A fine interview with one of the very best young racers America has produced in recent years, the multi-talented JD Beach. Read more.
Archive for February 13th, 2012
There was plenty of good action in the pack during the talent-laden 1991 Daytona 200 by Arai. This photo shows one of many races within the race at Daytona that year. Flat tracker Steve Morehead, on a Dutchman Suzuki, leads Canadian Mike Walsh aboard his Leitner & Bush Yamaha OW01 and Ohioan Phil Pummell on a Pummell Racing Honda VFR750. Morehead scored the best finish of this trio, taking 34th out of the 74 starters. Pummell was 43rd and Walsh dropped out after only eight laps and finished the same as his competition number in 69th.
There was plenty of good action in the pack during the talent-laden 1991 Daytona 200 by Arai. This photo shows one of many races within the race at Daytona that year. Flat tracker Steve Morehead, racing a Dutchman Suzuki, leads Canadian Mike Walsh on a Leitner & Bush Yamaha OW01 and Ohioan Phil Pummell on his Pummell Racing Honda VFR750. (Larry Lawrence photo)
(NEWS RELEASE)
February 13, 2012 – Hendersonville, North Carolina: Because they believe that dirt riding is spiritual, Team MX Heaven, the racing team representing America’s premier MX vacation experience, has signed on with Öhlins USA to run the world’s-premier suspension in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
For 2012, Team MX Heaven will be competing in the Pro “Outdoor” series on Honda CRF450R race bikes, with four riders that includes last-year’s regulars Fredrik Noren and Calle Aspegren, joined by new recruits Richard Sandberg and Robert Lind. The team is located in Perris, California, where lead mechanic Ola Nilsson prepares and maintains the machinery.
Team MX Heaven principal, Gunnar Lindstrom, said, “It’s a great honor and fits our team profile very well, to be working with a top technology company. We look forward to being part of the growing Öhlins family, both in racing and testing, and we’re confident from our performance last year that our riders can deliver top results.”
Racer Calle Aspegren, said, “I can’t wait to get started this year. I learned so much last year, and this year everything will be familiar to us. And now with Öhlins suspension and testing support, we will be so much more competitive.”
New teammate Richard Sandberg, said, “We’re super pumped to come to the US and compete in the Nationals. The addition of Öhlins suspension will make us much more competitive. We all have experience with Öhlins from racing in Europe, and to work with the USA technicians and development team here will be great. Together we expect great results.”
Watch for Team MX Heaven starting with the season opener at Hangtown, May 19, just outside Sacramento, California. More information about the team can be found at: www.mxheaven-usa.com. They can be contacted at: info@mxheaven-usa.com.
Team MX Heaven’s sponsors include: Öhlins USA (of course); GOLDfren brakes; Troy Lee Designs; X-Brand, NoToil; Works Connection; Dunlop; MTA; BelRay; Renthal; Acerbis; Gaerne; AME Grips; RK Excel.
Öhlins USA distributes and services the world’s leading performance suspension components for automobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs. Öhlins develops its proprietary and trend-setting suspension components, steering dampers and oils, 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. Öhlins USA can be contacted at: 828-692-4525; www.Ohlinsusa.com
(NEWS RELEASE)
Elena Myers has signed a contract renewal with Team Hammer, Inc. that will see her compete for the 2012 AMA Pro SuperSport title with title sponsorship from American Suzuki’s SuzukiScoopFans page on Facebook and from SportbikeTrackGear.com.
AMA Pro standout Elena Myers has signed a contract renewal with Team Hammer, Inc. that will see her compete for the 2012 AMA Pro SuperSport title with title sponsorship from American Suzuki’s SuzukiScoopFans page on Facebook and from SportbikeTrackGear.com.
“I’m really excited to be back with Team Hammer and all of our partners this year,” said Myers. “There’s no question that we have an excellent program and we’re looking forward to continuing the relationships we’ve built. The bike will be fast and look great.”
Myers burst onto the AMA Pro scene as a 16-year-old rookie in 2010, becoming the first woman to win an AMA Pro sprint race with a victory at Infineon Raceway. She finished as the SuperSport West Region Championship runner-up in 2010 while impressing with her balance of measured tactics and well-timed aggression.
Myers, from Discovery Bay, California, finished fifth in the 2011 AMA Pro SuperSport West Region Championship with a combined five top-five finishes across both regions, including a podium finish at Barber Motorsports Park.
“The past few years, I’ve had a lot of expectations about wanting to win a championship and I think we’ve continued to develop toward that goal,” Myers continued. “I’ve got great backing. If I can stay healthy, we’ll go hammer-down. This will be my third year in AMA Pro SuperSport. I’ve been working on an intense training program this off-season and I’m really looking forward to getting to Daytona. There are more rounds this year and I am certainly happy about that, too.”
Myers, now 18, will race a 2012 Suzuki GSX-R600. Eric Gray will lead her crew with assistance from returning mechanic Phillip Doyle.
“An opportunity to work with Elena is really exciting for me,” said Gray. “She’s a previous winner and a proven front-runner. Working with a different rider in the team last year, I got to see her approach to racing and saw that she has an exceptional work ethic. She’s entering her third year, so she has some experience even though she’s still at a young age. The team learned a lot about the Suzuki GSX-R600 last year and we have a good baseline setting.”
“We’re excited to continue her development with the team and see where that takes her,” said Team Hammer General Manager Keith Perry. “The team felt she learned a lot in the second half of the season and she sharpened her skills with each race and especially at the CCS races we ran last fall. Elena has a lot of promise and clearly she has a lot of natural talent and ability and we’re committed to helping her continue to improve. We will have Eric Gray working with her next year and he has a good record with young riders so we are all excited.”
“Suzuki is happy to be working with one of the fastest women on the planet in Elena Myers. It’s good to have her representing American Suzuki and SuzukiScoopFans,” said American Suzuki’s Pat Alexander. “She’s worked with us for a few years and she’s done well by winning at Infineon Raceway in 2010 and fighting through injury to produce good results last tear. Elena is a good ambassador for our brand and she has all the potential to come out on top for the 2012 season.”
“We are very proud to be supporting Elena Myers and working with the SuzukiScoopFans program and Team Hammer in 2012,” said Brian Van of SportbikeTrackGear.com. “Elena is a real talent as I discovered first hand when she passed me like a mailbox on the roadside in AMA Supersport Practice at Barber in 2011. 2012 is going to be a great year for sure!”
(NEWS RELEASE)
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Championship Season Opener
AURORA, Ill. (February 13, 2012) – Defending Supercross Class Champion Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., brings a six-point lead into this Saturday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at Arlington’s Cowboys Stadium.
Press day will take place at the South Club Room inside Cowboys Stadium Thursday, February 16 from Noon-2:00, featuring L&Mc Racing Honda and Smithville, Texas native Andrew Short / GEICO Honda / Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki / Pro Circuit Kawasaki / Texas-based Privateer Journey Racing
Saturday will serve as the opening race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship and will be headlined by GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, who is the defending Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Champion.
Honda’s best efforts, however, will be met with equal talent by the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team’s Blake Bagget and Darryn Durham. During his second season in the Lites Class, Baggett scored two wins and finished on the podium in nearly every race.
Aside from the two powerhouses of Honda and Kawasaki, several additional threats exist throughout the rest of the paddock. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen is ready to make his 2012 campaign after breaking his arm while practicing for the opening race of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship in Anaheim. The crash forced Roczen to focus his attention on the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship. Also, GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle, a rookie in the class, is one of the highly anticipated riders to vie for the title.
Last weekend in San Diego, before 58,782 fans, Villopoto, who now has three wins on the season, won a hard-fought battle with Chad Reed that escalated on Lap 18, when Reed stole the lead from Villopoto. On the same lap, however, Villopoto’s prowess reined supreme and re-passed Reed before the finish line.
“You really had to be smooth every lap,” said Villopoto. “San Diego’s dirt is really slippery and made it tough to be consistent for the full 20-lap main event. I’ve never won San Diego in the Supercross Class. It was great to get my first win here and end Chad’s (Reed) win streak at Qualcomm Stadium. Hopefully I can start a streak my own as we head to Cowboys Stadium next week.”
A dramatic turn of events unfolded in the Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship when, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, who came into San Diego with a comfortable 22-point lead over Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, suffered a major crash that forced him to withdraw from the Main Event, losing valuable points. As a result, eventual winner Wilson erased the 22-point deficit and moved into the championship points lead by two over Tomac as this regional championship takes a break until April 21 in Seattle.
“We’ve made (the championship chase) interesting, which is something we didn’t want to do, but we’ve got plenty of time to recover and rest now so that’s what we’ll do,” Tomac said. “We’ll reload and get ready for the last three races. I’m not going to change anything I’ve been doing because it’s been a great season so far. We just had some unfortunate luck tonight.”
Tomac struggled in his heat race earlier in the night when he collided with another rider. He went on to finish eight and this transfer position gave him an unfavorable gate pick for the main.
“I feel like I got run over by a truck,” Tomac said. “I missed the front wheel in the first part of the whoops and it did the huck-and-buck on me. I went down and the bike came down on top of me. I tried to get up and continue but the bike wouldn’t start.”
“It’s a bummer because I could see the two guys in front of me and the race still had a long way to go so it could have been good there at the end. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
Why Tomac fought the track, Wilson was out front with a commanding advantage after passing Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot winner and Vince Friese, who rides for the Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda team, and leading wire to wire. Wilson now has two wins on the season.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic with the win,” said Wilson. “I knew I needed to run consistent laps out there and get through the whoops as fast as I could all night long. Eli [Tomac] is a tough competitor, so it’s a bit of a surprise to be in the points lead, but I’m going to work my butt off during the break to try and stay there.”
At last year’s Monster Energy Supercross race at Cowboys Stadium, Muscle Milk Honda’s Trey Canard, who is sidelined due to an injury suffered earlier this season, captured his third Supercross Class win of the season. In the Supercross Lites Class, Wilson earned his third Supercross Lites Class victory.
Monster Energy Supercross has a storied history in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with the first-ever supercross race held in Dallas on March 1, 1975. From 1983-2008, Texas Stadium hosted 26 consecutive Monster Energy Supercross races and is regarded as one of the sport’s most historical cities having hosted.
In 2008, Reed became the first rider in history to earn four wins in Dallas. Former Supercross Class champion Ricky Johnson is second on the all-time win list in Dallas with three. Supercross Lites Class racing began in Dallas on May 4, 1985 where Suzuki rider Bobby Moore won. Villopoto, Grant Langston and Jeremy McGrath are the only rides to win Dallas twice in the Lites Class.
SPEED will broadcast the Supercross Class race LIVE at 10:30pm EST on February 18, 2012.
Tickets are available at the Cowboys Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Club Level tickets are $55 Adult / $27.50 Child; Price Level 2 $50 Adults / $25 Child; Price Level 3 $45 Adults / $22.50 Child; Price Level 4 $40 Adult / $20 Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6 p.m. Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).
Supercross Class Results: San Diego
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
- Joshua Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
- Nick Wey, DeWitt, Mich., Kawasaki
Supercross Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 133
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 127
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 123
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 101
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 78
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 75
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 72
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 70
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 68
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 64
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: San Diego
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
- Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, AUS, KTM
- Gareth Swanepoel, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
- Billy Laninovich, Riverside, Calif., Honda
- Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Honda
- Nike Paluzzi, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 116
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 114
- Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 101
- Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 89
- Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 78
- Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, NS, KTM – 73
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 67
- Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda – 63
- Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 60
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 58
Past Supercross Class Winners in Dallas
Supercross Class
April 2, 2011: Trey Canard
March 20, 2010: Ryan Dungey
April 5, 2008: Chad Reed
March 31, 2007: James Stewart
March 22, 2006: Chad Reed
April 2, 2005: James Stewart
April 17, 2004: Chad Reed
April 12, 2003: Chad Reed
April 20, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
April 21, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
April 08, 2000: Kevin Windham
February 27, 1999: Kevin Windham
April 25, 1998: Ezra Lusk
April 26, 1997: Jeff Emig
March 23, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
April 29, 1995: Doug Henry
April 23, 1994: Mike LaRocco
March 28, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
May 30, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
April 27, 1991: Damon Bradshaw
April 07, 1990: Jean-Michel Bayle
April 01, 1989: Jeff Ward
April 16, 1988: Rick Johnson
April 04, 1987: Rick Johnson
April 26, 1986: David Bailey
May 04, 1985: Rick Johnson
April 14, 1984: Johnny O’ Mara
April 16, 1983: Mike Bell
March 26, 1977: Bob Hannah
March 19, 1976: Jim Ellis
February 28, 1975: Jim Ellis
March 01, 1975(b): Steve Stackable
Supercross Lites Class
April 2, 2011: Dean Wilson
March 20, 2010: Blake Bagget
April 5, 2008: Ryan Villopoto
March 31, 2007: Ben Townley
March 22, 2006: Ryan Villopoto
April 2, 2005: Grant Langston
April 17, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
April 12, 2003: James Stewart Jr.
April 20, 2002: Travis Preston
April 21, 2001: Grant Langston
April 08, 2000: Greg Schnell
February 27, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
April 25, 1998: John Dowd
April 26, 1997: Kevin Windham
March 23, 1996: Mickael Pichon
April 29, 1995: Damon Huffman
April 23, 1994: Jimmy Button
March 28, 1993: Doug Henry
May 30, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
April 27, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
April 07, 1990: Denny Stephenson
April 01, 1989: Mike LaRocco
April 16, 1988: Ty Davis
April 04, 1987: Kyle Lewis
April 26, 1986: Keith Turpin
May 04, 1985: Bobby Moore
Tune into the enhanced exclusive weekly video content from Supercross LIVE! during the entire 2012 season on SupercrossOnline.com, the Official Website of Monster Energy Supercross.
Weekly Supercross LIVE! Video Content Schedule
The Official Supercross LIVE! Pre-Show Race Days at 11 AM Local Race Time
Behind the Scenes with Supercross LIVE! All Day on Race Days
2 Minutes on the Track Race Days at 3:30 & 5:30 PM Local Race Time
And on the Podium Tonight Following Each Round’s Main Events
The Official Supercross LIVE! Post-Show Saturday Nights at Each Round
Toyota Tailgate Talk Wednesdays at 5 PM ET
After The Checkered Flag Thursdays at 5PM ET
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross. 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.
Racing Bulletin
Date: Feb. 13, 2012
To: AMA Competition Members
- The hare & hound, originally scheduled for Feb. 26 in Reno, Nev., will be held on June 24 in the same location. With the move, the next race in the series becomes the March 25 event in Murphy, Idaho.
- The hare scrambles, originally scheduled for March 3 in Sparks, Nev., has not yet been rescheduled. The next regularly scheduled round becomes April 14 in Shasta Lake, Calif.
For the latest schedules of AMA-sanctioned national championship events and featured series, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing > National Championships.
For questions about AMA-sanctioned off-road events, contact AMA Off-Road Manager Chuck Weir at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1245, or email cweir@ama-cycle.org.
Re: Western Off-Road Races Rescheduled
Public land use permit issues have forced organizers to reschedule the third rounds of both the AMA Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship Series and the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series.
Ray Yoder (No. 52) moves the 3 Guys Racing Suzuki inside Paul Bray on the Team Suzuki Endurance machine in turn one to take second in the WERA Eight Hour National Endurance at Grattan Raceway in July of 1989. 3 Guys Suzuki was in contention for the win until team member Fritz Kling later crashed out of the race, breaking his foot in the process. Bray and his teammate Mike Smith went on to win the race when the Human Race Team Yamaha blew up a motor less than half hour from the finish.
Ray Yoder (No. 52)moves the 3 Guys Racing Suzuki inside Paul Bray on the Team Suzuki Endurance machine to take second in the WERA Eight Hour National Endurance in turn one at Grattan Raceway in July of 1989. (Larry Lawrence photo)
2012 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Entry List
N° RIDER NAT. MOTORCYCLE TEAM NAME
32 Lorenzo Savadori ITA Ducati 1199 Panigale Barni Racing Team
47 Eddi La Marra ITA Ducati 1199 Panigale Barni Racing Team
14 Lorenzo Baroni ITA BMW S1000 RR BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet STK
20 Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW S1000 RR BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet STK
31 Christoffer Bergman SWE Kawasaki ZX-10R BWG Racing Kawasaki
30 Bogdan Vrajitoru ROU Kawasaki ZX-10R CSM Bucharest
24 Kev Coghlan GBR Ducati 1199 Panigale DMC Racing
61 Alexey Ivanov RUS Ducati 1199 Panigale DMC Racing
15 Fabio Massei ITA Honda CBR1000RR EAB Racing – Ten Kate Junior
21 Markus Reiterberger GER BMW S1000 RR Garnier Racing Team
6 Brett McCormick CAN Ducati 1199 Panigale Liberty – Effenbert
23 Federico Sandi ITA Ducati 1199 Panigale Liberty – Effenbert
88 Massimo Parziani ITA Aprilia RSV4 APRC M.V. Racing Team
40 Alen Gyorfi HUN Honda CBR1000RR MetalCom-ADRENALIN
65 Loris Baz FRA Kawasaki ZX-10R MRS
37 Andrzej Chmielewski POL Ducati 1098R Red Devils Roma
5 Marco Bussolotti ITA Ducati 1098R SK ENERGY – Racing Team
55 Tomas Svitok SVK Ducati 1098R SK ENERGY – Racing Team
93 Matthieu Lussiana FRA Kawasaki ZX-10R Team ASPI
36 Philippe Braga Thiriet BRA Kawasaki ZX-10R Team Brazil
42 Heber Pedrosa BRA Kawasaki ZX-10R Team Brazil
155 Tiago Dias POR Ducati 1098R Team Dias
39 Randy Pagaud FRA Kawasaki ZX-10R Team OGP
11 Jeremy Guarnoni FRA Kawasaki ZX-10R Team Pedercini
67 Bryan Staring AUS Kawasaki ZX-10R Team Pedercini