FMF has come to be known for.  FMF takes pride in helping young riders excel at the grassroots of our sport and therefore the FMF Semi will be on hand at both events to help all FMF support riders exceed.

“We have the top amateur athletes in the country and have also teamed up with the Red Bull JAMS team and are very excited!  FMF will also be offering Cytosport products to all FMF riders as well to keep them hydrated,” says Donnie Emler Jr.

So stop by at the FMF Semi trailer and see what is new at the Flying Machine Factory!

To learn more about FMF products please visit our website at www.fmfracing.com

Corona, Cal. – With the exit of Brett Metcalfe from the AMA Lites
Eastern Regional Supercross Championship with a broken collarbone at
round two in Atlanta, the GEICO Powersports Honda team went on a
search for someone to fill Brett’s shoes for as long as he’s out with
his broken collarbone.

“I got a call from JC Waterhouse, and he basically offered me the
opportunity to come out here [to California] and test the bike,” Blair
says. “It was awesome. The whole experience was awesome, just with the
way they handle business – they got me the flight, the rental car, and
just treated me so professionally, and just that in itself was great.
Now that I’ve actually earned a spot on the team, it’s unreal.”

Blair had some mixed emotions when he first hit the track on the
Factory Connection Racing machine at the test track.

“First off, my bike was good,” Blair says. “I was happy with it. I
felt like it was good enough for me to compete. But being on this
bike, I feel like is going to open up so many new doors. It feels so
light and it handles so good, and I feel like new doors are going to
open because I think I can go so much faster and get so much better
starts. It’s really at a whole new level. I’m riding a bike that’s the
same brand as mine, but to be honest, it doesn’t feel anything like my
bike. It’s like a different brand of dirt bike. It’s amazing, and the
first few laps I was on it, I was rolling around the track with the
biggest smile on my face, and then it went from a smile to anger and I
was wondering how I had been able to race against guys on these
things. There were definitely some mixed emotions there.”

Team manager JC Waterhouse says he’s really happy to add Blair to the
roster.

“It’s very rare to be able to substitute your primary rider with
someone aggressive and talented who may be able to finish up front
right away in the series,” Waterhouse says. “With Daniel Blair, I
think we’ve accomplished that and I’m looking forward to great things
from him.”

Blair couldn’t be happier.

“It makes me feel really good, and they’ve already made me aware that
they don’t want me go out there and go nuts, trying to just destroy
everyone at the first race,” Blair says. “They want me to be smart and
really build off of it, and that makes me feel good because I don’t
have to go out there and ride over my head. I can really focus on
building a little at a time, and that’s going to be good for me
because I really feel like being with these guys, who have won
championships, and work with Kevin Windham and Mike LaRocco, I think
it will actually help me see things better. I feel like that’s going
to be huge for me. I look forward to the weeks ahead.”

Blair will make his debut with the team at Daytona this Saturday
night, round four of the Lites East and round nine of the 450cc
championship at Daytona International Speedway, March 7th.

Team Sponsors: GEICO Powersports, Honda, Planet Fitness, Unbound
Energy, AM/PM, Factory Connection, Fox, Shoei, Gaerne, DVS, Amsoil
Lubricants, Cycra Plastics, Dunlop Tires, EK Chains, Filtron Air
Filters, Hinson Clutches, Leatt Brace, One Industries, Pro Circuit,
Renthal, Shock Doctor, Showa, TAG Sprockets, Vortex Ignitions, VP
Fuels, and Works Connection.

Vurb Moto & MotoSport.com brings you Amateur Fantasy Motocross

The creative minds at Motosport and Vurbmoto have combined forces to bring you Amateur Fantasy Racing League 2009. Powered by MOTOXDream.com, Amateur Fantasy Racing League 2009 will include five rounds of amateur national racing, beginning with the 2009 Parts Unlimited/Thor Spring Classic in Lake Whitney, Texas. The fifth and final round will be the 2009 Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s. The top three team managers at seasons end will be crowned and awarded prize packages following Loretta’s, awards packages will be announced April 1st.

How do you play? First and foremost, it’s FREE FREE FREE!!, so tell all your peeps to jump on board and test their moto knowledge in anticipation of team manager of the year. If you have played Fantasy Supercross then you will already be familiar with the rules, if not please follow the rules instructions within the site, it’s pretty simple.

* Team Managers will pick four riders from each group per national.
* Classes are A class “Premiere” and B Class “Lites”.
* 250 A Stock and 250 B Stock.
* As of round one; no double points or handicaps will be allowed, following the Spring Classic double points and handicaps will be implemented and adjusted after each national going forward.

Deadline for Lake Whitney: Tuesday March 10th, 8am Deadline for Oak Hill: Tuesday March 17th, 8am

The following races are to be included in this year’s Fantasy League calendar;

* Lake Whitney
* Oak Hill
* World Mini Grand Prix
* Ponca City
* Loretta Lynn’s

Mini O’s will be added to the calendar for next season and will act as our first round of the 2010 series.

Riders were picked based on 2008 results. If you would like to add a rider email us @ Brent@Vurbmoto.com

Read more

Now that you’ve probably already checked out the Catching Up With… interview with Grant Langston, check out how he looked out on the Competitive Edge track in Hesperia, California. If you haven’t seen GL’s interview yet, be sure to check it out by clicking HERE.

Here are some of our better shot from this past weekend’s action in Indianapolis.  Just click on a thumbnail to enlarge, then right click to save as a wallpaper image. Enjoy.

On the heels of MX Sport’s recent announcement that after careful deliberation, 250cc two-strokes will not be allowed to compete in this summer’s 250cc National Championship Series against 250cc four-strokes, we bring you this interesting video about what could have been.

Though the rule will be revisited in the future, once the CPSIA Lead Ban crisis is resolved, we can’t help but wonder what could have been this summer, had the rule been enacted.

Naturally, we filmed this video and worked on the content for a magazine feature when things looked good for the rule, and the information that lies in this video and in the magazine feature that will hit newsstands next month is both interesting and intriguing. Look to the May issue of TransWorld Motocross for tons of comparative information, including lap times from our test riders, Jason Lawrence and Travis Baker, as well as dynamometer readings, price comparisons, etc.

For now, though, enjoy the video; complete with the sweet ring-a-ding sound of a two-stroke 250 at full chat.

San Diego, CA (March 4, 2009) – A new year brings a new dedication to the American Motorcyclist Association and it’s members, as BikeBandit.com and The AMA officially announce a new category exclusive partnership.

With more support from BikeBandit.com behind the world’s largest motorcyclist advocacy organization and its members loyal to BikeBandit.com, it was only a matter of time before this partnership blossomed. Now AMA Members will be offered an exclusive increased benefit when visiting BikeBandit.com. Effective immediately, the AMA member discount has increased! That’s not all; AMA members will also get the latest updates on special promotions and news before they are officially released to other consumers.

“We are very excited about our on-going relationship with the American Motorcyclist Association. And, given the current state of our economy, we feel this is the perfect time to give back by offering our support to those that support the AMA.” –Ken Wahlster, CEO of BikeBandit.com

Ken has been a proud member of The American Motorcyclist Association over the past 15 years. In addition, BikeBandit.com became an AMA Partner in 2005. Over the years there have been a lot of new developments at BikeBandit.com as well as across the Powersports Industry. With over eight million genuine OEM and aftermarket parts, apparel and gear online, only AMA members will reap these exclusive savings!

Realizing that nearly 64% of AMA’s 300,000 members have shopped online in the past 12 months, the new benefits will surely add up. If you are already a member of the AMA, to take advantage of the discount on BikeBandit.com don’t forget to enter your AMA number in the box provided at checkout. If you are not yet a member, sign up today!

Read more about this partnership and learn how to become an AMA member
www.BikeBandit.com

About the AMA
Founded in 1924, the AMA has an unparalleled history of pursuing, protecting and promoting the interests of the world’s largest and most dedicated group of motorcycle enthusiasts. The AMA focuses on rights, riding and racing through its government relations work, by sanctioning road and off-road riding activities and overseeing professional and amateur racing events.
About BikeBandit.com
BikeBandit.com is the Web’s Largest Powersports Store, offering more than 8 million factory fresh motorcycle parts and accessories online. Browse for motorcycle parts to upgrade or repair your machine. BikeBandit.com works hard to offer you motorcycle parts and ATV parts from all the major manufacturers, plus a huge number of motorcycle parts and motorcycle accessories from specialist manufacturers. BikeBandit.com is the Web’s most trusted source for OEM motorcycle parts , aftermarket motorcycle parts , motorcycle gear , and accessories .

Lenhartsville, PA. - February 25, 2009 – Since 1993 Boyesen Factory Racing clutch covers have been used by many pro teams selected specifically due to their increased durability and added performance benefits.

Over the years, top US riders like Damon Bradshaw, Jeff Emig, Doug Dubach and Mike LaRocco, and many European greats including Stefan Everts have all helped to make the Factory Racing brand of clutch covers a recognizable part of motocross history that still lives on today. Currently the Custom Connection clutch Covers Program can be seen on current 2009 SX lites riders Matt Goerke, Steven Clarke and is being spearheaded into the amateur ranks with help from Team Honda of Houston Racing, Lowell Spangler, and Elizabeth Bash. All of these top riders are opting to have their covers personalized with their name or team to set themselves apart from the rest of the riders in their respective fields.

Boyesen is proud to announce our unique CUSTOM CONNECTION program.

Until now, riders could only drool over trick factory parts and personalization. Now you can have the ultimate in individualized engine protection at a price you can afford.

Our Custom Connection Program allows you to have your name engraved, giving you the ability to add your own personal style. Made from investment cast aluminum, the Factory Racing cover is strong, lightweight, and durable providing years of outstanding protection.

Call Boyesen today to find out more on the Custom Connection Program.

610-756-6818 / 800-441-1177

MSRP: $149.95

SIMPLY LOG ON TO:  http://boyesen.com

For more than 30 years Boyesen has specialized in the design and manufacture of high-performance parts to the power sports industry.  From our innovative industry leading performance Reeds, to complete Rage Cage Reed Valve System, Boyesen continues to consistently set the standard for performance and manufacturing build quality.  For more information on the complete line of Boyesen products, visit www.boyesen.com.

Matt Boni Becomes New Addition to Rockstar Energy / Hart and Huntington Race Team

Carlsbad, CA – Monday, March 2, 2009 – After long consideration Josh Hansen recently decided to leave the Rockstar Energy / Hart and Huntington Race Team for the remaining 2009 Supercross season. Hansen made the personal decision to refocus for the 2010 race season after suffering the recent losses of friends Jeremy Lusk and H&H Racing teammate Anthony Hart both due to unfortunate motorcycle accidents.

“We fully support Josh’s decision to withdraw from the 2009 season. It was a personal decision and we wish him all of the luck in the world,” says Hart and Huntington Race Team owner Carey Hart.

With Hansen’s recent departure the Rockstar Energy / Hart and Huntington Race Team added 21-year-old Matt Boni to their roster. The Geneva, Florida resident is currently racing in the 450 class after coming up through the lites rankings where he had three podium finishes last season.

“We are really excited to be working with Matt, and having him on the Rockstar Energy / Hart and Huntington Race Team. We have super high expectations for him and we are looking forward to the future,” said Team Manager Kenny Watson.

Rockstar Energy / Hart and Huntington Race Team would like the following for their continued support through the 2009 season: Rockstar Energy drink, Hart and Huntington, Honda, Carter Powersports, Kal-Gard, Leo Vince, ID Systems, Independent Suspension, Pac-sun, Smith, ONE Industries, MAC Tools, Tag Metals, QTM, Cycra, SDG, K&N, Harts Wasted Space, DVS, Skull Candy, VP Fuels, All Sport Dynamics, Alpinestars, Vortex, Dunlop, Works Connection

About Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company: Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company is the tattoo shop founded by freestyle motocross legend Carey Hart. The first Hart and Huntington Tattoo Company Shop opened in 2004 in the Palms Casino is Las Vegas, making it the first tattoo shop located in a casino.  The shop is moving to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and is set to reopen in April 2009. The tattoo shop also includes its own line of tattoo-inspired clothing. In addition to the Las Vegas shop, Hart and Huntington Tattoo Company is expanding with shops open in Waikiki, Hawaii and Orlando, Florida. For more information, please visit www.hartandhuntingtontattoo.com

Is Cool G ready to get back on the gate?

Mitchell Bailey recently traveled to Puerto Rico with the Nitro Circus crew and sent us this story and photos of the latest in Travis’s long list of exploits.  Some folks get to have all the fun.

Words and Photos by Mitchell Bailey

Last month’s trip to Puerto Rico for the Travis Pastrana MX Challenge was a very unique experience and an adventure to say the least. We headed to this event with very few details, other than Travis would be making an appearance and lending his hand to make the event a success. Anytime Travis is involved, I’m willing to “watch” and know that something amazing will happen. Gary Bailey and Gabby Catala spent months putting this together on a hidden piece of land back in the Vega Baja jungle, west of San Juan. This foreign territory literally started as a jungle that was transformed into a Supercross venue, almost overnight. Complete with hillside seating, bleachers, live entertainment, mobile lighting and support from Red Bull. Puerto Rico motocross fans were in for a treat.

Night one began with two days of rain soaking the track and making for what seemed would be an unpleasant night. Luckily, the red clay and mix of dirt soaked up the water and made for an amazing track right after the first practice. Travis Pastrana, Kyle Partridge, Ryan Smith and a slew of east coast riders made the trip across the water to race not only on foreign grounds, but foreign borrowed bikes as well. The local Puerto Rican pros didn’t have too much experience on this type of track, but were excited and ready for the challenge.

It was a unique and surreal setting for a supercross, but on a much smaller track reminiscent of arena cross. As I sat there with my brother David, we kept having an eerie feeling that either King Kong or a velociraptor would soon emerge from the jungle and disappear with a rider. It could best be described as a setting from the TV show LOST.

With three qualifiers, including the mini class on a very tight track, the racing stayed fairly close. At the end of the night, it was Pastrana who took the victory unchallenged, with Partridge and Smith joining him on the podium.

Night two was a completely different scene. The same race format took place with Pastrana taking the qualifier. This time a crowd of almost four times the size graced the hillsides, crowded the fences and boy did they get a show. Travis’ Nitro Circus team showed up in full force. The whole MTV crew followed the crazy train that is the Nitro Circus. After “Street Bike” Tommy jumped into the 50 class and got his butt kicked, a bunch of old cars came out, ready for a demolition derby on an arenacross track. Jolene, Jim DeChamp, and Tommy put on their helmets and started smashing and jumping into each other. After stacking all three cars on top of each other over the final jump before the finish, tractors cleared the course in time for the final event of the night.

In the main event, Travis and Ryan Smith pulled away from the rest of the pack and Partridge tried to play catch up. Ryan Smith from Axton, VA held an early lead and had to hold Travis as long as he could. It seemed like Travis was possibly toying with him to entertain the crowd, but as he started to make his move Ryan continued to fire back. Travis finally took him high in a 180 turn and it seemed it would be over, but one whoop section and a triple jump later, Ryan Smith came right back with a clean pass and held the lead for the remaining two laps. Unquestionably the biggest win of his career, Ryan was ear-to-ear smiles, and as always Travis sang praises to what a great rider and competitor Ryan was. Travis then headed straight to the autograph table and signed posters for every single person in Puerto Rico.

The Travis Pastrana MX Challenge was an amazing event and a great experience. Look for the Nitro Circus on MTV to catch a glimpse of the madness, which will be seen in the final episodes of the season.

Can’t have a pin-up gallery without an accompanying video, right? Here’s another look at Ashley, TWMX’s April 2009 poster girl.

Two years ago, at the Bercy Supercross in Paris, a little known French rider showed the visiting Americans a wheel or two on his way to some excellent finishes.  In 2008, when Ben Townley got injured before the Supercross season, Red Bull/Honda called in that same French racer, Benjamin Coisy, to replace Townley for the East Lites Supercross series.  Coisy (pronounced “kwa-see”) again had some good finishes, placing as high as fourth.  This year, Coisy is on the Moto Concepts team in the Supercross class and just had his best finish of the season at Indianapolis.

How was Indianapolis for you?

It was good for me.  My first race was Anaheim I where I finished eighth, and after that I was making the main events but not finishing very well.  My best finish after A1 was a 12th in San Francisco.  Now we have a good program with my bike and a different setup than the beginning of the year, so now my bike is so much better.

Break down the race for us.

Yesterday I had a good start, a good heat race and placed fourth, so that gave me a good place on the gate for the main event.  I think I started in eighth or tenth in the main event and after a couple of laps I was feeling good and I was following (Ryan) Villpoto and (Josh) Grant.  After 15 laps I was a little tired, but the last five laps were okay.  I am very happy with sixth place.

The track was fairly technical and tight.  I know you have done a lot of Supercross racing in Europe and the tracks tend to be much tighter than here in the US.  Do you think that played into your favor?

Yes, the track yesterday was very technical, although it was different than Europe.  It was my best finish in the Supercross class so far.  For the rest of the season I want to be in the top ten.

After the Supercross season ended last year, you disappeared from American racing.  Did you return to France?

I did go back to France.  I did not have a bike for the outdoors last year so I went back to France to ride in the European Supercross Championships.  This year I will ride the AMA Motocross series, and I am very happy because it is important to race an entire season.

How would you rate yourself as an outdoor rider?

I never raced the World GPs in Europe, except for one time in 2004 in the 125 class.  I seem to do well in Supercross, so that is what I have raced more, but I would not say I have a preference for either.

Note:  Since Ben is not fluent in English, this interview was conducted with the help of Ben’s girlfriend, and edited for readability.

To all Sponsors, Riders and families of,

As many of you may have heard Perris Raceway is in dire need of your support.

The track itself is not in jeopardy, however the hours that you can ride are!

Due to a permit issue, There is a chance we could lose the right to ride or race after dusk.

Perris Raceway track has been in operation for more than 50 years; 41 of them have had night time racing and riding! Many of you are generations of riders who have been coming here for a safe, family friendly atmosphere. If they take away the night time racing and riding it will affect the track and its riders for  years to come.

The City is trying to work with us, but the council members do want to hear all sides.

The following are the two city hall meetings. If you can attend, please do!

March 4th (Planning Commision Meeting) and March 10th (City Council Meeting).

Meetings start at 6pm

City of Perris
101 N. D Street
Perris, CA92570
Phone: (951) 943-6100

Kids come in your gear, come with your friends and family. Whether you ride or not, Please Just COME!

Thank you for your support!

Perris Raceway

Ashley is gracing one side of the poster in the April 2009 issue of TransWorld Motocross. While you wait for that new mag to show up in the mail, take a look at these…

And for you guys who need a bit larger image, here are a few 1900wide wallpapers courtesy of LocoMX.com

proudly brought to you by…

Thursday March 26, 2009 Brotherhood Industries will be hosting a fundraiser for Leighton Lillie at the Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting facility in Santa Clarita, CA.  All of proceeds from the night’s races will go towards Lillies recovery efforts. The Monster/Kawasaki/Babbitt’s team rider broke his T-6 and T-7 vertebra at the Tulsa, OK Arenacross on Feb 7, 2009.  As of now Lillie has no feeling from his waist down and faces a long, hard and costly recovery process.  Factory Effex and Brotherhood Industries will be donating some free swag to the top lap times of the evening.  Anyone willing to Co-Sponsor or donate products to the event please contact Brotherhood Industries.

Brotherhood Industries
(661) 373-3446
dubberke137@aol.com.

Racer’s Edge
26455 Ruether Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Do you think all of the sports top riders take private jets to the races?  Think again.  We caught up with Canidae/Motosport/Kawasaki’s Branden Jesseman on a Southwest Airlines connecting flight from Indianapolis back to California.  The Pennsylvania native finished fourth place in the East Regional Supercross Lites class at Luca Oils Stadium and now also sits in fourth place in the series standings.

Congratulations on your finish last night.  It was your best so far this year.

Yeah, it wasn’t too bad.  I’ll probably do better before the season is over.

So you have higher expectations for yourself?

Yeah, much higher.  I’ve been working really hard and the team is good and I just want to get up on the box.

How has the team been so far?  You are essentially on Pro Circuit machinery but it is a different effort than the Monster Energy team.

So far it’s been pretty good.  The team works really hard and they are doing everything they can.  Now I’m trying to do the same.  I think they expect me to be a top five guy and were happy with how I did the last two races, but I really want to be on the box each weekend.  I want to keep working and build up some more speed, but I definitely need to get a better start.

Have starts been an issue for you recently?

The last couple of races this year have just been bad starts.  In Supercross, 15 laps ends up feeling like a ten minute main event, and it just goes by too quick.

It probably didn’t help that they had to restart the race after that first turn craziness.

I don’t know what the deal was with that.  All of the good rider went down in the first turn; I barely got through, but I was kind of pissed that they red-flagged that.  I’m not sure where I came out after the holeshot.  I didn’t fall down but I was off my bike and had to run to jump back on.  I wish they hadn’t restarted it.

Actually, I got a concussion in Las Vegas.  I kept trying to ride with it but wasn’t able to.  I went to see a doctor and he had me stay off the bike for about six or eight months so I didn’t start riding again until I came back in November to ride for Bill Keefe.  I rode for three days and then broke my wrist (laughs).  I rode a couple weeks before the first race and I wasn’t quite ready for it.  I just needed some more time.  Now I want to keep getting better every weekend and get on the box.  That’s the goal.

Did you see the same specialist as Broc Hepler, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center?

Yeah, I had to go there and take a computer test.  It was a pain in the butt; I had to take it like ten times (laughs).  I don’t think anyone could ace that test.

Does it test reaction times?

It actually tests things with the memory.  It’s hard to explain the test but it was difficult.

You don’t remember it?

(laughs)

What about the rest of the season; what is your deal for outdoors?

Right now I have a Supercross only deal with the team, so I don’t know…we’ll see.  They are planning on doing the outdoor series, it’s just my deal that is Supercross only.  I want to get on a 450.  They already have a 450 program with Tommy Hahn so we’ll see how things go.

MINNEAPOLIS, (Mar. 2, 2009) – Shock Doctor, Inc <http://www.shockdoctor.com/> ., the global brand leader for superior protective products throughout the sports industry, today announces a partnership with KTM Motorsports <http://www.ktm.com/>  as the new title sponsor of the KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Teams. The championship team will now be called the Shock Doctor/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Team, and its accomplished racers will be outfitted with Shock Doctor’s technologically-advanced motorsports product line <http://www.shockdoctor.com/sport/powersports.aspx> . The winning partnership marks the commitment of both companies to continuing performance and safety advancements in off-road racing. Shock Doctor will utilize these premier athletes for product development, in an effort to bring top-of-the-line core protection and impact products to racers at all levels of competition.
“Working with the elite-level KTM racers will help us develop new, cutting-edge and patented gear for both competitive and weekend motorsports riders,” said Bill Best, vice president of product development for Shock Doctor, Inc. “The input of KTM’s exceptional racers is a valuable asset, as we bring Shock Doctor’s technologies to this market, alongside an off-road racing team with the proven ability to win championships.”
“KTM is excited to have Shock Doctor on board as the new title sponsor, as their high-quality products go hand-in-hand with the superior line of KTM motorcycles,” commented Kurt Nicoll, KTM director of racing. “Shock Doctor’s products have been successful in many sports already, and we are happy to work with them as they begin to enter the off-road motorsports market.”
Throughout competition, the racers will be utilizing Shock Doctor’s Gravity 2 action sport mouthguard <http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/power-gravity-2-mouthguard.aspx> . Designed specifically for helmeted sports, this mouthguard allows riders to speak and breathe easier with the use of custom mold on lower teeth. They will also use Shock Doctor’s Moto Short Lite compression short <http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/moto-short-lite.aspx> , MotoX Performance Insole <http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/moto-insole.aspx>  and Eject Helmet Removal System <http://www.shockdoctor.com/news/1862/new-to-market-an-ejection-system-for-helmets.aspx> , which provides emergency neck and spine protection after a motorsport crash. The PowerDryä Helmet Dryer, and PowerDry Motosport Gear and Helmet Bags <http://www.shockdoctor.com/sport/powersports/sport-bags.aspx> , will also be used by the team.
“We are thrilled to enter the off-road market as the title sponsor of such a winning and highly-respected racing team,” said Andy Donahue, powersports sales manager for Shock Doctor. “We feel that through the partnership with this successful team, Shock Doctor is uniquely positioned to offer our outstanding protective gear to the world of off-road racing.”
In addition to becoming the new title sponsor and providing products for team use, Shock Doctor will further the relationship with the introduction of KTM-specific Shock Doctor products. The line will be offered in the KTM PowerWear catalog beginning in 2010.
The GNCC race on Tuesday March 3, 2009 will be the first official race for the Shock Doctor/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Team. The Shock Doctor/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Team riders are currently leading the World Off Road Championship Series, AMA National Hare & Hound Series and National Enduro Series, taking first place in the WORCS race and national Enduro rounds. They are prepared to do the same with the start of the GNCC Series this weekend.
About KTM

KTM, founded in 1953, is the second largest European motorcycle manufacturer specializing in “Ready to Race” on and off road motorcycles and ATVs. Proven successes in worldwide competition are embodied into the design and function of each KTM race machine. KTM has built a reputation for high-quality premium race ready machines suitable for street and off road race competition and recreation.  With more than 160 World Championships and counting, the technology, design and performance of KTM continues to race past the competition time and again.

About Shock Doctor, Inc.

Shock Doctor is a global brand leader that uses innovative technology and design to provide superior protection and enhanced performance for people who are passionate about their sports. In addition to a full line of patented, technologically-advanced mouthguards, Shock Doctor offers a comprehensive line of innovative performance protection products, including core protective gear for hockey, football, baseball, soccer, martial arts and boxing; lacrosse and motorsports equipment; and a full line of Power Dry™ Gear Bag Systems. Shock Doctor products are used by athletes at all levels of competition. www.shockdoctor.com <http://www.shockdoctor.com/> .

MX Sports and Alli Partnership Presents Groundbreaking Exposure

MORGANTOWN, W.V. (March 2, 2009) – The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, one of the nation’s fastest growing and most popular racing series will be spotlighted in six live broadcasts on NBC and SPEED as part of an innovative, multi-year partnership between MX Sports and Alli (The Alliance of Action Sports). The six shows will feature the premier 450 Class and means half of the 12-race season will be shown live; a groundbreaking achievement for the sport.

The NBC shows mark the first time in history that outdoor motocross racing will be shown on live network television while the SPEED broadcasts denote the first live broadcasts for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship on the cable channel.

“This television package with NBC and SPEED is the first step in a series of opportunities to bring the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship into the mainstream,” said MX Sports President Davey Coombs. “For the first time in the history of the sport, fans can watch their favorite riders on live network television as well as on cable. None of this would be possible without the trust and confidence AMA Pro Racing has in MX Sports and our partners. Motorcycle racing in America has been in a transition period over the past year and this is a good sign of things to come.”

Thanks to the support of AMA Pro Racing, MX Sports is taking advantage of its opportunity to raise the sport of American Motocross to the next level. The AMA sanctioning body has undergone significant changes and their choice to back MX Sports and all its initiatives has proven to be invaluable.

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is the premier motocross racing series in the world. Established in 1972, the series enters its 37th year of competition and features the world’s best motocross racers like James Stewart, Kevin Windham, Mike Alessi, Timmy Ferry, Andrew Short and Ryan Villopoto. Thousands of fans camp out at each of the 12 national events that run from Memorial Day weekend, thru the summer, and concluding on Labor Day weekend. A staple of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is its family atmosphere. A foundation of the sport, families make up the heart of the motocross fan base.

The first of the six live broadcasts will debut on SPEED at the second round of the season and the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif. on May 30. Just two weeks later, the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will premiere on network television and NBC on Saturday, June 13 with the fourth-round High Point National from Mount Morris, Pa. SPEED returns just one week later for the second annual night race at Thunder Valley in Lakewood, Col. on June 27. A three-week stretch of live broadcasts draws to a close the following weekend with the 4th of July tradition from RedBud in Buchanan, Mich., which will air on NBC on July 4.

Live coverage for the second half of the season begins at round eight when SPEED showcases the action from Washougal MX Park in Washougal, Wash. on July 25. NBC rounds out the live broadcasts with its final show at race 10 from legendary Budds Creek Motocross in Mechanicsville, Md. on August 22.

“This television package, anchored by the NBC broadcasts, will expose an entirely new audience to motocross,” explained Lucas Oil Executive Vice President Bob Patison. “The exposure works towards building a greater interest and hopefully making the sport more visible to its large fan base, benefiting the series and its teams.”

“NBC is excited about broadcasting part of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship this season,” said NBC Sports Executive Vice President Jon Miller. “The team at MX Sports runs first class events and we feel this is a great addition to NBC Sports programming family.”

All the remaining rounds of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship 450 Class will be featured with same-day coverage on SPEED, marking another progressive step in the sport’s exposure. Additionally, the rising stars of the 250 Class will be featured on their own show every Tuesday following each event on SPEED. Times for the live broadcasts on NBC and SPEED will be announced at a later date.

The 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship kicks off on Memorial Day weekend, May 23, from Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.

2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship NBC Sports and SPEED Live Schedule
Saturday, May 30         SPEED    Hangtown Motocross Classic – Sacramento, Calif.
Saturday, June 13        NBC        High Point Raceway – Mt. Morris, Pa.
Saturday, June 27         SPEED    Thunder Valley Motocross – Lakewood, Col.
Saturday, July 4           NBC        RedBud – Buchanan, Mich.
Saturday, July 25         SPEED    Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Wash.
Saturday, August 22     NBC        Budds Creek Motocross – Mechanicsville, Md.

For more information, please contact Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

About MX Sports
MX Sports, LLC, owns, manages and produces the two most prestigious and world-leading motocross championships – the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the Air Nautiques AMA Amateur  National Motocross Championship.

MX Sports is a second generation family owned business that has been in operation for well over 26 years and is an industry leader in the segment of off road/action sports race promotion in the United States.

Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information on MX Sports, please visit www.mxsports.com <http://www.mxsports.com/> .

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand.  The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Free Flow Tour; Alli TV Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, greases, and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, greases, and problem-solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry.

Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte, founded Lucas Oil Products in 1989 after he spent 20 years as a truck driver and owner of a nationwide long-haul trucking fleet. They experienced firsthand the need for better lubricants and fuel treatments to maintain their equipment.

Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.”

Yamaha Previews Daytona

Cypress, Calif. March 2, 2009 – The “March” To the Championships begins in earnest for Yamaha this week when the big-blue transporters filled with bikes, hopes, and dreams descend upon the Crucible of Speed that is Daytona International Speedway.

With 18 Daytona 200 wins to its credit–including an unprecedented, unbeaten string of 13 Daytona 200 victories in a row–the High Banks of Daytona have been good to Yamaha. So good that, among many fans, Daytona is better known as “Yamaha Beach”.

The landscape at Yamaha Beach has dramatically changed since last year, with new racing classes, a different schedule of events, and the Daytona 200 being run for the first time under the lights. And, for Yamaha, much has changed as well–with new riders, new bikes, and a renewed enthusiasm permeating every fiber of the team.

The Road Racers.

For the Yamaha Factory Racing Team, Ben Bostrom, the 2008 AMA Supersport Champion, is back on “the big bike” for this season on the all-new YZF-R1, and he’s joined by seasoned veteran Josh Hayes. It’s an understatement to say that Ben and Josh know their way around the Daytona road course. Both riders will be competing in the brand-new American Superbike class, as well as the equally new Daytona SportBike class. Daytona SportBike is the basis for the Daytona 200 that will be held for the first time in prime time under the lights this Friday night.

For the Graves Motorsports Racing Team, 18-year-old Josh Herrin returns, and he’ll be focused on Daytona SportBike exclusively. Still young, but possessing a level of race craft beyond his years, Josh is a multi-time race winner on the Yamaha YZF-R6. This year, he’s joined by new recruit Tommy Aquino who, at only 16, has already logged a lot of seat time. Together, Herrin and Aquino will be taking Bostrom and Hayes to task in the Daytona 200, with all four riders aboard YZF-R6s for the premier–and premiere–nighttime event. Look for their competition numbers–1, 4, 6, and 8 for Bostrom, Hayes, Herrin, and Aquino, respectively–on the grid and on the High Banks.

The Road Racing Machines.

For the 2009, the all-new, technologically advanced Yamaha YZF-R1 will debut at Daytona. Infused with MotoGP® technology, this year, the R1 is the first-ever production-class motorcycle with cross plane crankshaft technology pioneered in the MotoGP title-winning YZR-M1.

Light, powerful, and bristling with championship-winning development, the YZF-R6 is the most advanced production 600cc motorcycle Yamaha–or anyone else–has ever built.

Together, the R1 and R6 represent a stable of race bikes that, when prepped by the expert crews at Yamaha Factory Racing and Graves Motorsports, will put up a challenge unmatched by any other manufacturer competing in organized U.S. road racing.

The Supercrossers.

Supercross at Daytona is a special event, with the course built front and center inside the famed tri-oval. This year, the Daytona Supercross will be held on Saturday night, with Factory Yamaha riders Broc Hepler and Josh Hill, L&M Racing’s and current points co-leader James Stewart and his teammate Kyle Chisholm, Joe Gibbs’ Racing’s Josh Grant and Cody Cooper, as well as Star Racing’s Factory Lites riders Matt Lemoine and Darryn Durham set to compete.

The Don’t-Miss Events.

Off the track, Big Blue will storm Daytona Beach with displays and demos of Yamaha sport bikes and street bikes, including the all-new R1; and Star cruisers, including the all-powerful VMAX. It’s your chance to get up-close and personal with the 2009 models.

To take a demo ride on the R1, VMAX, or any of the other 2009 Yamahas available, you need a valid motorcycle license (permits are not allowed), a DOT-approved helmet, long pants, enclosed shoes, a shirt, and eye protection.

An additional Yamaha Beach activity will include an include an autograph session with the road racing team this Friday from 10 to 11 AM at the Yamaha display at the track.

Nike 6.0 welcomes James Stewart to the team.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Stroupe Soars to Lites Class Victory
INDIANAPOLIS (February 28, 2009) – Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., won his first Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race of the 2009 season at the inaugural race inside Lucas Oil Stadium before 61,538 fans, tying the AMA Supercross class points race. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., won the first Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race of his 2009 season.

Reed opened the AMA Supercross class main event with the holeshot, leading his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki teammate Mike Alessi, of Apple Valley, Calif., and San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Tampa, Fla., through turn one. The next 20 laps would be the Reed/Stewart show.

On lap two Stewart crashed while chasing Reed and remounted to stage an impressive comeback. Stewart, who had seven consecutive race wins coming into tonight’s race, passed Reed on lap 13. While Reed trailed Stewart’s back wheel for the next three laps, Stewart crashed for the second time and allowed Reed enough of a gap to ride off to victory. This marks Reed’s first win of the 2009 season, and the AMA Supercross class points race between Reed and Stewart is now tied heading into next weekend’s race in Daytona. Stewart finished second and Alessi finished third with his first ever podium spot.

“I knew that if I had a good start I could give myself a chance,” said Reed. “James (Stewart) has been riding awesome, and I want to take that next step. James made a mistake and I snuck around to get the win. This Indianapolis crowd made me feel like I was in front of my hometown crowd back in Australia because they were so loud and supportive.”

“I didn’t think the race would be that good,” said Stewart. “It was a good race, and I made a few mistakes.  Chad deserves to win; he rode great tonight. I felt good tonight and this is the right way to break in Lucas Oil Stadium.”

After a re-start in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., picked up the holeshot with his teammate Stroupe following in a close second. On the second lap Stroupe made an aggressive pass on Pourcel to move into the lead. Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine, of Collinsville, Texas, spent the early stages of the race in third place but was passed by Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi, of Murrieta, Calif. On lap nine.

Stroupe earned the victory, which was the second of his career, Pourcel finished second and Izzi third.

“It was a great day for me,” said Stroupe. “The first turn was pretty rough for us, but I was glad to get through there clean. This is a huge crowd and this is an awesome new venue.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, Indianapolis
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif.,  Suzuki
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif.,  Yamaha
Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla.,  Honda
Ben Coisy, Murrieta, Calif.,  Honda
Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla.,  Honda
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga.,  Suzuki
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla.,  Kawasaki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha,  199
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki,  199
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda, 150
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif.,  Yamaha, 138
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki, 138
Ivan  Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 132
Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla.,  Honda, 116
Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif.,  Suzuki, 113
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda, 112
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki, 98

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Indianapolis
Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C.,  Kawasaki
Christophe Pourcel,  Corona, Calif.,  Kawasaki
Nico Izzi,  Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Branden Jesseman, New Brighton,  Pa., Kawasaki
Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga.,  Suzuki
Levi Kilbarger, Logan, Ohio,  Honda
Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif.,  Honda
Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas,  Yamaha
Shane Sewell, Westville, Ind.,  Yamaha
Kyle Keylon, Brooksville, Fla.,  Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1.       Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 72
2.       Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 62
3.       Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 57
4.       Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 43
5.       Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 36
6.       Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 35
7.       Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 35
8.       Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 34
9.       Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha, 29
10.   Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda, 26

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com <http://www.supercrossonline.com/> . For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com

Saturday evening’s event saw some great racing, some crashes big and small, and two riders claiming victory for the first time this season.  Those wins seem long over due for both Lites winner, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe and Supercross winner Rockstar/Makita/ Suzuki’s and Chad Reed.  During the main events, most of the 61,538 rabid Supercross fans stood reacting to every bobble and pass attempt, and were some of the more enthusiastic we have seen this year; rightfully so.  Reed was finally able to snatch a win away from San Manuel/L&M/Yamaha’s James Stewart, halting Stewart’s win streak at seven and tying the series rivals in the points standings at 199 a piece.  Check out what went on behind the scenes below and be sure to continue checking back for more shots from the Indianapolis Supercross.

Words by Michael Antonovich

Photos by Bayo Olukotun

With the Monster Energy/FIM/AMA Supercross Series’ annual stop in Indianapolis, tonight was set to be great racing in the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium. In a place built for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, walking inside you soon see the racing influence is very evident. Two Top Fuel dragsters, an exploded engine diagram, and various other race cars make you forget this is Peyton Manning’s winter home. This week’s Mike Larocco-designed track was one of the most technical of the season, and it required a smooth flow every lap to maintain position. With a short start straightaway into a jump that seems like it was lifted out of MX Vs. ATV Unleashed, multiple rhythm sections, and a few obstacles that are rarely seen such as an off chamber jump, a tight chicane, and a basic yet still very difficult tabletop as the finish, the riders were on their toes all night. The tight confines of the stadium were evident in the layout, but that only made for closer racing in the Lucas Oil Stadium.

Lites Practice

The Lites class was the first to set the pace for the day, and many needed all the track time they could get to find the lines around the floor. After a few get offs and collisions, namely Martin Davalos landing on Jacob Saylor after the dragon back and Darryn Durham pulling off after hitting his nose, getting off the track unscathed  was necessary for getting locked in to a heat race. The top 5 riders all posted sub 52 second lap times, with Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi, Star Racing’s Matt Lemoine, Monster Energy Pro Circuit rider Austin Stroupe, Muscle Milk KTM’s Martin Davalos, and Monster Energy Pro Circuit rider Christophe Pourcel setting the pace for the small bore bikes.

Supercross Practice

It seemed all eyes were on the 450 bikes as they took to the track for practice, and it was for good reason. They proved to be the premiere class, using a few different lines and sheer power to move around the track at a blitzkrieg place. Even still, many of the top riders found in difficult to settle in. Geico Powersports Factory Connection Honda’s Kevin Windham and Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Mike Alessi timed below the top 12 spots, and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto was low in the top 10 until the end of the second practice session. Practice seemed like it was the a sign of things to come in the next few years with three of the top five spots belonging to guys who had been child prodigies. Team Yamaha’s Josh Hill, Factory Honda Red Bull rider Davi Millsaps, and Monster Energy/AM PM/ Troy Racing Jason Lawrence showed they were ones to watch when the gates dropped. Millsaps even had the quick time for a few laps, until San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Yamaha pilot James Stewart knocked him down a peg by just over half a second. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s defending champion Chad Reed clocked in forth quick, and Josh Hill found himself in third when timed qualifying came to a close. At it wouldn’t be a Jason Lawrence day without a bit of on track tomfoolery; he had some contact with Team Yamaha’s Broc Hepler and then did a fist pump ala Jeff Ward at the wall after bobbling in the whoops.  All this built the anticipation for the night’s races, and it surely lived up to it.

Lites Heat 1

Once the gate finally dropped for the first Lites heat, many of the key players suffered mistakes and falls to allow a shake up for the rest of the night. After getting the holeshot, Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM rider Martin Davalos was leading until getting connected with a fast closing Austin Stroupe and his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, with both going down at the nearly vertical wall at the end of the whoops. They would remount and go on to transfer directly to the main, after Stroupe’s impressive charge to fifth and Davalos came back to ninth. Geico Powersports/Honda’s Blake Wharton had a small rookie mistake over the dragon back section that affected numerous riders, including his older brother Tyler and his MDK Motorsports Honda. Blake would only complete two laps of his heat, and Tyler would also fall in the long whoop section a few laps later. Suzuki City rider Matt Goerke would also become a victim of a fall and would only do three laps around the circuit to force himself a spot in to the LCQ. The top five finishers would be Wil Hahn, Darryn Durham, Levi Kilbarger, Philip Nicoletti, and Austin Stroupe.

1.    Wil Hahn
2.    Darryn Durham
3.    Levi Kilbarger
4.    Phil Nicoletti
5.    Austin Stroupe

Lites Heat 2

The second heat for the Lites class started out with Moto Concepts/Honda’s Vince Friese nailing the holeshot and leading the first few laps like last weekend in Atlanta. Friese would lead for multiple laps before dropping to fourth place, after holding off Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki youngster Nico Izzi and forcing him not to triple on the first lap. Izzi would later power by and build an impressive lead to finish the race in five minutes nineteen seconds over Suzuki City rider and England native Steven Clarke. Canidae/Motosport/Kawasaki’s Branden Jesseman was smooth and consistent throughout the race for a third place finish, while Star Racing Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine picked off five riders in three laps to a well earned seventh place. Meanwhile, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider and the current point leader going in to tonight, Christophe Pourcel mounted a charge of his own, crossing the stripe in fourteenth the first time around to fifth by lap two. The final top five would be Izzi, Clarke, Jesseman, Pourcel, and Daniel Blair.

1.    Nico Izzi
2.    Steven Clarke
3.    Branden Jesseman
4.    Christophe Pourcel
5.    Daniel Blair

Lites LCQ

The Lites LCQ was a family reunion for the Wharton brothers, as they would both be fighting for the final two tickets into the Main Event, along with a gate full of hungry riders. But Blake’s rookie year reached a low point, as he didn’t achieve the position he needed; that would go to his older brother Tyler and his MDK Honda. Kyle Gills got the holeshot and win he promised his mechanic and locked himself into the fifteen lap main. Matt Georke would not be so lucky, after a hard earned third place resulted in the Asterisk Gas Card.  Joining him in the stands would be Jason Thomas and Josh Litchle, both of whom had various difficulties in the race.

1.    Kyle Gills
2.    Tyler Wharton