My latest entry on Cycle World’s blog features the exciting career of ex-AMA Superbike great Harry Klinzmann. Click here.
Archive for March 15th, 2011
(NEWS RELEASE)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The results are in, and communities nationwide are the winners. Members of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) voted on their favorite roads in America, and the top 15 selections represent scenic highways and byways throughout the country.
“When it comes to the best places in the country to ride motorcycles, no group of riders is more knowledgeable than AMA members,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “No group puts in more miles, samples more asphalt or rides more roads.
“By publicizing our favorite roads in American Motorcyclist magazine, AMA members will seek out these destinations and bring tourism dollars into local communities through the purchase of food, fuel, lodging and more,” Dingman said.
The editors of American Motorcyclist magazine used the 230,000-member, non-profit association’s website, AmericanMotorcyclist.com, to accept nominations and tally votes for members’ favorite roads. Nearly 100 roads made the ballot, and the magazine published the top 15 roads in the April issue as well as a list of “honorable mentions.”
“Some of these roads are familiar to motorcyclists, and others may not be,” said Managing Editor James Holter. “They all have one thing in common: They’re the best roads in the country, as chosen by AMA members.”
A countdown of the top 15 routes:
15. Washington Route 129 and Oregon Route 3, Clarkston, Wash., to Enterprise, Ore.
14. Ohio Route 170, Calcutta to Poland.
13. California Route 58, McKittrick to Santa Margarita.
12. U.S. Route 33, Harrisonburg, Va., to Seneca Rocks, W.Va.
11. Natchez Trace, from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.
10. Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2.
9. U.S. Route 12, Lolo Pass, Idaho and Montana.
8. California Route 36.
7. Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina and Tennessee.
6. Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana.
5. California Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway.
4. U.S. Route 550, from Ouray to Durango, Colo.
3. U.S. Route 129 — The Tail of the Dragon — on the North Carolina-Tennessee border.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina.
1. Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming.
Complete descriptions, as well as the list of honorable mentions, are available in the April issue of American Motorcyclist magazine, starting on page 30. The feature can also be viewed online at http://issuu.com/americanmotorcyclist/docs/0411_webpreview. Images of the roads nominated by AMA members can be viewed online at Gallery.AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Member Submissions > Great Roads.
American Motorcyclist magazine is exclusively for AMA members, and is not available on newsstands. For information on joining the AMA, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com or call (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646).
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Travelling to 29 races a year, the Monster Energy Kawasaki supercross/motocross teams puts a lot of miles on its truck. But it takes more than just a truck to get the team ready to race. This month, go “On the Road” with the team as they get ready for the Daytona Supercross. Watch the video here.
(NEWS RELEASE)
Chicken Hawk Racing Tire Warmers Are Used by 2011 Daytona Winner Jason DiSalvo.
RED HOOK, N.Y. (March 15, 2011) – Every race was won by a rider using Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers during the season-opening AMA Pro Racing weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
Beginning its 10th year of partnership with Yoshimura, Chicken Hawk Racing congratulates Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young on two big wins in the hard-fought Superbike class and teammate Tommy Hayden on his podium finishes.
Daytona 200 victor Jason DiSalvo, of Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati, relied upon Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers, too.
Even young guns who are serious about winning used Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers to top the SuperSport field. Miles Thornton took pole position, then LTD Racing’s Tomas Puerta and teammate David Gaviria scored the race wins.
XR1200 winner Kyle Wyman has been on Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers since he began racing. Polesitter Steve Rapp also used the company’s products.
Chicken Hawk Racing President and Founder David Podolsky, a championship-winning roadracer himself, was happy with the results of the opening round of the series: “This is our 16th year in the AMA paddock and we are proud to be involved with such professional race teams. We’d like to congratulate race winners Blake Young, Jason DiSalvo, Kyle Wyman, Tomas Puerta and David Gaviria. They are awesome competitors of the highest caliber.”
As America’s top racers have demonstrated, Chicken Hawk Racing products, which are designed and manufactured in New York, allow serious grip from the drop of the green flag. They’re built from the finest U.S.-sourced materials, are easy to mount, simple to remove and efficiently bring today’s high-tech rubber up to optimum temperature and hot pressure for immediate traction.
Working directly with elite racers, top teams and the world’s best tire engineers, Chicken Hawk Racing continues to prove-and improve-its products in America’s premier motorcycle roadracing series. For more information on how to lead the pack with Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers and related products, log on to ChickenHawkRacing.com.
You can read about the test here.
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 01:55.7 – - 46
2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 01:55.7 0.064 0.064 39
3 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 01:56.3 0.549 0.613 45
4 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 01:56.4 0.139 0.752 70
5 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 01:56.4 0.006 0.758 58
6 Randy De Puniet Pramac Racing Team 01:56.4 0.006 0.764 67
7 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 01:56.7 0.262 1.026 48
8 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 01:56.7 0.009 1.035 57
9 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 01:56.7 0.01 1.045 68
10 Hiroshi Aoyama San Carlo Honda Gresini 01:56.7 0.014 1.059 73
11 Hector Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team 01:56.8 0.058 1.117 62
12 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 01:56.9 0.133 1.25 63
13 Valentino Rossi Ducati Marlboro Team 01:57.0 0.057 1.307 50
14 Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing Team 01:57.3 0.357 1.664 62
15 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 01:57.7 0.385 2.049 28
16 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 01:57.8 0.116 2.165 49
17 Toni Elias LCR Honda MotoGP 01:58.5 0.69 2.855 57
FMF Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang improved his status in the 2011 Grand National Cross Country Series by taking a solid runner-up finish at the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Georgia in round two of the series. Read more here.
(NEWS RELEASE)
For immediate release: March 14, 2011
Hendersonville, North Carolina: Öhlins USA congratulates Team Latus Motors Racing, and its rider Jason DiSalvo, for their historic win of the 70th running of the Daytona 200. This is Ducati’s first win of this classic one-rider endurance race on the high banks.
Though the race didn’t go it’s full scheduled distance, the Daytona 200s have a history of perplexity and weirdness, caused by the anomalous contingencies of racing on 31-degree banking. It tests the metal of men (and a woman or two also) and every team and rider has an equal chance of not winning, of not being lucky, of not being first to the finish line. Team Latus won this latest Daytona 200 after they’d witnessed themselves lose it. But they didn’t give up.
After the race, DiSalvo said, “I thought the race was over for us when the bike was behind the pit wall. And then there I was back on the grid, with a new engine, in time for the restart.
“Then I thought we’d lost it again when I felt something strange in the front end going into turn one a few laps into the final run. You have to respect that track and the riders around you, so I slowed in the infield to be clear of them so I could take a quick look over the fairing to reassess the bike. It all looked good so I thought I must have just run over something.
“Then I was 2-and-a-half seconds back and in danger of losing the pack. I put my head down and ended up setting the fastest lap of race, about 1-and-a-half seconds faster than the others were going at the time. I knew I was back in it. But I didn’t know I’d win until I had won. Maybe five feet from line I didn’t feel the push of someone coming by, so I was feeling good. When someone’s drafting a pass you can feel them pushing your bike with the air in front of them.”
Öhlins USA would also like to congratulate Dan Kyle and Kyle Racing for their contributions to DiSalvo’s win. Plus, congratulations to Blake Young and Rockstar Makita Suzuki for their wins of both Superbike races at Daytona, and David Gaviria and Team LTD Racing for their win in Saturday’s Supersport race. And, a big heads up to Joe Kopp, for his exciting 3rd-place finish in the Harley-Davidson XR1200 class.
Öhlins USA distributes and services the world’s leading performance suspension for automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Öhlins develops its proprietary and innovative suspension components at the highest levels of racing from open-wheel car racing, to Moto GP, to off-road competition on two and four wheels. Öhlins USA also provides training for service centers and dealers. www.Ohlinsusa.com.
(NEWS RELEASE)
AURORA, Ill. (March 14, 2011) – The 2011 AMA Arenacross Series enters it’s final month of competition this weekend, with its 11th round of action from Council Bluffs, Iowa’s Mid-America Center. After grabbing his sixth consecutive win last weekend in Greenville, S.C., Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLUBE Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers is looking to continue his dominance over the Arenacross class field.
In Greenville, Bowers made quick work of both of his championship rivals, TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson and his Babbitt’s Monster Energy teammate Chad Johnson, to lead the majority of the main event and securing his series-leading eighth victory.
Bowers’ incredible season now includes 11 podium efforts in 13 races, and not since the days of Buddy Antunez has the AMA Arenacross Series seen such authority.
“I think Tyler is riding more aggressive now than he has all season,” said AMA Arenacross Series Director Jayme Dalsing. “He’s attacking the main events and over the last two rounds has really had to work for the wins. He just wants this championship.”
Since breaking his leg last season while leading the championship, Bowers’ motivation the entire 2011 campaign has been to take care of unfinished business. Thanks to his recent string of consecutive wins and one of the most statistically dominant seasons in history, he’s in prime position to do so thanks to a 38-point lead.
Behind him, Gibson and Johnson are in a heated battle for the runner-up spot in the championship. Johnson’s four straight second place finishes have led to a surge in the standings and now he and Gibson, a three-race winner this season, are all square heading into the season’s home stretch.
In Arenacross Lites class action, the Western Regional Championship returns after a one-week break. Currently, Chad Cook holds a 30-point advantage of his own over the field and will look to extend that gap this weekend. Also garnering attention is rookie Vicki Golden, who’s historic season continues to evolve after qualifying for back-to-back main events. With a 13th-place finish to her credit, Golden will be looking to break into the top 10.
Council Bluffs marks the first of two visits to Iowa over the next four rounds and will challenge the riders with two nights of racing. All the excitement from the Mid-America Center kicks off on Friday night, followed by another evening of bar-banging action. Both shows start at 7 p.m. CT.
Advance tickets are available for the Council Bluffs Arenacross at the Mid-America Center Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
Arenacross Class Points (After Race 13 of 19)
- Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 302
- Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda – 264
- Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 264
- Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki – 203
- Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda – 199
- Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 177
- Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha – 171
- Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Honda – 153
- Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Yamaha – 152
- Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki – 145
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 7 of 10)
- Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 138
- Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 108
- Travis Smith, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha – 98
- Aviery Hickey, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki – 89
- Tiger Lacey, Spring Creek, Nev., Kawasaki – 75
- Tanner Young, Marland, Okla., Yamaha – 73
- Jeremy Huddleston, Eustace, Texas, KTM – 65
- Bobby Fitch, Littleton, Colo., Honda – 44
- Ricky Yorks, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 42
- Noa Quinabo, Riverside, Calif., Suzuki – 42
New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!
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 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, 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.
(NEWS RELEASE)
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto will look to keep the momentum going heading into Jacksonville, where he took the victory one year ago. (Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com)
AURORA, Ill, (March 14, 2011) – Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will make its third appearance at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field on Saturday for the 11th race of the 2011 season. Last weekend, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto added to his recent dominance by capturing a third consecutive victory inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
Media Day for this weekend’s action takes place on Thursday, March 17 from Noon-2:00 p.m., featuring San Manuel Yamaha, Suzuki City and BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki. Riders will be available for interviews and will ride the track for the media.
Villopoto’s performance last Saturday also marked his championship-leading fifth win of the season. After moving into the lead before the completion of the first lap, Villopoto pulled away from the field with a wire-to-wire win to give him his second straight win inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Currently, Villopoto’s advantage over San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart in the Supercross class standings sits at 26 points.
“The track was really tough tonight,” said Villopoto. “The ruts played a big factor throughout the 20-lap main. You really had to be smart out there. The whole team worked together really well tonight, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
Stewart was the inaugural winner in Jacksonville in 2009, the year of his last world championship. With good fortune on his side, EverBank Field could serve as the place for him to begin his pursuit of Villopoto.
After a difficult outing in Daytona the week prior, Stewart rebounded with a strong runner-up effort at Indianapolis, giving up minimal points to Villopoto. The 20-lap main event was full of excitement for Stewart, coming from dead last off the start and overcoming a pair of near-crashes to work his way through the field and a return to the podium.
“I had a rough weekend last week and wasn’t able to ride the way I wanted to,” said Stewart. “I let my team down today. It’s not over. I’m so motivated right now and I have a bunch of guys behind me.”
Rounding out the Supercross class podium in Indianapolis was TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed. Since capturing his first win of the season in San Diego four weeks ago, Reed has been a podium fixture and is just three points behind Stewart in the standings.
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class, DNA Shred Stix/Star Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes became the fourth different winner in as many races. A longtime veteran of the sport, Sipes’ breakthrough victory was the first of his professional career. Adding to the special nature of Sipes’ win was the presence of family and friends in the stands as Indianapolis marks the adopted home race of the Kentucky native.
“I can’t even describe the feeling right now,” exclaimed Sipes. “I didn’t think about winning until I crossed the checkered flag. Last time I thought about taking first place while leading, I went down and handed over the lead. Tonight, I stayed strong and didn’t think about it, and it definitely paid off.”
The parity-heavy title fight has featured exceptional racing throughout its first month of competition and at this point, the championship is anyone’s to win. On Saturday night, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia maintained his points lead with his fourth podium effort in second while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett also kept his podium streak intact in third. For Baggett, the night was one of frustration after crashing out of the lead on the seventh lap of action.
With an impressive third place finish last weekend, TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed now sits in third place, three points behind San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart and 29 points behind leader and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto. (Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com)
“I went six laps and got pressured and went down and pretty much threw the race away, said Baggett. “I threw away a good amount of points, but we’ll just make sure we pick it up down the road.”
Currently, Barcia holds a six-point lead over Baggett in the standings with Sipes moving into third after his win, an additional six points behind.
Last year in Jacksonville, Villopoto grabbed the holeshot and went on to take a wire-to-wire win as he chased down Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey for the championship. In the Supercross Lites class, eventual champion Christophe Pourcel grabbed a convincing victory.
Tickets are available at the EverBank Field Box Office, SupercrossOnline.com, all Ticketmaster retail locations, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Practice and qualifying begins at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins at 7:00 p.m. Club Level Seats are available for $45 Adult/Child; Non-Club Level Seats $20 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30 – 6 PM Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).
Last weekend in Indianapolis, DNA Shred Stix/Star Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes captured the first victory of his career which bumped him up to third place. Sipes now sits 12 points behind leader and GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia. (Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com)
Supercross Class Results: Indianapolis
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
- Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
- Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Supercross Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 221
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 195
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 192
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 183
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 169
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 129
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 121
- Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 114
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 107
10. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 103
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Indianapolis
- Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
- Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda
- P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
- Les Smith, York, S.C., Honda
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 91
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 85
- Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 79
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 75
- Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 65
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 62
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 51
- P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 46
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 44
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 40
Past Winners in Jacksonville
Supercross class
March 27, 2010 Ryan Villopoto
April 4, 2009 James Stewart
Supercross Lites class
March 27, 2010 Christophe Pourcel
April 4, 2009 Christophe Pourcel
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. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.
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 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, 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 about Elena Myers and her outing at the Daytona opener here.