RK Excel America

Indianapolis Results
Brayton Earns Career Best Supercross Class Finish

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 21, 2010) – 60,019 fans came to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. to watch round seven of the AMA Supercross Championship. Josh Grant, who has attended every event thus far while recovering from shoulder surgery to sign autographs and greet fans, was not at Indianapolis. Grant has begun intensely preparing for his return to racing. He is working closely with his doctors to determine the appropriate time to resume competing, and expects to start riding this week. Josh and his doctors will decide the date of his return.

Michael Byrne and Justin Brayton both transferred to the main event directly from their respective heat races without incident. In the main event Brayton gated well and was in the lead pack while Byrne was the victim of some major contact in the first turn and forced to mount a charge from the rear of the field. While Byrne worked through a crowd of back-markers, Brayton, a rookie in the premier division advanced into the top-five and finished the race a Supercross Class career best fourth overall, just one spot off the podium. Byrne was able to work his way up to a hard fought 13th at the finish.

The original broadcast from Indianapolis was aired live on SPEED. There will be a repeat airing today at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on SPEED. The eighth round of the 17-race series will be Feb. 27 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. SPEED will broadcast the action live beginning at 7:30 p.m. (EST). SPEED will air a repeat at 10:30 p.m. (EST), and CBS will broadcast the event on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1:00 p.m. (EST).

San Diego, CA – Over the weekend, AMA Supercross visited Qualcomm stadium in San Diego, California for yet another exciting west coast round. Broc Tickle #20 and Max Anstie #48 of DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha showed up knowing this was going to be one of their last shots at some quick success. With the normal day program abbreviated due to the harsh weather, timed qualifying surely showed the team was in contention for strong performances by both riders.

Heat #1 had the Star Racing duo of Tickle and Anstie lined up on the gate, it was Anstie grabbing the holeshot who has honed his starting skills as of late. Tickle rounded the first turn in the rear of the field after getting out off the gate in a subpar fashion. On lap one with a small bobble entering a rhythm section, Anstie dropped into 3rd, while Tickle dodged a ton of wrecks and picked his way through the pack. Upfront Anstie rode tentatively with the compromised track conditions, but finished 3rd. Thankfully Tickle at the end of six laps, successfully stayed out of trouble and finished up in 5th.

When the Lites Main Event took to the track, it was Anstie again getting the best of starts sitting in 4th, while Tickle circulated outside the top fifteen. Up front, Anstie found the pace he needed to maintain, and started jumping a section of jumps before any other Lites competitors. (Note: Only a handful of riders actually ended up matching him) and made a pass into 3rd, which put his Yamaha in a sweet spot with the leaders just in range and with very little pressure from behind. Finding his race rhythm was Tickle who had risen up to the 10th position on lap three, and was moving up the field solidly. Still though, the most impressive riding that could be seen was by Max, lap after lap he consistently ran quick times showing that this was no fluke by any means. Lap six went into the books, and Anstie was putting the pressure on to take over 2nd. Then he pulled the trigger, and executed a block pass moving himself up to a solid 2nd. From there the hard charging 16 year old laid it all on the line as he went after the race leader Jake Weimer. With about three laps left in the race, Anstie had closed onto the rear wheel of Weimer and was set to race head to head. The two riders at this point where dealing with lapped traffic, unfortunately Anstie was held up to say the least. With the finish ahead, Anstie shrugged off his misfortunes and still believed he could take the win. Digging deep and trying hard Anstie raced the last lap hard still having hopes of winning. However Anstie with only two turn’s to go, had some troubles and crashed momentarily. Quickly remounting, Anstie would go on to finish a career best 4th on the night. Tickle pulled through on this occasion in good fashion, and came away with a 5th.

In the end Max was disappointed, however realized he now holds the speed to capture a more exclusive spot in the finishing order come this weekend’s race in Anaheim, CA.

Star Racing thanks our valued sponsors for their great assistance.
DNA Shred Stix, Division 7, Yamaha Motor Corp, FLY Racing, DNA Energy, NCY, Bell Helmets, Easton ExP, FMF, Sunstar, Factory Effex, Dunlop, Enzo, DC Shoes, RK Chains, Yamalube, GYTR, Ride Engineering, Mechanix Wear, Twin Air, Lightspeed, ARC, Braking, Vortex Ignitions, CP pistons, Web Cams, ICW, JD Built, Renegade Fuels, Crank Works, Eibach, EVOMX fuel foam, Met Tec, Champion Tools.

Corona, Calif. – The rain in San Diego couldn’t dampen the spirits of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki as Jake Weimer won his fourth Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites race of the season building a 26-point advantage in the championship standings. Josh Hansen fought back from an early collision to finish 11th.

With rain showers threatening all day, practice was shortened to just one 12-minute session. As has been the case all season, the team’s riders sat atop the leader board with Weimer setting the fastest lap and Hansen finishing third fastest.

With both riders lined up in the second heat, Weimer blasted to the holeshot and led wire-to wire while Hansen came out of the first turn mid pack. Hanny quickly moved up to third in the heat. Weimer won his fifth straight heat race of the season and claimed first gate pick for the main event.

“The track was slippery and muddy,” said Weimer. “It seemed to get better from practice to the heat and then from the heat to the main, but it was still tricky all night. San Diego is always a technical track and when you add in the weather, tonight was difficult. It always feels better to bring a trophy back to the truck and I’m glad I got the win.”

In the main event Weimer got a good jump off the gate and took advantage to grab the lead on the first lap. Hansen again got a mid-pack start, and then he collided with Trey Canard’s bike sending him to the back of the field. While Weimer continued to pace the race, Hansen started working his way through the field getting up to 11th by the checkered flag. Weimer led from start-to-finish to earn his fourth main event win in five races.

“San Diego was a tough race,” said Hansen. “It just wasn’t my night. I know we can get better results and I’m working to get that first win next week at Anaheim.”

The West Coast riders have one race left before taking a nine-week break. The series heads to Angel Stadium this weekend for the third and final time and once that race is over both Weimer and Hansen will be able to relax until their season picks back up in Seattle on April 24.

Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda Riders Fill The Podium at San Diego

Cole Seely 2nd, Wil Hahn 3rd in Supercross Lites

Once again, Wil Hahn, Cole Seely and the entire Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda team proved they are a force to be reckoned with. “There’s really only one place to go from here,” was the comment Troy Lee, team owner, made after last Saturday night’s race inside Qualcomm Stadium at round 5 of AMA Supercross Series in San Diego, California. His riders fought hard for second and third place podium finishes, running some of the quickest lap times of the night in the process. The entire crew is now narrowing its focus on getting a win before the season ends.

Wil Hahn started the night off right by making his move into the lead on lap three and easily riding to victory, claiming his first heat race win of the season. His teammate Cole Seely went down early in the heat, a victim of the slimy track conditions early in the night. He was up quickly and worked his way into seventh by the end. It wasn’t where he wanted to be but it would put him into the final.

The main event saw both of the Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda riders round turn one side-by-side near seventh and eighth positions. Seely sprinted his way towards the front and found himself in third in the early stages of the race. At one point Cole was looking to set up a pass second while Wil was steadily making his way to the Cole’s back tire. With two laps to go the teammates began an epic duel that would prove to be the most exciting part of the race. They passed each other back and forth several times, making contact in the process as they wrestled for position. Hahn made a last ditch effort in the last turn but it was Seely getting the nod for second by a scant five one-hundredths of a second at the line. With both team riders on the podium [a feat not accomplished by any other lites team this year] it was a milestone night for the team.

“This doesn’t even feel real right now,” said an elated Seely. “I’ve been working so hard and just wanting to get on the box so I am just pumped to be standing here in second. The whole team has worked so hard so it feels great that it’s paying off for all of us.”

Wil Hahn was not quite as happy with his night. “Man, I just didn’t get the start I wanted and then I honestly feel like I didn’t ride that well tonight,” Hahn explained. “I just don’t like feeling like I left anything on the track and that’s the way I feel right now. Still, to be standing on the podium at the end of a bad night isn’t too bad I guess. I moved closer to second in the standings and I know what I need to do for next weekend.”

The Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda team now heads back to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA for the sixth round of the series. This race will be dedicated to those living with Breast Cancer. Troy Lee Designs will be doing their part to help raise awareness by wearing special “pink” gear and partnering with Keep A Breast Foundation. Both Wil and Cole will once again be battling for the podium and one step closer to a race win.

The Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years. They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia, Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style, Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com

San Diego, CA – The fifth round of the AMA Supercross West Lites Series marked the first round for FMF/KTM rider PJ Larsen after earning a replacement ride on the Factory KTM Team just days prior to the race. Larsen’s eventual 8th place finish at Qualcomm Stadium satisfied his new team and presents a mark to improve from going into the next week’s race.

With only a few days to prepare for the Supercross round, (Larsen has been focusing on motocross for his ride with the JDR Motorsports/Moterex/KTM Team in Australia) Larsen came to San Diego excited for his new challenge and ready to place his KTM bike in the top of the pack. “Despite the fact that I didn’t have much time to practice for Supercross, I felt confident going into this round,” remarked Larsen. “My KTM motor and suspension are great, and when you have confidence in your bike, everything else comes naturally.”

The early morning rain storm caused the track officials to delay practice until 5:30pm that evening, allowing only one timed practice session for each group. Larsen was in the first practice group and put in a good run earning the fastest lap time in his practice session and the tenth fastest qualifying lap time overall. After practice, he and fellow KTM rider, Phil Nicoletti, began to prep for heat #1.

When the gate dropped for the first Lites heat, Nicoletti got off to a great start putting his St. Lawrence Radiology/Alessi Racing/KTM in 2nd position around the first turn. Larsen didn’t have as great of a jump and came around mid-pack. Halfway around the first lap Nicoletti was able to pass the current leader, Max Anstie, to take over 1st place. Meanwhile, Larsen had started his climb through the pack and sat in 5th as they crossed over the finish line on lap number one. Nicoletti continued to hold the front position for the next three laps, successfully holding off a hard charging Wil Hahn, followed by Max Anstie, Travis Baker and PJ Larsen. On the fourth lap, in an aggressive pass, Hahn snatched the lead from Nicoletti. With two laps to go, Nicoletti remained close and finished 2nd in the heat, Larsen crossed the line in 6th overall.

In the Last Chance Qualifier, the KTM Factory Service/One Industry rider Sean Borkenhagen, KTM privateer rider Hugo Dagod and Jake Canada battled for the final qualifying position in the quick four lap sprint. On the last lap and final turn, Dagod came on strong and put a block pass on Canada for the final transfer position.

With the rain still holding off, the main event was set to start right on schedule. The riders lined the gate ready to put in a solid fifteen laps. As the riders rounded the first turn, Nicoletti squeezed his KTM up into a top five position with Larsen a few spots back around 9th. With one lap down, Nicoletti held 4th position with Larsen back in 9th. On lap two, Nicoletti slipped to 5th position when Cole Seely was able to get by while Larsen moved up one spot passing Antonio Balbi for 8th. The two riders remained consistent and held their positions for the majority of the race. Larsen climbed as high as 7th position and held that place from lap 4 to lap 13 until he was passed by Trey Canard with two laps to go. Larsen eventually crossed the finish line in 8th place with Nicoletti a few seconds ahead in 7th.

“Overall I am happy with my result tonight,” remarked Larsen. “I tightened up around lap ten because I haven’t been riding Supercross lately. But I feel good. I am happy with a top ten finish in my first race this season and I hope to improve upon that finish at Anaheim 3 next week.”

Larsen will race the Anaheim 3 Supercross for the FMF/KTM Team at Anaheim 3 and hopes to be joined by Tommy Searle who has been on the sidelines since Anaheim 2, recovering from a shoulder injury.

Next Event – Anaheim 3, February 13, 2010

Overall Results –
1. Jake Weimer
2. Cole Seely
3. Wil Hahn
4. Max Anstie
5. Broc Tickle
6. Trey Canard
7. Phil Nicoletti – KTM
8. PJ Larsen – KTM
9. Blake Wharton
10. Chris Gosselaar

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (February 7, 2010) – San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium was the host for round five of the AMA Supercross Championship. The weather was yet again a major issue. Thus far in 2010, only the Phoenix, Ariz. round was without concern for rain. Unlike the previous threats, which brought the rain prior to the event, this time the rain occurred during the event, making conditions difficult although the track did allow for good racing.

Josh Grant, recovering from injury and not yet able to race, was a guest color commentator alongside SPEED and CBS regular supercross announcers Ralph Sheheen and Jeff Emig. Josh announced for both the Lites division, as well as his own Supercross division. The Lites action with Josh commentating will be broadcast today at noon (EST) on SPEED, with the Supercross Class immediately following at 1:00 p.m. (EST).

Both Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team riders qualified for the main event directly out of their heat races.

In the main event, Michael Byrne and Justin Brayton rounded the first turn about mid-pack. Both riders were moving forward when Byrne went down at the halfway mark, relegating him to last. Brayton put together a solid performance in the slippery conditions for a season best fifth place. Byrne was able to move up to 14th at the checkers.

As noted above, SPEED will air original broadcast coverage of the San Diego event today at 1:00 p.m. (EST). The sixth round of the 17-race series will be on Feb. 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. The original broadcast will air on Feb. 14 on CBS at 12:00 p.m. (EST).

(1) 21×1.60 Gold Front
Fits: Husqvarna only!!!
Closeout Item – In Perfect Condition
Retail $162.00
CLOSEOUT $66.37
BL388

Email Farrah Bauer for more information.

Murrieta, CA – PJ Larsen, who most recently signed a two-year contract with the JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team to race the KTM 250 SX-F in both the Australian Motocross Lites and Supercross Lites Series, will temporarily fill in for the injured FMF/KTM Factory rider Tommy Searle at both the San Diego and Anaheim 3 Supercross events.

“We were hoping Tommy’s injury (suffered in a practice crash at Anaheim 2) would not have kept him out for this length of time. Now that we know more about his injury, we feel it is the right time to bring on a replacement rider for the next two rounds,” commented FMF/KTM Factory Team Manager Casey Lytle. “PJ has been working with us for the past couple weeks to prepare for his upcoming season racing for the KTM Team in Australia and with a few weeks left in the states we felt this would be a good warm-up for him going into his season and our chance to have a KTM rider up front.”

“I am excited to come out and race the next two Supercross races for the FMF/KTM Factory Team,” remarked Larsen. “I have been mainly riding motocross to prepare for the Australian Motocross Lites Championship, but was able to start riding the KTM Supercross track this week, and surprisingly, I feel pretty good. I am looking forward to this weekend and racing the KTM for the first time in the U.S.”

Although it has been determined that Searle will sit out the San Diego round, it is not yet determined if he will be back for Anaheim 3. “I was finally able to ride again this week but still feel that my shoulder is too weak and not quite race ready. We will try again next week, and if all goes well, I will be back for Anaheim 3,” stated Searle.

Biloxi, MS – February 2, 2010 – Team Suzuki City is pleased to announce their 2010 race team line up. The 2010 team will include Steven Clarke and Matt Lemoine, who will contest the East Coast Supercross Lites Championship Series as well as the AMA Outdoor Lites Championship Series. Sherri Cruse will compete in the Women’s Motocross Championships.

This is Team Suzuki City’s third year in existence and with each year the team has gained momentum and improved their race results. In 2009, Team Suzuki City riders placed solidly inside the top ten of the AMA East Coast Lites Championship Series.

Steven Clarke is returning the Team Suzuki City in 2010 and has high expectations for himself. Clarke said, “Everything is coming along great. I’m healthy and looking forward to Indy. If I ride to my potential, I know I can easily come away top 5 in points.”

Matt Lemoine, new to Team Suzuki City is anticipating an awesome 2010 race season. “I’m 100% happy, the team is great. The guys have done everything to make the bike exactly what I want. I’m looking forward to Indy so we can get to racing,” said an excited Lemoine.

Sherri Cruse finished third overall in the 2009 Women’s Motocross Championship is also new to Team Suzuki City this year. Full of enthusiasm, Sherri said, “I am really excited about being part of Team Suzuki City. I think with their bike and race knowledge we are going to have a great season. I especially like working with creative and positive people and am happy to be representing women’s pro motocross on the team”

Team owner, Michael Nasakaitis is looking forward to the 2010 race season, “Everything is going great with the team, the guys are riding well and are ready for Indy. The whole team has worked really hard to prepare for this season, and with Matt, Steven and Sherri on board, I know this is going to be a terrific year”.

Suzuki City is also very excited to announce their partnership with Nitro Circus for the 2010 race season. This is an exciting venture for both Team Suzuki City and Nitro Circus. Nitro Circus has become one of the most recognized brands in the action sports world. Travis Pastrana and his crew’s action adventures have become as much mainstream entertainment as Supercross racing.

Andy Bell, Nitro Circus “Partnering with the Team Suzuki City SX/MX team is an exciting move for Nitro Circus as the entire Nitro crew are huge SX fans. The partnership made even more sense considering team riders Matt Lemoine and Sherri Cruse are both close friends of the Nitro Circus family, having appeared on multiple episodes of the show throwing down some pretty big stunts of their own.”

Nasakaitis adds, “We are excited to be working with Nitro Circus, the level of excitement they bring to everything they do is unbelievable”.
Look for Team Suzuki City riders Clarke, Lemoine and Cruse to bring home great results in 2010.

Team Suzuki City Nitro Circus sponsors:
Suzuki City, Biloxi, MS; Nitro Circus, www.suzukicityracing.com, Parts Unlimited, Moose, Dunlop, Sunstar, Renthal, Renegade Racing Fuels, K&N, RG3 Suspension, Shoei, Crower Performance, TLR Performance, Motion Pro, Boyesen, Alpinestars, Thermo Probe, RK Chains and Excel Rims, Hansen & Associates, MGX Unlimited, Mishimoto, CV4, Two Brothers, ICW, Crew Wear, Millennium, Stomp Grip, Bravo Condoms, Renthal, KG Clutches, and Skull Candy.

About Suzuki City:
Suzuki City is a full-line Suzuki dealership based in Biloxi, Mississippi, which offers a complete line of Suzuki superbikes, sportbikes, cruisers, dual-sport bikes, motocrossers, dirt bikes, and ATVs as well as a big selection of parts, accessories, and apparel. They also offer engine and suspension services

Cruse’s additional sponsors include:
Parts Unlimited, Thor MX, NTS Inc.,Roxy, Von Zipper, RK Chains/Excel Rims, Leatt Neck Braces, Rekluse, Vortex and ODI Grips.

Murrieta, CA – KTM North America, Inc. is excited to announce its 2010 Amateur Contingency Program posting over $475,000 in awards money.

KTM offers contingency in multiple off-road and motocross series throughout the United States. The 2010 program has been expanded to include more motocross series and increased payouts to the existing off-road series that are on the schedule.

“KTM understands that economic times are tough and riders can use every bit of help to keep their bikes properly maintained for race day,” remarked FMF/KTM Team Manager Antti Kallonen. “That is why KTM has decided to increase the contingency payouts in the off-road series while also expanding the amount of motocross events on the schedule. We are excited about this news and hope that the KTM riders will be equally pleased.”

KTM Cash is awarded to top place finishers at the qualifying events. Awards range from $75 to $2,000 and can be redeemed at a local participating KTM dealership. KTM Cash rewards are distributed online through XTRM. Riders must possess a valid XTRM Plus account in order to be eligible for KTM Cash. To sign up to be an XTRM Plus member and start redeeming KTM Cash rewards log on to www.xtrm.com today!

For a complete schedule and more information on the KTM Amateur Contingency Program and eligibility requirements please visit www.xtrm.com/ktm.