Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) welcomes West Coast off-road racers who enjoy all forms of enduro competition — including the tradition and challenge of time-keeping enduros — to participate in a new AMA Featured Series for 2012.

“Enduro racing is part of the heritage of motorcycling competition in this country,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “We welcome the efforts of these longtime AMA partners to elevate enduro competition on the West Coast. I’m sure these events will not only satisfy current riders eager for more enduro competition, they will also introduce many more riders to this exciting sport.”

The AMA Western Checkpoint Enduro Championship is organized by the Western Enduro Promotions Group (WEPG) in partnership with AMA District 36 (Northern California), AMA District 37 (Southern California), and the AMA-chartered Arizona Offroad Motorcycle Racing Association. It features all styles of enduro competition, including time-keeping, start control and qualifier format. It includes events in California, Arizona and Nevada.

“I’m really happy with how the Western Checkpoint Enduro Championship has come together over the last two years,” said WEPG Chairman Erek Kudla. “For 2012 the WEPG has hooked up with Northern California’s District 36 and Arizona’s AMRA to host an eight-round enduro series composed of all forms of enduros, but the control of the individual events stays with the local clubs who have been successfully hosting enduros for as long as 60 years!”

The 2012 series opener, the Not-So Tuff-Enuff Enduro, brought 345 riders to Johnson Valley, Calif., on Jan. 15. James Ptarcinski of Sunnyville, Calif., took the overall as well as the Vet 30+ class win at the first round. The event also featured a Saturday family enduro, hosted by the Training Wheels MC. The family enduro provided a more laid-back alternative to Sunday’s full-on race as well as an opportunity to introduce some new riders to the sport.

AMA Featured Series are premier AMA-sanctioned series operated by a single club or promoter, a recognized AMA District or a closely affiliated group of AMA-chartered event organizers. AMA Featured Series do not award national championship points or awards, but do provide regional exposure and recognition.

For more on AMA Featured Series and other AMA-sanctioned events, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing.

2012 AMA Western Checkpoint Enduro Championship
Series Contact: Erek Kudla, info@ridechec.com, www.ridechec.com

March 18: Gold Rush Qualifier, Anza, Calif. Prospectors MC
April 1: Sawmill Enduro, Lakeport, Calif. North Bay MC
April 15: Sheridan Mountain Enduro, Camp Wood, Ariz. Arizona Trail Riders Association
May 19-20: Two-Day Hungry Valley Qualifier, Gorman, Calif. Ventura County MC
Oct. 7: Wild Horse Enduro, Dayton, Nev. Western States Racing Association
Oct. 21: Ghostrider Enduro, Red Mountain, Calif. Traning Wheels MC
Nov. 11: WFO Enduro, Stonyford, Calif. Valley Climbers MC

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 the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Ricky Carmichael, one of the greatest American motorcycle racers of all time, will bring his unique blend of stadium-style motocross to the hallowed grounds of the Daytona International Speedway on Sunday and Monday, March 11-12, at the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship.

Sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and in partnership with MX Sports, the third annual event features two days of amateur racing at the same track that will showcase the best AMA Supercross racers in the world at the March 10 Daytona Supercross by Honda, which is the 10th round of the 2012 AMA Supercross Championship.

“The Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship allows amateur motocross racers to experience one of America’s historic racing venues first hand,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “The event includes classes for all displacement, age and skill levels. Thanks to the new two-day format, it includes longer motos, expanded practice times and more opportunities to ride what will be one of the most-fun tracks many riders will see all year.”

Classes are available for youth riders on 50cc bikes all the way up to vet and senior classes. The race will follow a qualifying format with heat races and last-chance qualifiers seeding the main event in each class.

Amateur racers are encouraged to arrive early and camp on the Daytona infield. Hookups are also available. Move in, sign-up and camping begin on Saturday, March 10, so that amateur families can watch the pros compete Saturday night in the Daytona Supercross by Honda. Amateur racing takes place on Sunday, March 11, and Monday, March 12.

To register for the 2012 Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship, visit https://secure.tracksideonlineresults.com/daytonasx/.

About Daytona Beach Bike Week
The Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship is just one part of an action-packed week of motorcycling events during Daytona Beach Bike Week. In addition to amateur and professional racing in off-road, dirt track, roadracing and AMA Supercross, the week includes a number of events that celebrate the history of motorcycling. These include the 24th annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, which raises money for the non-profit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and this year features Hall of Famer and 1993 500cc World Grand Prix roadracing Champion Kevin Schwantz. To register to attend the Breakfast at Daytona on Friday, March 16, see MotorcycleMuseum.org.

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 the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — This year’s 24th annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, which features Hall of Famer and 1993 500cc World Grand Prix roadracing Champion Kevin Schwantz, will once again include the popular silent auction to benefit the Hall of Fame.

Special items available for the auction are still rolling in, and among them is an authentic Nichole Cheza flat-track racing helmet (complete with racetrack roost spots), a Bill Werner “Pair of Nines” race shirt honoring racers Gary Nixon and Jay Springsteen, special signed posters from past Hall of Fame events, an autographed copy of Buzz Kanter’s Indian Motocycles book and much more.

The silent auction is open to attendees at this year’s breakfast, which is set for Friday of Bike Week, March 16, in the Daytona International Speedway infield at the prestigious 500 Club building. Tickets are available online at www.motorcyclemuseum.org, or by calling (800) 262-5646.

“One of the great things about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is the direct connection it provides to Hall of Famers and others in the motorcycle world, and nowhere is that more true than in the silent auction, where bidders are vying for memorabilia from the fast and famous,” says Jack Penton, the AMA’s director of operations. “And best of all, 100 percent of the auction proceeds go to support the Hall.”

Featured speaker Schwantz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, rocketed to prominence as one of America’s best roadracers during the mid-1980s. By the end of the decade, Schwantz had moved to international competition in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championships. He was a perennial top rider in that series and won the world championship in 1993. During his Grand Prix racing career, Schwantz racked up 25 500cc GP victories, putting him second all-time among American riders.

At the breakfast, Schwantz will be interviewed onstage by race announcer and Bike Week mainstay Ben Cheatwood before fielding questions from the audience in a rare up-close-and-personal appearance.

Several individuals have signed on as sponsors of the event, including AMA Board Chairman Stan Simpson and long-time Hall of Fame supporters Mike and Margaret Wilson. Additional sponsorships — individual and corporate — are available by contacting Steve Gotoski at sgotoski@ama-cycle.org.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum’s three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. More information can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

Deano Swims was featured in a local news segment on an Atlanta TV station in 1984. Here’s the segment. Note Art Eckman doing the reporting and Swims is racing his famous Honda CB1100F, affectionately called “Battle Axe”. The bike was one of the fastest machines in the club ranks during the mid-1980s.

This is the first lap of the WERA A Superbike Novice finale at the Grand National Final in November of 1989. You can’t make out the first rider past the frame, but behind him are Jeff Taylor (No. 689), Charles Rosaly (793), Tripp Nobles (No. 114), W.C. Earnhardt (No. 617), Kelly Drew (No. 21), Anthony Arden (No. 189), Steve Craft (No. 131), Scott Turner (No. 543) and Joseph Ballard (No. 415). After a few laps Nobles broke through traffic and then passed Steve Broadstreet to take the national title. Kelly Drew finished third, behind Broadstreet.

You can’t make out the first rider past the frame, but behind him are Jeff Taylor (No. 689), Charles Rosaly (793), Tripp Nobles (No. 114), W.C. Earnhardt (No. 617), Kelly Drew (No. 21), Anthony Arden (No. 189), Steve Craft (No. 131), Scott Turner (No. 543) and Joseph Ballard (No. 415) in the WERA A Superbike Novice Final at the 1989 GNF. Nobles broke through the field to win the race. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

Biaggi won the first encounter by seven seconds from Melandri and third was a closely following Sylvian Guintoli after a dramatic contest on many levels.

Phillip Island (Australia), Sunday 26 February 2012 – A truly remarkable day of racing at the opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship season saw two former World Champions win races, four manufacturers propel their machines onto the podium and the 4.445km Australian circuit provide some classic moments for the 64,500 strong weekend crowd as the championship begins its 25th Anniversary celebrations in earnest.

2010 champion Max Biaggi Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) and 2011 title winner Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) were the two dominant figures in each 22-lap race, but each had dramatic moments in the other races, one more costly than the other. Biaggi leaves as the points leader after fighting back from last in race two to second place, finding himself five points shy of perfection on the opening weekend.

Despite some troubled times in recent testing Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) punched above his pre-race weight to jump onto the podium in race one, while pole winner Tom Sykes carried on his strong testing and qualifying form with a podium place in race two. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) put his 2011 Phillip Island nightmare raceday behind him with a particularly sweet third in the opener, finishing right on Melandri’s tail.

In the championship standings, Melandri is 15 points behind Biaggi’s total of 45, and one point ahead of Sykes, who has 29 points. Checa is fourth with 25 points.

Race 1

Biaggi won the first encounter by seven seconds from Melandri and third was a closely following Sylvian Guintoli after a dramatic contest on many levels. Checa crashed out of the race while leading, suffering a fast high-side fall on the final corner early in the race. He was uninjured but bruised and took no points. Spots of rain appeared on the riders’ visors and TV camera lenses at two separate stages of the race but to no real effect for the majority of the riders and it continued as a dry race. Sykes took fourth place after leading early on, with Jakub Smrz fifth on his Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) was sixth, from a fading Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team). Biaggi set a new lap record of 1 minute 31.785 seconds, finally beating Troy Corser’s previous raceday best, which was set way back in 2007.

Max Biaggi: “It was a very nice race, at the start with Carlos battling for the lead. Then suddenly he high-sided. When I was behind him a big stone hit my windscreen and then it started to do a little shower in one corner. So I had to stayed focused towards the end and with three laps to go my front tyre was sliding. But it’s a great result, it’s a new team with new people, my motivation is very high, the team did a great job.”

Marco Melandri: “I’m so happy with the result and happy to give BMW their best result. I didn’t think it was possible before the race. I knew we were struggling more in practice than in the race but I have never made a long-run so far in the season so I wasn’t sure. The team have been working awesome and in the race the rear tyre did a really good job.”

Sylvain Guintoli: “I didn’t even think about what happened to me last year here. In the race I knew I had the bike set-up to get a podium. I sort of stepped back a bit in the early part to save the tyres then when I saw Tom was slowing down I thought now’s the time to push hard. He was very hard to overtake. In the last two laps I was sliding all over the place but I really enjoyed that race.”

Results: 1. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′13.963 (171,397 kph); 2. Melandri M. (ITA)BMW S1000 RR 7.104; 3. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 7.378; 4. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 12.189; 5. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 16.424; 6. Fabrizio M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 20.200; 7. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 20.223; 8. Aoyama H. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 24.108; 9. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 28.072; 10. Staring B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34.232; 11. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 34.450; 12 Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 35.648; 13. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 36.392; 14. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 41.500; 15. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 42.086; etc.

Race 2

Checa recovered from his big race one crash to post his first win of the year but arguably an even greater performance came from second place man Biaggi. Checa hit the front early on but Biaggi had run off track on lap one, kept his bike upright and rejoined last. He then fought through to take a second place and a clear championship lead. Sykes overhauled a slowing Rea in a breathtaking final lap to get his first dry weather Kawasaki podium, after Rea’s tyres had been used up. Race two was held in track conditions twelve degrees hotter than race one. The injured Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) put in a gritty ride to secure fifth place while his team-mate Melandri was one place behind.

Carlos Checa: “I’m really satisfied, even more so after the crash in race 1. I’m OK now after winning, I think it’s the best anti-inflammatory I can take today! The team worked hard many days in Australia preparing for the race and to leave this country and track with a crash was not the best result. It wasn’t easy in race 2, I was pushing hard but I did not know where Biaggi was and I knew he had a strong pace to catch me. Shame about the crash but we are happy here to be winning!”

Max Biaggi: “I’m very happy, we did so much hard work to get into the top 5. When you are down in 15th or 16th position your bike is moving around all over the place. Once again we are first and second, we did a good job. Tom is a difficult man to pass! He touched my brake lever, which turned up so lucky I stayed on the bike. I cut all the way through turn 1, jumped into turn 2 and said ‘OK, let’s go!’. I was very motivated and did a good result.”

Tom Sykes: “Let’s be honest, Kawasaki have done a fantastic job over the winter and the ZX-10R has worked well during testing and over the full race weekend. Unfortunately today the high winds definitely affected us more than the other guys but other than that it’s a very strong weekend for myself and Kawasaki to come away with a third and fourth at what is not one of our best circuits. It’s all very promising, now we’re looking forward to Europe and hopefully I can stay strong there.”

Results: 1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 34′26.728 (170,339 kph); 2. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 5.707; 3. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 12.521; 4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR; 12.655; 5. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 18.179; 6. Melandri M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 18.831;7. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 18.939; 8.Laverty E. (IRL) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 19.478; 9. Aoyama H. (JPN); Honda CBR1000RR 19.554; 10. Canepa N. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.289;11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 26.479; 12. Camier L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 29.145; 13. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 36.482; 14. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 38.113; 15. Brookes J. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 43.234; etc.

Points (after 1 of 14 rounds): 1. Biaggi 40; 2. Melandri 30; 3. Sykes 29; 4. Checa 25; 5. Rea 22; 6. Guintoli 16; 7. Smrz 16; 8. Haslam 15; 9. Aoyama 15; 10. Berger 12; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Aprilia 45; 2. Ducati 41; 3. BMW 31; 4. Kawasaki 29; 5. Honda 22; 6. Suzuki 4.

World Supersport

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) returned to the Supersport World Championship in the best form possible as he took the race win from his old rival Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step Racing). The leading fight had up to seven riders in it for most of the 15-lap race distance, until Sofuoglu stretched out a lead that Foret could not quite run down on the final lap.

Slow starting pole man Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) battled to third, ahead of impressive rookie Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) and Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda). Sofuoglu’s team-mate Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) was sixth. Power team by Suriano Triumph riders Alex Baldolini and Vittorio Iannuzzo were eighth and ninth respectively. As this is the first round of the championship, the points standings follow the race order.

Results: 1. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Kawasaki ZX-6R 24′08.130 (165,752 kph); 2. Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 0.078; 3.Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2.038; 4. Cluzel J. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 2.113; 5. Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 4.955; 6. Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 6.812; 7. Quarmby R. (RSA) Honda CBR600RR 11.592; 8. Baldolini A. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 16.761; etc.

Points (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Sofuoglu 25; 2. Foret 20; 3. Parkes 16; 4. Cluzel 13; 5. Lowes 11; 6. Morais 10; 7. Quarmby 9; 8. Baldolini 8; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 25; 2. Honda 16; 3. Triumph 8; 4. Yamaha 5.

Kawasaki’s Linnley Clarke (No. 38) leads fellow Canadian Tommy Douglas on his Yamaha during the Canadian round of the World Superbike Series at Mosport in June of 1990. Linnley and Clarke were two of the dozen or so Canadian wildcards who raced at the Mosport round. Douglas was about 4-10^ths faster in qualifying than Clarke, turning a lap of 1:29.657, but it appears the two ran wheel to wheel in the race. Both riders scored 18^th-place and DNF results in the two legs.

Kawasaki’s Linnley Clarke (No. 38) leads fellow Canadian Tommy Douglas on his Yamaha during the Canadian round of the World Superbike Series at Mosport in June of 1990. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

Barcia Stays Perfect in Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class

ATLANTA (February 25, 2012) – A sold out crowd of 71,009 filled the Georgia Dome to capacity on Saturday night, as Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, hosted its eighth race of the 2012 season. Following a strong start, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., fended off all challengers to take his second victory of the year. In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., remained undefeated in the second race of that championship.

In his first race as a substitute rider for American Honda Muscle Milk, Cole Seely, of Murrieta, Calif., grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz^® Holeshot Award with Dungey and Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s Davi Millsaps, of Murrieta, Calif., hot on his wheels. Behind them, championship leader Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., found himself in sixth aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki at the conclusion of the opening lap. Fellow title contender, Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was also slow out of the gates, crossing the line in ninth on Lap 1.

Seely fought off Dungey’s pressure for several laps, but the 2010 Supercross Class Champion eventually worked his way into the lead on Lap 7 and looked to pull away. As Dungey made his move forward, both Villopoto and Stewart were doing the same and by Lap 11, the trio was running first, second, and third, respectively.

Villopoto slowly ate away at Dungey’s advantage throughout the second half of the main event, even overcoming an early tip over to have a shot at his fourth consecutive win. On the final lap, the pair was separated by just over a second, with Villopoto charging. A slight bobble by the defending champion coming out of the sand section allowed Dungey to extend his lead and give KTM just its second main event win in the Supercross Class.

“To get that first win right off the bat (for KTM) in Phoenix was nice, but it took a while after that,” said Dungey. “But, to back it up here in Atlanta, it was a great night. We’ve been looking for that one for a while. The whole team has been working hard and things haven’t gone our way with testing and stuff, but we’re coming around to it and I think things are progressively getting better.”

Villopoto held on for second, to lose just three points in the championship standings, while Stewart finished third.

“I just made a little mistake, and early on in the race I fell over and that cost me, huge,” said Villopoto. “The track was tough tonight, you could really see (that) and I just slipped up and washed the front end out. Overall, we had a good night. It just wasn’t the best of weeks coming into this (race), so to come out with a second is good.”

In the Supercross Lites Class Main Event, Barcia was the first rider out of the gate, claiming the Nuclear Cowboyz^® Holeshot Award, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammates Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., and Darryn Durham, of Butler, Pa., followed him out of the first corner. After posting the fastest practice lap of the day, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Murrieta, Calif., crossed the line at the end of the opening lap in 14^th place, following a tough start.

Barcia set a torrid pace to start the 15-lap main event, pulling away to a multiple-second advantage over the field. Behind him, a heated battled for the podium took place between Baggett, Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Blake Wharton, of Beaumont, Texas, and GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle, of Cushing, Okla.

Baggett asserted himself in second and after battling for several laps, Bogle worked his way past Wharton on Lap 9. Barcia completed his perfect effort by taking the checkered flag 2.253 seconds ahead of Baggett. Bogle held on for his first career podium finish in third, to go along with his first career heat race victory earlier in the evening.

“Two for two (is) not a bad way to start,” said Barcia. “I wanted a good start, I got the holeshot, and just rode hard from there. The track was super tough tonight. It was very slick and there were a lot of places where the bike was sliding around. I was trying not to make any mistakes. Fortunately, everything went really smooth and we got the win.”

Barcia extended his points lead in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class to 12 over Durham.

Supercross Class Results: Atlanta 

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Idaho, Kawasaki
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
9. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
10. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings 

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 180
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 170
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 136
4. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 128
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 106
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 105
7. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 100
8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 96
9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 94
10. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki – 90

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Atlanta 

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
4. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki
5. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki
6. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
8. Hunter Hewitt, Corona, Texas, Suzuki
9. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki
10. Shane Sewell, Westville, In, KTM

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings 

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 50
2. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 38
3. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki – 36
4. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 35
5. Blake Baggett, Butler, Pa, Kawasaki – 28
6. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda – 27
7. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda – 26
8. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 22
9. PJ Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 21
10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La, KTM – 16

Monster Energy Supercross heads to Saint Louis’ Edward Jones Dome next Saturday, March 3, for the ninth race of the season.

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. 

(NEWS RELEASE)

Chad Cook Secures Second Straight Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Title

MINNEAPOLIS (February 25, 2012) – The 12^th and final round of the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series was a night of champions on Saturday as both Arenacross Class and Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class title winners were crowned inside the Target Center. After claiming 12 main event wins this season, Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers, of Danville, Ky., secured back-to-back premier class titles after a strong runner-up effort. For the second straight season, HOK Kawasaki’s Chad Cook, of Oklahoma City, Okla., took home the Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class crown following a podium finish of his own.

Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Chad Johnson, of Rhinelander, Wis., grabbed the holeshot in the 25-lap Arenacross Class Main Event, with Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX Kawasaki’s Zach Ames, of Prospect, Ohio, and Bowers in tow. Not long after, Ames slipped past Johnson for the lead, which would prove to be the winning pass.

Johnson looked to keep Ames in his sights, but Bowers took over the runner-up spot in the whoops shortly thereafter. Once in second, Bowers pursued Ames relentlessly, maintaining a gap of less than a second throughout the entire main event. In the end, the eventual champion wasn’t able to make the pass, but still secured the title with his second-place finish.

Ames’ victory was his first of 2012 and also made him the fifth different winner in the Arenacross Class this season. Johnson followed Ames and Bowers across the finish to give Kawasaki a 1-2-3 sweep of the podium.

FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson, of Blacklick, Ohio, entered the evening with a chance at stealing the Arenacross Class title from Bowers, but ultimately settled for a fifth-place finish.

For the third straight main event, BNTQ.Net/Tuf Honda Racing’s Kevin Markwardt, of Freeport, Ill., grabbed the early lead in the 18-lap Arenacoss Lites Class. He was followed by Reed and Reese KTM’s Michael McDade, of Edinburg, Pa., and Team Faith KTM’s Kevin Johnson, of Spring, Texas.

Coming into the evening, Markwardt sat just one point out of the championship lead, but it wouldn’t be long before Cook began his charge through the field. By Lap 5, Cook had moved into third and proceeded to move his way into second on the following lap.

With Markwardt in his sights, Cook pushed to close in on his rival, while McDade followed in third. At the halfway point, Markward experienced misfortune and dropped out of podium contention, ultimately losing the championship in the process. From there, Cook, Johnson, and McDade engaged in a heated battle for the win.

By the conclusion of the 18 laps, both Johnson and McDade had overcome Cook, who ultimately fell to third. Johnson held on to take his fifth Arenacross Lites Class win of the 2012 season.

With Markwardt falling to eighth by the end of the race, Cook secured the title by eight points.

In the final Dash for Cash of the season, Bowers helped cap off his championship-winning season with a victory in the four-lap sprint race, but it wasnt without some luck. On the final lap, Ames and Gibson came together while battling for the win, allowing Bowers to assume the lead after both riders wenr down.

Arenacross Class Results (Minneapolis)

1. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
2. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
4. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM
5. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
6. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
7. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda
8. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki
9. Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Honda
10. Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa., KTM

Arenacross Lites Class Results (Minneapolis)

1. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM
2. Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa, KTM
3. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
4. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., Honda
5. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
6. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda
7. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM
8. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda
9. Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
10. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM

Arenacross Class Points (After Race 19 of 19)

1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki (12 wins) – 424
2. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda (3 wins) – 394
3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki (2 wins) – 338
4. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki (1 win) – 297
5. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM (1 win) – 285
6. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 259
7. Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 206
8. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM – 191
9. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM – 176
10. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki – 152

Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 9 of 9)

1. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 131
2. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 123
3. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 96
4. Cody Church, Grand Junction, Colo., Kawasaki – 57
5. Jake Locks, Dixon, Calif., KTM – 47
6. Tiger Lacy, Beaverton, Ore., Kawasaki – 37
7. Chris Proscelle, Dulzura, Calif., Honda – 36
8. Patrick Massie, Washington Court House, Ohio, Honda – 35
9. Brandon Marley, McEwen, Tenn., KTM – 31
10. Nick Myers, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 22

For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series, log on to www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.

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