Second practice is in the books, and James Stewart and Ryan Dungey logged the fastest laps of the day in their respective classes. Reed and Villopoto were both just about a second and behind Stewart, while Sipes and Brayton were about a second and a half off of Dungey’s time.

First practice just wrapped up at AT&T Park in San Francisco and there were no surprises as to who was going fast. James Stewart took the fast lap, followed by Chad Reed in the premiere class. Stay tuned for second practice to see who’s going to get good gate picks.

A very nice indoor complex. www.mototownusa.com


Read more

Swap caught up with J-Law yesterday to get his take on his title-defense thus far. Check it out…

Prefer to watch Bubba in full speed? Check it out below…

track is used for countrycross
competitions.track rides on the top of the mountain. village named Zaskov has motocross history. Its home base of europe champion in the class: junior E2/E3, Stefan Svitko.


Read more

You guys asked for the video when we loaded up the photos from Chad’s house this week, so here it is. Rather than the regular music dubbed to riding, though, this one is straight up full speed action. Enjoy!

At Anaheim 2, we came across French rider, Steve Boniface, underneath the Seaspan/ Troy Lee Designs/ Honda rig.  The no.141 now sits in 20th place in the Supercross class standings (although he has only been in half of the main events so far) and he took a few minutes to speak with us about how is unexpected sponsorship came about.

So how is the bike?  I see that you are riding a 2008 CRF450.

The bike is really good.  I’m riding an ’08 model.   At the beginning I was on my own and was going to do the first few races by myself.  I did not feel very comfortable riding the ’09 when I tried it, so it was easier for me to jump back on the ’08, a bike I knew, and knew what it can do, so that is the main reason why I went back to the ’08.

How did you end up back in the States?  I recall this summer you started doing some of the GPs and then I stopped seeing your name after you took over Mike Brown’s ride when he left that series.

So after the first two outdoor Nationals, I already committed to doing the French GP for a French team, so I kept my word to do that and ended up doing pretty good there.  Then I got a ride with the Honda CAS team for the remainder of the season, but after four GPs they were not paying me like they were supposed to, so we stopped the deal.  Since then I have been back in the US and my plan was to do some Supercross at the beginning of the year.  Living in California it’s easy to do the West Coast rounds so my plan was to do that in the 450 class, and then three days before Anaheim 1 I got a phone call from Troy told me he was looking for a rider since (Jimmy) Albertson got injured.  The next day we talked and, it being really close to the first race, I wasn’t ready to jump back onto the 250F.  So I told him that maybe we could do something in the 450 class and he could help me out since he had one spot open.  That’s how we ended up doing this together.

Are you contracted to do the entire series or just the West Coast?

Actually we just have a friendly agreement.  They will help me out in the 450 class and I think it’s good for both of us.  Right now it’s just for the West Coast rounds, so here and the next three, and we’ll se how it goes.  Perhaps I can find something good to finish the series, and go back East with a good team, if not then I do not know what I’m going to do.

Last summer you really surprised a lot of people with some great finishes outdoors, although it should not have been too shocking as you have been a top name for a while.  Are you again going to do the Nationals or do you already have a deal for the World GPs?

I do not have anything going on right now.  Like I said, maybe I will try to do these six Supercrosses on the West Coast; try to find something to finish the season with a good team.  If not that, then I will just start training and getting ready for outdoors like I did last year with some more riding and be more prepared than the other guys.  Hopefully I will find something good with a good team.  I am hoping to do again what I did last year outdoors. I feel like I can be up there again or even better.

Swap and Kinman tagged along with KTM pilots Ryan Sipes, Josh Summey, and Mike Sleeter for some riding in the hills. Southern California saw some rain this past weekend, and we all hoped that the hills of Beaumont got a little moisture as well. And though our rain dance didn’t yield very wet results, the guys still got nasty off of a few jumps…

Ryan Sipes, Josh Summey, and Mike Sleeter took some time away from Supercross to ride the hills of Beaumont, and TWMX was there to capture it…

Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ben Townley injury status

Torrance CA: American Honda announced today that Honda Red Bull Racing rider
Ben Townley’s return to competition will be delayed due to rehabilitation
complications. Honda Red Bull Racing team manager Erik Kehoe stated, “Ben
has been training on his CRF450R for about a month and continues to have
difficulty with his shoulder. He is working with Red Bull’s elite athlete
training staff and will be meeting with several shoulder specialists to
identify the cause of the problem and choose the best course of action to
expedite his recovery. Our goal is to make sure he is 100 percent before he
returns to racing.”

It may be several weeks before Townley can establish a course of action for
treatment. American Honda will provide additional details when they are
available.

Lutes caught up with Michael Byrne this week at Chad Reed’s place to check in on his injury and when we will see the Aussie back on the track…

Elmo put together a gallery of his favorite photos he’s snapped over the last year. Check ‘em out.

The Motocross Country Club


Read more

Before the ‘09 season even got underway, Michael Byrne was thrown violently off his bike, landing on the face of a triple jump and badly breaking his wrist. Since then, the Australian has been forced to watch from the sidelines and wonder how he would have done had he been healthy. Now, after getting cleared from his doctor a few weeks ago, “Byrner” is working back into race shape. While we were down at Chad Reed’s house this week, we caught Byrne in action in only his second time back on a Supercross track. Check back later for a Catching Up With… video of him to get caught up on what he has been up to.

MDK/WARTHOG RACING BREAKTHROUGH IN HOUSTON; THE WARTHOG NATION THRIVES!!

January 28th, 2009

Newbury Park, CA. The 2009 AMA Monster Energy Supercross series headed East to Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on January 24th, 2009.  It was the most successful outing yet for the MDK/Warthog Racing Academy as well as the extended organization of the Warthog Nation. 

Once again, the backbone of the Warthog Nation, Mastercraft’s Heath Voss put in an outstanding race.  He finished a strong 3rd in his Heat race and backed it up with a 12th in the main, making him the first non-factory rider across the line.  He now trails Paul Carpenter for Privateer of the Year honors by 7 points after skipping Phoenix to win ‘The Überman of Dortmund’ title in Germany. 

All seven MDK/Warthog Racing Academy riders easily qualified for the night show.  Manu Rivas led the way in Supercross qualifying followed by Antonio Balbi, Eric Sorby, and Clayton Miller.  In Lites action, both Vince Friese and Jacob Saylor qualified very strongly followed by young Logan Martin. 

The Supercross Heat races saw Manu Rivas qualify for the first time this year. Manu has been nursing a separated shoulder as well as a dislocated finger and needed this momentum builder.   Balbi had an unfortunate crash while in fourth place, putting a significant damper on his evening.  Eric Sorby, after driving day and night from North Carolina to make the race, barely missed qualifying in his heat so it was off to the LCQ for Eric.  In the LCQ, Eric gated well then fought very hard for a qualifying position.  Alas, the endurance sapping road trip had just taken too much energy out of the one they call “Soreballs”, though he put in an epic run in his LCQ that was talked about for days on the Internet!!   Look for Eric to be fighting his way forward in San Francisco, damn the torpedoes!! 

Both Vince Friese and Jacob Saylor qualified easily for the main from their Heat races.  In the main, Vince ran as high as 4th before dropping back to a still stellar 6th place, where he stayed until two laps before the finish.  A crash ruined his night but it was clear to everyone that Vince has a ton of potential. Jacob Saylor really came through; after less than one day on the bike, Jacob continued to find speed all day and night, improving every time he hit the track.  He ran as high as 9th in the main before a bobble left him back in 11th, still the best finish of the day by a Hog.

MotoConcepts Racing (MCRMX) a primary member of the 2009 Warthog Nation, had a very good night.  Cole Siebler and Ben Coisy both made the Supercross main, finishing 14th and 16th respectively on their MDK Speed Equipment Honda race bikes.

Joining the Warthog Nation movement as the series swings East is the Privateers’ Privateer Daniel Blair and his little buddy Jacob Locks. Daniel has been a symbol of the privateer lifestyle for now going on a decade.  He is definitely a soldier to be honored, especially after tearing off a 9th place finish in the Lites main, the best finish of his career.

Needless to say, the Warthog Nation movement is growing rapidly.  Philosophically, the Warthog Nation is really just the embodiment of a fundamental Warthog Racing principle — Warthog Racing has always been about the “big tent” philosophy.  We welcome partnerships with all like minded teams and organizations that want to work together to make the sport of Supercross and Motocross a grand sport for the Privateer racers.  Said Scott Kandel, Warthog Racing’s Chief Altruistic Officer, “Our philosophies have always been about racers helping racers; in today’s economy, this approach is more important than ever.” 

Clean up that desktop with a swap shot from Houston Supercross…

Chad Reed

Ryan Villopoto

Chad Reed

James Stewart

Josh Grant

We got the chance to spend some time with Chad Reed yesterday at his home down in Florida, and to say his set up is nice would be an understatement. On his property there’s an outdoor track, two Supercross tracks, and a full on race shop. Take a look at what a day with Chad is like. Be sure to check back later for more from the defending champ’s pad.

click here

Geico Powersports Honda rider Trey Canard will return to action this weekend at the San Francisco round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series. Canard, who sat out the Anaheim 2 with injuries sustained in a horrific crash the previous weeken in Phoenix, reports that he is rested and ready to go. “I’m back,” said Canard. “Turbo Trey is in for Frisco!”

Today MXSponsor.com announced its 20,000th member contest with over $700 in FREE riding accessories and swag for the lucky member. Since its launch in late 2005, MXSponsor.com established itself as the premiere motocross sponsorship website in the industry serving nearly 200 motocross companies and processing hundreds of thousands of rider sponsorships each year. MXSponsor.com is growing faster than ever with riders getting the best sponsorship deals from the best companies. The 20,000th member mark is approaching fast and you can be eligible for some amazing prizes if you are the lucky one.

The 20,000th member will receive:

- 1 Complete Set of 09 MSR gear
- 1 Set of Pro Taper Bars, grips and Casual wear pack
- 2 Pairs of Scott Goggles
- 1 Set of DeCal Works Pre-printed backgrounds
- 1 SixSixOne 2009 Bag
- 3 Cases of Zenedge Energy Drink
- 2 sets of Twin air filters

The total package is worth over $700

With nearly 200 of the top companies in the sport sponsoring riders across the country, people of all ages, skill levels and abilities are getting sponsored. Even hotels are now participating on MXSponsor.com. Some of the big new deals are coming from Choice Hotels International – the family of hotels including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep In, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites, Suburban, Econolodge, and Rodeway Inn.

The potential for getting sponsored has never been greater or easier says Rich Maychrich, founder of MXSponsor.com who sees these economic times as the perfect time to get sponsored: “We’re seeing a tremendous increase in sponsorship activity primarily because riders are looking to save money through support in way of sponsorships and companies are motivated to invest into the riders of tomorrow.”

How MXSponsor.com Works:
Membership is completely free for you to build your account, upload unlimited photos, video, results and information about who you are and why you should be sponsored. Submit your profile to unlimited companies on the site (again, all for free). Review your responses and your sponsorship deals (still free). If the deals look good to you, you pay a one-time $50 membership that will allow you sign unlimited deals on the site for a full 12 months. If you haven’t checked out mxsponsor.com yet, you are missing an opportunity to get sponsored and save big on your 2009 riding.

The rules to be eligible for member number 20,000:
Only new member signups are eligible (sorry existing members!)
Account information must be legitimate and email address must be confirmed
Duplicate signups will not be counted

For our loyal members who do not qualify for this contest, stay tuned some major contest and exclusive sponsorship offers just for you.

One of the most dreaded parts of bike maintenance–for any of us–is changing a tire. It can cause serious anger and frustration, not to mention the length of time you can spend if you keep pinching the tube. Hell, at times changing a tire can inflict pain as a you can catch your hand on the sprocket of better yet, have a tire iron come up and smack you in the face (believe us, we’ve seen that happen). With this in mind, we decided to help you out with your tire changing woes. We had the opportunity of hanging out with the guys from Perilli tires not too long to do some tire testing, and they were kind enough to walk us through the process of changing a tire in the easiest fashion possible. Hopefully, their vast knowledge on this subject will reduce your stress and frustration of changing a tire.

1 “You’ll want to start by removing the valve stem from your tire. From there you’ll want to loosen up the rim lock. Keep in mind that the easiest way to change a tire is by placing it on a tire stand such as the one we’re using here.

Note: The folks at Pirelli use MRP tire stands, which is shown in the photo below…

2 “You can now begin knocking the tire of the bead using your tire irons. Once you’ve completed one side of the tire, go ahead and flip it over and repeat the same pattern on the opposite side of the tire. Once you’re all the way off the bead, go ahead and start a quarter of a wheel away from the rim lock to get your first bite.”

Note: To make things easier on you, we highly recommend using three tire irons instead of two.

3 “Once you’ve completed all of this, you can now go ahead and remove the tube from the inside of the tire. Once you’ve done that, you can go ahead and put the valve core back in, which is a good idea so that you don’t misplace it. From here, go ahead and continue working your way around the tire until it pops off the rim and you are able to slide it off.”

Note: It is your own personal preference, but you can also remove the tube from the tire after you’ve slide the tire off the rim like you see below.

4 “Now you can grab your new tire and start by pouring some baby powder on the inside of it. The reason we put baby powder on the inside of the tire is that it allows the tube to keep from bonding to the tire. It also reduces the chances of sustaining a pinch flat, and it makes things a little easier to work with as it slides on relatively easier than not using baby powder.”

5 “From here you can now take your tube and fill it up with air–just enough, though, to keep some pressure on the tube. To make things even easier on yourself, we also recommend putting some baby powder on the tube before you begin the installation process.”

6 “Take your new tire and, if you have any available, put some tire paste on one side of the tire and push that side down onto your tire stand. This should allow you to get about ¾ of the tire on. From there, you can start near the rim lock and use your tire irons to slip the rest of the tire on.”

7 “Making sure there is some air in the tube, go ahead and start pushing the tube into the tire with your hands.”

8 “In order to help the process along, it’s a wise idea to have yourself a bead buddy. Using a bead buddy makes the process much easier by allowing you to use one less tire iron and reduces the chances of you pinching your tube. As your working your way around the tire, you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping the tire off the bead, and you’ll want to take anywhere around one to two inch bites around the tire. Once you’ve worked your way around the entire tire, flip it over the make sure that the other side is on all the way.”

9 “Now all that’s left is for you to fill your tire up with air. Once you’ve done that, go ahead and tighten your rim lock and check the tire pressure and adjust to the appropriate pressure. We recommend anywhere between 12 and 13lbs, however, this can fluctuate depending on track conditions.”

On Saturday at Milestone Ranch, TWMX helped host the Laps of Love charity event.  Laps of Love was created Jamie Schubert to help raise money for his son, Tyler’s, racing efforts.  About two years ago, Jamie was found to have terminal cancer, and was told he only had a few months to live.  That was when he vowed to do everything he could to help make his son’s dream of racing professional motocross a reality.  Now, two years later, Jamie is still with us, and Tyler hauls butt on a motorcycle and will soon be competing in this year’s amateur nationals.  TransWorld Motocross heard about Jamie’s fund and desire to help his son to the professional ranks, so we pitched in by donating some gear and autographed items for a silent auction and raffle.  Those who participated were treated to a well-groomed track, some great food, and kickin’ tunes.  Please take a look through the gallery and check out Jamie and Tyler’s fund at www.tylerschubertfund.org

has every thing tracks, some nice sized jumps, and some of the best trails in new jersey. the trails gncc champ mike lafferty trains and rides on. This place is sick. Invite only though, the locals will literly shoot ur a$$


Read more

My friends Travis McClinton, Joey Lancaster, Kevin Norton and I attempt our first ever backflips at the Beelhart Compound in Philomath, Oregon. Film by Cody Hockema; Music by hed (PE).

On Saturday, out at Milestone Ranch, we spotted a Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider making some fast laps around the track.  A slightly bigger rider without any numbers, we realized that this man was not on the original team roster for 2009, but was too fast, and on too nice equipment to be a Pro Circuit mechanic out on a joy ride.  Once he pulled off his helmet though, it was obvious that this rider was none other than 2008 FIM MX2 World Champion, Tyla Rattray.  The South African speedster was there riding with his fellow countryman, Grant Langston, getting accustomed to his new Kawasaki, and told us he is very excited for this coming year.

You may recall a press release that came out a little more than a month ago, reporting Tyla’s release from his Red Bull/KTM contract in Europe, allowing him to pursue his dream of racing in the United States.  As Rattray told us, he is on a two-year contract to race outdoors only for 2009, then the Lites class both indoors and out for 2010.  Although he appeared fast, Tyla looked like he was still getting used to the bike…after all, he has not used rear linkage quite a long time.  You can expect “Styla” to be a front runner once the Nationals start up in a few months.

Get the Flash Player to see this player. This is a private track not too far from Denver, Colorado. It has burly whoops that are easier to hit riding the track in the opposite direction. Also there is a freestyle ramp as part of the track, and long rhythm sections.

Here’s the stuff that went on in the pits and behind the scenes this weekend at Reliant Stadium. If you are having trouble reading the captions, click the link directly above the gallery that says CLICK HERE IF THE GALLERY IS NOT WORKING OR IF YOU WISH TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS, to scroll through the photos, one by one.

The sun may have been hiding at Reliant Stadium on Saturday, but the girls of Supercross were still out in full force.

Pourcel Opens Lites Eastern Regional Championship with Win

HOUSTON, Texas (January 24, 2009) – In his continued climb towards the top of the AMA Supercross standings, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his third straight Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race in front of 48,277 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., retained his AMA Supercross class points lead with a runner-up effort. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his second career AMA Supercross Lites class race to open the Eastern Regional Championship.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., led the AMA Supercross class through turn one, picking up the holeshot award. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Team Yamaha’s Josh Hill, from Yoncalla, of Murrieta, Calif., followed in second and third respectively. Stewart was fourth while Reed found himself mired in eighth.

Stewart quickly made his move, taking over second position before the first lap was completed. From there, the Yamaha rider set his sights on race-leader Villopoto. On lap three, Stewart made his move, but Villopoto battled back. By the completion of the lap Stewart was in the lead for good. Reed made his move into the top three on lap 12, moving all the way up to second. The reigning champion made a run at the lead, but could not overcome the deficit. Villopoto held on to round out the podium in third.

“I felt good all day,” said Stewart. “I knew it was going to come down to the start. I love it here in Texas so I would like to say thanks to all of (the fans). It was all good clean racing tonight, especially with Villopoto. I had a great line over in the whoops and it all just worked out tonight. Every week we get better and my San Manuel Yamaha is working great.”

Despite having to wait yet another week to capture his first win of 2009, Reed still maintained the points lead after another valiant effort. He currently holds a nine point advantage over Stewart.

“That was tough those first few laps,” explained Reed. “I had to be smart and keep it up. It was tough racing tonight. James (Stewart) is riding great and I wish I could get better starts to make it better for the fans. I want to thank my whole team at Rockstar/Makita Suzuki for everything they do. It was a good race for us.”

Pourcel jumped out of the gate to win the holeshot award in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event with Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi, of Murrieta, Calif., and Yamaha Privateer Darryn Durham, of Wildomar, Calif., in tow.

Pourcel, a preseason favorite for the Eastern Regional crown, opened up an early lead, but Izzi and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe, of Lake Elsinore, Calif. weren’t far behind. On lap six, Metcalfe capitalized on an error by Izzi to take over second. While he closed in on Pourcel in the last few laps, he settled for second as the Frenchman led all 15 laps of the main event.

“It was a good race for me,” said Pourcel. “I was able to win in the U.S. a few years ago and I did it again tonight. My team was behind me and helped a lot. I’d like to thank all of them and everyone else who has been there to help me.”

The AMA Supercross class will air on SPEED at 1:00 p.m. EST and the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race will also air on SPEED on 4:00 p.m. EST.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Houston
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda
Josh Grant,  Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
Ivan Tedesco,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
Mike Alessi,  Apple  Valley,  Calif., Suzuki
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 86
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 77
Josh Grant,  Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 77
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda, 71
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki, 68
Ivan  Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 62
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki, 56
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda, 53
Mike Alessi,  Apple  Valley,  Calif., Suzuki, 46
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 42

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Houston
Christophe Pourcel,  Corona, Calif.,  Kawasaki
Brett Metcalfe,  Lake  Elsinore,  Calif., Honda
Nico Izzi,  Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Austin Stroupe,  Lincolnton, N.C.,  Kawasaki
Blake Wharton,  Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
Wil Hahn,  Decatur, Texas, KTM
Martin Davalos,  Cairo, Ga., KTM
Darryn Durham,  Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
Daniel  Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda
Matthew  Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1.       Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 25
2.       Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 22
3.       Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 20
4.       Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 18
5.       Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 16
6.       Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 15
7.       Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 14
8.       Darryn Durham, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha, 13
9.       Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda, 12
10.   Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki, 11

Tonight’s AMA Supercross class race will air on Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST on CBS Sports. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

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 <mailto:dennyhartwig@livenation.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

www.faultlinemc.com. Parts and Apparel for bikes and quads


Read more

The opening round of the 2009 East Coast Lites Regional Championship kicked off at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas this evening, while the premier Supercross class continued its red-hot early season.
Before the gates dropped in Reliant, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed had a three-point advantage over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant. San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, on the other hand, sat 12 points out of first place. Keeping things interesting was Geico Powesports Honda’s Kevin Windham, who finally rekindled his 2008 season last week at Anaheim 2 and found himself back on the podium. As we all know, anything can happen at Supercross; so while the Lites were about to start with a fresh slate, the premier class looked to continue its tight battle for title contention.

LITES QUALIFYING
When the gates dropped for the first heat of 2009 East Coast Lites Series, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel snatched up the holeshot, but Tyler Wharton quickly swooped in for the lead. Geico Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe made short work of both Pourcel and Wharton to take the lead. Pourcel kept close to Metcalfe’s rear wheel, but Metcalfe maintained his lead. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi and Division 7/Star Racing’s Darryn Durham put up a battle of their own for fourth, but Izzi came away with the position. Metcalfe held on for the win with Pourcel nipping at his heels. “I just wanted to come out here and ride as hard as I can.” Brett Metcalfe said later of his heat race win.

In the second heat, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe grabbed the holeshot, but Division 7/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine put serious pressure on the Stroupe. Before a lap was in the books, Lemoine put a pass on Stroupe, but Stroupe quickly passed him back. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos settled into third while Lemoine and Stroupe continued their battled for first. Stroupe took the win with Lemoine in tow, while the Geico Powersports Honda rookie Blake Wharton finished a respectable fourth in his first-ever Supercross heat race. “I would love to win again. I was a bit nervous because I haven’t raced in a while. “ Stroupe said after his heat race.
LCQ Note: Steven Clarke and Hunter Hewitt snatched up the final two spots in the Last Chance Qualifier.

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

me on my huskvarna 125 on a italian track

James Stewart made it three in a row tonight in Houston, and closed within nine points of series points leader Chad Reed. The L&M Racing/San Manuel Yamaha rider started near the front of the pack, but unlike last weekend in Anaheim, he wasted little time taking over the lead.

Ryan Villopoto had a good jump on you at the start of the main, but you wasted little time taking control…

I don’t know if he got the holeshot or not, but he got out front and took off. I was laughing because he took off and started to get things going. I was able to make a pass on him, but he got me back. I was able to square him up in a turn and finally move around him. The good thing, though, is that we’re trying and getting better. We’re not quite there yet, but I gotta thank everybody for all their hard work.

Where were you catching RV?

I was catching him a little bit all over the track. When I passed him in the whoop section, I just flew through there and went on the inside to show him a wheel. It was definitely a good main event.

You gained a few points on Chad [Reed] tonight.

The series is definitely a long one, so I have three wins in four tries, which isn’t too bad. It’s funny how you win three out of four races, but you’re still down by nine points (laughs). I need to keep cranking away, but Chad is definitely making things difficult. I need to do my best to stay on the podium every single weekend.

What do you feel like you need to do in order to take it up a notch?

I need to keep on winning races. I was pretty strong all day, and I made sure to keep stringing together consistent laps in the main event. I need to keep doing my work every weekend. No matter who is leading the points, everybody is trying to beat me, so I need to keep my game tight and stay focused. Hopefully we’ll get improving on the bike and that’ll show.

The track is a little different than most. A lot of riders weren’t too fond of that S section…

Yeah. That start was crazy! There was so much bumping and smacking going on. I hit somebody and then somebody hit me in the next corner (laughs). I got hit in the heat race, too. I think certain parts of the track were decent, but it did get a little one-lined in some spots. You just need to take your time and make things happen.

You’ve been testing a lot, so how different is your bike tonight compared to A1?

Well, I think you guys can see. I didn’t ride like this at Anaheim 1 or at Phoenix for that matter. I’m riding well now, but we need to keep on going. I’m not quite there, but we’re a lot better now than we were at Anaheim 1. We need to keep clicking away. Three wins in a row after what happened at A1, I didn’t think this would happen. Everything is going great so far.

Are you finally going to be able to relax this week and play some golf?

(Laughs) Nah. I still have testing to do. If I can gain all that time just by testing than we still have some work to do. Man, if I win a few more then we’ll go golfing.

Defending Supercross Champion Chad Reed struggled a bit in Houston, but even a horrible opening lap in the main event couldn’t hold him back. Reedy raced through the field and into second place at the finish behind James Stewart.

James Stewart said he didn’t feel too comfortable last weekend, but this weekend you weren’t too comfortable out there…

He said he didn’t feel too comfortable last weekend and he made a lot of mistakes. I guess in that aspect we had similar weekends, but the end result was not the same. For me to get second this weekend and be up on the podium was really good considering how I felt and where I had to come from. Though, I’d take last weekend’s track over this weekend’s track any time. I just didn’t gel with the track all weekend, and I struggled. I need to work on those things because I can’t have weaknesses, and tonight I was weak.

Describe what this track surface was like…it looked nice…

It looks great, but it’s really slick. It is really fine, but that fine dirt covers up the slick spots. You start grabbing a handful and then you end up going sideways. It was tough, but everybody had to ride the same track, so there are no excuses. I had an off week, but I will rebound next weekend.

Walk us through your wild first lap…

The first lap was really scary. I want to see some video, but I feel like I had a decent start and all of a sudden I got pushed wide. I was trying to weave in and out of people. I almost had a head on crash with [Tim] Ferry on the second lap. I passed somebody off the triple, and I turned down really early, and I think he was coming in to pass another person and I eyeballed him. I was like, ‘Woah!’ It scared me a lot. I just missed him and he just missed me, but it ended up working out. I was able to make up lost time on Ryan [Villopoto] and Shorty, and that was all I could do–hope for a podium. I could see Ryan in front of me, but I wasn’t taking too much out of his lead, but I knew I was going to be strong during those last five laps and that was all I was counting on. He ended up throwing it away, so he made it easy on me (laughs).

It looked like Andrew Short held you up a little bit…

I actually caught up to Short and got around him right away. Shorty was just riding really, really well. I think I put one good lap together, and I think he made a mistake that allowed me to jump up on him. As soon as I caught him I made my move on the inside of a turn and got around him. I was never really behind him because he had a good gap on me. I spent about four laps trying to chip away at his gap, but I really wasn’t make up any time. It made me a little nervous because I was in fourth, thinking how much it sucked (laughs).

Are you happy with your finish, considering how far back you were in the early going?

Yeah. After the start I didn’t even know what position I was in, but it was definitely tough back there. I worked hard on my starts this week, but to be honest I don’t think my starts are the problem; it’s where I’m at in the first turn. I need to stay clean and make smart choices in the first turn, because I think that is the key thing to a good start. All of James’ good starts have come from sneaking around on the inside. You just need to be in the right place at the right time.

How was the S-turn section after the start?

I think it was horrible, but that is just my own opinion. I got the holeshot in the heat race and just checked out. Those guys had no chance because I was able to get through there so clean and that’s what I don’t like about it. If you don’t get a good start, you should still be allowed to get through there. I don’t think there was any race tonight where there wasn’t a crash in that section. I don’t think it’s good to have a first turn crash in every single race of the night.

HOUSTON, Texas (January 24, 2009) – San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart is in the midst of a three-week run atop of the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, practice charts. Stewart, who also won last week at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, posted a 48.960 to lead the way in the AMA Supercross class. In AMA Supercross Lites, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe set the tone with a 51.663 in the opening round of the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional championship.

James Stewart posted the fastest lap time in the AMA Supercross class for the third week in a row. He is also chasing his third consecutive win.

Austin Stroupe kicked off the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional season with the top practice time of the day.

Will new points leader Chad Reed pick up his first victory of 2009?

AMA Supercross Class Best Lap Times

1. James Stewart: 48.960
2. Chad Reed: 49.447
3. Ryan Villopoto: 50.107
4. Ivan Tedesco: 50.653
5. Andrew Short: 50.672
6. Tim Ferry: 50.685
7. Josh Grant: 50.762
8. Kevin Windham: 51.158
9. Mike Alessi: 51.389
10. Davi Millsaps: 51.553

AMA Supercross Lites Class Best Lap Times

1. Austin Stroupe: 51.663
2. Christophe Pourcel: 51.701
3. Nico Izzi: 51.920
4. Matt Lemoine: 51.926
5. Martin Davalos: 52.142
6. Brett Metcalfe: 52.182
7. Wil Hahn: 52.501
8. Steven Clarke: 52.517
9. Blake Wharton: 52.839
10. Darryn Durham: 53.086

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.

Read more

Practice two is now in the books, and Austin Stroupe and James Stewart remain the fastest riders in the SX Lites and Supercross classes, respectively.

The Reliant Stadium track is dubbed “the first normal SX track” of the year by several riders. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe and L&M Racing/San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart set the fastest lap times in their respective classes.

Sixth in the Supercross Championship Series point standings is not where Team Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry wants to be. We caught up with Red Dog in Houston before practice, and this is what he had to say…

You are on the front page of the Houston Chronicle. Are you doing a big vet whip?

(Laughs) I was basically showing the rookie how to whip it.

You finished eighth last weekend, so where are you in the overall point standings?

I am sitting in seventh right now, and I am about 10 or 11 points out of third place right now. I think that’s where I am, but don’t quote me on that. I’m not too far out as far as the points are concerned, but last weekend was actually the best I’ve ridden all year long. Unfortunately, I fell in the main event, but I think I could’ve got Ivan [Tedesco] with the possibility of [Andrew] Short. The class is definitely a lot tougher now, but it’s really good.

There were a lot of comments about the track layout last week. What are your thoughts on it?

(Laughs) It really didn’t make a lot of sense. It made for good racing, but I don’t know if that’s what they were going for or not. I wasn’t too pumped on it, but I don’t think a lot of people were too happy with the layout. It was really one-lined and didn’t have any flow. It was rough! It felt like we were riding an outdoor track (laughs).

Have you had a chance to check out the Houston track yet?

Yeah. We actually got here on Wednesday and rode the track on Thursday for Press Day. I think we’ll finally see our first normal Supercross track this weekend, or what is considered normal. The whoop section is a little short, but other than that we’ll have two triples (laughs). We have a decent finish line jump instead of that freestyle jump we had last weekend, too (laughs).

Have you changed anything in your program to help you get back to where you were?

Not really. I think it’s a matter of circumstances, and I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything. From James [Stewart] back to me, we were all within the same second. My times are still there, so we’re just working on the start. I got banged around in the first turn and lost some spokes in my front wheel last weekend…

Did you know you were lacking spokes in the main event?

No. I never did realize it until they told me after the race. But the first turn was half as wide as it normally is, so I was just bouncing off guys, trying to stay up on two wheels. The start straight this weekend is a little short and tight, but it’s slow, which is good.

After finding out that your spokes were missing, did that make you think that your front wheel could’ve gone at any time?

(Laughs) Maybe a little bit, yeah. But our bikes are pretty tough these days. Bolts and side panels can come off and we’ll still be able to finish a race. It’s kind of like an airplane; you can land them with one engine or something, right?

What’s the goal for tonight?

My personal goal is to make up a few points on some guys. I’m not happy about being seventh in points, and I really feel like my speed is close with Ryan’s [Villopoto], but James and Chad [Reed] are going really fast right now. I think I should be inside the top five, but I really want to get back onto the podium. That’s not out of the question. I know I can do that without a problem, but I just need to get the start. I was fifth last year and third the year before, so Houston has been kind to me.

We spent a couple minutes with Pro Circuit’s Mitch Payton at Reliant Stadium to get his take on his new riders, the new 94db sound limit and 250cc two-strokes in the 250F class at the Nationals.

The west couldn’t have turned out much better for you.

No. The west has been really good. Both guys have done, what I think to be, a great job thus far. Jake [Weimer] is riding really well and Ryan [Morais] has gotten faster every single weekend. I’m really happy with both of them.

Somebody like Morais, who has shown a ton of potential in the past, joins your team and starts producing the results. It seems like that happens often when riders join your team.

I think we’ve all seen him in the past have some really good races, and I think he knew this was an opportunity where he had to step up if he was going to do it. I believe he is putting everything he has into this season, and I think it’s proving that if you put a lot of effort into anything you can succeed. It’s nice to see him do it.

Talk a little bit about your East Coast Lites team and what you expect from them.

I think both of these guys are going to be winners. Austin [Stroupe] won this race last year, and he didn’t finish up the outdoor season because he was hurt, but I believe he is more fit and stronger than he was last year. He certainly has 15 hard laps in him at the test track, so I expect a lot from him. Christophe [Pourcel] has awesome speed, so I don’t see a reason why they both can’t be on the box here and hopefully at every round.

Both Stroupe and Pourcel got bit by the same jump at the test track during the off-season and both had collarbone injuries, right?

Yep. They broke their collarbone on the same jump about a week a part from each other. It was a bad jump, and we should’ve removed the jump sooner.

How has the new sound restriction been? Was it easy to meet or has it been a struggle?

It’s always easy to meet it by choking the bike down. Once you meet it, though, the hard part is trying to recover from the performance that you lost. So that took us a little time to get back to where we were, but we had a little bit of a head start because we went to the Motocross of Nations last year and that was the same noise level over there. We’ve been working on it since July or August of last year. I think we have everything almost as good as last year’s performance.

The Pro Circuit pipe we have on our KX250F test bike is amazing. It’s actually quieter than the stock pipe.

This year was kind of odd because I was these pipes are built in a way that doesn’t allow the public to alter pipe in any way. So since we had to sell it that way, we wanted to make sure it was at 94db. When we were testing on a Honda CRF450R, it was actually a little louder than on ours. I was worried people weren’t going to like it, but when test riders rode it they said they liked it because it was quieter and had more power than the stock pipe.

Comparing last year’s race bike to this year’s race bike, are you even with performance?

I think we’re above last year’s bike. A lot of that is because we have a new bike this year. They changed a lot of things this year. They gave the bike a new head, which was a good starting point us. The bike also has more bottom and mid than last year’s bike.

Changing subjects a little bit, we sat down with the NPG last week. What are your thoughts on allowing a 250 two-stroke in the Lites class?

I don’t think it’s a good idea from the standpoint that there is already a rule in place that allows you to ride a 250 two-stroke. It’s not like anybody is banning it. You can ride it in the 450 class. So if it’s due to an expense, you can race that bike. There is already this rule in place, so I don’t think it belongs in the old 125 class. It was never intended for that. The second part of that that I do not agree with is that almost all the manufacturers decided to stop making the 250 two-stroke, so why should they spend millions of dollars to produce a bike that many wont buy. It’s done.

As far as Pro Circuit is concerned, how much of your business is still two-stroke?

I’d say that our two-stroke sales have probably fallen off by 60 percent in the last few years. I think that’s mainly because nobody is competing on them and three brands don’t even sell them anymore. They’re still selling some of them in Europe, which we still sell some product over there. The only two-stroke stuff that we do really well on, though, is mini bikes. A majority of all mini bikes are two-strokes, so that’s good expect for Honda. Even Honda doesn’t make an 80 anymore. They discontinued that and instead have the 150. So, I think for them to make a switch back two or three months before the outdoors is a bad idea because the manufacturers have already gone down that road and they’re not going to turn around.

We sat down with Division 7/Star Racing’s Darryn Durham to see how he’s feeling about his Supercross debut tonight at Reliant Stadium. After a highly decorated career as an amateur, Durham enters the Eastern Region Supercross Championship Series opener with a banged-up shoulder, but is hoping to finish inside the top five.

How are you feeling about tonight’s East Coast Lites opener?

I’m excited to go out there and see how this whole thing works and have some fun.

This is your debut on the professional AMA circuit, correct?

It certainly is.

Has it been hard sitting at home, watching the first three rounds in California and Phoenix?

Yeah. It definitely gives you that itch to go riding and racing, but I’m ready to get going (laughs).

Do you have any idea where you stand against the rest of the competition?

I’ve had a chance to ride with a ton of different people, and I feel like my speed is really good. I just need to get a good start and see what happens from there.

I hear you’re a little banged up coming into today?

Yeah. I separated my shoulder two days ago, so I haven’t even ridden since then. I am just going to go out there and see how it goes.

Are you going to get taped up?

Oh yeah. I’m going to get taped up and hold of for dear life (laughs).

How did you hurt your shoulder?

I was out riding in the rain and washed the front end in a corner and just plowed my shoulder into the ground.

What’s been the hardest thing for you to adapt to on a Supercross track?

I think the whoops on the test track were the hardest because they were really hard packed and you would get a lot of wheel spin. There are a lot of things that could’ve gone wrong, but I’ve got it all figured out now.

Call it out right now, where are you finishing tonight?

If my shoulder isn’t hurting too much I can definitely finish inside the top five. 

Swap took a quick tour of the pits at Reliant Stadium to give you a quick peek at some of the top machines in tonight’s Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Championship Series opener at Reliant Stadium. Enjoy!

Levi Levallee Double Backflips Snow Mobile.

Last week, the TransWorld crew met up with Pirelli tires at LA County Raceway for venture into tire testing. As much as we were out there experiencing firsthand what it is like to be a race team testing tires for competition, Pirelli was also doing research of their own. They have been on a tour of sorts through Southern California to get feedback from the guys who consider SoCal their backyard. Other publications were recruited on this tour in various locales; but for us, LACR played host to our endeavor.

We tested two sets of tires in the Scorpion MX family, including the Scorpion Mid Soft and the Scorpion Extra. Both tire compounds come in a full range of sizing, including minis.

Scorpion MX Mid Soft

This is Pirelli’s pure motocross tire. Built for high performance in medium to soft terrain.

80/100-21 $90.95

90/100-21 $92.95

100/90-19 $103.95

110/90-19 $108.95

120/80-19 $113.95

Scorpion MX EXTRA

The Scorpion EXTRA is designed for high durability and value. Basically, the EXTRA is an all-around tire; it isn’t necessarily a race tire. It’s quite similar to the Scorpion Mid Hard, but with a durable single-compound construction.

80/100-21 $86.95

110/100-18 $90.95

120/100-18 $95.95

100/90-19 $98.95

110/90-19 $103.95

120/90-19 $108.95

Continued on page 2…

Orange County, CA - January 2009
Two Brothers Racing is proud to announce it’s sponsorship of Team Suzuki City for the 2009 Supercross season. The team will be running Two Brothers all new custom shop built exhaust systems. Supercross veteran Matt Goerke and British newcomer Steven Clarke’s race bikes will be outfitted with TBR’s filament wound carbon fiber M-7 mufflers which feature one of the many custom color combinations available through TBR’s custom shop. The Two Brothers complete exhaust system will provide the team with the competitive edge needed to contend for the East Coast Lites Supercross Championship.

“We are extremely pleased with the level of support that Two Brothers has given us. The extensive R&D they have done with us has resulted in an incredible performing system for our bikes. We were really concerned about power loss with the new 94db limit this year, but they have managed to keep that from being an issue,” said Team Suzuki City Team Manager Michael Nasakaitis. He also added, “The guys have been testing the new systems and are pumped, they work great and look awesome! It’s definitely the coolest looking exhaust I have ever seen!”

Nsane Motors
Ottumwa Iowa
641-682-8950
Motorcycle, atv parts accessories and repair


Read more

Nsane Motors
Ottumwa Iowa
641-682-8950


Read more

Finke Desert race, First weekend of June every year 400-500 Riders .. Head South south East for 230km on day 1, day 2 is return leg. Riders ride down to Finke and back for title of king of the desert.


Read more

click here

Murrieta, CA – Jagermeister/MDK/KTM rider Travis Preston sustained an injury to his hand during his heat race at Anaheim II and will not race the Houston Supercross this weekend.
The doctor has estimated an approximate 2-3 week recovery period before Preston can return to the Supercross Series.

“Wait? How much oil do I need?’ That’s a frequent question we all ask ourselves when we’re changing our engine oil. Typically, changing our oil is something we take care of every three to six rides (hopefully), but often forget how much is necessary when we actually put forth our oil changing endeavors. Thankfully, though, you haveTransWorld Motocross to help you fill in the blanks when you’re in doubt. We’ve taken the liberty of putting together all the information you need to know when you’re changing your oil. This way, in case you can’t remember how much oil your steed needs to consume, you can pay us a visit and receive all the information needed on this pertinent topic.

2007-2009 RM-Z250

Oil change: 900ml

With filter change: 950ml

Overhaul: 1000ml

Recommended oil: Motul 300V 10W-40 or 10W-40, API SF/SG or SH/SJ with JASO MA

Replace engine oil every three races or six hours

Replace oil filter every six races or 12 hours

2008-2009 RM-Z450

Oil change: 1050ml

With filter change: 1100ml

Overhaul: 1200ml

Recommended oil: Motul 300V 10W-40 or SAE 10W-40, API SF/SG or SH/SJ with JASO MA

Replace engine oil every three races of six hours

Replace oil filter every six races or 12 hours

2009 Yamaha YZ250F

Oil change: 1.05ml

With filter change: 1.15ml

Recommended: 20w50 Yamalube

Replace oil filter every other oil change

2009 Yamaha YZ450F

Oil change: .95ml

With filter changer: 1.0ml

Recommended: 20w50 Yamalube

Replace oil filter every other oil change

2009 Honda CRF250R

Oil change: 660ml

With filter change: 690ml

Recommended: Honda Line 10w40

Replace engine oil every three to five hours

2009 Honda CRF450R

Oil change: 650-680ml

With filter change: .600ml

Recommended: Amsoil 10w40

Replace engine oil every three rides

2009 Kawasaki KX250F

Oil change: 1.43ml

With filter change: 1.4ml

Recommended: Motul 10w40

Replace engine oil every two to three rides

2009 Kawasaki KX450F

Oil change: 1.1ml

With filter change: 1.3ml

Recommended: Motul 10w40

Replace engine oil every two to three rides

2009 KTM 250SX-F

Oil change: 900ml

With filter change: 950ml

Recommended: Motorex 10w50

Replace engine oil every other ride

2009 KTM 450SX-F

Oil change: 1050ml

With filter change: 1200ml

Recommended: Motorex 10w50

Replace engine oil every other ride

BRP KX450F CHAIN GUIDE BLOCK
APPLICATION: Most modern four-strokes (tested here on the 2009 KX450F)
COLORS: White/red and black/red
PRICE: $69.95
RATING: 9.5

WHAT IT IS: While today’s modern four-strokes are arguably some of the best MX machines available to the public, they do have downfalls. Despite all the power and performance, today’s motocross bikes require a lot of maintenance, and not just to the motor but other aspects as well. On our 2009 KX450F test bike, we’ve already worn through the stock chain guide with as little as 10 hours on the hour meter. With this in mind, we went searching for something more durable and far more protective—enter the BRP chain guide block. Made from a high-tech frictionless polymer material that allows for better wear and a significant improvement in protection to the chain and sprocket, the BRP chain guide is designed to withstand nearly anything.

HITS: With our stock rubber and aluminum chain guide worn clean through to the metal, we installed the BRP polymer chain guide, and since then have had incredible performance and life out of the guide. The durable polymer material allows for less chain friction, improved durability from rocks and roost, and excellent wear and tear resistance. Even after numerous hours of riding logged on our bike since installing the guide, the amount of wear is minimal. And on a small side note, despite the guide being noticeable larger than the stock one, the weight increase is only slight, if at all. BRP also informed us that a swingarm chain slider is in the works—made from the same polymer material as the guide—which will offer the same amount of durability and performance as the chain guide.

MISSES: While the guide does an exceptional job of improving chain performance and durability, it is rather bulky. In the current world of motocross where the smaller and more blingy the better, the BRP chain guide could stand to lose a little fat. But then again if it does, it might not accomplish the goal of being more durable…

THE VERDICT: This is one tough chain guide. Despite being a little on the bulky side, the BRP guide offers everything that a chain guide should: better chain performance, improved durability from hard hits, and improved wear and tear resistance. If you’re looking for an addition to your ride that will last a long time, pick up a BRP chain guide next time your stocker wears out. You won’t be disappointed.

Call 800-834-9363 or visit www.brpmoto.com

With the East Lites series opener only two days away, many riders who will be competing in Houston were in attendance at Anaheim 2 on Saturday.  One Supercross rookie we found in the pits was the young Geico Powersports/ Honda rider, Blake Wharton.  After turning pro last summer with some stellar finishes outdoors, Blake has set his sights on Supercross.

Blake, what are your thoughts going into your first Supercross series?

I’m excited!  A week from now I’ll be racing my first Supercross.  Every race you do, you get that feeling of a mixture of things especially because it is my first time racing Supercross I’m going to be really excited.  I just need to keep my cool and be consistent out there because that’s what it takes for a series like this.

Since you’ve never ridden Supercross before, how did your adjustment go at the test track?  Was it intimidating, or were you just really excited and ready to get going?

It’s different if you’ve never done it, which it (the Honda test track) is pretty much my first Supercross track, besides the track that I had at my house.  I just took my time and didn’t rush it.  You don’t want to rush things and go out there and crash and start off bad.  So, I took my time and put it together and I’m feeling good now.  We have a week and we’ll see where I’m at.

Do you have a similar feeling right now that you did before your first pro race, or is it that you have proven you can run with the fast guys and it will be more the adjustment to supercross that will cause some nerves?

Well, I rode with them outdoors so I know I can ride with them indoors. I know supercross is different as far as tracks go, but I feel if I can get a good start and put myself in a position to do good then I will.  I’m just going to keep working hard and it will pay off in the end.

Thanks Blake, and good luck next weekend.

Barabool Motocross track, renowned quality track as best in Australia, hosted Oceania motocross in 2005 and 2007. a very Unadilla like track.

Read more

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve given you an up-close-and-personal look at the Supercross machines of Jason Lawrence and Travis Preston. Today, we’re venturing into the other side of our sport and showcasing Robbie Maddison’s Yamaha YZ250; the same bike he jumped on top of, and off of, the Arc de Triomphe in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve…

Spokane, Wash. (January 21, 2009) - The MotoConcepts race team (MCRMX) arrived in Anaheim last weekend looking for results.  After a tough round in Phoenix, the team, with new manager Steve Lamson, was eager to race and move forward.

Practice and qualifying went well, as all four riders easily moved into the night show.  Ben Coisy and Cole Siebler were both in the top 15 in the 450 class and 250 West rider, Jeff Alessi, finished timed practice 11th.  Alessi moved into the main with a 6th place finish in heat race number one. Coisy also found his way into the main with a 6th place finish in heat race number one on the 450 side.  Daniel McCoy was just outside the automatic qualifiers and moved to the LCQ after a 12th place heat finish.  In heat race number two, Siebler got tangled up going around corner one and went down, pushing him to the back of the pack.  Siebler picked himself up and finished the heat in 14th.  In the LCQ McCoy wound up in 4th with Siebler just behind in 6th.

In the 250 main, Alessi rode a consistent race and finished just outside the top 10 in 12th.  Number 801 stands 11th overall in the 250 West with 22 overall points.  Jeff will be on practice duty as the series moves East to Houston.

A rough start for Coisy saw him get pinched to the back of the field, where he moved up from 20th, to finish the 450 main in 17th.  Number 979 is currently 15th overall in the 2009 AMA Supercross 450 class, with Siebler sitting at 20th.

The three MCRMX 450 riders head to Houston for round four of the AMA Supercross Series, January 24th at Reliant Stadium.

MCRMX would like to thank team sponsors: MotoConcepts, MDK, FMF, FLY Racing, Pirelli, Decal Works, Smooth Industries, Alpinestars, Utopia, Vortex, TCR, Sunline, Dragon Racing Fuel, Excel RK, Goldfren, Boyesen, Guts, Motion Pro, MotoHose, Motorex, Leisure Concepts, Northwest Steel Fab., 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 innovative and unique Motorsports accessories 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/> .
About MDK Motorsports and MDK Speed Equipment: MDK Motorsports, LLC and MDK Speed Equipment, LLC are privately held companies and part of the MDK brand family of motocross related products and services. With 30 years of experience in Aerospace Engineering and a passion for high performance 4-stroke motocross bikes, MDK Speed Equipment delivers technology and products that have not been previously available to the general public. AS 9003 aerospace manufacturing protocols are used, along with countless hours of dyno, flow bench, and track testing to enable MDK SE to provide products and services that deliver great performance and durability.  MDK Motorsports and MDK Speed Equipment are located in San Jose, California. For more information go to www.MDKMoto.com <http://www.mdkmoto.com/>  or www.MDKSpeed.com <http://www.mdkspeed.com/>

(January 21, 2009) Corona, Ca. MSR is proud to announce the signing of Rockstar – Metal Mulisha rider Jeremy Lusk. Jeremy had an impressive year in 2008, grabbing X Games gold in the FMX event and silver in Moto X best trick. Jeremy also went on to be the 2008 FMX rider of the year. 

“We couldn’t be happier to have Jeremy running this years all new MSR/Rockstar gear after seeing what he accomplished last season” states MSR’s marketing manager Randy Valade. Jeremy will join fellow MSR FMX rider Ronnie Faisst at this years top events. 

The new MSR/Rockstar gear line will be available early this spring with an initial offering consisting of two different colorways along with an all-new Rockstar Velocity helmet. 

Stay tuned to MSRMX.COM for more updates on Jeremy Lusk and the entire MSR team. 

Name the riders you kept hearing about during the off-season who were expected to be top contenders.  If you said Ryan Dungey, Jason Lawrence, and Jake Weimer, then you remember the hype.  Cut to three rounds into the series and replace Lawrence with Ryan Morais and you have your steady podium finishers.  Before the main event went down on Saturday, we got a few minutes with Ryan as he was cleaning off his shoes after a muddy track walk.

How is the season going for you? You have yet to finish off of the podium.

So far the ’09 season has been great.  I’ve reached my goal far this season to keep my feet up there on that box.  That’s kind of what I’m shooting for.  I want to win a race this year and I have put that high up on my goal list.   I’m just going to take it race by race and hopefully I can achieve everything I’ve set forth for myself.

Can you talk about your adjustment to the bike?  You were on Yamahas the past few seasons, and last year did not go quite as you expected it to, but it seems like you have picked it back up aboard the Kawasaki.

The Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki team has been awesome, my bike is just amazing over here; I couldn’t ask for anything better from these guys.  They give me everything I need, and if I say I want to change something then they change it.  This team is definitely top notch and it’s great to be here.

As far as your training regime goes, has that changed at all?  You are riding with different people so I imagine that has an influence on your routine.

Yeah, my training regime has changed completely from last year.  I’m doing a whole different program and I would say so far it has been paying off.  I changed it to what was needed and where I though I was lacking, I still think I lack there, but it’s been an improvement.

What is it you feel needs improvement?

Its is not endurance at all, it just takes me a little bit to get going.  I’m the type of guy that starts off a little slower, and then my fastest laps are at the end of the race.  So I’ve been working on that; trying to get my speed up right away.  It’s been a hard habit to break but we’re getting there

What is your practice routine like?

Everyday it’s a little different.  If I go out to the Kawasaki track it’s usually me, Jake, Pourcel, Stroupe, and every once in a while Tim Ferry.  But I also ride at Michael Lapaglia’s track a lot, so there I get to ride with some different people.  So it’s good that I get to ride a couple of different tracks and I’m just trying to learn so that has been a big part of helping me get ready for this year.

I just saw you speaking with a Bridgestone Tires rep.  Are you comfortable with your set up or are you making some adjustments?

I feel decent out there although I haven’t ridden since the Phoenix supercross; I’ve been sick.  I haven’t been on the bike since the main event last weekend, so considering all of that I think it’s going pretty good and, again, my bike is amazing.  I could not ask for a better bike.

Note: Despite his illness and lack of practice during the week, and  Ryan went on to finish second place after leading several laps of the main event

Keep your monitor fresh with more action from this week’s race.  Here are more wallpapers from the Anaheim 2 SX.

We know we’ve been a little behind when it comes to wallpapers for the last few weeks, but to get back on our regular schedule, this week’s edition is jam packed with tons of action from last weekend’s race at Anaheim Stadium. Enjoy, and take as many as you would like…

spot 4 cross counry races good gravel pit


Read more

January, 2009(Escondido, CA)-  Toyota Escondido is proud to announce that Jake Weimer of Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki, currently sitting third overall in West Coast Lites points of Monster Energy Supercross, has signed with Toyota Escondido as the newest member of their team.
Toyota Escondido builds on their already strong commitment to the sport by adding Jake while continuing into 2009 with reigning Outdoor National Champion Ryan Villopoto. Weimer has already taken one win this year and is a favorite to take the Championship.

“We are super stoked to have Jake with us this year” said Toyota Escondido’s Damian Campos. “Jake embodies all the qualities we look for in the athletes that represent our dealership, both on and off the track.”
Toyota Escondido has long been committed to the sport of Motocross. Toyota Escondido plans on expanding their efforts in 2009 by announcing their new “Sports Network” program soon to be released.
“We are fully committed to the sport of Motocross on all levels and plan on expanding our efforts this year into virtually all aspects of sports. The “Sports Network” will offer employee-type discounts on New and Pre-owned vehicles, as well as Parts and Service at Toyota Escondido! Although our “Sports Network” was being developed primarily for Sports Industry personnel, we plan on offering it to the general public as a Membership in the near future, said Toyota Escondido’s Sales/Sports Marketing Director David DeLaTorre.
Toyota of Escondido encourages those individuals interested in more information to contact David DeLaTorre at:
delatorre@toyotaescondido.com
(760) 855.4865
Toyota of Escondido is located at 231 Lincoln Parkway, Escondido CA 92026
Photos Courtesy of Cameron Baird

Read the story & check out the action shots. Click here:
http://www.troyleedesigns.com/company/news/article.php?news_id=760

We hadn’t chatted with Robbie Maddison since his insane jump onto, then off of, the Arc de Triomphe on New Year’s Eve, so we caught up with him at the Red Bull Compound to get the latest…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Irvine, Calif. - Monster Energy/Pro/Circuit/Kawasaki’s second trip to Angels Stadium in Anaheim produced similar results to its first as Ryan Morais and Jake Weimer both visited the podium on Saturday night. Morais jumped out to the holeshot in the main event and held on to finish second, just one spot ahead of his teammate Weimer. In the supercross class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto earned the best finish of his young career, finishing fourth. His teammate Timmy Ferry was eighth.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Check out Sean Hamblin’s latest blog. Click here.

What a weekend! Three rounds down, and this season is shaping up to be much more exciting than the passed few years. While James Stewart continues to tweak and learn to ride a brand of machine he has not ridden since about the age of six, he still looks scary fast every time he hits the track. But there is a catch that has manifested in the form of an Australian rider who has surprised just about everyone so far this year, including Mr. Stewart.

Chad Reed looks, and sounds, like the guy whom many will recall from his 2004 season of dominance. Chad’s demeanor, both on and off the track, shows a rider who is confident in his equipment, his abilities, and his fitness to ride above the rest. While Reed has yet to collect a win this season, it is not for a lack of trying. Crashes and bad luck have so far kept him from winning. However, if Saturday’s charge from 19th to second at the finish is any indication, Reed is more than due for a win.

Although Stewart has been visibly upset on the podium and is behind in points, he still has two wins to his credit and the San Manuel/ L&M/ Yamaha team will continue to test to find the best settings for their star rider. At the moment, if Stewart is the hard-working student getting straight “A’s”, then Reed is the brainiac whose dog just ate his homework.

Away from the standouts, the action is still fast paced. While Supercross class rookies Ryan Villopoto and Josh Grant continue to learn the ropes, veterans like Kevin Windham and Tim Ferry are doing their best to keep the kids honest.

In Lites competition, three riders have established themselves as the front-runners in the form of Ryan Dungey, Jake Weimer, and Ryan Morais. All three riders are running similar lap times, while Dungey has had the edge the last two rounds and appears much more aggressive out on the track than in years past. Dungey knows what he wants, and is willing to fight to get it. And let’s not forget about Jason Lawrence. It is not often that the wild card goes to the defending champion, but in this case, Lawrence fits the bill with no OEM support, a team he is largely funding on his own, and his questionable past. Although his chance for retaining the West Lites title is a long shot, Jason is still an ultra-fast rider who is always a threat for a win and finished just behind the podium on Saturday.

Below you will find a gallery of pit shots of the weekend, as well as links to the many galleries of race action from Anaheim 2. Enjoy and be sure to check back throughout the week some more interviews.

MORE FROM ANAHEIM ON PAGE TWO

With all the action from the third round of supercross, it is only fitting that we have more photos of the action.  Photos by Steve Emter.

Our good friend Will Topete lent us a hand this weekend at Anaheim Two, hooking us up with even more photos from the exciting race…

If you weren’t on hand at Anaheim 2, you missed one hell of a race! Saw it on television, did you? Well, you still missed out on all the cool stuff that went on in the pits and behind the scenes. Here’s what Swap saw at round three. Enjoy!

Riding in shannonville and Garson Ontario Canada,

Stewart Races to Second Win in a Row as Reed Moves into Monster Energy® Supercross Points Lead

Dungey Extends Lites Class Points Lead with Anaheim 2 Victory

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 17, 2009) – Before 43,009 fans at Angel Stadium, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his second consecutive Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., moved into the AMA Supercross class points lead with a valiant come-from-behind race where he started in 20^th and finished second. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won his second consecutive Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race.

GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., led the AMA Supercross class through turn one as he picked up the holeshot award. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Apple Valley, Calif., and JGRMX/Yamaha/Toyota’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., followed in second and third respectively. Defending champion Reed started in 20^th place after a first turn crash and Stewart was near the middle of the pack.

“I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out,” said Reed.

After two laps, Stewart made his way into fourth place, and by lap six his was in third place. By lap eight Stewart held down second place and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., was third. Out front, Windham was unable to hold off Stewart, who made the pass for the lead on lap 10.

“I didn’t get the greatest start,” said Stewart. “It was a freight train out front, but I was able to get around Windham (Kevin) and Ryan (Villopoto). I came up short on the triple jump and lost my back brake for a few laps.”

On lap 18 Reed moved into second place and chased down Windham on the last lap to finish second.

“I tried to play damage control tonight,” added Reed. “It was a super difficult track to pass on. We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. Our team has been working their butts off, and I am confident. I tried to be smart for 20 laps. I knew these guys would get tired, so I kept my head down and charged hard.”

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., jumped out of the gate to win the holeshot award in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event. Following in second and third place were GEICO Powersports Honda’s Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., and Dungey respectively.

Dungey, who came into tonight’s race with the points lead, made his move around Reardon on lap two and set chase on Morais. At the start of lap four Dungey secured the lead and rode to victory and extended his points lead to six points. Morais finished second and his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Jake Weimer finished third.

“It was a great ride,” said Dungey. “I heard the fans every step of the way. The track played out really good for us. This is really enjoyable. We have a two week break in the Lites class, so we can go back and work hard and show up prepared for the next race.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 2

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
7. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki
10. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 64
2. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 61
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 53
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 52
5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 48
6. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 47
7. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 43
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 41
9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 32
10. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 31

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 2

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
4. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
6. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki
9. PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 70
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 64
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 63
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 50
5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 50
6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 39
7. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 34
8. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 31
9. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 28
10. PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki, 26

Tonight’s AMA Supercross class race will air on Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST on CBS Sports. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

Words by Bayo Okluton

Photos by Brendan Lutes

With two rounds already in the books for the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, things have already become interesting. Last week San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart collected his first win of the season, but was visibly upset that his rival and current series champ, Rockstar/Makita/ Suzuki’s Chad Reed caught up to him twice during the main event (the second time after a small bobble). This week, the series returned to its unofficial home at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim, CA and the story is a bit different. Stewart, although he crashed hard during practice and was seen holding his wrist, had the fastest afternoon lap times, and was the only rider to drop below the one-minute mark with 59.77 seconds. Reed was very close behind with his fastest time being a 1.00.02-second lap. However, judging by the last two rounds, this main event was to be anything but predictable.

In the Lites class, series leader Ryan Dungey had the fastest lap in practice by more than one second over defending champion Jason Lawrence. At this point, although we are only two rounds deep, something disastrous would have to happen with Dungey, Jake Weimer, and Ryan Morais for Lawrence to have any legitimate chance at the title. Unfortunately he is the one who so far has proven inconsistent with a fifth place at the season opener, and a DNQ last week in Phoenix. But Lawrence is ready to prove that he can go it alone without OEM support, while Dungey has the confidence from a win last week. Throw in the always strong Pro Circuit Kawasaki team with Jake Weimer and Ryan Morais, and this Lites main was bound to be exciting.

SUPERCROSS LITES QUALIFYING

Heat 1

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer got the holeshot followed by Geico Powersports Honda’s Daniel Reardon and Pro Circuit teammate Ryan Morais. Morais made a quick pass for second after the whoops, while Jason Lawrence was running 15th place. At the end of the second lap, the running order was Weimer, Morais, Reardon, Sean Collier, and SVM’s McCrummen while Lawrence continued to charge through the pack in an effort to qualify. Morais and Reardon were having a good battle, taking alternate lines in the first turn option. Morais went for different timing through the rhythm section, tripling onto the backside of the small table-top, then tripling out, making sometime on Reardon. With a few laps remaining Lawrence hit a tuff block kicked up by Cole Seeley, slowing his progress. The gap from third to fourth was almost ten seconds at the end of the fourth lap. On the final lap, Lawrence fell down just before the whoop section, keeping him from qualifying. The top three riders remained within one second of one another at the finish.

1. Jake Weimer
2. Ryan Morais
3. Daniel Reardon
4. Sean Collier
5. Eric Mcrummen

Heat 2

Heading into the first turn, it was Division Seven/ Star Racing/ Yamaha’s Michael Hall with the holeshot in his bright orange No Fear gear with Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Ryan Sipes in second, Rockstar/ Makita/ Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey in third, and Sipes’ KTM teammate Justin Brayton in fourth place. Sipes squared off and dove under Hall to take the lead before the rhythm. Troy Lee Designs’ Chris Blose moved into 5th on second lap. Dungey passed Hall in the same place before the rhythm section one lap later. Sipes had about a 2-second lead on Dungey that was slowly shrinking. With 3 laps remaining was, Sipes, Dungey, Brayton, Blose, and Hall. Dungey continued to close in on Sipes and, going past the mechanics area, he was one bike length behind. Dungey dove under Sipes with the crowd cheering right before the rhythm section. Sipes continued to hold Dungey off on the last lap. With a small bobble at the wall, Dungey lost a few seconds handing Sipes taking the win.

1. Ryan Sipes
2. Ryan Dungey
3. Justin Brayton
4. Chris Blose
5. Michael Hall

LCQ

Boost Mobile/ ampm/ Troy Racing’s Jason Lawrence grabbed the holeshot, with KTM’s Michael Sleeter, and Cole Seeley following closely behin. On the second lap Seeley blows out of the bowl turn before the rhythm and off the track, giving Alex Martin third place. Martin began to close in on Sleeter, with Troy Lee Designs’ Sean Borkenhagen right behind. Going into the option they all took the same line. Sleeter managed to hold off Martin for second and a ticket to the main. Alex Martin took the $250 Asterisk Medic Card.

1. Jason Lawrence
2. Michael Sleeter

PAGE ONE: Lites QualifyingPAGE TWO: SX QualifyingPAGE THREE: Lites MainPAGE FOUR: SX Main

me and the boys riding shannonville ontario and garson ontario pit.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 17, 2009) – For the second consecutive week in Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey posted the fastest lap times in their respective classes. Stewart, who also won last week at Chase Field in Phoenix, posted a 59:769 in the AMA Supercross class. Dungey, who is the current Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class and last week’s race winner, laid down a 1:00:597 in the fist practice session.

James Stewart Posted the Fastest Lap Time in the AMA Supercross class and will Race for his Second Consecutive Win of the Season

Ryan Dungey Lit up the Lights Class as he Posted the Fastest Lap Time in Today’s Practice Sessions

Will Chad Reed Pick up his First Win of the 2009 Season?

AMA Supercross Class Best Lap Times

1. James Stewart: 59:769
2. Chad Reed: 100:021
3. Ryan Villopoto: 101:116
4. Josh Grant: 101:437
5. Kevin Windham: 101:767
6. Andrew Short: 101:797
7. Davi Millsaps: 101:998
8. Josh Hill: 102:320
9. Tim Ferry: 102:337
10. Ben Coisy: 102:965

AMA Supercross Lites Class Best Lap Times

1. Ryan Dungey: 1:00:659
2. Jason Lawrence: 1:01:783
3. Jake Weimer: 1:02:002
4. Justin Brayton: 1:02:663
5. Chris Blose: 1:02:839
6. Dan Reardon: 1:02:906
7. Eric McCrummen: 1:02:995
8. Kyle Cunningham: 1:03:319
9. Ryan Sipes: 1:03:354
10. Ryan Morais: 1:03:483

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.

Read more

Good track which offers weekly practice on wednsday. Watering and grooming is pretty good which is done before every practice. Memberships for the year are also available for what I think is a very resonable price. Races are held on Sundays (check WNYMA for schedule of all of district races). For full info check website-www.area51motocross.com


Read more

We cornered Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer by the Toyota display in the Anaheim 2 pits, just after track walk. The Anaheim 1 winner seems confident and determined to return to the top step of the podium in tonights third round of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship Series.

We are here at Anaheim 2, the site of your opening round victory. How are you feeling about your chances tonight?

I feel good. I feel as ready and as confident as ever. It’s a nice day out here, and I am ready to go.

So no more falling down while you are in the lead?

No, no! I can’t do that again.

How many times have you replayed that one little spill in your head?

I can’t even tell you… A lot! I’ve let it go, though. I’m over it.

What do you think of the track? Have you had a chance to check it out?

Yeah. I don’t know. We’ll have to ride it first because it is different. There are some gnarly sections and then there are some sections that seem to be some very one-lined. But, it is always a little different when we ride it, so we’ll see.

Since Phoenix, what have you been up to?

Same thing. I’ve stuck to the same routine. I’ve been riding and training and getting ready for this weekend.

Is your bike setup the same as it was at Anaheim 1? It seems like a lot of guys have changed things up and are now testing like crazy.

I basically have the same thing. We’ve changed a few things with the jetting, but the suspension and the gearing is all the same.

You made us look smart at A1 because in the February issue we have a feature with you. By now, the subscribers should be getting their copies of that issue. Are you going to make us look smart again tonight?

That’s right! That’s the plan. I plan on making everybody look like heroes.

Are you going to bust out the no footed can-can if you win tonight?

I am honestly thinking about it. It’s crossed my mind. I definitely don’t think it’d be a bad thing.

Have you seen Trey Canard’s furious fender slap?

No I haven’t.

You obviously don’t look at our Web site…

I do… I do! I don’t know if it’s my Internet or what, but the videos take so long to load that I just can’t do it.

Does that mean you didn’t see the video I made with you?

Yes. I did see that one.

You would think after winning a big race like Anaheim 1 you would…

…I would blog! I am planning on blogging. I will do it after this race, I promise.

First practice just wrapped up, and let’s just say the track is gnarly. James “Bubba” Stewart only logged a couple laps before he came together with Travis Preston in a technical rhythm section. He was clearly favoring his left wrist as he exited the track. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Hot Sauce wasn’t the only Red Bull Honda rider out on the Supercross track at the Red Bull Compound. Andrew Short put his own time in as well…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Yesterday, the factory Red Bull Honda team announced that WMA star and current champion, Ashley Fiolek, will be moving into their tent for the 2009 season, using the same equipment as Ivan Tedesco, Andrew Short, Ben Townley, and Davi Millsaps.  Making the move with Ashley into the Honda rig will be her current mechanic, the young and enthusiastic Cody Wolf.  We were able to spend a few minutes with Cody to learn about his background and this exciting new opportunity.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started with the Fioleks, and how you came to be their mechanic?

I met Ashley at Ponca City and Loretta Lynn’s in 2006.  I had a back injury from racing on my own, and I met them through a friend, Brady Rodriguez, who now does rider support at Smith Optics.  We immediately built a good relationship with Ashley, her mother Ronnie, and her father Jim, and the conversation began as them just looking for a beginner mechanic; someone who knows how to do the basics.  So I told them that I just learned how to do that stuff on my own, while I was racing.  After Loretta’s we kept in touch, building a relationship.
Eventually they presented me with the opportunity that when I graduated high school in January of 2007 they were interested in moving me down from my home in Wisconsin to their place in St. Augustine, FL to take care of Ashley’s practice and race bikes.  After five months of doing that, I was not certain if I wanted to continue on as their mechanic, go back home, or pursue some interests in college.  I ended up moving back home, got a roofing job, and it didn’t take me long to realize that I was so happy working on bikes that I was willing to move away from family to do so.  So in July of 2008, I moved back in with the Fioleks and here I am.  We have built a great relationship and no complaints.

To backtrack little, you are new to the professional racing scene, so can you tell us who Cody Wolf is?

I am originally from West Bend, WI, north of Milwaukee.  I grew up racing, and my dad is a diesel technician and works on semis.  My parents were divorced, and I would spend time in the shop that my dad owned, just tinkering around.  With racing, my dad, and maybe some genetics and growing up at a semi shop just working on stuff and learning is where I learned my mechanical skills.   When I was about fifteen or sixteen, my dad told me motocross is an expensive sport, and if my brother and I wanted to continue doing it, we would have to pay for it ourselves.  That really forced me to mature. I bought my own bikes, paid for my racing, and really learned how to work on my own bikes.  And then in 2006 I broke my back in a riding accident.  Not long after that, Brady Rodriguez brought me to Ponca and Loretta’s for the first time.   I had never even been to an amateur national or ever reader an amateur motocross magazine.  But I came into a new atmosphere and walked out of it with a great job opportunity with Ashley and her family.

Now that you are on the professional WMA tour, how have you adjusted to the professionalism, sponsorships, and travel and are you enjoying it?

Our transition from amateur to professional racing, I believe, has been really successful.  I did a couple amateur nationals with Ashley, and I was also a mechanic for a kid named Kyle Corman for a short period of time as well.  The difference between the amateur and professional scene is that it’s a lot much faster paced.  And as you said, dealing with the sponsors, if there was one thing that hit me at a young age, it was to act professionally, present yourself well, and to be kind and respectful.  Based off feedback from other people, they feel that I have done quite well.  The Fioleks tell me that I should be able to continue on somewhere within the professional industry of motocross.
When I started working for Ashley, she had a whole list of different sponsors, so for me it was fun interacting with so many new people and seeing how the professional side of the industry runs.

I would have to agree with the communication part, I think you are pretty good at it!

(laughs) Thank you for very much.

Speaking of professionalism and sponsorships, congratulations on the new deal with factory Honda.

Yes, Ashley has signed a new contract with factory Honda to become the first girl in the United States underneath a factory tent.  She will be teammates with Ben, Andrew, Ivan, and Davey and I think that is really saying a lot for Ashley.  People took her seriously enough to say that not only does she now how to ride a motorcycle, but also her marketability is very important.  She is a great person on and off the motorcycle.
There is that and then her commitment, along with all of the other girls she races with, to the WMA.  I think it will open peoples’ eyes for those that think motocross is a boys’ sport.  Not only having Ashley on good equipment, but all the girls will make fans pay attention to the fact that the WMA has some great racing as well.  They can put on a good show and someday maybe even be competing with the boys.

I think Ashley is well on her way to doing that.  And I believe for 2009, the women will be running both of their motos on the same day as the men?

I believe so.  I have heard a lot of different things on whether it will be a one or two moto format.  But it will be good.  I think it would really mean a lot to them if the women can get the same practices as the men, or at least more practice time.  It will make the women more comfortable to go out there in their races and really put it all on the line like the boys do and keep the fans on their feet to show them that the girls are just as exciting as the boys.

Well Cody, thank you for speaking with us and good luck with your transition over to a factory team.

Cody:  Thank you very much.

Rome, Ga. – The Pirelli professional motocross support rig made its way throughout Southern California this week, taking part in three separate ride days for industry media and put its new Scorpion MX tire to the test.

Through the course of three days, the Scorpion MX family of tires was on ridden at a trio of the most rigorous terrains in heart of motocross racing in an effort to show the versatility of Pirelli’s premier motocross tire. On Tuesday, Pirelli teamed-up with Vital MX and put the Scorpion MX to the test on the fine, loose sand dunes of Glamis. TWMX met up with the team on Wednesday at Los Angeles County Raceway (LACR) to see how the Scorpion MX tire fared in the multi-terrain, desert-like conditions of Lancaster. The rigorous week concluded with MXA on Thursday at Glen Helen Raceway when the Scorpion MX tire ran head on against the gritty surface of one of the most difficult AMA National tracks in the country.

Through it all, the Scorpion MX EXTRA compound withstood the pressure and displayed why it is the ultimate all-around tire. Thanks to its high durability, it maintains its consistency in performance while providing a good value for riders, whether for racing or casual riding.

“We were excited for the opportunity to take part in this test,” said Pirelli Motocross Manager Josh Whitmire. “The Scorpion MX family of tires is something that Pirelli is very proud of and we couldn’t think of a better way to showcase the all-around performance the tire possesses.”

The Pirelli Scorpion MX tire test hits the web and newsstands over the coming weeks.

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycle and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets.  For more information please visit www.us.pirelli.com.

Check out some footage of Hot Sauce spinning some laps at the Red Bull Compound yesterday. From our vantage point, it looked as though Sauce was digging the steel ramp in the middle of the track.

…more from the Red Bull Compound to come.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

We caught up with Geico Powersports Honda’s Dan Reardon yesterday at Angel Stadium to get his take on the season thus far…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

TransWorld Motocross got to spend some quality time drooling over Travis Preston’s factory Jagermeister KTM 450SX-F today. Here’s a closer look at the mean orange machine from Austria…

We caught with Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps on Thursday while we were out at the Red Bull Compound having some fun…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Apparently, Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short was not satisfied with our interview with his teammate Davi Millsaps, so he took it upon himself to step in a get the “real” story. Check it out; it’s pretty funny stuff!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Pro Circuit bike of Austin Stroupe. In fact, it has been since June of last summer since Stroupe has lined up against all of his peers, due to injuries and a few other health related problems. Stroupe was slated to line up for A1 this year, but an unfortunate crash at the Kawasaki test track left him with a broken collarbone and, once again, more time off the bike. Now, however, Stroupe is healthy and riding again and plans on lining up for the first round of the East Coast Lites Regional Supercross Series in Houston, TX

The last time we saw you on the track was at the Thunder Valley National. What’ve you been up to this whole time?

Since I’ve been hurt I’ve been doing a lot of training. I broke my collarbone in December, so now it’s all healed up, and I’m ready to go racing.

How exactly did you break your collarbone?

Originally, I was slated to race the West Coast Lites Supercross class, but I ended up crashing on the same jump that [Christophe] Pourcel broke his collarbone on. It was just a dumb little jump that sent me over the bars. I had surgery the following day, took four weeks off, and I now I am back on the bike.

How is everything been going since your injury?

Everything has been going really well. I obviously missed out on a lot, but I’ve been able to get some good testing under my belt during the past week and a half. I’m looking forward to Houston in a couple of weeks.

Since you haven’t lined up for a race since the Thunder Valley National, are you excited to get back into the swing of things?

It’s been a good six or seven months (laughs). It’ll be good to be back out there. Hopefully I’ll go out there with some fire and take home the East Coast Lites Supercross title.

What do you think you’ll be able to accomplish this year?

I learned a lot last year, so this year I am looking for a title. I think I’m capable of reaching that goal, so I need to take things one week at a time.

Last year was your first full season as a professional, so does it make things a little bit easier on you coming into this year?

Well, I definitely think I did all of my learning last year. I did miss almost the entire outdoor season because of injuries and not being healthy, but I am full of maturity this year. I am looking forward to things.

Josh Grant, Dan Reardon and Kevin Windham showed up at Angel’s Stadium for the press conference preceding this weekend’s Anaheim 2 round of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship Series. Here’s some of the action we captured on the abbreviated track.

Photos by Dave Kania and Bayo Olukotun

WARTHOG RACING INJURY UPDATE AND ROSTER ADDITIONS

January 15th, 2009

Newbury Park, CA. The 2009 AMA Monster Energy Supercross series took a hop, skip, and a jump from Anaheim, CA to Phoenix, AZ, for round two of the series. Lot’s of things happened for the MDK/Warthog Racing Academy team in Phoenix; some good and some bad.

Let’s start with the good. The team finalized a deal with Eric Sorby to compete in the rest of the series under the MDK/Warthog Racing Academy’s canopy. Eric is a super kid and we are over the moon to have him. He has always contributed to Warthog Racing and now we have the chance to reciprocate his kindness. And did I mention Eric hauls arse?? Eric will be starting with us in Houston, and we expect an exciting season from him. He is surrounded by great people like Coy Gibbs, J-Bone, and David Evans, and they will all be helping Eric as a friend throughout the season. Upstanding guys, all of them!!

More good news!! Heath Voss, riding for Mastercraft, is the captain of the Warthog Nation. Heath took the week off and went to Germany for a 3-day Supercross event. Heath dominated the event and came home the King of Germany after winning a Toyota Truck and a boatload of prize money. The beautiful thing about this is that Heath is only 4 points behind in the race for Privateer of the Year – an honor he would like to win this year.

A bit of the bad news was that our budding superstar Tyler Bowers had a horrific crash that saw him down for several minutes in his heat race. The good news is that he is in much better shape than it appeared. Tyler has gone in for two MRIs this week and the doctors have said he will be 100% for A2. In case you didn’t notice, Tyler was hauling arse in his heat – posting lap times that would have easily put him inside the top 10 in the main. Let’s hope A2 is a great race for Tyler because within that 17-year old kid resides a future champion!!

This season would not be possible without our committed and actively engaged sponsor/partner group. For 2009, we have teamed up with the following entities: MDK Motorsports, MDK Speed, DeCal Works, Smooth Industries, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI), P-LoK, MotoConcepts, Transworld Motocross, Vanquish MX, DT1 Air Filters, MXResultz.com, Devol Engineering, Liquid Performance, LongShot Racing, CP Pistons, VP Fuel, Dunlop, The Plumber Inc., MB2 Raceway, Edgile Consulting, MX Sports, MotionPro, Dana K Business Parks, The Whitaker Wellness Institute, Atlantic Promotions, NXTAgency, Relentless Media, MotoTees, RacerX Illustrated, Dirt Rider Magazine, MartialMoto, Honolulu Hills Raceway, L&M Racing, and Fire and Police MX.

With this fine group, anything is possible. And special thanks to Feld Motor Sports. Because of their full support, dozens of privateers get the opportunity to live their dreams.

Take care and we’ll see you at the races!!

5+ tracks
CMRC stop
biggest facility in all of Alberta


Read more

On Tuesday out at Perris Raceway, there were many fast pros and amateurs out on the track taking advantage of the fantastic weather we’ve had this passed week. One unexpected number we recognized, was a large #8 on the back of some grey/blue MSR gear. That’s right, Grant Langston was out there spinning some laps and soaking up some rays. The friendly South African native gave us a few minutes of his time to let us in on what he has been up to, the situation with his eye, and his thoughts on the future.

Interview and Photos by Bayo Olukotun

Grant, we are out here at Perris Raceway on an sunny Tuesday afternoon. Can you tell us a little about what you have been up to?

Yeah, obviously I still enjoy riding. I probably enjoy it more in the sense that when you are not having to pin it all day everyday and do motos and stuff, just to come out with friends and make it fun like when you started. The riding is really enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, I still miss the racing aspect of it, especially when I go and watch the races and I’m not down there. But for me just to go cruise around and have fun, I still enjoy that a lot. I’ve been busy with a lot of business stuff, so I haven’t been riding as much as I’d like to, and definitely not training like I use to. All of a sudden you get this belly developing, so I definitely don’t want to be in that category. But it’s a fun way to get exercise at the end of the day. I love the sport, I love riding, so it’s nice just to come out and have some fun.

So is the training aspect and preparation something that you miss? It has been such a large part of your life, was it something that you found comfort in?

As far as training as in physical training, whether it was the gym, cycling, running, or whatever, I always used to feel like I hated it because you had to do it. But when you don’t do it then you feel guilty, like you are slacking off. I think, with that side of things, I’ve done it my whole life it’s weird to not train because when you are not fit, you don’t feel that good about yourself, put it that way. Everything is harder, you ache more, and it’s not a good feeling. But, the riding aspect, I just miss it. I still like to go out into the hills with the guys when it rains, or go out to the desert. It’s not motocross all the time, it’s just riding. Whether its trail riding, desert riding, cliff jumps, whatever it may be. When you are on that bike, I think for a lot of us, it’s in our blood and you can’t just walk away. Whether I have one eye, blurred vision, or a sore back, I will still plan on riding when I’m an old man. When there is no pressure to be the fastest guy and you put your ego aside, you can have a great time.

Absolutely! Can you talk about your transition to what, as I understand it, is more of a PR role that you have with Yamaha? Although they are leaving the window open for you if you do have the opportunity to come back?

I think so. We have discussed it a little bit, and we will definitely cross that bridge when we get to it. But mainly just try to be involved, promote Yamaha in a good way, and help the guys out. Especially now that Sean Hamblin is on the team, I’ve been going out to the test track and try to help out wherever I can. Sometimes I feel like I don’t do enough for them, but I guess if they need me they’ll let me know. But I enjoy it. I’ve done some of the PR events in different parts of the country, media stuff, going to the races; a little bit of everything. Its just weird sometimes to step back as a professional racer, and be involved in and around the sport, between Langston Motorsports, importing and distributing in South Africa, being an agent as well, etc.; doing everything but racing. It’s different but it has been an enjoyable learning experience. But ultimately, as someone who mentally wasn’t ready to retire, I still have a little bit of that burning desire that I wish I was out there. It could always be worse, and if I can’t be out there racing at that level, then at least I can be involved with the sport and help in any way I can.

That’s a good way of looking at it. I had a chance a few years ago to check out a South African National at Pietermaritzburg, outside of Durban…

Some of my old stomping grounds.

Well, I was very impressed with the speed that some of the riders have. You had mentioned your role as an agent, so are you trying to help some of the younger kids transition over to the GPs in Europe or to come here to the States?

Absolutlely. One thing I would love to see is, I think for a South African kid to make it, the odds are really, really low. There are a few guys that have made it, if you look at Albertyn, Rattray, and myself, I think one thing we all had in common was fight and determination. We had to fight for everything we were ever awarded throughout our entire careers. But there is talent. There’s a kid who is on 80’s right now who is pretty impressive. But more than anything, just to be able to bring back knowledge. I think for them, the biggest thing is the intimidation factor. They watch all the guys on TV who I’m racing against all the time. They’ll say, “So you know James Stewart?” and I say, “Yeah, I race against the guy, of course I know him.” “Does he talk to you?” and I’m like “Of course!” They are just so star-struck by guys like McGrath, Carmichael, Reed, and Stewart. So if I can help make their lives easier, or put in a good word, or give them help with an opportunity it would be great.
I just think for the sport in general (it is important) no matter where it is. There’s probably some kid in South America or Russia, that’s really talented, and if he had the opportunity, might be the next big talent. There are a lot of countries in the world, but everyone looks in the same places. Naturally the US, and then Europe, but there is talent out there, and if you can pave the way for those guys, get them on the right track at a young enough age you’ll see more uncovered talent than ever.

So your family has a big presence in South Africa with Langston Racing.

We are a big distribution company down there. We sponsor a couple teams, some of the fast guys, but even just underprivileged kids, whose parents couldn’t afford to race if we were not helping. We also sponsor different events, helping with track preparations, things like that. When you are busy those things are not your priority, but now that I’m not zoned in on racing all the time, it gives me the opportunity to work on these things. But I don’t really have any set plan because I feel that I am a little in limbo and I am getting my feet wet in various ways. But what Langston Racing is doing is probably something that I will become more involved with in the future.

As you mentioned, you feel that you are in limbo. Obviously your fans miss seeing you out on the track and are wondering what is happening with your eye; what’s the recovery time frame, or is it an ongoing, day-to-day situation?

Well, what I have is so rare that they don’t have a whole lot of facts about it. A broken arm, they’ll tell you six to eight weeks and you can go race. For me, with radiation they said normally it’s about a three-month process. They had to do the radiation to kill the melanoma, because if it spreads, which it has a very high chance of doing, it could go to your brain, your organs, and ultimately kill you. There is no guarantee that the eye or the vision will ever improve. At this point, I think I’m flying back next week to see the doctor in Cleveland and they will reevaluate all of the tests.
I have waited a while now with no improvement whatsoever, so it gets a little disheartening. However, I made a promise to myself and my family that I wouldn’t go out there and risk it until my eye was 100%. I think I’ve made a lot of silly mistakes in my life, coming back too early, or deep down knowing it probably was not the best decision, but you do it anyway. If I’m out there struggling, frustrated, crashing because I didn’t see a hole, or shadow or a rut, I’m not going to be having fun. If I’m not having fun, I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to be frustrated every weekend, not running where I believe I should be. That is not what I want to do. Like I said, if can’t race at 100%, but I’m still healthy and can ride at 80% and still have fun, then that is what I’m going to do.

You seem to have a very good attitude about your situation, looking toward the positive side of things.

There’s no point sitting around and pouting about it. I have always said, my whole life, everything happens for a reason and what’s done is done. There are guys who have dealt with dangerous things; serious injuries and the like. I have my health, my family, friends, and fans. When people tell me they miss me out there, part of me gets a little kick out of it because its nice to hear those things, and I always think, “man, I wish I could go out there.” But we’ll see. If nothing changes, as a professional I think I would have to call it quits. But my doctors have said its even taken up to a year for peoples’ vision to correct. What people don’t realize is that the majority of the those with melanoma of the eye, their vision never improves, it just deteriorates because of the radiation. Your eye is such a delicate part of the body. Any form of cancer treatment is a pretty potent form of treatment, and they do it because your life is more important that your vision in once eye. So the radiation is the best decision.

Grant, thanks for speaking with us and have fun out there on the track today.

Thanks a lot.

Factory Girl

Ashley Fiolek Has Hit the Big Time

The official press release is finally out: Ashley Fiolek is the first female racer to ever be signed by a factory race team. Alongside Andrew Short, Davi Millsaps, Ivan Tedesco and Ben Townley, the 18-year-old Deaf girl from Florida will race out of the Red Bull Honda semi. We picked Ash’s brain about earning yet another spot in the record books.

The news is out! You are a full-fledged factory Red Bull Honda rider. How excited are you?

I am definitely excited! When I first heard about it I was really surprised. I look up to all of those guys at Honda, and for me to be a part of this team is quite an honor.

Was the call from Honda a complete surprise, or was this something that had been in the works for quite some time?

Once my mom and dad told me the news I was completely surprised. We’ve been working on this for a quite a while, and at times it didn’t look like things were going to pan out. However, one night my parents took me out to dinner and they broke the news to me that things had actually worked out.

Does this mean you’ll be on a full factory bike?

I do have a full factory ride. I will have a full factory motor, suspension, and chassis setup. My mechanic Cody [Wolf] will continue to be my mechanic for the upcoming season, too. The team will help him out with anything he needs to help us have a successful season.

You had your poster shoot last month, so how did the rest of the team act and treat you?

It was really cool! I was a little nervous, and they didn’t know I was joining the team until they actually introduced me. I ate lunch with Ben Townley that day, and he was really excited about the whole deal. After we finished the photoshoot, Davi [Millsaps] sent me a text message saying how happy he was to have me on the team. It was definitely a little overwhelming to be out there with all of those guys, but it’s really great to be a part of that team and atmosphere.

Do you feel as though you have more pressure on your shoulders to perform and be an ambassador to the sport of motocross?

I don’t really think about that too much. I’m still training and racing. As far as I’m concerned that’s what they hired me to do. I think it’s important for people to learn about motocross, and if I can help them learn and bring more people into the sport then that’s great.

Last time we spoke we were joking around about how much money you were making. Now, however, is it like two fold or three fold?

(Laughs) Let’s just say that they are taking care of me, and it’s good to be recognized as a professional women’s motocross racer.

What are your thoughts on the 2009 season now that MX Sports has purchased it from Miki Keller?

I think it’s great! We’re running more races and more girls are showing up to race. We’re basically the third class now: 450s, 250s, and women. We’re part of the schedule just like the rest of the classes, and it’s a huge step forward for all of us women motocross racers.

You won the WMA title in a convincing manner this year. However, for the 2009 season, who do you expect your biggest competition will be?

I am just working harder than ever right now and trying to learn new techniques. Everybody is going to be fast. Jessica Patterson didn’t win five times because she couldn’t figure out how to fix things, so she is definitely going to be a big threat. I think that every girl on the track is going to be my competition. For me, though, I need to not worry about them and simply focus on racing the track and riding how I know how to ride. At the end of the season, if I’ve put forth my best efforts, then hopefully I’ll be there with another championship.

Have you had the opportunity to see or ride your factory bike yet?

A little bit. I’ve only ridden it for the photoshoot, but I am excited to start testing in a couple of weeks.

What were your thoughts on the bike when you rode it for the photo

shoot?

I couldn’t believe how fast it was! It pulled so effortlessly, and it was a bit overwhelming. It’ll be fun, but I just need a little bit of time to get comfortable and adjust to how fast the bike is.

What does the effect of your factory ride have on you doing the Grand Prix series overseas?

Obviously my priority is here in the United States, but I will be going over to Europe because I will be able to make five of the seven rounds over there. I want to race as many races in Europe as possible because it really helps me out in the long run, so it looks like it’ll be five races in Europe that I’ll part take in.

Will you have a factory bike in Europe or will you be supported by one of the teams over there?

I will be with LS Motors from Belgium. They’re a Honda team over there that I will be a part of and supplying me with everything that I’ll need.

What do you think this factory ride means for women’s motocross? Do you think other factory teams will follow suit?

I think it will help girls realize that they can be a part of something like this, and hopefully other factory teams will follow what Honda is doing. In Europe, there are a lot of girls supported by factory teams, so hopefully this will show the girls that are coming up through the ranks that they have something to shoot for.

As always, the off-season provides us with a lot of rumors; therefore, have you heard of any other factory teams that may be doing the same thing?

I haven’t really heard if anybody else was going to get picked up by a factory team. Hopefully, however, another team will hire a girl.

jeUXdMFomb4&feature=related

Y9Sgof7j8YM

Read more

We’re not sure how many people were looking at Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Chris Blose as somebody who would finish inside the top five at both Anaheim 1 and Phoenix, but we’re sure it wasn’t too many. Blose, who has spent his professional career as a privateer, came through for the TLD team after Jake Moss–Moss was originally slated to ride for the TLD Honda team–broke his neck over the off-season. Now, Blose has a fourth and a fifth place under his belt as we head into Anaheim 2 this weekend, and is clearly making the best of his newfound gig. We caught up with Blose to chat about his two top-five finishes in two weeks and his thoughts on his new ride.

I think it’s safe to say that you surprised a lot of people at both Anaheim 1 and Phoenix. Did you surprise yourself, too, or were you shooting for a top five finish at each race?

I knew I had it within myself to do well, and I don’t think I surprised myself too much. I do, however, think I surprised a lot of people. I don’t think a lot of people were expecting me to have a fourth place finish and a fifth place finish back to back.

You’ve been on the professional circuit for several years, however, a majority of those years you spent as a privateer…

I think this is my third or fourth year riding professionally. Each year I’ve been on privateer equipment. The guys at Wonder Warthog have helped me out over the years, but I now have this new ride with Troy Lee Designs Honda.

How did you end up riding for the TLD Honda team?

I was talking with Troy Lee about the opportunity, but they weren’t having any of it. They had Jake Moss, which was all they were going to do; he, unfortunately, broke his neck so Troy Lee called me up and asked if I’d like to try out and to see how the bikes were. They ended up liking what I had, so here we are now.

How is your race bike this year compared to what you’ve ridden in the past?

These bikes are so much better! Mitch Payton from Pro Circuit has been doing an awesome job with our stuff, and everyone on the team is awesome. These bikes are unbelievable… They are more than I can even ask for.

Was a bit nerve-racking for you during the main event at A1?

I knew I had enough speed to run with those guys, but practice didn’t go too well. I think I was 11th or 12th fastest, but once the main event started I was able to pick up my pace a lot. So, I knew I could run up front, but at the same time, I was up there running with the top guys in the world. It was definitely a little nerve-racking.

With that fourth place at A1, did that make things easier heading into Phoenix?

That fourth place at Anaheim was definitely a good confidence booster, especially since that is my hometown. I felt good all day long, and I was confident with my speed. I was able to lead a few laps in my heat race and was able to come way with a second place, which added to my confidence coming into the main event. I got a decent start in the main event and was able to pass some people. I ended up finishing fifth, so I was happy.

From here on out, what are your goals and expectations?

I want to be inside the top five at every race. I’d say that’s my main goal. Aside from that, I want to get on the podium this year. I know I have the speed to be on the podium, but I just need to get a good start and stay up front.

Last week we ran into David Vuillemin at Glen Helen while he was putting in some laps in preparation for the upcoming 2009 FIM World Motocross Championships. The French racer has picked up stakes here in the US and has returned to his hometown in southern France. DV12 is on a new team, a new bike, with new gear. Just about the only thing that remains the same for the fan favorite is his customary Shark helmet and the unusual style that led his to nickname, Le Cobra. On Tuesday we again saw David, this time at Perris Raceway, doing some very fast laps along with his new teammate on the factory supported Bud Racing Kawasaki team, young Frenchman Gautier Paulin. Enjoy this photo gallery and be sure to check out the video interview of DV12 from last week.

DV12 Interview

Photos by Bayo Olukotun

Last week we ran into David Vuillemin at Glen Helen while he was putting in some laps in preparation for the upcoming 2009 FIM World Motocross Championships. The French racer has picked up stakes here in the US and has returned to his hometown in southern France. DV12 is on a new team, a new bike, with new gear. Just about the only thing that remains the same for the fan favorite is his customary Shark helmet and the unusual style that led his to nickname, Le Cobra. On Tuesday we again saw David, this time at Perris Raceway, doing some very fast laps along with his new teammate on the factory supported Bud Racing Kawasaki team, young Frenchman Gautier Paulin. Enjoy this photo gallery and be sure to check out the video interview of DV12 from last week.

DV12 Interview

Photos by Bayo Olukotun

Click Here

Many trails branching through 600 acres of large rolling hills. Most of the area is public land. OHV sticker required and enforced. Small motocross tracks located near parking area. Large steep hills for technical climbs. Fun for beginner to expert riders.


Read more

Schecter Guitars Supercrossafterparty.com and Monster Energy want to invite all supercross fans to the Supercross After-Party at The Grove for a blow out party with their athletes and the entire industry.
Be one of the first 200 fans to log onto supercrossafterparty.com and join the VIP section and you will get the VIP treatment. No cover charge and a surprise great live show! Log on to find out more. No dress code so come as you are!
If you can’t make it to Anaheim or the after-party log onto www.supercrossafterparty.com to check out updated photo galleries every week from the after-party and the pits.  These are the behind the scenes photos that you can’t find anywhere else! Phoenix, Arizona photo gallery will be up this week!
Supercrossafterparty.com and Monster Energy are going to be Rocking After-Parties at Every Round this year- so don’t miss out on the action whether you make it in person, or just have to live it through the web!
Don’t be mislead there’s only one supercross after party this season! www.supercrossafterparty.com
Grove of Anaheim is located at:
2200 East Katella Avenue
Anaheim CA 92806
www.grove-of-anaheim.com
Tel: (714) 712 – 2700

About Cities2night.com (C2N) – The Supercross After-Party is a C2N production, Cities2night is a lifestyle marketing agency focused on bridging the gap between online social network’s and offline experiences.  C2N acquired JG Marketing Group -Former Supercross racer Jamey “the People’s Champ” Grosser marketing agency in 2008. Jamey originated the Supercross after Party in 1997 with sxap.com.  Jamey Grosser is now Vice President and Partner with Cities2night.  Cites2night.com is currently in 17 cities nationally and two internationally with plans of expansion to 9 more in 2009.  Log on to cities2night.com to join our network and learn more about this exciting company.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it, Supercross, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snowboards, skiing or BMX - name it - the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types - Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend.

Are you truly concerned about your jumping technique/abilities? Do you hope that you’re hitting all the jumps at your local motocross facility with ease and the precise timing of a true professional? Well, if this sounds like you, sit back, relax and soak in a lesson or two from motocross expert, Chris Kelley. You won’t be disappointed.

Colin of FasterUSA stopped by with their latest wheel offering for the 2009 Honda CRF450R. Comprised of red RAD Manufacturing Econo hubs and black Excel signature series rims, these are specifically designed to accept the new stock Honda disc guard and spacer.

These are heavy duty wheels in that they have oversized bearings, 8 gauge spokes in the rear, 9 gauge spokes up front, and steel nipples for added strength. So don’t get it twisted, these may not be for the die-hard, weight-shaving racer out there with a disposable income. These, in fact, are more for the rider out there that pounds out a lot of laps and needs a nice set of rims that can handle some multiple truings. The larger spokes and steel nipples may be a bit heavier than stock, but they are said to be stronger and more durable over time.

We are all aware of the quality that Excel is known for, so it is no surprise they chose these rims. As for the hubs, they are CNC-machined billet aluminum with heavy duty bearings, spacers, and seals, and are made here in the U.S. They carry a one-year warranty.

Faster USA and RAD also offer lightened and frictionless wheelsets at a more “race ready” price as well.

Our wheels are for the CRF450R, but FasterUSA has wheels available for all of other major models. They are priced at $919 and come fully assembled (we hear there is free shipping too).

Check ‘em out at www.fasterusa.com

Experience real head-to-head racing today at Pole Position Raceway and discover why indoor karting is the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Our high-performance European Karts are capable of 45 mph and we also have junior go karts for kids. Pole Position Raceway has invested over $3 million into the world\’s best electric karts, and nothing else compares! Even gas karts don\’t accelerate as hard or as quickly as our modified Formula EK20 race machines! Best of all, the action takes place inside our state-of-the-art climate-controlled facilities, and there\’s nothing like the adrenalin rush of side-by-side action. Pole Position Raceway was built for racers, by racers, and 2004 NASCAR Champ Kurt Busch and 7-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath are among those who helped create this ultimate racing experience. Pole Position Raceway is the ideal place for birthday parties, bachelor parties, corporate team building events and new product launches. If that\’s not enough, all of the action is tracked by Speed Sheet, the industry\’s leading timing and scoring software which creates a detailed stat sheet at the end of every race. It\’s no wonder Racer X magazines said Pole Position Raceway is \”America\’s #1 Indoor Kart Track.\” See you at the races! Visit us @ www.polepositionraceway.com


Read more

After exchanging a few text messages with Geico Powersports Honda rider Trey Canard today, we decided to stop the nonsense and phone him, to see how he’s doing after his horrific heat race crash with Michael Hall on Saturday night in Phoenix.

I didn’t make it to the race this weekend, but when I was perusing the Internet on Saturday night, I couldn’t believe that you didn’t make the main event. For those who didn’t see what happened on television, can you tell us what transpired?

I turbo lawn darted into the ground. I was feeling good all day, and I was really happy with the way I was riding. I just pulled a bone head move on the very first lap of the heat race. I was trying to pass Michael Hall in the whoop section. I went down the inside and he cut over to the inside, and I was carrying a lot of speed and just went straight into him. At least that’s what I think happened from watching the video.

I heard you didn’t line up for the LCQ. Were you pretty banged up?

I hit my head pretty good and was pretty sore. I didn’t think it was safe for me to go out there and ride.

When I texted you earlier today you said that you’ve been better. It sounded like you were pretty bummed out…

For sure. It’s not too much fun to go racing and not line up for the main event or go out there and finish 14^th in the main event. It sucks, but I guess that’s part of it.

I’m sure somebody has already pointed this out to you, but Jason Lawrence did come back to win the title last year after a big point deficit at this point in the season. Is there any comfort in that fact?

He was about 30 points down, and I’m about 50 points down. It would take a miracle–I would have to win every single race and everybody else would need to make some big mistakes. If it’s not going to happen it’s not going to happen. Nothing that I do now is going to make anything better, so I need to concentrate on having some good races. I need to get some solid races under my belt and get things rolling.

Looking beyond results, how do you feel speed wise against the guys on the West Coast?

I feel great! I’ve been on the board every time, and I feel like the speed I have I can run every single lap; it’s not a one lap wonder thing. I need to put that all together and stay out of trouble.

Do you feel like you’re making mistakes right now or is it bad luck?

The first round was definitely bad luck. Everything that happened that night was not my fault. That’s just how the cards played out, but this weekend was totally my fault. Nothing against Michael Hall, I think he is a great rider, but I think I would’ve been around him in two corners if I‘d waited and gave it some time. Even I wasn’t able to move around him, it wouldn’t be a big deal because it’s only a heat race. I just need to learn from my mistakes.

Realistically, do you think we can see you winning some races?

I feel like I can win. It’s just a matter of putting things together and being consistent.

I hate to even mention this, but has anyone given you crap for your mid-week videos on our Web site?

(Laughs) Some people have been pretty pumped on them. It’s kind of a bummer people are more pumped on my video than my results, but at least there is something to be excited about, huh?

Nobody is giving you crap about them since you’re having bad luck, are they?

Not really. I guess you can’t change what’s going on.

I heard that the fender slap made a surprise appearance at Phoenix?

It was there. I pulled it out over the finish line jump in practice and it was pretty sick.

Were their people like at Las Vegas who didn’t get it or did people appreciate it?

I had like 20 people ask me to do it.

Was it the no hander to fender slap or was it the furious fender slap?

It was the furious fender slap.

I think you may need to re-evaluate your list of tricks for X Games Best Trick, because I think the raw fury of the furious fender slap out weighs the grace and air time of the no hander to fender slap.

Oh dude! Any day.

We were joking around the about the furious fender slap, but that will come in very handy at a mud race.

It’d be great! I already think I’ve learned it (laughs).

Miki Keller, founder of the Women’s Motocross Association (WMA), has been leading the forefront of women’s motocross since 2004. Keller is also the one responsible for introducing Women’s Moto X into the 2008 Summer X Games, where Tarah Gieger went on to take home the gold medal. Although Keller has handed over the rights of the WMA to MX Sports, her involvement with series and helping to push the sport of women’s motocross will remain as strong as ever. We were able to chat with Miki about the recent take over of the WMA by MX Sports and what exactly her new role in women’s motocross will consist of.

What exactly was your roll with the WMA?

I am the founder of the Women’s Motocross Association. I have been responsible for every aspect of the business from securing sponsorship dollars, to negotiating with AMA Pro Racing and the National promoters, to securing the TV highlights for the WMA, creating new events like the WMA Cup, working with the media and managing all the PR functions, designing and maintaining the website, writing rulebooks, race operations, creating marketing materials, hoisting up the tent at the races (well usually I find a volunteer to do that); you name it and I think I have done it.

Why sell the WMA to MX Sports?

It has always been my desire to see women’s pro racing fully integrated into the AMA Pro Nationals. Now that MX Sports is the series rights holder they are in a position to make that happen. They have the resources and the infrastructure to take women’s motocross to the next level and make it even more accessible to the fans. Davey Coombs has been someone I could go to when I needed assistance with the women’s program at the Nationals and I feel really confident that they will treat the women as a legitimate part of the program. I will still be involved for the next season at the Nationals.

Now that MX Sports has acquired the rights to the WMA, what will your roll now be?

My title is Women’s Director for the Nationals and I am working on transitioning the series to MX Sports. I will work on behalf of the racers on the schedule, rules making and still oversee the approval process for women’s pro licenses. I’ll be involved in the promotional activities, press opportunities and media training for the riders as well. At the events I will be the point person and coordinate access to the women racers for the media and TV production, among other things.

You founded the WMA in 2004, since ’04 you’ve obviously had many highlights throughout your career. What are a few of your favorite highlights and memories?

I think the first big deal for me was when I put together a TV highlights package with AMA Pro Racing on ESPN and to hear David Bailey commentating about how good the women were racing was incredible. Every time we raced on Sunday at the Nationals felt like a victory. The year Hitachi was a title sponsor of the WMA Nationals was a big achievement of the year the WMA Cup had 270 women entries.

It was always an honor to have different international racers at the WMA like when Katherine Prumm came in and won the opening round at Glen Helen. I have been inspired by so many of the racers that have come back from an injury, like Tarah Gieger or Elizabeth Bash, or ride through an injury like when JP rode with a broken collarbone in 2007 to keep her championship points. It was always a highlight to see a new racer make the podium like Katie McGuire or when Sherri Cruse got her first national win. I always enjoyed watching Tania Satchwell Washougal, which is my home track.

There’s been times when the racers pulled together, like when it felt like we were moving backwards at the Nationals and Tarah, Sarah Whitmore and others wrote letters and voiced there concerns, or when we were preparing for the X Games some of the racers worked together to try to put on a good showing for women and their first supercross event, that was pretty memorable.

More recently, some of the highlights have included being in USA Today and the New York Times, or the ABC Coverage of X Games (and Tarah’s whip). I thought it was huge when the ESPY’s included a nomination of JP for achievements in the WMA, and then the Women’s Sports Foundation (Billy Jean King’s foundation) nominated Ashley for Athlete of the Year for winning the WMA Championship, and then of course Ashely’s cover on TransWorld Motocross was a huge milestone! I have been fortunate to be a part of something new and growing and full of potential.

We saw the women take part in the first-ever Women’s Moto X event at the X Games this past summer. Were you involved in putting that together and is that something we’ll continue to see at X Games?

Yes, I was very involved with the WMA at the X Games and coming from the action sports business, this was another goal of mine. I had the opportunity to fly to San Diego to meet with the ESPN X Games Director of Competition, Tim Reed, and pitch them on a Moto X program for the women. They were so responsive and the deal came together pretty quickly. Then, when they decided to put the women’s race live on ABC, I was really blown away. I knew the fans would appreciate it and that the more mainstream viewer would be seeing women’s racing for the first time. Ratings were super strong and I am already working with ESPN on the 2009 X Games.

What are your thoughts on the current state of women’s motocross?

Promising. This year women’s motocross really turned a corner. There are opportunities for women’s professional racing that just weren’t there before – an 8-stop series alongside the men at the Nationals, the X Games that offers equal purse money to the women and men, and the FIM Women’s World Cup. There’s also increased opportunities for women’s amateur racers. The bigger amateur events now have a few women’s/girls’ classes to race, and there’s a change in the Women’s class at Loretta Lynn’s, which will be good for amateur racers.

What do you think the future holds for women’s motocross?

I think we are going to see more women’s racing on television and in the media, more corporate sponsors (like Hardcard Motorsports Management has already done with Ashley and T-Mobile), and factory support like we have never seen before.

Ashley Fiolek is the first one to dethrone five-time WMA champion, Jessica Patterson. What are your thoughts on Fiolek?

First I have to give it up for Jessica for all the work she has put in to win five championships. Any racer would love to have that credit to their name. JP and Ashley put on some absolutely great racing this summer and it was so fun to watch. As for Ashley she has both the results and charisma to help take the sport to new heights. I really appreciate that she is concerned with how all the women racers are treated in the sport and works to change it and has a lot of respect for her competitors. She also loves interacting with fans and I really think she sees it as a privilege.

Who do you think the next big thing in women’s motocross will be?

It is hard to say who. There are a lot of new great women racers coming up the ranks. For the immediate season Sara Price comes to mind, so does Sherri Cruse, as well as Jacqueline Strong who hurt herself early on last season. Vicki Golden isn’t turning pro this year but she could come on strong in 2010.

Catching Up With Ryan Villopoto

By Donn Maeda

With fifth- and seventh-place finishes to his credit in the first two 450cc Supercross main events of his career, Team Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto isn’t exactly where he wants to be, but at the same time, he is not completely unhappy with his showings in the premier division. We caught up with RV2 on Monday evening to get his take on the first two rounds of 2009…

Two races into the season and you have a fifth and a seventh. That’s not where a lot of people expected to see you. Would you say that’s not where you expected to see yourself, either?

I think it’s good. Well… I wouldn’t say it’s good, but Anaheim was good and Phoenix wasn’t what I was shooting for. I did, however, get two good starts in each heat race, and I’ve been able to run lap times similar to Chad [Reed] and James’ [Stewart] times. I’m not going to say that I can do it for 20 minutes, but I think I can do it for half the race and capitalize on their mistakes, if it comes to that point, of course. I got a bad start at Phoenix and then I got cleaned out. I think I need to get a bad start in the heat race and a good start in the main event or just get two good starts.

During the opening ceremonies, there is this elaborate video of kids on BMX bikes and it talks about being the new kid on the block. Do silly things like that add any pressure on you to step up and be the top guy?

Not really. I didn’t exactly know where I was going to stand with those guys before Anaheim because I’ve never ridden with them. At Anaheim, I was third fastest in the second practice session. I know I have the speed to run with those guys, but if not, I think I can be close to them. As of right now I need to work on my starts.

How is it racing the big bike compared to the Lites bike? Have you found yourself more fatigued, or has Randy [Lawrence] done his job whipping you into shape?

It’s definitely different with those five extra laps, but I think it’s just about racing with those guys. The intensity in the 450 class is a little higher than what it is in the Lites class. All of these guys are running strong for the full 20 laps. I definitely think that I’m in shape to be racing with those guys, maybe not for 20 laps, but long enough to be there at the end.

You’re one of the more low key guys to work with, so when lining up at Anaheim 1, was there any nerves about lining up next to Bubba and Reed?

I was a little nervous. I was definitely nervous at A1 because of all the hype that surrounds that race, so there was more nerves at A1 then there was at Phoenix. I think I handled myself pretty well, though I didn’t really get too nervous when Chad was behind me, but I did make a few mistakes in the qualifier while he was behind me. Actually, I wanted to follow Chad anyways because he was the guy that night. So, it was a good thing for me to follow him while I could in that heat race.

Now that you’re out of the Lites class, who are your picks for the East and West Coast titles this year?

I can’t pick anybody for an East Coast title yet because I haven’t seen any of them ride. I know there are [Austin] Stroupe and [Christohpe] Pourcel, that’s all I know of so far. As far as the West Coast is concerned, I’d say either [Ryan] Dungey or Jake [Weimer]. If I had to pick, I would go with my buddy, Jake, but it’s too early to tell right now.

Have you been impressed with the things Jake has shown you on the track so far?

I think his biggest down fall is that he isn’t the greatest racer when he’s out front. He is definitely much faster during the practice days. Me, Randy, and Jake all go riding together, and I think that is helping him out. He made a little mistake at Phoenix last weekend, but that happens. It seemed like, to me anyways, that he was inching away from Dungey and then he made that mistake. He’s definitely got good speed right now. 

Renthal Brakes, a division of Renthal Ltd., is proud to announce their partnership with the Canidae Motosport Kawasaki race team for the 2009 SX and MX season.  The entire team will be using the brand new RC-1 Works brake pads on the front and rear of their Kawasaki KX250F’s.  Renthal Brakes RC-1 Works Brake Pads are a premium high performance sintered metal brake pad that provide excellent stopping power, a progressive feel and no brake fade.  Better yet, these high end brake pads come in at a very reasonable price of just $34.95 a set.  “We are very excited to have the Canidae Motosport Kawasaki team on board with our brake pads this year.  With 5 riders on the team and numerous race bikes & practice bikes each, our brake pads will definitely receive plenty of use and abuse throughout the week which will help further their development.”  Stated Brad Cameron, Brand Manager for Renthal Brakes.  Bill Keefe, team manager for Canidae Motosport Kawasaki said “We couldn’t be happier partnering up with Renthal for their new Brake Pad line, Renthal has always produced the very best products and their new brake pad is no exception.”

For more information please visit www.renthal.com.

CATCHING UP WITH BEN TOWNLEY
We’ve been Team Red Bull Honda’s Ben Townley all over SoCal recently, whether it’s at our local tracks of in the pits at Supercross. Here’s what our favorite New Zealander had to say.

We spotted you riding out at Perris Raceway recently, so we’re obviously curious about when you’ll return to Supercross…

Hopefully, I’ll return at the end of February. That’s the plan right now. I rode out at the Honda track the morning before Anaheim 1 and that was the first time I’ve ridden Supercross on the new bike. While everybody was out here I decided to go out to the Honda track since nobody would be around. It was also the first time I’ve ridden a 450 on a Supercross track, so I’m just getting back into the swing of things.

How are you feeling? Are you all healed up?

I stopped racing after Hangtown because of my wrist and my shoulder, which were both on my right side and they were getting weaker and weaker. I’ve since had both my wrist and shoulder operated on and everything is healthy again. It has taken longer than expected to heal up, and that’s why I’m not racing. I only started riding a bike four weeks ago, and I’ve been off the bike for seven months. I just can’t show up after seven months off the bike and start racing.

Seven months is a long time. Were you going stir crazy wanting to ride again?

I was! The whole thing with my wrist is what prolonged everything. It didn’t heal up as expected, and we got some other opinions and it turns out I had something else wrong with it, too. I got to a point where I wasn’t even going to race again if my wrist wasn’t going to be normal. Thankfully, though, everything has come around, and I have a great outlook on everything because I’m healthy. It hasn’t been since the MXoN at Budd’s Creek that I’ve been healthy. I went from my shoulder deal to my ankle and then I had a shoulder and wrist deal. It’s been a mess.

What are your impressions of the 2009 CRF450R?

It’s awesome! I love it! It’s just more compact and it suits me a lot. It’s slim around the seat and tank. The bike turns well and the power delivery is awesome… Actually, until last week, I had yet to ride one of our race bikes with suspension and motor. I only had my stock bike with some handlebars at home. I’ve been loving the new bike. My only problem was with the forks because they were a bit too soft. Other than that I love the new bike! I think the fuel injection is a great thing on the new Honda’s.

When you do return to Supercross, what is your strategy going to be?

I want to come back strong, and I’d like to think that I could hover around the top five, but I don’t know. I haven’t raced a 450 in Supercross yet. To be honest, the first day of SX was a handful–I was quite surprised. On a 250F you’re wide open to make everything perfect. Now, however, you have to back off to make things perfect; it’s a whole different animal. It’s cool to be back on the track, but it’s going to take some time. I spent seven months off the bike and just riding motocross is a challenge in itself.

Dungey’s Win Puts him in Lites Class Points Lead

AURORA, Ill. (January 12, 2009) – Two races into the drama-packed Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., picked up the first his first win of the season at Phoenix’s Chase Field and carries the momentum into Angel Stadium this Saturday. This week will be the first of seven Monster Energy® Supercross races that will be broadcast on CBS Sports (Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST).

Media Day will be held Thursday, January 15 inside the Diamond Club at Angel Stadium from Noon-2:00pm. The GEICO Honda team, including Kevin Windham, Trey Canard and Dan Reardon, will be available for interviews and photographs.

Angel Stadium played host to the first race of the 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross season in which Stewart was forced to withdraw from the main event after an early-race crash with rival and defending AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed. Heading in to Phoenix, Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, was 23 points behind points leader and Anaheim 1 race winner Josh Grant. After Saturday night’s win, Stewart climbed to seventh overall in the point standings, narrowing the deficit to 18 points.

“I knew that Chad (Reed) would make it tough on me tonight,” said Stewart. “That is the type of racing that we love to do, and I am pumped because I picked up the win.”

In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race at Chase Field, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., moved into the points lead as he picked up his first win of the season.

Anaheim 1 winner Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, pushed his Pro Circuit Kawasaki into the lead through turn one as he picked up the holeshot with Dungey and P.J. Larsen, of Stanley, N.C., following in second and third respectively before a packed Chase Field crowd.

While leading on lap six, Weimer crashed and allowed Dungey to assume the lead and MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., to move into second place. Dungey finished the race off by completing six solid laps en route to the win. Brayton finished second and Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais finished third.

“After I saw Jake (Weimer ) crash, I knew there were plenty of laps left in the race, so I needed to be smart and consistent,” said Dungey. “I’m happy to move into the points lead as we head back to Anaheim next weekend.”

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com <http://www.supercrossonline.com/> , by phone at 714-740-2000 or 213-480-3232, the Angel Stadium box office, Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level and Diamond Club seats are $75; Trackside Seats are $45; Extreme seats are $35; Upper Deck seats are $30 for adults and $15 for kids. All seats are $2 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.  Just recycle any empty Monster Energy can at the Pit Entrance for your free admission to the Pit Party with a valid Saturday ticket from 12:30PM – 6:00PM.  Pit Passes will also be available for purchase for $10 on the event day at the Angel Stadium box office.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Phoenix
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
Josh Grant,  Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
Ivan Tedesco,  Tallahasse, Fla., Honda
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki
Josh Hill,  Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
Josh Grant,  Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 45
Chad Reed,  Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 42
Andrew Short,  Smithville, Texas, Honda, 38
Ivan  Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 33
Tim Ferry,  Largo,  Fla.,  Kawasaki, 30
Ryan Villopoto,  Poulsbo, Wash.,  Kawasaki, 30
James Stewart,  Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 27
Kevin Windham,  Centerville, Miss., Honda, 21
Davi Millsaps,  Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 21
Mike Alessi,  Apple  Valley,  Calif., Suzuki, 20

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Phoenix
Ryan Dungey, Belle  Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
Justin Brayton,  Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Ryan Morais,  Murrieta, Calif.,  Kawasaki
Jake Weimer,  Rupert, Idaho,  Kawasaki
Chris Blose,  Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
PJ  Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken.,  KTM
Cedric  Souberas, Entraygues Songue, Yamaha
Ben Evans,  Boise, Idaho, Honda
Dan Reardon,  Menifee, Calif., Honda

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
Ryan Dungey, Belle  Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 45
Jake Weimer,  Rupert, Idaho,  Kawasaki, 43
Ryan  Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 42
Justin  Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 36
Chris Blose,  Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 34
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM,  29
Ben  Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 24
Cedric  Souberas, Entraygues Songue, Yamaha, 18
Adam Chatfield,  Cherry  Valley,  Calif., Honda, 17
Jason Lawrence,  Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 16

Past Winners in Anaheim

AMA Supercross Class
January 10, 2009: Jake                           Jake Weimer
January 5, 2008:                                    Chad Reed
January 19, 2008:                                  Chad Reed
February 2, 2008:                                   Chad Reed
January 6, 2007:                                    James Stewart
January 20, 2007:                                  James Stewart
February 3, 2007:                                   James Stewart
January  07, 2006:                                             James Stewart
January 21, 2006:                                  Ricky Carmichael
February  04, 2006:                                Ricky Carmichael
January 8, 2005                                     Kevin Windham
January 22, 2005                                   Ricky Carmichael
February 5, 2005                                    Ricky Carmichael
January 3, 2004                                     Chad Reed
January 17, 2004                                   Chad Reed
January 31, 2004                                   Kevin Windham
January  04, 2003:                                 Chad Reed
January 18, 2003:                                  Ricky Carmichael
February  01, 2003:                                Ricky Carmichael
January 05, 2002:                                  David Vuillemin
January 19, 2002:                                  Mike LaRocco
February 02, 2002:                                 Ricky Carmichael
January 06, 2001:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 20, 2001:                                  Jeremy McGrath
February 03, 2001:                                 Ricky Carmichael
January 8, 2000:                                    Jeremy McGrath
January 15, 2000:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 09, 1999:                                  Ezra Lusk
February 06, 1999:                                 Ezra Lusk
January 27, 1996:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 28, 1995:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 29, 1994:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 23, 1993:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 25, 1992:                                  Damon Bradshaw
January 26, 1991:                                  Jeff Stanton
January 27, 1990:                                  Damon Bradshaw
January 28, 1989:                                  Rick Johnson
January 31, 1987:                                  Jeff Ward
January 18, 1986:                                  David Bailey
February 02, 1985:                                 Broc Glover
January 28, 1984:                                  Johnny O’Mara
January 29, 1983:                                  David Bailey
January 30, 1982:                                  Donnie Hansen
January 31, 1981:                                  Kent Howerton
November 17, 1979:                               Kent Howerton
November 11, 1978:                               Gaylon Mosier
November 12, 1977:                               Bob Hannah
December 04, 1976:                               Marty Smith

AMA Supercross Lites Class
January 10, 2009                                   Josh Grant
January 5, 2008:                                    Ryan Dungey
January 19, 2008:                                  Ryan Dungey
February 2, 2008:                                   Jason Lawrence
January 6, 2007:                                    Ryan Villopoto
January 20, 2007:                                  Ryan Villopoto
February 3, 2007:                                   Ryan Villopoto
January  07, 2006:                                 Andrew Short
January 21, 2006:                                  Grant Langston
February 04, 2006:                                 Grant Langston
January 8, 2005                                     Nathan Ramsey
January 22, 2005                                   Ivan Tedesco
February 5, 2005                                    Ivan Tedesco
January 3, 2004                                     Ivan Tedesco
January 17, 2004                                   Ivan Tedesco
January 31, 2004                                   Ivan Tedesco
January 04, 2003:                                  Travis Preston
January 18, 2003:                                  James Stewart Jr.
February 01, 2003:                                 James Stewart Jr.
January 05, 2002:                                  Travis Preston
January 19, 2002:                                  David Pingree
February 02, 2002:                                 Brock Sellards
January 06, 2001:                                  Ernesto Fonseca
January 20, 2001:                                  Ernesto Fonseca
February 03, 2001:                                 Ernesto Fonseca
January 8, 2000:                                    David Pingree
January 15, 2000:                                  Tallon Vohland
January 09, 1999:                                  Casey Johnson
February 06, 1999:                                 Nathan Ramsey
January 27, 1996:                                  Kevin Windham
January 28, 1995:                                  Damon Huffman
January 29, 1994:                                  Damon Huffman
January 09, 1993:                                  Damon Huffman
January 25, 1992:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 26, 1991:                                  Jeremy McGrath
January 27, 1990:                                  Michael Craig
January 28, 1989:                                  Jeff Matiasevich
January 31, 1987:                                  Jeff Matiasevich
January 18, 1986:                                  Tyson Vohland
February 02, 1985:                                 Mike Healy

This Saturday night’s AMA Supercross class race will air on Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST on CBS Sports. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

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 <mailto:dennyhartwig@livenation.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

David Vuillemin has had himself a great deal of success during his 10 year stint racing American motocross and Supercross. After moving to the United States full time in 2000, Le Cobra went on to take home 10 career wins; a majority of which came from the Supercross track. Now, however, DV12 is writing a new chapter in his career–returning to Europe to compete in the MX1 World Championships aboard a Bud Racing Kawasaki. We caught up with Vuillemin recently to chat about success in the States and his return to Europe.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Series Added as Third Class to 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Morgantown, W. Va. (January 12, 2009) - MX Sports announced today that it has acquired the Women’s Motocross Association (WMA) National Championship. As a result, the Women’s Motocross Championship will be fully integrated into the AMA Pro Motocross Championship beginning with the 2009 season.

MX Sports acquired the rights to the WMA from its founder Miki Keller. Based out of Oregon, Keller founded the company in 2004 and dedicated herself to the growth of women’s motocross, building a legitimate women’s championship that draws top racers from around the world as competitors.

Keller will remain an integral part of the women’s program, consulting for MX Sports and working as the Women’s Director on a contractual basis. She will continue to work independently on other projects including with ESPN on Women’s Moto X at the X Games.

“I am thrilled with this latest development for the WMA and women’s professional motocross,” said Keller. “This validates my original belief that women racers are worthy of competing in their own series and young riders deserve to have a top level championship to aspire to.”

MX Sports Vice President Davey Coombs added, “Miki has done an outstanding job developing and nurturing women’s motocross and leading the sport into the spotlight and mainstream acceptance. With the new role of MX Sports as operators of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, we are finally in a position to provide the women racers the treatment they have earned in the series. Additionally, we look forward to working with Miki on the transition and into the 2009 season.”

Plans are already underway to continue improvements to the women’s program. The 2009 schedule will feature eight rounds of women’s racing with both motos on Saturday in the new one-day national format.

“This is huge news for the sport of women’s motocross here in the U.S.,” said 2008 Champion Ashley Fiolek. “We all know that Miki Keller has worked tirelessly to improve the environment for women in this sport and for the WMA to make another step forward with MX Sports is awesome. I look forward to defending my WMA Championship in 2009 and working with Miki and the MX Sports team to further improve the series.”

Operationally, the 2009 Women’s Class technical regulations will be the same as the men’s 250 Class (formerly AMA Motocross Lites) and the women will be required to go through the same tech inspection while also attending the riders meetings at each event.

On the marketing side, the Women’s Class will be included in the MX Sports television package and will be featured in the live webcast at each round where they compete. The women will also be promoted in pre-event media initiatives along with the post-event press conferences.

“This commitment to the women’s pro class by MX Sports is a milestone for women’s motocross and women athletes as a whole,” added Keller. “It creates more career opportunities for the current women riders and offers aspiring women racers a shot at a career in professional motocross. I could not be more proud.”

2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Women’s Class Schedule
May 23 Glen Helen Raceway San Bernardino, Calif.
May 30 Hangtown Motocross Classic Sacramento, Calif.
June 6 Freestone Raceway Wortham, Texas
June 13 High Point Raceway Mt. Morris, Calif.
June 27 Thunder Valley Motocross Lakewood, Col.
July 25 Washougal MX Park Washougal, Wash.
August 29 Moto-X 338 Southwick, Mass.
Sept. 5 Steel City Raceway Delmont, Pa.

2008 WMA National Championship Top-10
1 Ashley Fiolek
2 Jessica Patterson
3 Sarah Whitmore
4 Tarah Gieger
5 Sherri Cruse
6 Mariana Balbi
7 Elizabeth Bash
8 Tatum Sik
9 Ayla Cabus
10 Alisa Nix

2009 Women’s Class National Numbers
1 Ashley Fiolek *
2 Alisa Nix *
3 Sherri Cruse *
5 Mariana Balbi *
11 April Zastrow *
12 Ashley Boham *
14 Katie McGuire
15 Penni Cyrus
17 Kristine Wright
18 Lauren Volentir
20 Kimberly Kocher
21 Marissa Markelon
23 Casuandra Regal
24 Kirsten Raemisch
25 Sayaka Kaneshiro
26 Taylor Miller
28 Katelyn Crowley
29 Danielle Sawicki
32 Jenn Mead
33 Elizabeth Bash *
34 Jenna Smith
35 Jenny Mortimer
36 Lindsey Jelitto
37 Taryn Covington
38 Bonnie Warch
63 Jolene Van Vugt *
68 Tarah Gieger *
75 Vanessa Florentino *
76 Jackie Ives
78 Sara Price
89 Sarah Whitmore *
105 Tania Satchwell *
114 Maria Forsberg
174 Nicole Madsen
184 Hailey Larson
120 Aubriana Dunn
188 Alyssa Fitch
190 Sydney Babcock
250 Jessica Patterson *
254 Jacqueline Strong
265 Brittany Gagne
323 Jocelyn Killough
334 Tatum Sik *
410 Julie Parizek
473 Ayla Cabus *
569 Jessica Smith
905 Meika Cornelius *

* Denotes earned career number

For more information, please contact 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 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, 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.

With two rounds in the books for this year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross series things are beginning to heat up in both championship battles. After the wild night at the opening round in Anaheim, the action in the Supercross class didn’t dissappoint at round two as James Stewart and Chad Reed had one of the closest races in recent memory. In the Lites class, first round winner Jake Weimer tipped over while leading, giving a relatively easy win to Ryan Dungey. But the on track racing wasn’t all that went down at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Check out Monday Kickstart below to get filled in on everything else. Also, don’t forget to click the accompanying links to take a look at the other interviews and photo galleries from throughout the weekend.

Catching Up With…Ryan Dungey

Catching Up With…Jake Weimer

Catching Up With…Josh Grant

Catching Up With…Sean Hamblin

Practice Gallery One

Practice Gallery Two

Read more

Read more

Words and photos by Brendan Lutes

After last week’s dramatic turn of events at round one in Anaheim, California, where series favorites Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart came together in the whoops, crashing and effectively ending a chance either one had at winning the race, the two heavy hitters looked towards round two inside the confines of Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, as a new beginning. Be that as it may, though, JGR/Yamaha’s rookie 450 racer—and round one winner—Josh Grant tasted victory and wanted more. When the gate hit the dirt for the start of the night’s main event, however, things turned out exactly how Stewart and Reed had hoped—both were up front, battling dramatically until the end with Stewart taking the victory by the skin of his teeth over rival Reed.

In the Lites class, first round winner Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer was looking to continue the momentum he had, however, after taking the holeshot and leading for the first third of the race, a costly mistake in the sand section cost him the race. The bobble allowed Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey to take over first, and with it his first win of the season.

LITES QUALIFYING

          �The first race of the night saw Troy Lee Designs/Honda’s Chris Blose jump out to the early lead followed closely by Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer. After only a few laps, though, Weimer managed to take over first and pull away. Behind the top two, Geico Powersports/Honda’s Dan Reardon, MDK/KTM’s Ryan Sipes, and Brawndo/Honda’s Ryan Clark battled for third. When the checkered flag waved, though, Weimer cruised in for the win followed by Blose, Reardon, Sipes, and Clark.

          �The second heat of the night had the potential to be action packed as rivals Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey and Boost Mobile/AM/PM/Monster’s Jason Lawrence were both on the line. As it turned out, though, the battle never materialized—Lawrence crashed early on and was never a factor in the short qualifier. Dungey on the other hand quickly worked his way into the lead and checked out. Finishing behind the Suzuki rider was MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton with privateer Honda-mounted Eric McCrumman taking third.

          �The LCQ was relatively uneventful, as DNA Energy/Butler Brothers/Honda’s Shaun Skinner led from start to finish. It is worth noting, however, that both Jason Lawrence and Geico Powersports/Honda’s Trey Canard failed to qualify. Lawrence suffered from a poor start and could not slice his way through the pack in time, while Canard crashed.

HEAT ONE:

1.   �Jake Weimer (Kaw)

2.   �Chris Blose (Hon)

3.   �Dan Reardon (Hon)

4.   �Ryan Sipes (KTM)

5.   �Ryan Clark (Hon)

6.   �P.J. Larsen (Kaw)

7.   �Daniel Hendrix (Hon)

8.   �Adam Chatfield (Hon)

9.   �Michael Sleeter (KTM)

HEAT TWO

1.   �Ryan Dungey (Suz)

2.   �Justin Brayton (KTM)

3.   �Eric McCrummen (Hon)

4.   �Cole Seely (Suz)

5.   �Ryan Morais (Kaw)

6.   �Cedric Soubeyras (Yam)

7.   �Topher Ingalls (Yam)

8.   �Michael Blose (Hon)

9.   �Ben Evans (Hon)

10.�Shaun Skinner (Hon)

LCQ:

1.   �Shaun Skinner (Hon)

2.   �Alex Martin (Hon)

3.   �Derek Costella (Hon)

4.   �Michael Horban (Yam)

5.   �Sean Borkenhagen (Hon)

6.   �Sean Collier (Yam)

7.   �Chris Gosselaar (Kaw)

8.   �Jason Lawrence (Yam)

9.   �Scott Champion (Hon)

10.�Vernon McKiddle (Hon)

SUPERCROSS QUALIFYING

          �The first heat saw Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto jump out to the early lead with Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps in second and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed not far behind in third. Within only a few laps, though, Reed was around Millsaps and gaining on Villopoto out front. By the mid way point, Reed was right on Villopoto and within a lap he move around him and quickly opened up a comfortable lead over the young rider. When the checkered flag came out, Reed took the win followed by Windham—who consistently worked his way up, getting around Villopoto in the closing stages of the race—and Villopto. Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short finished fourth with his teammate Millsaps fifth.

          �When the gate dropped for the second heat, JGR/Yamaha’s Josh Grant took the holeshot followed by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart and the rest of the field. On the first lap, though, Stewart moved around Grant and began to open up a sizeable lead in the short eight-lap race. Behind the top two, Jagermiester/KTM’s Josh Summey battled with Red Bull Honda’s Ivan Tedesco for third. In the end, Stewart took the win while Grant finished second, Summey third, and Tedesco fourth.

          �In the LCQ, Honda-mounted Matt Boni led from start to finish to take the win and one of the final transfer spots to the main. Honda privateer Daniel Blair took second—the last transfer position.

HEAT ONE:

1.   �Chad Reed (Suz)

2.   �Kevin Windham (Hon)

3.   �Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)

4.   �Andrew Short (Hon)

5.   �Davi Millsaps (Hon)

6.   �Mike Alessi (Suz)

7.   �Bobby Kiniry (Kaw)

8.   �Troy Adams (Hon)

9.   �Nick Wey (Yam)

10.�Steve Boniface (Hon)

HEAT TWO:

1.   �James Stewart (Yam)

2.   �Josh Grant (Yam)

3.   �Charles Summey (KTM)

4.   �Ivan Tedesco (Hon)

5.   �Timmy Ferry (Kaw)

6.   �Josh Hill (Yam)

7.   �Josh Hansen (Yam)

8.   �Paul Carpenter (Kaw)

9.   �Travis Preston (KTM)

10.�Cole Siebler (Hon)

LCQ:

1.   �Matt Boni (Hon)

2.   �Daniel Blair (Hon)

3.   �Sean Hamblin (Yam)

4.   �Cole Siebler (Hon)

5.   �Steve Boniface (Hon)

6.   �Kyle Partridge (Hon)

7.   �Manuel Rivas (Kaw)

8.   �Greg Crater (Hon)

9.   �Troy Carroll (Kaw)

10.�Ben Coisy (Hon)

LITES CLASS MAIN EVENT

          �The start of this race saw Jake Weimer take the holeshot followed closely by Ryan Dungey, rookie P.J. Larsen, Justin Brayton, and Ryan Morais. Within only four laps though, Larsen had dropped back to fifth with Brayton taking over third and Morais fourth. Up front, Weimer continued to lead while Dungey applied the pressure in second. After six laps in the lead, however, Weimer went down in the sand section, allowing Dungey to take over first, dropping Weimer back to fifth and moving Brayton to second while Morais took over third. From there, Dungey began to check out while Weimer worked his way past Chris Blose and into fourth where he stayed until the end. When it was all over, Dungey took his first win of the season followed by Brayton, Morais, and Weimer. The win also moved Dungey into the points lead, which he now holds by a slim two-point margin over Weimer. 

MAIN EVENT RESULTS:

1.   �Ryan Dungey (Suz)

2.   �Justin Brayton (KTM)

3.   �Ryan Morais (Kaw)

4.   �Jake Weimer (Kaw)

5.   �Chris Blose (Hon)

6.   �P.J. Larsen (Kaw)

7.   �Ryan Sipes (KTM)

8.   �Cedric Soubeyras (Yam)

9.   �Ben Evans (Hon)

10.�Dan Reardon (Hon)

11.�Cole Seely (Suz)

12.�Adam Chatfield (Hon)

13.�Eric McCrummen (Hon)

14.�Shaun Skinner (Hon)

15.�Michael Sleeter (KTM)

16.�Alex Martin (Hon)

17.�Topher Ingalls (Yam)

18.�Michael Blose (Hon)

19.�Daniel Hendrix (Hon)

20.�Ryan Clark (Hon)

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROS WEST COAST LITES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 8 rounds):

1.   �Ryan Dungey (45/1 win)

2.   �Jake Weimer (43/1 win)

3.   �Ryan Morais (42)

4.   �Justin Brayton (36)

5.   �Chris Blose (34)

6.   �Ryan Sipes (29)

7.   �Ben Evans (24)

8.   �Cedric Soubeyras (18)

9.   �Adam Chatfield (17)

10.�Jason Lawrence (16)

SUPERCROSS CLASS MAIN EVENT

          �When the gate dropped for the final race of the night, the huge crowd inside Chase Field erupted as Josh Grant ripped yet another holeshot aboard his YZ450F. Behind him, though, were James Stewart and Chad Reed. Before the first lap was over, Stewart moved into the lead, and two laps later Reed took over second, dropping Grant back to third. From there, the race was on as Reed charged to catch back up to Stewart. By the midway point, Reed had closed enough on Stewart that he actually was able to attempt to pass him a couple of times. But like James has done on so many other occasions, he didn’t crack under the pressure. Reed did his best, but by the end of the 20-lap main event, Stewart crossed the line only a few bike lengths ahead of the speedy Australian. Behind the two rivals, Grant sat comfortably in third and well ahead of fourth-placed Ivan Tedesco. In fact, the running order from third to sixth never changed for the duration of the race—all the excitement was focused around Reed and Stewart. In the end, the finished order was as follows: Stewart, Reed, Grant, Tedesco, and Andrew Short.

MAIN EVENT RESULTS:

1.   �James Stewart (Kaw)

2.   �Chad Reed (Yam)

3.   �Josh Grant (Yam)

4.   �Ivan Tedesco (Hon)

5.   �Andrew Short (Hon)

6.   �Kevin Windham (Hon)

7.   �Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)

8.   �Josh Hill (Yam)

9.   �Timmy Ferry (Kaw)

10.�Davi Millsaps (Hon)

11.�Mike Alessi (Hon)

12.�Charles Summey (KTM)

13.�Paul Carpenter (Kaw)

14.�Travis Preston (KTM)

15.�Nick Wey (Yam)

16.�Bobby Kiniry (Kaw)

17.�Josh Hansen (Hon)

18.�Daniel Blair (Hon)

19.�Troy Adams (Hon)

20.�Matt Boni (Hon)

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 17 rounds):

1.   �Josh Grant (45/1 win)

2.   �Chad Reed (42)

3.   �Andrew Short (38)

4.   �Ivan Tedesco (33)

5.   �Timmy Ferry (30)

6.   �Ryan Villopoto (30)

7.   �James Stewart (27/1 win)

8.   �Kevin Windham (21)

9.   �Davi Millsaps (20)

10.�Mike Alessi (20)

JGR’s Josh Grant not only shocked the Anaheim fans last weekend with his first-ever 450 Supercross win, but also himself, too. Grant, who has spent several years in the Lites class trying to bring home a championship, seems to have made the transition from the Lites bike to 450 with relative ease–looking smooth, consistent, and in-control. We caught up with Grant shortly before the track walk to chat about his first 450 Supercross win in only his second endeavor.

How’s everything been going since your first big win last weekend?

It’s been going well. I had an awesome week, and I’ve had some time to watch the race and soak it all up.

What was it like to capture your first big win like that?

It felt just like it did when I wont my first Lites race in Atlanta. It’s a feeling that you never want to let go of. It was great for the team and me.

You were running a strong third in the main event, and then those guys went down. What were you thinking once you inherited the lead?

I knew that those guys were going for it and they had faster lap times and I had. I was able to settle into a pace that I was comfortable with, and then when I saw them go down I was just like, ‘Oh goodness. Here we go.’ I put my head down and rode the next 16 laps as smooth as possible.

We all thought you had the win in the bag, but then you snagged a Tuff Block on the second to last lap…

I didn’t even know I collected the thing. I just thought something was wrong with my bike because it was slowing down. I didn’t even realize I had a Tuff Block in my rear wheel until I got up to the podium. I couldn’t believe that thing was in my wheel! When I watched the video I was thinking I should’ve just pulled over and tried to yank the thing out (laughs).

You almost went over the bars a couple of times, right?

Yeah. I had a couple of close calls because I didn’t have any rear brakes. I just had to soak it up (laughs).

What’s it like riding without any back brakes?

Dude! It is so tough. When I would come into the corners, I would have to run it up pretty high, slow down really early, and use a lot of front brakes. It was good; I just had to do whatever I could to get through those 20 laps.

Switching subjects a little bit, what’s the new team been like?

It’s been great! These guys have really helped me out, and we’ve done a lot of testing to adjust to a new bike and team. Everything has been really good because this whole team puts their whole heart into everything. It’s cool!

You’ve always been a good 450 rider, so what were you expecting coming into the first round and your first full season on the big bike?

I was expecting to be inside the top five or top 10, for sure. I wanted to be consistent and feel it out and see where I was. After that I realized I could be a podium contender every weekend as long as we continue doing our homework.

Do you guys have this bitchin’ spot in the pits because you’re leading the points right now?

I don’t know (laughs). I’m not sure if it’s because of that or not. But this is definitely a good spot. We’re in the front row, so as long as we keep doing it we’ll be good. 

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer came out swinging last weekend, taking home his second career Supercross victory. And after several years of injuries and bad luck, Weimer is aiming to maintain a consistent season and hopefully walk away with his first-ever Lites Supercross title. We caught up with the current West Coast Lites Supercross point’s leader today to pick his brain about his new ride with Pro Circuit and his expectations for the season.

We’re here in Phoenix this weekend, which is where you procured your first-ever Supercross win last year. Last weekend, you won your second Supercross racer of your career. How’d that feel?

It was good. I was super; super excited because Anaheim 1 is always a big deal and everybody comes out swinging. It was good to go out there and win like that on the new team.

In the feature we did with you, you said you expected to win, but were you surprised to win in such a dominant fashion?

Not really. That’s kind of what I was expecting of myself. It was more of a big sigh of relief. I felt like I lifted some weight off my shoulders with that win. You get hired to ride for Pro Circuit and there are clearly some high expectations. It feels like you have some shoes to fill, especially since Ryan [Villopoto] has moved up to the 450 class this year. So, it was definitely nice to go out there and win the opener.

It was more of you realizing you could actually do what you thought you could do?

Yeah, exactly. It was good to plan on doing something and following through on that plan and watching it happen. It was a big confidence booster. My goal coming into Anaheim 1 wasn’t to actually win. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t throw away any valuable points and that I had a solid race. To end up winning like I did was perfect.

Your teammate, Ryan Morais, finished right behind you. Is their any friendly competition going on between the two of you?

We don’t really talk about it too much. Ryan and I get a long really well, and I think he is a really cool guy. We seem to get a long really well, and we were high fiving each other after the race. We were both excited for each other, but I am sure he wants to beat me as much as I want to beat him. It’s just one of those things where you need to leave it on the track and play safe; it’s important that we don’t do anything stupid. I tried to play it smart in the qualifier, so it’s not too big of a deal.

Mitch [Payton] has to be pretty happy about the way you guys finished last weekend…

Yeah. As far as I could tell, he was pretty happy with our performances. Looking back at the tapes, it was good that we finished first and second because we both didn’t have a real amazing race. We both made quite a few mistakes that cost us, so it was good to see that we pulled off a first and second but still have more in us. I think everybody is really excited.

What do you expect from yourself at the rest of the races?

I don’t feel like I have to win; I just need to make every race count. I need to get good starts, put myself in good situations, and ride 15 solid laps; if I can do that I’ll be happy. If I do that I’m convinced I’ll be somewhere up front anyways. Obviously to come out here and win would be perfect, but I’m just trying to focus on myself and get a good start. I need to be smart and not do anything stupid.

It’s been an interesting week for Rockstar/Makita/Suzuk’s Ryan Dungey. Rumors were flying since A1 that Dungey would not be wearing his One Industries gear the following weekend because of the signing of Jason Lawrence. Well, only a few short days afer Anaheim 1, Dungey was released from his One Industries contract and has since signed with Fox Racing. While cruising the pits this morning at the Phoenix Supercross, we caught up with Dungey to get the scoop about his gear deal, his thoughts on A1, and his thoughts about J-Law calling him out. 

Walk us through last weekend at Anaheim 1…

There was a lot going on, that’s for sure. I crashed in the heat race and ended up in the LCQ, so I knew I needed to get a good start in the main event. I didn’t get the best start in the main, but I was able to land on the podium after going through all of that stuff. My team worked really hard to get everything dialed in, and we worked as a team and things went pretty well.

I spotted your mechanic stretching your arm before the main event; was that a result of your crash in the qualifier?

No (laughs)! I saw some photos and people talking about that online, but that had nothing to do with my crash. To be honest, my arm was just tight that night, so we were just stretching out my whole arm. I was 100 percent healthy and thankful to get up from that crash. I know it was a pretty nasty crash, but I was just fine.

Now that you have the first round out of the way and the butterflies aren’t there anymore, what are your goals?

The first round is always difficult because we are all curious to see where we stand after having three or four months off. I didn’t really have any worries. I know where I am at, and I know that I’m on top of my game. I think I had a little bit of a bad night last weekend, but it wasn’t too bad because I did end up on the podium. Coming into tonight, I’d like to win. I need to ride my hardest and give it everything I have and hopefully come out on top.

Can you shed some light on what happened between you and One Industries?

I can’t really say too much about the One Industries deal; it was definitely an unfortunate deal. Looking on the Internet, I see all of this stuff about me throwing my gear out the back of the truck and that never even happened (laughs). People think it has to do with [Jason] Lawrence, but it has nothing to do with Lawrence. I’m just happy to be a part of the Fox Racing family and be moving forward with them. At the end of the day I am really happy to be with Fox.

I heard you were already speaking with Fox before the One Industries deal came through. Did that attribute to this Fox deal coming through so quick?

I think I can say that during the off-season you definitely need to keep your options open, but as far as that goes, it had nothing to do with that.

How is the new gear?

It’s awesome! It fits really well, and I get to work with some really cool people. I am stoked. Thursday was the first time I rode in the new gear, and I’m super pumped on the whole deal.

I know you’re trying to stay low, but Lawrence has said quite a few things about you on our Web site. What do you have to say about that?

We have a rivalry. I think I feed off of little things like that. I don’t go on Mototalk because stuff like that is a waste of time. Jason and I definitely have some history and it’s not going to go away. At the end of the day we’re going to race and probably have even more press for our sport. I’m not going to get online and look at what everybody has to say because I really don’t care. When we’re out there racing I know what I need to do to make things happen and that’s all that matters.

a very rough outdooresque track. if you like ruts and high speed motocross this is your track. you will get worn out for sure.


Read more

Sean Hamblin just dropped a line to TransWorld Motocross from his hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona, and the California native is excited about his unexpected return to racing.

So Hamy, when I texted you from the pressbox last Saturday and said, “Hey man, with Hepler hurt, you should walk into the Yamaha pits and yell, ‘Whazzuuuppppp!’” you replied, “Haha. Funny guy.” From now on, are you gonna take my career advice?

(Laughs) Yeah man, how funny is that? A little while later, Keith McCarty approached Robyn and I in the Knothole and asked if I would be interested in racing some Supercross. I told I’m that if the right opportunity presented itself, I would certainly consider it. That Monday, I got a call from Jim Perry and I was at the Yamaha track testing a factory bike by noon!

Have you cleared out the Supercross cobwebs, then?

Yeah, I rode every day this week, so considering that I have five days of riding Supercross under my belt, I am feeling pretty good.

Have you kept up on your training and riding in the interim, when your future was uncertain?

As well as I could. I rode motocross whenever I got the chance. Riding Supercross, of course, is totally different, so I can’t really say I stayed in shape for SX. We’ll see how it goes from this weekend on.

The press release read as if you were only on the team until Hepler returns. Is there a chance of you proving yourself and earning your way onto the team for the remainder of the season?

Well, the equipment is there, its just a matter of money, or a lack thereof. If they can find some funding, and I am riding well enough, I do think there may be an opportunity there.

So bud, how stoked are you? Lightning strikes three times for Hambone!

I’m really excited. To get another opportunity to race on factory machinery is incredible. I am going to ride my best.

So what are you going to be wearing?

Well, I am back with Shoei helmets, which I am very excited about. And I will be in all Alpinestars gear beyond that. And Spy goggles.

What are you hoping to accomplish in Phoenix?

Just to get into the main event. That will be a good start, and I can build on it from there.

Good luck, Sean.

Thanks!

Get the Flash Player to see this player. i dont know what he was thinking

Oceanside, CA – January 9, 2009 – TransWorld Motocross, the world’s largest Motocross magazine, announced record Web traffic in December. Monthly pageviews on transworldmotocross.com hit the 24-million mark, more than doubling the site’s previous record of 10.5-million set in January 2007.This milestone also marks the highest number of page views for any TransWorld site in a one month period.

Transworldmotocross.com’s huge web numbers culminated in its detailed coverage of the opening round of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series: Anaheim 1. To gear up for the January event, TransWorld Motocross staff began compiling all the best info on the upcoming Supercross season in December, including competitor interviews and videos and details about the event.

“Anaheim 1 is the biggest event of the year for motocross fans,” said TransWorld Motocross’ Editor In Chief Donn Maeda. “Knowing well that the entire mx world would be thirsting for information about the whos, whats and whys about the event, we did our best to satisfy them with plenty of Supercross news, photos and videos.”

Aside from stellar Supercross coverage, TransWorld Motocross’ continued coverage of all things mx catapulted its December online video and photo views to 12.9 million and 5.9 million, respectively. And since this is just the start of the season, expect the numbers to keep climbing.

About TransWorld Motocross
TransWorld Motocross is the largest motocross publication in the world, delivering its audience of new and
experienced motocross enthusiasts comprehensive lifestyle coverage of their favorite sport. Found online at
transworldmotocross.com, TransWorld Motocross is published by TransWorld Media, the world’s leading action sports media company.

TransWorld Media is a division of the Bonnier Corporation. Bonnier Corporation (bonniercorp.com) is one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.

Lutes is on his way to Phoenix to cover the second round of the 2009 AMA Supercross series, but he still managed to edit and compress a video of Nick Wey for your enjoyment…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

BREA, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2009) – Continuing its long tradition of supporting amateur and professional racers, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) launched its 2009 Motocross Contingency program. At racing events nationwide, Suzuki riders can earn money when they race an RM or RM-Z motocross bike to a top finish.
“American Suzuki has been a leading supporter of amateur and professional racing nationwide, on both street and MX motorcycles,” said Pat Alexander, Sports Promotions Manager for American Suzuki. “Through our continued financial support of amateur racing, we hope to maintain the growth of amateur racing, and to develop future Suzuki champions like Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed.”
American Suzuki has fostered motocross racing locally and regionally for more than 20 years through its contingency program. With financial support for top finishers in events from Maine to California, the Suzuki Contingency program can benefit Suzuki racers nationwide. New for 2009, Suzuki racers can be paid for strong finishes in two classes per registered motorcycle.
Money is allocated to racers via the Suzuki Value-Added Contingency Cards. Contingency earnings are added to a racer’s card throughout the year of competition. Amateur and professional riders can spend their money anywhere Visa ® is accepted; professional racers can make cash withdrawals at the nearest ATM.
Anyone who buys a 2008 or 2009 Suzuki RM85 or 85L, RM250, RM-Z250 or RM-Z450 is eligible to earn contingency money through the Suzuki program. Riders can find complete details of the Suzuki MX Contingency program on the Team Suzuki website at www.teamsuzuki.com.

About American Suzuki
The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC).  ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states.  ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines.  Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries.

DESTROYER FILMS’ CROSSING THE LINE DVD
PRICE: $24.95
RATING: 8

//WHAT IT IS: In Crossing the Line, Destroyer Films takes you inside the 2008 Canadian Motocross Nationals round by round with race footage, rider commentary, and the quality videography Destroyer is know for.

//HITS: The race footage is amazing. The tracks in Canada are gnarly, and it was great to get a first-hand look at how the riders negotiate a Northern-style track. Almost all of the footage is live-action; very little slow motion was utilized, and though we love slo-mo, the constant full-speed kept the pace of the video up. The rider commentary broke up the race footage enough that the video’s flow was not choppy. The b-roll, or supplemental footage, also helped break up the action footage, but was used sparingly. Some cool dolly-pans and pit footage really tied everything together.

//MISSES: Although the video was visually stimulating, we found it lacking a bit informatively. Since we are so focused on American motocross, some of the names and numbers are a bit hazy for us. We would have liked to see more breakdown of results or more explicit updates of where the top riders stood from round to round. Basically, we felt the rivalries could have been dramatized to enhance the experience.

//THE VERDICT: Whether or not you follow Canadian motocross, you will definitely enjoy the racing. The guys are fast and the tracks are gnarly. Besides, we hear you can get a free subscription to TransWorld Motocross with every purchase.
Visit www.destroyerfilms.com

VISTA, CA:  Jet Pilot has signed FMX star Steve Mini to its apparel roster in a move to continue its expansion, commitment and support in the FMX arena.   This new addition also adds to the brands strength as a new breed, multi-action sport apparel company in the areas of Surf, Wake, FMX, BMX & PWC.

“We are stoked to have signed Steve as he is one of the sports true professional riders both on and off the bike, and we believe that he can keep Jetpilot at the forefront of the FMX movement” said Marketing Manager,  Chris Apps.

Steve travels the globe riding FMX and has been a member of the Crusty Demons tour for the past seven years. He is also one of the main riders of the Yamaha Showtime team.  Steve says:  “I’m stoked to be part of the Jetpilot team.  Jetpilot is a company that i’ve always wanted to ride for even before my career began and i’m excited about working with them in the future!”

Jetpilot brand apparel is quickly gaining momentum & popularity amongst the core youth of action sports today due to its reputation for creating premium, technical, cutting edge, rider inspired products.

For more information on the Jetpilot brand, visit their web-site at:
http://www.jetpilot.com

Perusing around the factory Supercross test tracks on Wednesday, we found Geico Powersports/ Honda rider Trey Canard putting in his final moto of the day aboard his #39 machine.�After pulling off the track, and listening to some tips and stories from the King of Supercross himself, Jeremy McGrath, Trey spent a few minutes to tell us his thoughts on the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series and his outlook for the season ahead.  

Interview by Bayo Olukotun

So, how did A1 go?

A1 did not go how I wanted it to, but it obviously could have gone a lot worse and I came out of there with, I think, seven points.�You know, last year I won the championship by three points, so I’m not going to say that’s enough, but its better than not having any.�Things didn’t go my way at all, I had two freak things happen that were just kind of bad luck.�I did everything I could possibly do but things just weren’t happening for me that night.�But, overall it was good for me to come out of it and turn it around in and look at this weekend in a positive way.

Why the switch to the West Coast from the East Coast?�You had the championship over there, so why the decision not to defend it?

There’s a rule in the FIM that says if you win a championship, one only have one time to defend it, and I believe I can ride Lites (250s) again if I don’t defend it so that’s one of the reasons.�But another reason is that I was feeling good so I figured why wait when I am ready right now?�I felt that I was prepared and I still think that I’m prepared, I just kind of had a rough weekend.�I feel really good on the bike, and that my bike is one of the best out there, if not the best, so it was just a freak race.�Everyone is going to have one, it’s a long series, and all I can do right now is put my head down and focus on race to race.

Are you approaching this year any different than last year?�Especially with start of the season, you started off on such a high note and you really went with that momentum, but is your approach any different since you are up against different riders, although you have raced against them in the Nationals?

Not really. I’m just going to go out there and do the best that I can, give it 200%, and be as ready as I can be every weekend.�Last year was definitely like a fairytale story; you just don’t see that happen too much.�Everything was just clicking for the first three rounds.�The way the year is going right now, I’m going to have to prove myself.�I’ll have to dig through the tough times; I’ve had the good times, so maybe its time for some bad times.�I just want to turn this thing around and get some good points at Phoenix. 

I saw you speaking with McGrath just a few minutes ago.�Can you tell us a little bit about his role in testing here? It also sounded like he was giving you some pointers after watching out on the track. 

I have not seen Jeremy too much this year.�He has been in Australia, doing his own thing.�It’s still really cool to come out here, and when he is here just to see him.�Man, I’ve looked up to the guy since I was super little so just to know him and see him around is super-cool for myself.�

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMASupercross.com has long been the go-to place for live timing and scoring of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship. For the 2009 season, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is proud to announce that the site still includes what fans crave — live race results — along with more timely photography, better race coverage and a new design.

“As a main online source for live coverage of what’s happening on the track at rounds of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, we decided a new look for AMASupercross.com was long overdue,” said AMA Racing Deputy Director Kevin Crowther. “The new site, which was up and operating for Round 1 in Anaheim, Calif., combines this live coverage with a clean, easy-to-navigate design, as well as news, blogs and photos from some longtime industry journalists.”

The new AMASupercross.com includes:
Live timing and scoring from every round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.
Practice, qualifying races and main event results, including lap times, lap charts, fastest overall times and point standings.
Dozens of race-day photographs by one of the industry’s best shooters, Jeff Kardas.
A blog by longtime motocross and Supercross industry observer and commentator Rupert X Pellett.
Racer interviews by reporter Jim Kimball.
Rider biographies.
The official series media guide.
The official series rulebook.
Schedule and ticket information.
A much more user-friendly interface.
While live and in-person will always remain the best way to experience Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship — for ticket information, see www.supercrossonline.com — those fans who can’t make it to the track are invited to follow the action online at www.AMASupercross.com. Live timing and scoring will begin this Saturday afternoon as timed practice gets underway at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. Photos, race reports, interviews and commentary will be posted as available.

AXO is pleased to announce the new Motocross clothing line created in collaboration with
prestigious street wear label 55DSL.

AXO’s 30-year heritage in the off-road field along with the inventiveness and creativity of spinoff
brand 55DSL, part of Only the Brave group (Diesel), makes for a winning combination and
guaranteed success. The line comprises of pants, jersey and glove combo and will be available in
limited quantities at your local dealership worldwide as of January 2009 also on display at 55DSL
flagship stores across the globe.

The limited edition Sport/Nickel line is available in adult and youth sizes.

MSRP: Pants $139.99, Jersey $59.99, Glove $39.99

For more info on AXO America or any of its products visit www.axo.com or call AXO 1-877-AXORACE
(661) 257-0916.

You guessed it. Reigning WMA Motocross champion Ashley Fiolek is in sunny Southern California, doing her share of riding and training for the upcoming 2009 WMA Motocross Nationals. After taking some much needed time off, Fiolek resumed her rigorous training schedule only a couple of months ago. “Everything has been going well,” said the always-smiling Fiolek. Fiolek went on to say, “It’s nice to spend a little time in California and see some of my friends that live out here.”

We caught with Fiolek this morning to snap some photos while she spun a few laps on the infamous Glen Helen Raceway course. Also, don’t forget to check back in the coming days for a riding video with AF67.

Photos by Elmo and Bayo Olukotun  

Ryan Dungey has settled in nicely with his new Fox gear sponsor. Check out some photos from Jake Klingensmith.

Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory Team riders Justin Brayton and Ryan Sipes along with Jagermeister/MDK/KTM riders Travis Preston and Josh Summey will be signing autographs Friday January 9, 2009 at Motohouse KTM in Phoenix, AZ from 5:00-6:00pm.

The KTM riders will be signing autographs the day prior to the second round of the AMA Supercross Series which will be held at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday night.

Motohouse KTM is located at 16251 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix, AZ 85032.

second time on my 2005 crf250r. the bike has pro wheels and a renthal sprocket. block pass ( waterman indoor raceway motocross )

Cypress California, January 7, 2009 –In advance of the Phoenix Supercross, Factory Yamaha, L & M Racing, Star Racing and other Yamaha supported racers are scheduled to appear at Metro Motorsports, 6161 W. Bell Road, Glendale, AZ, 85308 on Friday, January 9, 2009 from 6pm-7pm for a public autograph signing. For more information please call 602-843-5000.

Fox Welcomes Ryan Dungey

Since 1974 Fox has earned a reputation of integrity by standing behind our commitments to our athletes and the sport of Motocross. We make Racewear that performs at the highest level.

Fox has won more races and Championships than any other Motocross brand in the World. Our record speaks for itself. If you need a race pant that fits, Fox fits. If you need a glove that works, Fox works. Our apparel has met the needs of Champions, right off the shelf, from Barnett, Bailey, Johnson, Henry, McGrath, Carmichael, Stewart, and now we are excited to say – Ryan Dungey.

Check out www.foxracing.com for the latest on Fox & Ryan Dungey.

Jason Lawrence’s Boost Mobile/am/pm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing mechanic Toshi Chiba dropped by the TransWorld Motocross photo studio today and let us spend an hour or so drooling over J-Law’s ride. The 2009 Yamaha’s may not be the most exciting new bikes of the year, but Lawrence’s machine is certainly trick enough to get any motocrosser’s blood pumping!

Thanks for dropping by, Toshi!

ROUND 1 – ANGEL STADIUM OF ANAHEIM – JANUARY 3RD

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 5th, 2009) - Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart started the long January 3rd day off by setting one of the fastest qualifying times on the tough Anaheim course - the first rider to come in under the one minute mark with a 59.806.

With evening race conditions chilly and drizzly by Southern California standards and a season opener Angel Stadium crowd that was close to being sold out, Stewart had fans on their feet with a dominant win in the second Supercross heat race, finishing 11.4 seconds over second place and cutting a best lap time of 1:00.382 on the deteriorating track.

When the gate dropped on the main even, Stewart jumped out into the lead with a strong holeshot.  Reed followed and the two riders started pulling away from the pack, dicing back and forth for the lead when disaster struck.  Stewart missed a gear coming out of a turn that led into a short whoop section and Reed slammed into the back of Stewart forcing both riders down.  Stewart, taking a hard hit to the head, was slow to get up and remount and as he valiantly pushed his bike off the racing line, was T-boned by Kevin Windham and slammed to the ground yet again. Stewart remounted but could not get his bike restarted; he ended up walking back to the pits in frustration.  Stewart was credited with 19th place and earned two Supercross Championship points.

Team San Manuel’s rookie rider Kyle Chisholm rode well throughout the day, earning a qualifying spot for the heats with a respected lap time of 1:05.346. Kyle finished 12th in his heat race and looked to be in contention to take the Last Chance Qualifier, but was knocked back to 8th.

“We’ll regroup and come back stronger next week,” said San Manuel Yamaha Team Manager Larry Brooks. “Hopefully, we’ve gotten all of our bad luck out of the way now and we can focus on just winning races. James is the fastest rider on any track and he knows how to win races and Championships. Now, we don’t have to protect a point’s lead so we’ll concentrate on winning races.”

Team San Manuel Yamaha Highlights/Anaheim 1 – Round 1 -
James Stewart – Winner Heat Race #2
Kyle Chisholm - 12th place Heat race #1; 8th place LCQ
James Stewart – Holeshot Supercross Main Event
James Stewart - Fast Qualifying lap; 0:59.806
Kyle Chisholm – Fast Qualifying lap; 1:05.346
Team San Manuel Race Recap
Round 1 – Anaheim/January 5, 2009
Page 2

About Team San Manuel
Team San Manuel is a unique partnership between the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and L&M Racing, LLC, with the sole purpose of reaching out to Native and non-Native communities and sharing with them the value of perseverance and dedication.  Building a winning team comprised of top-notch talent and community service, Team San Manuel honors the Serrano belief of caring for our community. (www.sanmanuelracing.com)

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, California.  The Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture.  The San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as a sovereign nation with the right of self-government.  Despite challenges and hardships, the San Manuel tribal community has continued to progressively maintain and enhance its unique form of government – focusing all efforts on providing a better quality of life for its citizens.  Through economic diversification, both on and off the reservation, the tribe has been forward thinking in its efforts to build infrastructure, maintain civil services and promote social, economic, educational and governmental units including the departments of fire, public safety, education and environment and continues to pursue opportunities for future generations.

About L & M Racing
L&M Racing was formed in 2006 by Owner/Team Manager Larry Brooks and partner Mike Kranyak.  L&M Racing’s 2008 team, Team San Manuel Yamaha, consisted of 2004 Supercross Champion Chad Reed and former West Coast Lites Champion Nathan Ramsey producing the indie race effort the 2008 Supercross Championship!  The 2009 race season has 2007 Supercross Champion James Stewart and rookie Kyle Chisholm in place for L&M Racing. Led by Brooks, a key component in the Jeremy McGrath/Chaparral Racing team’s three-year championship reign in Supercross, Brooks’ race effort yielded the first and only independent team to ever win an AMA Supercross Series Championship.  L&M Racing is headquartered within an 8,000sf state-of-the-art race facility in Southern California and is one of the most successful independently owned and operated teams in professional Supercross racing today. 2009’s Team San Manuel Yamaha presented by James Stewart Entertainment is sponsored by:   DID Chains, Yamalube, Akrapobic, Vortex, Bridgestone, Cycra, Braking, Light Speed, TAG Metals, Big Bear Mountain Water, Factory Effex, VP Racing Fuels, and GYTR.

Defending Western Regional Supercross Lites Champion Jason Lawrence just phoned the TransWorld Motocross offices, anxious to clear the air about a hot topic on several Internet message boards.

“I don’t know why everyone is so hung up on me,” said Lawrence. “But there’s a lot of talk about me getting suspended by the AMA for getting in a fight with a fan after Anaheim 1. This is absolutely untrue, and I don’t even know where this came from. After the race, I signed some autographs, grabbed a bite to eat with some friends, then went home and got to sleep. The next morning, I was back at the gym with Ryno, training for this weekend’s race in Phoenix.”

A quick call to the AMA confirmed that there has been no talk of such an incident involving Lawrence.

“I know they say that even bad press is good press, because at least people are talking about you,” added Lawrence. “And I am happy that I am front of mind for so many people, but starting hateful rumors on the message board is lame. People will see soon enough that I was serious about everything I said in my New Year’s Day interview video with Transworld. I’d like to thank my great sponsors for standing by me: Boost Mobile, am/pm, and Monster Energy.”

Effective immediately, ONE industries is terminating our three year contract with Ryan Dungey as the results of the recent events that have transpired during the last week.

“one Industries is an icon in the industry and when we launched our motocross apparel line we wanted to work with riders that we believed shared our ambitions and vision for the brand” says Danny Dobey ONE Industries Brand Manager .

“Because our business is continually developing and growing in multiple directions we seek out riders and teams who want to contribute to the exciting and positive things we do, our introduction of Ryan showed the level of commitment and investment we were making in this project” adds Russ Koza, Marketing Manager of ONE Industries.

Neil Calvesbert, CEO of ONE Industries, comments “We signed a three year contract with Ryan and we are looking beyond that with the brand, so nobody enjoyed making this decision. Everyone involved with ONE Industries gives 100% to the company, the teams and riders we work with and I would like to thank them for their devotion, professionalism and nobility throughout the event at that took place at Anahiem”.

On New Year’s Eve, the Godfather of freestyle motocross, Mike Metzger, threw a bash at his pad in Menifee, CA, with tons of fun in mind. The night’s entertainment included a live DJ, three live bands, a BMX half pipe demo, and a 20-plus freestyle rider demo. Mike also set up a projector to televise Robbie Maddison’s jump in Las Vegas so nobody would miss it. Without a doubt, Mike’s party was a success and 2008 definitely went out with a bang at the Metzger residence. Check out some of Will Topete’s photos from the party..

Read more

If you enjoyed Trey Canard’s “X Games Trick Tip” that we posted on New Year’s Day, rejoice, because there’s plenty more where that came from. In between hard practice motos, Trey let his funny side show as he hammed it up for our video camera again!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

One of our biggest pet peeves about the new 2009 Honda CRF450R has to do with the clutch. Not the action or durability, mind you (our test bike has over 50 hours on the stock clutch), but rather the stiff feel it has at the lever. Instead of feeling buttery smooth and light like last year’s CRF450R, it’s more like the gnarly CR500R two-strokes of yesteryear.

That’s where the new Elite Perch from Works Connection comes in. With a slightly different pivot point and greater leverage than the stock perch, the quickest way to relieve arm pump for new Honda riders is to install one of these babies. With the Elite Perch installed, our CRF450R enjoys a buttery smooth feel at the clutch lever. We’ve had one of the newest versions (with a black lever) installed on our bike for several weeks now, and have come to absolutely adore the product.

The entire perch assembly is made of billet aluminum, and the on-the-fly adjuster features four large, gnurled nubs that are easy to feel and adjust while riding. In contrast to other on-the-fly adjuster wheels with more elaborate designs, the Works Connection unit offers deliberate clicks that are easy to detect when you are on the go. The nylon sleeve that the perch mounts over allows the assembly to rotate on the handlebars in the event of a crash. Care must be taken to properly tighten the perch so that this feature works: too loose and the perch can move while you are riding, but too much will render the nylon sleeve pointless. We have crashed with the Elite Perch installed and found that it does indeed rotate on the bars, eliminating the need for fancy hinged levers.

We did succeed in bending our lever, though, but it was not on the motocross track. Our art director Dave got a little overzealous with Swap’s Honda-powered powerwasher and blasted the CRF450R off its stand. The lever came into contact with the pavement with an impact that would be impossible to duplicate while riding, and the tip of it was transformed into a curly french fry. Because the Elite Perch lever is carved from billet Alcoa aluminum, it has a tendency to bend and not to snap. Miraculously, with the help of two large box-end wrenches, we were able to restore the lever to near-original condition. Another great feature about the levers is the triple-bearing pivot. With three seperate bearings in the pivot point of the lever, it has a very-and we mean very-precise feel with zero up and down slop. We’re sure that the bearings are also partially responsible for the softer, smoother feel at the lever.

Works Connection was one of the first players in the high-end aftermarket clutch perch market, and it continues to lead the way with quality, good looks, and function.

The Elite Perch is available in either red or blue anodizing, with either black or silver levers. Hot start versions cost $179.95, while non-hot start versions are $139.95.

Call 530/642-9488 or visit www.worksconnection.com

After an exciting Anaheim 1 Supercross debut, the MotoConcepts MX Racing team  is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Lamson  as Team Manager.

“Steve brings a wealth of racing and management experience, ”  stated majority team owner Mike Genova.  “We did not expect someone of Steve’s caliber to be available during the racing season.

Lamson brings 20 years of professional racing and team management to the MCRMX team and will oversee all team management responsibilities.

“This is a talented young team with a ton of potential.  I’m thankful for the opportunity and excited to bring my racing and technical knowledge to the team,” said Lamson who has managed MDK sponsored teams that included riders David Vuillimen, Nick Wey, Matin Davalos, Justin Brayton, Ryan Sipes, Matt Georke, and Billy Laninovich.

As  a professional rider,  Lamson was the 1995 and 1996 Motocross champion in the 125 class and part of the 1996 des Nations Championship team.

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 innovative and unique Motorsports accessories designed for the professional and recreational rider.  MotoConcepts is proud to partner with top motocross companies like MDK, FMF, Fly Racing, Fox Racing Shox, Smooth Industries, and Decal Works to help support the MCRMX team.  For more information visit www.motoconcepts.com <http://www.motoconcepts.com> .
.
About MDK Motorsports and MDK Speed Equipment: MDK Motorsports, LLC and MDK Speed Equipment, LLC are privately held companies and part of the MDK brand family of motocross related products and services. With 30 years of experience in Aerospace Engineering and a passion for high performance 4-stroke motocross bikes, MDK Speed Equipment delivers technology and products that have not been previously available to the general public. AS 9003 aerospace manufacturing protocols are used, along with countless hours of dyno, flow bench, and track testing to enable MDK SE to provide products and services that deliver great performance and durability.  MDK Motorsports and MDK Speed Equipment are located in San Jose, California. For more information go to www.MDKMoto.com <http://www.mdkmoto.com/>  or www.MDKSpeed.com <http://www.mdkspeed.com/>

When it comes down to it, going fast on your dirt bike is all about carrying momentum. Unfortunately, there is always the inevitable obstacle(s) that can disrupt your speed/momentum.
So what is the most effective way to keep up your speed when you’re on an incline with rollers or jumps all the way up the face? It can be a tedious process and, at times, frustrating to lose so much of your speed within a matter of seconds; however, where there’s a will there’s a way.

We turned to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto to walk you through the techniques utilized to charge an uphill littered with big rollers, while making sure minimal speed is lost.

1.”When you’re approaching a section such as this one for instance, it’s important that you select your line beforehand, that way you can charge through the entire section as fast as possible. Something else that you should keep in mind is the possible development of ruts. Sometimes these rollers can develop ruts and that can really mess up your timing/momentum. If you ever find yourself in that scenario, it’s best to start planning ahead. By that, I mean choosing your rut before entering the section in order to maintain your speed and timing.”

2. “Once you’ve passed the first roller, it’s critical that you keep the rear tire on the ground for as much time as possible. If you keep the rear wheel on the ground, it helps to maintain your speed and momentum. Also, you want to minimize the amount of time spent in the air. Staying low to the ground helps you increase the time your rear wheel spends on the ground. However, it is possible have too much momentum, which can cause you to slam into the face of the following roller. If you happen to find yourself caught in that situation, the best way to take action is by pulling up on the handlebars and trying to get the front wheel to land on top of the next roller and staying on the gas.”

3. “No matter how much speed you carry as you’re approaching similar sections, you’re bound to lose some of your momentum. Once you feel the rpms of the bike begin to flatten out, you have one of two options. Your first option would be to feather the clutch a tad in order to bring up your rpms; the second option is to downshift a gear. Although, you should only downshift if you’re really out of shape.”

4. “Always remember to look ahead; however, you don’t want to look too far ahead because that can cause you some trouble. The final thing that will help you to minimize the chances of getting out of control and hitting the deck is gripping the bike with your knees. When you’re trying to go fast in sections like this, the bike will have a tendency to go one way while your body goes the other way. Therefore, keeping the bike firmly gripped with your knees will help to alleviate the chances of you wiping out.”

More photos from the daytime practice and evening races of the opening round of the 2009 Supercross Series, taken by Steve Emter

After spending his summer campaigning in the 2008 outdoor Nationals as a privateer, Sean Borkenhagen has found himself a dream ride with the Troy Lee Designs Honda squad for the 2009 West Coast Lites Supercross series. We caught up with Borky shortly before the Saturday afternoon timed qualifying practice sessions were underway to chat about his new team and his thoughts coming into his first-ever Supercross season.

Looking back on your first-ever outdoor National season, are you satisfied with the things you were able to accomplish?

Doing it the way we did last summer was pretty stressful. When you’re a privateer like that you have so many other stresses and concerns besides riding. I feel like I did my time and now things are beginning to pay off for me. I hope I’m able to move on from that privateer lifestyle and maintain what I have now, being on a team from here on out. There is a night and day difference from being a privateer to being on a full fledged team.

Were you happy with the results you posted last summer?

Yeah. I was content with what I accomplished, but I know I could’ve done a lot better if I had a faster bike. At this level, it’s all about the bike. We are all fast and have similar styles, but don’t get me wrong, I know I don’t have the speed of guys like Trey Canard and Ryan Dungey, but I am getting there and being a part of this team and having this bike certainly helps me. In the outdoors, you need to have a competitive motor, otherwise you are not going to be battling up front and it makes things that much harder.

How did your deal with Troy Lee Designs Honda unfold?

David Pingree called me up and invited me out to be a part of their team tryouts. They had an available position because Jake Moss was injured, so I tried out for the team and here I am, riding for my first factory team! I was so stressed out, though, because I wanted to be on this team so bad. Just having the opportunity to ride their shop bike was insane.

Leading up to Anaheim 1, how had testing been going?

Testing has been going awesome. We had Bones come out to the test track to help up us out. Everything is good, and we have really good bikes! I’m blown away that the team has a 250F that goes this fast. I’ve been able to ride with [Chris] Blose, [Jimmy] Albertson, and all of the factory Red Bull Honda guys, so I was able to learn a ton really fast. Being able to have so many good people around me helped me pick up on things pretty fast.

This being your first-ever Supercross season, how difficult was it adapting to SX?

It’s really gnarly. You really need to respect the tracks because if you slack off it’ll put you in the hospital. I’ve had three pretty good crashes already, and I’ve learned a lot from each of them. They happened when I was getting tired and least expected it, but I was able to escape any injury. Supercross is so intense and your heart rate is maxed out, but I’ve come a long way with my breathing. I have my breathing points down, but people don’t realize that there is so much more that goes into riding Supercross besides being able to jump the jumps.

Coming into tonight, what goals and expectations do you have for yourself?

My goal is to get into the main event and just go from there. I want to take it one step at a time and represent my team really well. I want to set some good lap times, qualify out of my heat race, and do what I can in the main event. I’ve never done this before, so I am going to be learning while I’m out there. I am not putting a lot of pressure on myself…well, I am, but I am not going to try and go out there and set the world on fire. I need to go at my own pace, and I think that good things are coming. I feel so comfortable with my team and on my bike, so good things are definitely coming.

The Troy Lee Designs Honda team is only competing in the Lites West Coast Supercross series. With that said, what are your plans going to be once it’s time to line up at Glen Helen for the first outdoor of the season?

Hopefully I’ll have something for the outdoors (laughs). Like you said, our team is only competing in the Lites West Coast SX series, so hopefully I’ll have a good showing in Supercross that will allow me to have something good for the outdoor season.

Photos by Elmo and Swap

Early this afternoon, Borky phoned into the TWMX office to chat about his Anaheim 1 experience and his thoughts on racing Supercross. Check it out…

Now that everything is all said and done, how did Anaheim 1 treat you?

Everything went great! I felt good, and I felt prepared. I finished 12^th in the main event, but I need to focus a little bit more on what I’m doing out there. I was definitely a little distracted by the whole atmosphere of Anaheim 1 and all the people that were there, but I felt the same way at the first outdoor National. I think I’ll be all good this weekend, though. I feel like I had more in me, so once I tap into that we’ll be making big progress.

You grew up coming to the Anaheim races, so was it surreal be sitting in the tunnel at A1 while the opening ceremonies were taking place, know that you’ve finally made it?

That was a great moment! That was the highlight of my entire day, actually. My mechanic, Clint, and I have been putting in a lot of hard work and things worked out really well. It was really cool to take all of that in. But, also, I tried not to get too caught up in the moment, so I did my best not to think about all of that stuff and just focus on what I needed to do.

After finishing 12^th in the main event, was it a big relief to have your first-ever Supercross now behind you?

Yeah! Absolutely. I was excited that the night was over, and now I know what to expect. I am going to take what I learned on Saturday and apply it to this weekend. It was a relief knowing that we finally got the first race out of the way, but Anaheim is my home race and it was cool to ride in front of a ton of my friends and family that came out and supported me. All in all it was a great experience.

During your first practice session, you set the fastest lap times in your group. However, I spoke with you after practice and you mentioned that you didn’t feel too great. Did things change once the night show rolled around?

That first session was definitely good, but as the day went on I felt more comfortable and more confident. Really, though, I feel like I have a lot more in me. I could’ve hit the whoops harder; little things like that I could’ve done better. I am putting in the effort and trying to find that edge so we don’t have to deal with some of those guys in the back of the pack and I can connect to those lead guys. But, yes, that first practice session was great! That was a cool feeling.

What was the biggest thing you learned during the main event and running just outside of the top 10?

The biggest thing I learned is that at the end of the day, no matter how hyped up a race is, we’re just riding a dirt bike. However you want to build it up in your head is exactly what’ll it be like. You just need to treat like another race and ignore all of the outside distractions that are at a Supercross. The pace is definitely what I expected from those guys. All of those guys are human, they can all be beat, and they all have their problems; they’re not that much different from me. I need to find a little extra, and I want to be one of the guys up front. I want to be one of the big dogs in the race. I’m getting there, but it’s just going to take some time.  

Ryan Morais has an all-new look for 2009. After spending two years underneath the Yamaha to Troy awning–and almost taking home the 2007 East Coast Lites Supercross championship–Morais has found himself a new home with Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki family. After a forgettable season in 2008, Payton took a clear chance by hiring Morais, but with Mo’s second place finish at the season opener a couple of nights ago, it’s evident that the 116 of Morais means business in 2009. We caught up with Ryan earlier today to chat about his hard fought second place finish this past weekend and what it’s like being a part of Payton’s program. 

Photos by Swap

Taking a moment to reflect on the events of Saturday night, are you satisfied with the way things turned out?

Oh yeah! Saturday was awesome. I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and perform because of the team I am on and the reputation that they have. I really had a lot of reasons why I needed to perform to my full potential, so I was very excited with my performance on Saturday night.

How were things treating you during the practice sessions? Were you feeling comfortable?

(Laughs) Practice wasn’t too great for me. I rode really, really tight during the first practice, and I also rode a little tight in the second practice. I was in the first heat race, and I ended up pulling the holeshot. I am typically not the greatest starter, so I was excited to be out front. Honestly, I think that was probably the first holeshot I’ve had in my entire professional career. I ended up getting a little excited and got a little ahead of myself, which allowed Jake [Weimer] to move around me. However, it was nice to get out of the gate like that and show everybody that I have been putting in the time and that I am a contender. It was good for our team to go one, two in our heat race.

Did you do anything to loosen yourself up in between your heat race and the main event?

I watched the second heat race before heading back to the semi to relax. I spoke with my trainer, and we worked on my arms a little bit to get me relaxed. The heat race took a lot of pressure off of me because I was able to perform exactly how I wanted to. I was super excited and ready to go once it was time for the main event. After getting the holeshot in the heat race, I felt like I could holeshot the main event without any issues. I got a little too excited and had my bike revved up more than I should’ve and dumped the clutch (laughs). I definitely screwed myself on the start, but I was able to work my way through the first couple of turns and actually came around on the first lap in fifth, which is pretty decent for me (laughs).

Once you moved your way into second place, Weimer never pulled away from you. In fact, during the closing stages of the main event, you were reeling him in.

My trainer and I have been working on getting out of the gate and going fast during those opening laps, because I’m one of those guys who doesn’t always go too quick during the first few laps. Towards the middle of the main event I got into a really good pace, and I was flowing throughout the whole track. I soon realized that I was catching Jake, and I really wanted to win the opener so that I would be the big surprise. I know I wasn’t a favorite to win, and I don’t even think I was a favorite to get second, but I felt really good during the main event. I did get a little tight near the end of the race when we caught up to all of the lappers because I was trying to make things happen that I shouldn’t have been trying. Overall, though, I am really happy about my performance, and I was right there at the end. It wasn’t like I was a distant second place or that I lucked into second place, I earned my second place finish. This past weekend definitely took a lot of weight off my shoulders.

Did it make things easier during the main event knowing that you had your teammate in front of you and you didn’t have to worry about any thing dirty taking place?

Oh definitely! It was the same thing during our heat race. He ran it into me a couple of times, but I knew he wouldn’t do anything bad to me. It was nice to be battling with my teammate. It felt really good to have our team go one, two on the podium. For our team to sweep the opener was a big deal. We’ve been putting in a lot of work, and the team is just amazing. That definitely makes it all worth it.

Is there really a big difference between riding one of Mitch Payton’s bikes and what you’ve ridden previously?

Our bikes are really good! When we show up to the races on Saturday, I think people know that we have the best bikes in the pits. That is another reason why we should be doing what we did on Saturday. Our bikes are, without a doubt, at the top level.

How has it been working with Mitch?

It’s been awesome! In the short period of time that I’ve been there I’ve learned a lot from everybody. The team has really helped me out, and I think that showed this weekend. It is more than just a bike… Our surroundings and everything that the team does make it what it is and makes it so strong.

From here on out, what are you goals?

My goal for the first round was to be on podium. I would’ve been a little disappointed if I wasn’t on the podium, but I also would’ve been happy to be inside the top five. You can’t win the championship at the first round, but you can definitely loose the championship at the first round. Plus, the opener is always so crazy and exciting; everybody goes crazy at the opening round. I now know where I belong, and I feel as though I can be a podium contender every weekend. I also think this will be the year that I that I go out there and get my first win. 

DVS Moto Team Manager Dano Legere has teamed up with Phoenix’s Arizona Cycle Park to produce an industry ride day benefit. The aim of the event is to get the industry and fans together, enjoy a day of fun at the track, and raise money to help cover the medical expenses of injured motocross riders.

DVS as well as many other premiere brands from the motocross industry will be on hand grilling burgers, shaking hands, poppin’ wheelies, and of course, handing out some free product.

“I’m stoked to be a part of this with Bobby from Arizona Cycle Park,” says DVS’ Dano. “I think this is going to be something really fun that we can continue to grow for years to come.”

The event, which is set for January 9th at the Arizona Cycle Park from 12 to 5pm, is open to the public. All attendees are required to donate 20 dollars at the entrance. All proceeds will be donated to Road To Recovery—a non profit organization benefiting inured motocross riders.

For more information on the first annual DVS Dano Days log onto www.dvsmoto.com

Anaheim 1 has now come and gone, but we’re all still talking about the events that unfolded throughout the course of the day. From Nate Adams injuring his arm in practice to Josh Grant capitalizing on the mistakes of Reed, Stewart, and Windham to take his first-ever 450 Supercross main event win; this year’s season opener will be one talked about for years to come. 

While Elmo spent a majority of his day cruising through the pits Saturday afternoon, check out some of the highlights and new he came across. Also, be sure to keep checking back throughout the week as we’ll have post-race interviews with the likes of Jake Weimer, Ryan Morias, and many more. 

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team opens the Western Supercross
Lites series on a high note, taking the top two spots at Angels
Stadium Supercross

CORONA, Calif., (Jan. 5, 2008) – Opening the pursuit of yet another
championship in its industry-leading SX Lites class race heritage, the
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team – led by Jake Weimer and Ryan
Morais – took the top two spots at the first round of the WSX Lites
series, round one of 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World
Championship held at Anaheim’s (Calif.) Angel Stadium.

Topping the charts before a live crowd in excess of 40,000 – as well
as a live TV viewing audience on SPEED - was Weimer, who won his
second career AMA SX Lites race at Anaheim. Weimer got out fast from
the get go and avoided a wreck that collected the defending WSX champ,
Monster Energy’s Jason Lawrence and ESX champ Trey Canard, running in
2nd place behind Dan Reardon early in the contest. The Idahoan then
put the hammer down on lap three, got past Reardon and led the
remaining 13 laps en route to victory.

“Unbelievable – exactly where I wanted to be,” said Weimer. “My goal
was to get on the podium. I want to win the championship and didn’t
want to throw it away at the first round. To start off by winning?
Couldn’t be any better than that. I worked my ass off for this – it’s
such a good feeling.”

Charging equally as hard into 2nd place overall was Weimer’s Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate, Morais. The southern California
native didn’t pull quite as good of a start as Weimer did, but he made
up for it midway through the race and closed strong to give Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki the 1-2 overall at the Anaheim opener.

“I can’t thank Mitch (Payton) enough,” said Morais on the opportunity
to race for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. “I’ve been
working my butt off and the team’s put in a lot of late hours. It’s a
dream.”

Morais pulled the holeshot in the first heat race and wound up 2nd to
Weimer in that contest as well, adding that he thought that was the
first holeshot he ever pulled in a major pro SX Lites contest. “After
that I thought to myself ‘Alright, I can holeshot the main – no
problem on this bike.’”

And the plan almost came together before Morais got pinched in tight
on the first turn of the main and came out of the pack in around 6th
place. From there he said he rode the first few laps smart, staying
out of trouble. “People were knocking each other down and I just put
my chase on like halfway through, started catching Jake (Weimer) – but
got a bit too excited and tightened up,” said Morais. “But to finish
2nd – that takes a lot of pressure off me.”

Next up for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is round two
of Monster Energy Supercross at Phoenix’s Chase Field.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it SX, rally, insane distance
jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate,
MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are
rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all
the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault,
Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-
friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee &
cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along
with the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot. Jake Weimer & Ryan
Morais dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com

Catching up With Chad Reed

By Donn Maeda

It was an exciting series opener for defending Supercross Champion Chad Reed. Having topped the field in times qualifying, Reed was poised and ready to race when the gate dropped on the 20-lap main event, and it showed. After stalking rival James Stewart in the early stages of the race, Reed got the crowd on its feet when he dove underneath Stewart and took over the lead. Stewart struck back a couple laps later, but disaster struck when the lead duo collided just before the whoops. While Stewart was struck again by Kevin Windham and eventually walked off the track when his bike would not restart, Reed soldiered on to third place, in spite of having no front brakes. We caught up with the Supercross Champion to get his take on the series opener…

It’s now the day after Anaheim 1, which was arguably the best series opener ever. Looking back on the events of last night, what are your thoughts?

It was a good night! Typically, Anaheim is a slick track and a brutal first round. This year, however, we had perfect dirt; the dirt was tacky, and we had overcast skies throughout the afternoon. The track was long and fast; I think lap times were around a minute long, which is the longest track we’ve had in a long time. I had a good start in the main event and went to the front of the pack right away. James [Stewart] had the holeshot, but he made a mistake and I was able to move around him. From there, I tried my best to put in some good laps and ride my own race, but I made a few little mistakes myself that allowed him to move around me. I think we were getting set to battle, but he missed a shift and I ran straight into the back of him. I had nowhere to go; I was already committed to my line and we both went cartwheeling through the whoops.

What was going through your mind when you were flying through the air?

It happened so fast that I didn’t even know what happened at first. I knew I didn’t cross lines or do anything wrong. I set up for the next turn and accelerated… I was actually going from the left to the right so that I could be on the inside of James in the next corner. Being the second place guy allowed me to take the opposite lines of James, and I was trying to set it up so that I would pass him back through that whoop section. I was kind of crossing lines, but he missed a shift and I hit him hard (laughs). It was pretty gnarly. I hit him so hard that I instantly started flying through the air. I was going upside down and asking myself what the hell just happened? When I got up, I saw him two whoops ahead up me all upside down. I was just thinking about getting back on the bike as fast as possible, and I was able to remount. I bent my front rotor. My front brake pads were rubbing, so I tried pumping them, but they would just lock up every time I went off a jump. I had a few close encounters with that, and I hit my head pretty good, so I was a little dazed the whole time. It took me a while to get my focus, plus I had to learn how to ride the bike without a front brake. I started down shifting into first gear to get the engine breaking working so that I didn’t have to totally rely on my rear brakes. The last five laps I started riding a lot better and was catching [Andrew] Short at the end. It sucks, though, because even if I did catch up to Shorty I wouldn’t have been able to pass him.

We all know that hitting your rear brake in the air drops the front end, but what the heck does the bike do when your front wheel locks up over a jump?

(Laughs) Dude. It drops a hell of a lot faster in the air, that’s for sure! It gives the bike this feeling of dead weight, and you have no control over it. When you go off the finish line jump, you lean to the right to setup for the next turn. Well, my front end locked up going over the finish line jump, and it freaked me out. I was also freaking out a little because I saw that I was in third, but Ivan [Tedesco] was right on me and Tim Ferry was right there, as was Ryan Villopoto. I knew those guys were hard charges and weren’t going to give up, so I put my head down and tried to learn how to ride my bike by down shifting and all that stuff. Eventually, though, I was able to pull away from those guys and focus on Shorty instead of the guys behind me. Overall, I felt like I had a good pace and a good 20 laps in me. I was ready for a good battle, and who knows what would have happened if James and I didn’t come together. I think I had some really good lines, and I had a good feel for the bike; I felt like I had a win in me.

Aside from the bike being a different color, you look like an entirely different rider on the bike. When you and James were battling, you appeared to be in control and you weren’t hanging it out at all. Has your riding style changed now that you’re on the Suzuki?

I am tired of comparing one thing to another (laughs). I think all of the bikes are so close, but I find that the RM-Z450 really suits my riding style. I feel very comfortable on the bike, and I love the way it turns and handles. It’s by far the best four-stroke I’ve ever ridden. It really feels like my 250 two-stroke days because I have the feeling that I’m able to turn anywhere I want to. I can grab a hand full of throttle and know that the bike is going to go exactly when I need it to go. All of those things inspire me to go riding every single day. My bike is consistent, and I believe that we can continue to build and build and build. The entire package just fits me really well, and I think I’ve gelled with the team really well. We’ve only had two races in the United States, and both of those races we’ve had issues with cartwheeling and losing brakes. Hopefully, though, we have the brake issues out of the way (laughs).

How important is it to set the fastest lap time in the final practice session? Does it give you an advantage when you line up knowing that you’ve posted the fastest lap time of the day?

It’s obvious that lap times come from feeling comfortable with the track and your bike. If you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t go fast. In the first practice session, I struggled with some of the changes that we made to the bike prior to Anaheim 1. The track was kind of fast and got pretty rough, so we had to make some changes to the bike so that it would feel better out there. Either way, the track was tough, but the sand section was fun and the dirt was awesome. We made some good changes before that second practice, and I put together some solid laps and ended the practice session with the fastest lap time.

Have you spoken with James since the race?

No. I actually walked by their semi after I left the podium and I saw his dad. I asked Big James where he was and he told me he was in the bus. I wanted to make sure he was okay. I hit the ground pretty hard myself, and I know James went two whoops further than I did. I know when I got up off the ground that he wasn’t looking too good, but I hope he is doing okay. I just want to battle; I want to be in that battle. I want to step it up and race with the guy and take this thing all the way to Vegas; may the best man win. We have a rivalry, but I think it’s going to be a good one this year. We both want to win and we both work really hard, and that’s what racing is all about.

Your tangle with Bubba reminded me of your tangle with LaRacco at Anaheim a few years ago.

(Laughs) Yeah. I guess so. That was really wild. James and I were setting a good pace, and I dipped down in the 59-second range, and James dipped down into the 59-second range as well. I think we were just getting into our groove, and I think we were going to have a really good race. I felt like I was in control and my lines were really good. The whole crash really was a shame. The race was live on the Speed Channel, and we need to have good battles and excitement. We had the excitement, but the battle ended a bit early (laughs).

In closing, how badass is your new gear?

(Laughs) I love my gear. Thor did an awesome job. I had their graphic designer, Mo, send me the different styles and that was the one I selected. We also worked on the helmet a lot. They wanted to go in one direction while I wanted to go in a different direction, but I was pumped because I got my own way (laughs). I think it turned out well! A lot of people were complimenting me on the gear. It’s fun to be the lead guy in Thor and have some cool things. I have two more one off sets that I’ll have later on in the year. They’ll have some more Rockstar flavor to them. I’m excited to spice it up a little bit.

Thanks for the time, Chad.

No problem, see you next week!

What a great weekend of racing! Though the atmosphere at Anaheim 1 didn’t have that same “electricity” in the air, the action out on the track was better than ever. Here’s some of the stuff that we saw in the pits and on the track, at the Monster Energy Supercross Series season opener.

Some captions are rather long, so you may have to click on the link just below here to read them fully. We are working on a fix….

Team Yamaha’s Broc Hepler suffered a scary crash during practice at Anaheim 1 and suffered what was suspected to be a broken collarbone. BHep blasted a few text messages our way to let us know he is okay.

“I’m okay, I just have a broken collarbone,” he said. “I am going to see my doctor tomorrow. It’s not bad enough to require plating, but there is a chance I might still have it plated if it will help me heal faster. I wasn’t knocked out like some people said, I was just laying there, hurting. I got the wind knocked out of me. I was laying there and I was like, ‘I can’t get up!’ and I would hear bikes coming. I was like, ‘this one is gonna hit me,’ and then I’d go, ‘whew! that one missed!’”

Get well soon, Broc!

The hot rumor flowing through the pits at Anaheim 1 last night was that Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey was furious upon finding out that his new clothing sponsor, One Industries, had recently signed his nemesis, Jason Lawrence of the Boost Mobile/am/pm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing team.

Several witnesses spotted Dungey throwing a pair of pants out of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki semi, and this no doubt added fuel to the rumor.

Before the start of the evening’s festivities, we inquired about the rumors with Ryan’s mother, who explained the situation. “Oh, that’s not it at all. While Ryan is upset that Lawrence was signed, the incident with the pants was over them being the wrong size. Ryan wears a size 30, and he was delivered all size 32 pants,” said Mrs. Dungey.

Further investigation in the form of a conversation with One Industries’ Danny Dobey confirmed this. “Ryan was upset because the pants we brought him were not taken in at the waist. He is also understandably upset that we signed Jason Lawrence, but in the state of this economy, we have to make the best business decisions possible,” said Dobey. “With one of Lawrence’s main sponsor’s being Monster Energy, we needed to do the deal to maintain a good relationship and protect our licensing agreement with the brand.”

A call to Dungey’s agent, Tony Gardea, this morning revealed that the rumors about Dungey being so upset that he plans to sever ties with One Industries are just that: rumors.
“That is completely untrue,” said Gardea. “Naturally, Ryan is upset that Lawrence was signed, especially since one of the reasons he left Answer to ride for One was that he was to be the only top-level athlete. But for now, it is just that: a bad rumor.”

Can’t get enough of the action from Anaheim 1?  Well, Swap put down his video camera long enough to snap some shots at the most exciting season opener in recent memory…

Anaheim, CA – Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory Racing Team riders Justin Brayton and Ryan Sipes showed up to the Angel Stadium in typical KTM fashion, “Ready to Race,” for the opening round of the AMA West Supercross Lites Series.

Both riders held positions in the top five overall fastest practice times with Brayton qualifying second fastest while Sipes qualified fifth fastest.

After opening ceremony introductions, Brayton was up first in Lites Heat #1. Brayton got a great start nearly pulling the holeshot just a half a bike length behind Kawasaki rider Ryan Morais. Brayton held second until the third lap when a mistake on his part let rider Jake Weimer pass. Weimer would eventually go on to take the heat win over his teammate Morais while Brayton safely finished the race qualifying third. KTM support rider, Michael Sleeter, also transferred from this heat with a seventh place result.

Sipes was set to race Heat #2 when an unfortunate mechanical issue plagued his bike right before the gate drop. He was not able to race and was forced to qualify into the main from the LCQ.

Fans enjoyed a new halftime show during the intermission from the Jagermeister/KTM Freestyle riders. The four freestyle athletes hit the ramps pulling known tricks as the heart attack, cordova and numerous back flip variations. Shortly after, the well-known KTM VP, Selvaraj Narayana, was presented with the Mickey Thompson Award of excellence for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the motorcycle industry.

As the gate dropped for the main event  both Factory KTM riders skyrocketed out of the gate with Brayton rounding the first turn in third and Sipes one spot back in fourth. Right from the start, Brayton was on the tail of the first and second place riders Jake Weimer and Dan Reardon. By lap five Brayton had reeled in Reardon and began to set up for the pass. Unfortunately, on lap six the riders came too close together, making contact in a corner, sending Reardon to the ground and Brayton over the bars.

Brayton remounted in seventh position and would remain there through the finish of the race. Sipes who rode a smooth and consistent race finished sixth for the night.

In the Supercross class, Josh Summey representing the Jagermeister/MDK/KTM 450 Team, got a decent top ten start in the main and was running inside the top ten when he had a mechanical set back that took him out of the race. “Although Josh had some unfortunate luck in tonight’s main, his speed was there and we look forward to seeing some top ten finishes from him this season,” stated Jagermeister/MDK/KTM Team Manager, Danny Paladino.

Overall Results and Point Standings Lites Supercross:
1.    Jake Weimer – 25
2.    R. Morais – 22
3.    R. Dungey – 20
4.    C. Blose – 18
5.    J. Lawrence – 16
6.    R. Sipes – 15
7.    J. Brayton – 14
8.    J. Alessi – 13
9.    B. Evans – 12
10.    C. Gosselaar – 11
11.    R. Clark – 10
12.    S. Borkenhagen – 9
13.    A. Chatfield – 8
14.    T. Canard – 7
15.    S. Skinner – 6
16.    C. Soubeyras – 5
17.    M. Sleeter – 4
18.    M. Horban – 3
19.    D. Reardon – 2
20.    K. Cunningham – 1

Overall Results and Point Standings Supercross:
1.    J. Grant – 25
2.    A. Short – 22
3.    C. Reed – 20
4.    T. Ferry – 18
5.    R. Villopoto – 16
6.    I. Tedesco – 15
7.    H. Voss – 14
8.    B. Coisy – 13
9.    N. Wey – 12
10.    P. Carpenter – 11
11.    M. Alessi – 10
12.    D. Millsaps – 9
13.    C. Siebler – 8
14.    M. Boni – 7
15.    K. Windham – 6
16.    J. Hill – 5
17.    S. Boniface – 4
18.    R. Kiniry – 3
19.    J. Stewart – 2
20.    J. Summey – 1

Anaheim stadium was stacked to the brim, despite the live broadcast on the SPEED Channel (and the current state of the economy, of course), for the opening round of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. If, for some reason, you were sleeping under a rock, failing to show to the race or spy it on your television set, it pretty much went down like this…

Photos by Lutes

LITES QUALIFYING

In the 2009 Lites West Coast series, it’s a who’s who of talent, and the Anaheim crowd was chomping at the bit to get the racing action started. In the first Lites heat race of the evening, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais nabbed the holeshot with MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton close in tow. Just behind them, Ryan Dungey suffered a scary crash before the finish line, going straight over the bars, and was unable to continue. Morais’ teammate, Jake Weimer, found his way around Brayton and eventually moved around Mo for the lead. At the conclusion of the six-lap sprint, Weimer held on for the win with Morais in second and Brayton taking third. Just behind the lead pack, Chris Gosselaar rode strong for a fourth place finish while MotoConcepts Racing’s Jeff Alessi rounded out the top five.

In Lites qualifying heat number two, 2008 Eastern Region Lites SX champ Trey Canard came out with the holeshot and early lead. However, it had to of felt like a practice day at the test track for Canard, as fellow teammate Daniel Reardon was only a few bike lengths behind Canard. Defending West Coast Lites Supercross champion Jason Lawrence sat in the fourth position in the early stages of the heat, but eventually made his way around Chris Blose and Reardon to set his sights on Canard. J-Law wasted no time going after Canard, however, Canard bobbled on lap number four after the first triple, going down in the bowl turn and handing Lawrence the lead and the eventual win. Behind Lawrence, Reardon hung on for second, Canard picked himself up off the ground for third, and Troy Lee Design Honda’s Chris Blose finished fourth.

With 18 spots on the gate already filled, only two more positions were open for those Lites riders who’d yet to qualify. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey grabbed the holeshot and never looked back; going on to take the win. Taking home the final transfer spot in the Lites LCQ was MDK/KTM’s Ryan Sipes. Meanwhile, new-comer to the professional ranks, Cole Seeley missed the main event by one spot, but was rewarded with a $250 Medic Card check for his endeavors.

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results,

1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
4. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
5. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda
9. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda
10. Chris Gosselaar, Spring Valley Lake, Calif., Kawasaki

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 25
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 22
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 20
4. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 18
5. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 16
6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 15
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 14
8. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 13
9. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 12
10. Chris Gosselaar, Spring Valley Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 11

SUPERCROSS QUALIFYING

In the first heat of the much-anticipated Supercross class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto jumped out in front with the holeshot and did not look back; he quickly checked out and sprinted to the checkers. Keeping the dominance of Kawasaki alive, Timmy Ferry yielded a great start and coasted to a solid second-place finish. The surprise of qualifying came from Steve Boniface, who entered Anaheim I at the last minute under the Troy Lee Designs Honda tent; Boniface was able to hold on to a good start and finish fifth behind superstars, RV, Ferry, Short, and Reed.

The second qualifying heat for the 450 pilots started with a surprising holeshot from Bobby Kiniry, but James Stewart gobbled him up within a few corners. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant debuted his fresh fo-fiddy by chasing Stewart around the track for the duration of the moto, eventually finishing second, with Davi Millsaps and Kiniry behind him.

Photos by Lutes

LITES MAIN EVENT
With the qualifying a now distant memory, twenty of the best Lites riders in the world lined up to kick off the first West Coast Lites SX main event of 2009. When the gate dropped, Geico Powersports Honda’s Daniel Reardon emerged with the holeshot and early lead. Former teammate to Reardon, Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer was in second place and MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton in third. While Reardon, Weimer, and Brayton battled for position, Jason Lawrence and Trey Canard found themselves on the ground (Canard in the first turn and J-Law in the second turn). Joining Canard and Lawrence with poor luck was Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, who suffered from a bad start.

While Canard, Lawrence, and Dungey were working their way up, Weimer made his move on Reardon to take control of the lead on lap three. While Canard was moving his way through the pack, he again found himself on the ground on lap four. Two laps later, Reardon and Brayton got together on lap six, both losing valuable positions. In the closing stages of the 15-lap main event, Morais capitalized on the mistakes of Reardon and Brayton to move into second place. Though Dungey was able to slice his way through the field to take control of the third place position, defending West Coast Supercross champion Jason Lawrence rode with patience of a true champion, taking his time as he moved his way through the field; eventually finishing fourth on the night.