RK Excel America

I wanted to touch base about X Games 16, which was held last week Thursday July 29th – Sunday August 1st at the LA Coliseum, Nokia Center and Staples Center. It was my first race back since my injury and not one of my best. The first practice (held on Wednesday) went pretty well. There were two triples right after the start (which came right after a long run way down the paristyle and had a steep face and landing) that I was doing along with the top girls in the first practice. The second practice was very short due to a delay in the schedule and the third was a “timed qualifier”. I had some issues with my back hurting and just was not feeling like myself during the timed qualifier. I used the time to try to learn some of the rest of the track but was not doing the triples. My qualifying time was off from where it really should be.

The race was held on Thursday at 6pm and was carried live on ESPN (it re-aired several times as well). I had the outside gate, which was a disadvantage. Because of live television we did not have time for a sight lap but the track hadn’t been ridden much so it was fine. I was pumped for the race (much more so then practice). I got a good jump off the gate and a decent start (in 3rd or 4th). Right after the first rhythm section I was high in the berm and another racer came in and slammed into me. We both crashed. My throttle was stuck in the other bike’s rear spokes. Her bike kept running, mine died and I was in dead last. I got going again but the main event was only 6 laps (a little over 6 minutes), I finished a disappointing 8th.

I stayed to do some promotion including the Disney Live Radio Show and Autographs in the X Fest (lots of fans).

If you missed the race, X Games usually posts in on the site check http://search.espn.go.com/xgames

I appreciate the support of each one and every one of my sponsors and want to say a special thanks to my team – Suzuki City Nitro Circus for bringing the whole team and the semi down to X Games to support me. That was amazing, to my mechanic Chuck Marchant, and to my new sponsors Bolthouse Farms (check out all the great juices and protein drinks at Bolthouse.com) and to Firestop and Fuel Doctor.

I am still working on rehabbing my back and training for the next WMX Pro National at Southwick, August 28th. I am working towards a podium! Oh, there will be highlights of the women’s race in the AMA 250cc show from Southwick and they always have our first moto live on allisports.com.

THANK YOU – Sherri Cruse

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (July 29, 2010) – In 1972 would-be promoter Mike Goodwin held the first supercross race in the Los Angeles Coliseum. He coined the event “supercross” as his vision was to make the growing sport of motocross more spectator and TV friendly by bringing the action into easily accessible football stadiums, so he named the event a hybrid of the Superbowl and motocross. A 16 year-old named Marty Tripes won the event and would go on to become a motocross legend. Last night X Games 16 brought supercross back to its roots in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Josh Grant, who suffered a crash last year at X Games 15 breaking both his feet in his heat race was looking for redemption this year in Los Angeles. Both Josh Grant and Justin Brayton qualified easily for the main event. When the gate fell for the final, it was two-time Super X Gold Medalist Josh Hansen in the lead with Grant and Brayton giving chase. On lap two of 15 Brayton was passed by fellow Yamaha rider Ivan Tedesco, but stayed close to the third-place rider. Over the ensuing laps Grant, along with Tedesco and Brayton started to reel in Hansen. Grant closed in and made his move for the lead on lap 11 with Brayton re-passing Tedesco as well as getting by Hansen for second. When the checkered flag flew it was the Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team riders claiming X Games Gold and Silver Medals.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (July 31, 2010) – Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team rider Josh Grant, who won the Gold Medal in the Super X race Thursday competed in the Best Whip competition last night. Like Super X, the Best Whip contest is an invitation only event. Unlike all of the other X Games competitions which are judged or won by crossing the finish line first, Best Whip is scored by fans texting in while watching the contest live on ESPN and online at espn3.com. The riders launch off a man-made metal ramp, lay the bike as sideways as possible during the 75 foot flight (the whip), straighten the machine out and land on a dirt ramp.

While Josh Grant threw some huge inverted whips, the fans were more inclined to vote for the freestyle motocross riders known for performing tricks than the racers in the contest and Grant was awarded fifth by the fan vote.

The Best Whip action was broadcast live on ESPN to a worldwide audience. The Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team will resume racing the AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series Aug. 14 at Unadilla Sports Valley in New Berlin, N.Y. The original broadcast from New Berlin will be live coverage on NBC starting at 3:00 p.m. (EST).

Sherri Cruse has been nominated for TransWorld Motocross Female Racer of the Year. Please see press release below:

TransWorld Motocross announces the nominees for the 1st Annual TransWorld Motocross Awards
Hosted by Grant Langston and Cameron Steele

Tustin, CA- September 21, 2009- TransWorld Motocross Magazine, the largest motocross publication, announced the nominees for the 1st Annual TransWorld Motocross Awards presented by Rockstar Energy Drink today. The winners will be named October 8, 2009 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas the day before the 2009 U.S. Open begins.
The TransWorld Motocross Awards will take the five-year-running Rider Of The Year awards and turn them into a full award show honoring the top riders in the categories of Racer Of The Year, FMX Rider Of The Year, Female Rider Of The Year, Racer Rookie Of The Year, FMX Rookie Of The Year, Female Rookie Of The Year, Readers’ Choice, TransWorld Motocross Legend Award, and the Rockstar Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’m thrilled to see our annual TransWorld Motocross Rider Of The Year Awards come to life,” said Editor-In-Chief Donn Maeda. “We’ve created several new categories to honor even more deserving riders, and the awards show is sure to be an amazing event. With Las Vegas and the U.S. Open serving as the backdrop, this is going to be a weekend to remember.”
The 1st Annual TransWorld Motocross Awards presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will bring the energy and personality of TransWorld Motocross Magazine to life. The event will be attended by industry guests and professionals, but there will also be special section designated for motocross consumers to purchase tickets to attend.
“I think the TransWorld Motocross Awards is a great platform to acknowledge all of our nominees and their accomplishments,” said Publisher Marc Fiore. “Our sister titles, TransWorld SKATEboarding, TransWorld SNOWboarding, and Ride BMX have achieved huge success with their awards shows, and it’s great to finally have TWMX stepping up for the motocross industry.”

In addition to the awards, TransWorld Motocross is pleased to host the world premiere of it’s newest full length video, Kickstart, featuring Chad Reed, James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, Justin Barcia, Brian Deegan, Josh Grant, Nate Adams, Jason Lawrence and Tarah Gieger.

The official nominees for the 1st Annual TransWorld Motocross Awards presented by Rockstar Energy Drink are:

RACER OF THE YEAR
Chad Reed
Ryan Dungey
James Stewart

FMX RIDER OF THE YEAR
Nate Adams
Blake Williams
Robbie Maddison

FEMALE RACER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Fiolek
Jessica Patterson
Sherri Cruse

ROOKIE RACER OF THE YEAR
Justin Barcia
Kyle Regal
Blake Wharton

FMX ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jackson Strong
Levi Sherwood
Destin Cantrell

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Sara Price
Vicki Golden
Jackie Ives

READER’S CHOICE
Chad Reed
James Stewart
Ryan Dungey
Christophe Pourcel
Jake Weimer
Ivan Tedesco
Andrew Short
Davi Millsaps
Justin Barcia
Blake Wharton
Nate Adams
Brian Deegan
Travis Pastrana
Blake “Bilko” Williams
Jeremy “Twitch” Steinberg
Robbie Maddison
Kyle Loza
Todd Potter
Ryan Villopoto
Matt Goerke
Ashley Fiolek
Ricky Deitrich
Mike Alessi
Josh Grant
Antonio Cairoli

*Winners To Be Announced On October 8, 2009 At The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas