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.

JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM rider PJ Larsen claimed the 2010 Rockstar Energy Australian MX Nationals title in the Pro Lites category one round early during Coolum’s mega double-header season finale in Queensland on July 24-25, 2010.

Larsen’s top finishing scores throughout the season gave him an 84 point advantage heading to the final round which allowed him to take the championship after Saturday’s race and gave him the opportunity to run his new #1 plate during Sunday’s event.

Saturday’s race was comprised of three 8-lap motos. Larsen pulled the holeshot in the first moto and went on to finish 2nd in the moto. He finished 2nd and 4th respectively in the next two motos to take 3rd overall for the day and the Championship.

The series win marks a fitting finale to what has been a dominant season for Larsen and the JDR Motorsports outfit in its maiden season in cooperation with KTM, the team taking out the title on the weekend using the all-new 2011 KTM 250 SX-F model.

“It means a lot to me to win this title after getting the opportunity to come and do a season in Australia with the JDR Motorsports/Motorex/KTM Team,” commented the 19-year-old, who is originally from South Carolina. “I’m glad that we could come out with the championship.”

The championship victory is a proud moment for the JDR Motorsports team, winning the title in memory of teammate Andrew McFarlane, who was tragically killed in at Broadford’s third round of the title earlier this season.

“The whole team has been working really hard because we wanted to win the title for Andrew – the whole goal was to go and do our best, make Andrew proud, and I think that we did a good job of it,” Larsen said, eventually winning with a comfortable margin of 65 points.

With the pressures of the championship challenge off his shoulders for Sunday’s round, California-based Larsen endured a difficult end to the season by his standards, taking out 4th overall with a consistent run of 4-5-4 results.

“It definitely wasn’t the best weekend for me,” he reflected. “I’ve been resting up an ankle injury that I suffered in the lead-up to Moree, but all in all we made the best of what we had, won the championship and that’s all that matters.”

“Winning the Pro Lites title is a first for PJ, it’s a first for the JDR team and it’s a first for the 2011 model KTM 250 SX-F,” Team Manager Jay Rynenberg commented. “I think PJ really proved a point to the Americans as well that he’s going to be a guy to be reckoned with next year. It’s a credit to his work ethic and a really good day for JDR.

Team JDR Motorex KTM team will now be preparing for the upcoming Super X Australasian

Supercross Championship, which is scheduled to kick-off at Energy Australia Stadium in Newcastle on October 16, 2010.

As for Larsen, he will return to the United States for the next two months and prepare for the Australian Supercross Series while in California. During his first week back he plans to relax and watch some racing instead of participate. “I am planning on going to the X-Games and then to Loretta Lynn’s in order to just catch up with some friends and take a break.”

Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for more information and detailed results on the 2010 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals. For further information on KTM Australia log onto www.ktm.com.au or visit www.jdrmotorsports.com.au to visit the JDR Motorsports team on the web.

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).