Saturday, January 24, 2009
Great new website GoMotocross.com
Saturday, January 3, 2009
SHOCK Doctor
Shock Doctor makes and sells protective gear, such as;mouth gaurds, compression shorts, cups and chin straps for ball and stick sports.
For more information go to www.shockdoctor.com
National Numbers
Todays racers get there numbers in a variety of ways, which for the most part do not relate to there rankings.
All champions must run with number 1 plates for 2009. Read more.
2009 #1 Plates
MDK/KTM Factory Racing Team rider Wil Hahn Injury Update
It has been determined that Hahn sustained a fractured sternum, three broken ribs and a slight lung puncture. He is now recovering at his Texas residence and feels optimistic about the upcoming season despite his injuries.´
“The doctor told me it should take 4-5 weeks to heal before I can ride. This will put me back on the bike in enough time to prepare for the East Supercross Lites Series,” commented Hahn. Although Hahn was originally preparing to compete in the West Supercross Lites Series he will now turn his efforts on a 100% recovery to return for east coast racing.
Hahn’s teammate, Ryan Sipes, will now compete in the West Supercross Lites Series alongside Justin Brayton. Sipes has been training alongside Brayton and Hahn during the off-season and feels 100% confident that he is ready for the opening round scheduled for January 3, 2009. “I didn’t want to have to switch coasts on a note like this, but I am glad Wil’s injuries still allow him to come back and compete in the east races. Although I was anticipating a later start to my season, my training and speed is right on target and I feel that I am ready for the opener in three weeks,” commented Sipes.
Source: KTM SportMotorcycle
Headlines - GoMotocross.com (12/12/2008)
Reed Starts 2009 Supercross Title Defence
Team Suzuki Press Office - December 31.
Reigning World and AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed starts his 2009 title defence this weekend at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team.
Reed - fresh from his victory in the inaugural Australasian Supercross Championship in Australia - dominated all three rounds at Anaheim last year on his way to his second AMA Supercross title. The three-race sweep marked the first time the Australian rider had won at Angel Stadium since 2004 and is a record he shares with former AMA Supercross Champion James Stewart as the only riders to dominate every race.Alongside Reed on the Rockstar Makita RM-Z450 Suzukis lined up for the 17-round Monster Energy-supported series is Michael Byrne, who finished fourth in the 2008 series, and Mike Alessi, who spent most of the season injured.
In the Lites class Rockstar Makita will be represented by Ryan Dungey and Nico Izzi aboard the new RM-Z250 Suzukis.
Dungey, who finished runner-up in the West Coast Lites series in 2008, said:" The field is so deep in the Lites class that I could probably name several guys that are going to be fast. I'm just going to train hard and work towards being 100% fit for the start of the season."
For more details about Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, please log on to www.teamsuzuki.com.
Source: Team Suzuki
Headlines - GoMotocross.com (12/12/2008)
Jason Lawerence and Nick Wey form 2009 Yamaha Team
Lawrence will be back on the same Yamaha YZ250F that he captured the WSX title for his team and sponsors in Seattle last April. And along with some new sponsors – namely ampm retail outlets – Lawrence is looking forward to just stepping up and racing, getting the job done on his title defense.
“It’s all I’ve been thinking about the past five months – defending my title,” said Lawrence. “Everything I’ve done, all the training, all the laps, all the time in the gym – pretty much every day – has all been done so I’m prepared for Anaheim 1. So if I lose the title it’s not because I wasn’t prepared. And I’m cool with that.”
Lawrence’s actions, AMA probation and subsequent suspension this past summer were well-documented in the MX industry. He’s got his critics, but also a legion of fans that are extremely loyal – which is one of the main reasons that got the 21-year-old to snap out of his sophomoric funk and back into the training and focus levels of one of the world’s top motocross racers.
“We convinced some pretty big sponsors to come on board here and I understand its up to me not to blow things,” he said. “And not just for me. I’ve got a team to think about now.”
Joining Lawrence on the Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing team will be veteran SX class racer Nick Wey. A highly-decorated amateur racer with multiple Loretta’s titles, a former Outdoor National 125cc winner (Millville, Minn., ’99) and consistent top five premier SX class overall finisher, Wey will not only add some stability and guidance to the Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing program, he’ll also give Lawrence a good perspective on the 450 class for when Lawrence moves up in 2010.
“I’m for sure looking forward to getting back in the gate on the YZs,” said Wey, who rode Yamahas for three years from 2001 to ’03.
“It’s going to be a long season with as many straight weekends of racing as we’ve ever seen. Being consistent will be key in order to set yourself up to challenge at then end, and that’s the strategy I plan on sticking to with the Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing team.”
Source: www.GoMotocross.com
Top Riders Reed, Stewart, Windham and Villopoto
AURORA, Ill. (January 2, 2009) – With the opening race of Monster Energy® Supercross, an FIM World Championship, just one day away, reigning AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed, former AMA Supercross champion James Stewart, 2008 AMA Supercross class runner-up Kevin Windham and former AMA Supercross Lites champion Ryan Villopoto spoke today at the pre-race press conference to the local, national and industry media about the 2009 season.
Reed, who is third on the all-time AMA Supercross win list with 35, has two AMA Supercross class championships (’04 & ’07). A veteran in the class, Reed will compete in his eighth AMA Supercross class championship. The 2009 season presents an opportunity for Reed to win back-to-back championships. Not since five-time AMA Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael left the sport in 2006 has a rider defended their title. Tomorrow will be Reed’s first Monster Energy® Supercross race aboard the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team.“
It was awesome to win the championship,” said Reed. “It’s been four years to be exact. It was a tough road, and I just tried to believe and stay at it and never give up and we got another one. I’m real excited to start a new season. Since May, it seems like it has been forever and these last few weeks have been slowly ticking by. I’m just ready to get this season under way and have some fun. I feel like I’m really motivated.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m ready. It helps to have the US Open and Australian Supercross races under my belt. After such a long off season, you’re definitely a little rusty coming back. I never really knew that before. I used to think you could just step away, have a good time and come back to have things be just the way they were. It takes a lot of work to do what these guys do and I underestimated the challenge ahead. Since then I’ve been working.”
With 25 career wins, Stewart is currently sixth on the all-time AMA Supercross win list. Entering his fifth year of racing in the premier class, Stewart makes his Monster Energy® Supercross debut with Team San Manuel Yamaha. In 2007, Stewart handily won his first AMA Supercross title but was unable to defend it last year because of a knee injury that sidelined him for 15 of the 17 races. He returned to racing and rode to a perfect 24-0 AMA Motocross championship.
“This offseason has been really good,” said Stewart. “I’ve had two races on the Yamaha, and I was lucky enough to win those. I feel good. Everything is going according to plan, so we will see what happens. Switching to Yamaha has been a good change. It’s something that’s a little spiced up. Larry Brooks and the guys have been working really hard and making me really comfortable. To be honest, the change has been easy. Everybody has to have that inner peace. It all starts there.
“After getting hurt, sitting back and watching Chad (Reed) win the championship and to see Kevin (Windham) have a great season helped me find how much I love (riding). I have the attitude where I don’t really mind what happens. I just want to race and have a good time. Once you get to that point in your career and find that, then nothing really bothers you. With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t let it get to me. For me that helps with my focus on the track and my focus in training. Hopefully you guys will see that too.”
If championships were measured by raw talent, Windham would have re-written the record books during his 15 years of AMA professional racing. The Centerville, Miss., native has come as close as second – twice – to winning the coveted AMA Supercross title but hasn’t put together a championship-winning season. He enters his 16th year of professional racing with 16 AMA Supercross wins and will compete for the GEICO Powersports Honda team.
“Its been a nice off-season, but for me it’s been long and it just increases the hunger when you get to A1,” said Windham. “I’m at an anxious stage and just ready to go to battle. It was an optimistic year last season and following the ’07 season it filled me with ambition – with things to come. I want to get the old off. Everyone thinks I’m the old guy, but I’m trying to use all of it to my advantage and use what I’ve learned to come with my A-game. People come and they go, but I’m still here and feeling good.
“The reality is there is a lot of guys hunting for three spots and the podium isn’t getting any bigger. It’s going to be tough, but I think with obvious love you have to have for a sport after being here for so long and seeing the same faces on both sides of the microphone, it gets to the point where you hope we can do battle and you don’t shy away from it. You know the guys are going to be tough and you don’t worry about it anymore because it’s just reality. Just being able to be one of those guys (up front) is what it’s about. That’s the motivation that keeps you driving.”
He’s been labeled the next big thing since his rookie AMA Supercross Lites debut in 2006, but Ryan Villopoto is unproven in the AMA Supercross class. That will all change in 2009 when he makes the move to the premier class and sets his sights on the championship. Legends are made in the AMA Supercross class, and if Villopoto wants to be recognized with the elite of Monster Energy® Supercross, he will need to show up prepared to face the world’s best. Villopoto will race for the Monster Energy® Kawasaki race team.
“I can’t say I’ll be up front just yet,” said Villopoto. “We’ll find out tomorrow night and see what it’s all about. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and as planned. I think when you step into the AMA Supercross Lites class, the big picture is the AMA Supercross class. You kind of look forward to that working on little and new stuff every year.
“This last year I really started looking forward to the premier class and pinpointed what I needed to do. I did as much as I could and people ask me if I’m ready. I tell them I’m as ready as I can be till I go racing and figure out what I need to work on. Most of the pressure this year doesn’t come from anyone but myself.”
Source: GoMotocross.com
Where to ride?
First, you need to find out where you’re allowed to ride. Start by asking your friends who ride. Maybe look into joining an off-road club.Another good idea is to check out the U.S. Forestry Service Web site, as well as other sites dedicated to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. Or, simply use this handy Track and Trail Finder tool to help steer you to your region’s closest OHV-legal riding area.
Learning where to ride is one of the first steps to spending more time on your dirtbike.So start looking—and get riding!
AMA Supercross Legends to Assist in DesignEfforts on Six Monster Energy Supercross Tracks
Seven-time AMA Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath will help design the Anaheim 3 race track at Angel Stadium. Two-time AMA Supercross champion Ricky Johnson will help design the course at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. Five-time AMA Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael will design the track inside Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Multi-time AMA National champion Mike LaRocco will help design the track at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium. Three-time AMA Supercross champion Jeff Stanton will help design the track at Toronto’s Rogers Centre and AMA Supercross Lites class champion Travis Pastrana will help design the track at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome.
“We begun using rider-inspired track designs in 2008 season. For 2009, we wanted to put a different spin on our rider-inspired track designs,” said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Feld Motor Sports. “We asked six former AMA Supercross superstars to give us their personal input on specific track designs. In an effort to create variety, we chose riders with distinctly different riding styles. It’s going to be interesting to see how the different tracks fit each rider’s personality.”
Carmichael, who is tied with McGrath for the all-time win record in Atlanta, meticulously designed his track and looks forward to watching an epic race unfold inside the Georgia Dome."
Designing the race track at the Georgia Dome is a special opportunity because I have enjoyed so much success there in both the AMA Supercross class and AMA Supercross Lites class," said Carmichael.The six tracks are can be viewed on www.GoMotocross.com
- Anaheim 3, track design by Jeremy McGrath
- San Diego, track design by Ricky Johnson
- Atlanta, track design by Ricky Carmichael
- Indianapolis, track design by Mike LaRocco
- St. Louis, track design by Travis Pastrana
Toronto, track design by Jeff Stanton For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to GoMotocross.com.For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305
Source: Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Headlines - GoMotocross.com (1/2/2009)
Monster Energy Kawasaki Rings in the New Year at Test Track
Getting Ready
The Monster Energy Kawasaki team spent the first day of the 2009 making final preparations for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship season opener at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, January 3.
Stepping Up
Ryan Villopoto will be making his debut on a Kawasaki KX450F this weekend at Angels Stadium. Since claiming the MX2 championship at the Motocross of Nations, Villopoto has been preparing for this race. With three months of testing and riding under his belt, the 20-year-old is ready for the season to begin. Source: GoMotocross.comHeadlines - GoMotocross.com (1/2/2009)