Rider Files

This one really has me scratching my head. This appears to be Mike Smith riding Jimmy Filice’s Camel Honda RS250 Grand Prix machine at Mid-Ohio in 1992. I vaguely remember this, but the exact circumstances are lost. If anyone remembers why Smith was riding the bike I’d like to know. I also don’t see his name in the results so I’m not sure he actually raced or was just going out to try out the bike. Filice was there that weekend, raced and finished fifth, so perhaps Smith simply wanted to ride a 250 and the team gave him a session on the bike.

Mike Smith riding Jimmy Filice’s Camel Honda 250 Grand Prix machine at Mid-Ohio in 1992. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(News Release)

MX Sports Pro Racing Releases Preliminary Entry List
for Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 18, 2010) – With the start of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship just days away, MX Sports Pro Racing releases the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic from Rancho Cordova, Calif.

For tickets and fan and racing information on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to www.allisports.com.

For more information about the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5750.

.

(News Release)

Reed and Dungey Lead the World’s Best into Season-Opening
Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 18, 2010) – In just four days, the engines will come to life and the crowd will rise to its feet as the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship drops the starting gate on its 2010 season at the Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic in Rancho Cordova, Calif. This marks the 42nd running of the legendary event, making it the longest-running national on the schedule, as it returns as the season-opening round of the 12-race championship.

Chad Reed (Courtesy Simon Cudby_

After sitting out the majority of the supercross season, Chad Reed returns to defend his 450 Class championship, albeit with a new team: Monster Energy Kawasaki. Last season the Australian superstar returned from a two-year outdoor hiatus to take control of the series, adding the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship to his two AMA Supercross crowns, making him the most successful international rider in history.

“I am really motivated for this series, and I can’t wait to get to Hangtown and start racing,” said Reed, who will wear #1 on his Kawasaki KX450F. “It’s been a difficult season up to this point with the injuries and all, but that’s all behind me now and I’m ready to get back out front.”

Ryan Dungey took Reed’s vacated spot with Rockstar/Makita Suzuki, making his highly anticipated move to the premier class. The reigning AMA Motocross 250 Class champion showed tremendous poise and resilience last season en route to his first national title, then put in one of the most impressive AMA Supercross seasons in history, joining Jeremy McGrath as the only other rider to win the premier-class title as a division rookie. Additionally, he became the youngest supercross champion ever, at just 20 years of age. He enters Saturday’s outdoor series premiere as Reed’s primary challenger.

Joining both Reed and Dungey at the head of the field is a long list of talented riders, each determined to stake his claim as the best motocross rider on the planet. Leading that group are Jagermeister KTM’s Mike Alessi and Muscle Milk/Toyota/Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant, both of whom were AMA Motocross race winners in 2009 before injuries cut their seasons short. Both also missed the 2010 supercross season and will surely be determined and ready to prove themselves once again.

Ryan Dungey (Courtesy Suzuki Racing)

Several perennial frontrunners will also be returning to the series, including Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short and Davi Millsaps and 2009 breakthrough winners Tommy Hahn (Rockstar Energy Suzuki) and Matt Goerke (MotoConcepts Yamaha). Grant Langston, the 2007 AMA Motocross champion, and former world champ Ben Townley are also a part of what is undoubtedly one of the most talented fields in series history.

To challenge the fastest riders on the planet, the Dirt Diggers Motorcycle North Club will present a technical track that should make for some spectacular yet safe racing. The legendary circuit is renowned for its dynamic layout, which allows the thousands of fans in attendance to see nearly every aspect of the track. For over four decades, the Dirt Diggers Motorcycle North Club has brought world-class motocross racing to the masses and has become a northern California tradition. On Saturday afternoon, that tradition continues and will be highlighted by a star-studded lineup of riders and the chance for all fans to get up close and personal with the riders in the open pits.

Ben Townley (Courtesy Shayne Rice)

The rising stars of the 250 Class will also be in action, led by 2009 runner-up and 2010 title favorite Christophe Pourcel and his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Jake Weimer, a three-time winner last season. Also on the gate will be 2009 Rookie of the Year Justin Barcia, along with his GEICO Powersports teammate Trey Canard, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray, KTM factory pilot Tommy Searle, highly touted rookies Dean Wilson, Blake Baggett, and Eli Tomac, plus many more.

The MotorcycleUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship will also kick off its eight-race 2010 season alongside the men. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ashley Fiolek will begin her quest for a third consecutive WMX title, but several others will be chasing her thanks to the most support the class has ever seen. Five-time women’s champion Jessica Patterson leads the challengers with her new DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha machine along with frontrunners Sherri Cruse (Nitro Circus/Suzuki City), Mariana Balbi and Vicki Golden (MotoConcepts Yamaha), 2009 WMX Class Rookie of the Year Sara Price (Monster Energy Kawasaki), and Tarah Gieger (Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda).

Before the bikes hit the track this Saturday, May 22, the biggest names in the sport and the city of Sacramento will come together to welcome the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship back to the state capital and celebrate the history of this illustrious event on the steps of the California State Capitol Building. Reed, Dungey, Alessi, Grant, Short, Townley, and Fiolek will all be in attendance, along with their state-of-the-art race rigs. The press conference is open to the public and begins at 10 a.m. PST on the north steps on L Street this Thursday, May 20.

For tickets and fan and racing information on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to www.allisports.com.

For more information about the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5750.

Neil Hodgson’s recent retirement brought an end to a sterling 20-year racing history. The Brit raced about everything in road racing, including really learning his craft in 125 Grand Prix racing. I had lunch with Neil one day during an AMA Superbike weekend and the talk turned to the British road racing tracks. I told him I’d been to several of the British circuits and commented about how crazy Mallory Park’s hairpin called Shaw’s Corner was. I told him I was there in 1991 and watched a British 125GP Championship race and how shocked I was to hear fairings slamming  going into the hairpin as the ultra-aggressive riders came through in a huge pack that first lap. Neil laughed and said he was actually in that race. Here’s a photo of Hodgson on a 125 Honda from the excellent Graham Etheridge Collection. Hodgson became British 125 GP champion in 1992.

Neil Hodgson racing a Honda 125 Grand Prix bike at Brands Hatch in 1993. (Photo from Graham Etheridge Collection)

Larry Pegram backs in his Red Bull HMC KTM into a turn at the AMA Red Bull Supermoto race in downtown Columbus, Ohio, in October of 2003. Pegram took fourth in the Unlimited class in spite of racing through a full-blown flu. The race was held in the heart of downtown Columbus across the street from PromoWest Pavilion. It attracted a decent crowd, but apparently not enough to justify the cost of staging a downtown event. It was the one and only AMA Supermoto National held on the site.

Larry Pegram backs in his Red Bull HMC KTM into a turn at the AMA Red Bull Supermoto race in downtown Columbus, Ohio, in October of 2003. (Larry Lawrence photo)

You think streetfighter motorcycles are an invention of the 2000s? Then check out this Honda Four that graced the cover of Cycle in November of 1975. Stripped down to the bare essentials with a pumped up motor, massive brakes, state of the art wheels and custom tank, seat and tail section, the bike looks ready for serious street action. Also check out the proudly trumpeted 103 horsepower obtained by turbocharging a Kawasaki Z-1.

Cycle, Nov. 1975 Issue