Showing posts with label Kawasaki US MX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kawasaki US MX. Show all posts
Brett Metcalfe RacerX Interview -ozzy go-
Monday Conversation: Brett Metcalfe 12 31 2007
Whether it be Formula 1, NASCAR, MotoGP, and especially
supercross, there are no shortcuts in racing. A rider or driver
strives to earn the best equipment available, surrounds himself
with the best team personnel possible, utilizes his strengths and
talents and uses hard work and dedication to optimize them.
Since he arrived here after competing in the 2002 125cc World
Championship, Australian-born Brett Metcalfe has methodically
chipped away at his craft, finally earning his big break last year
by lining up a plum position on Mitch Payton’s mighty Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team. However, and as it has done
throughout his tenure here in the U.S., bad luck and bad breaks
have haunted the 23-year-old Metcalfe. Knocked out of the 2007
AMA Toyota Motocross Lites Championship with a broken thumb
suffered during practice at Mount Morris, Metcalfe was forced onto
the injured reserve list before returning to action at Lakewood,
CO, in late July. Six rounds later, he had scored three top-five
finishes as well as earning a spot on the podium on three
separate occasions. The late-season surge was confidence-
inspiring for Metcalfe and the Kawasaki rider entered the off-
season with his fangs... full story & interview on racerxill.com
pic from motocross.com
Ryan Villopoto named AMA/SPEED Athlete Of The Year
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto
was named this past weekend as the AMA/ SPEED Athlete
of the Year for his spectacular performances in the AMA
Supercross and Outdoor Nationals seasons, along with his
winning performance in the recent Motocross of Nations
in Budds Creek, Md.
“Last year I watched Ricky get the award and it’s just
awesome to be one of those guys,” said Villopoto from
the stage at the AMA Awards banquet, of course referring
to Monster Energy’s Ricky Carmichael who won the award
in 2006.
Villopoto, 19, from Poulsbo, Wash., won the Supercross
West Lites title, then defended his Outdoor Nationals’ Lites
crown. He highlighted his season when he spanked the
rest of the world at the Motocross of Nations at Budds
Creek, helping fellow Monster Energy- backed racers
Carmichael and Tim Ferry (Monster Energy/Kawasaki) win
the coveted Chamberlain Trophy as the world’s top
motocross team.
“Everybody at Monster Energy would like to congratulate
Ryan on an unreal season, capped off with the AMA and
SPEED’s most prestigious award,” said John Lee, Monster
Energy’s Director of Sports Marketing.
“Ryan is one of the hardest-working guys in the sport and
sets and excellent example for the rest of our Monster
Army members. Again, congrats, Ryan, you certainly
deserve it.” fullnoise.com.au - pic from
picasaweb.google.com
Thor Celebrates Multi Year Contract With Ryan Villopoto
Thor Motocross announced the signing of a long term contract
with West Coast SX Lites Champion and 2-time National MX Lites
Champion Ryan Villopoto during the Dealer Showcase at the new
state of the art Parts Unlimited warehouse in Reno, Nevada.
Bob Maynard, the CEO of Thor, presented Villopoto with a rare
Kimber Valier handcrafter shotgun to celebrate the contract and
show Villopoto Thor's appreciation. "Thor has supported Ryan as
he moved through the ranks of our very successful amateur
program and we are proud of his continuing success as a
professional," said Maynard.
Villopoto was not the only one walking away with a gift. Everyone
present at the Showcase was given a limited edition #2 Thor
decal to commemorate the special occasion and to announce
Villopoto's new number.
Every National Champion has the option to choose the number he
or she wishes to run during the 2008 racing season. Villopoto
decided that he wanted to run none other than the number of the
recently retired Thor Supercross Legend Jeremy McGrath.
Villopoto called up MC to see if he was willing to let him use his
number. "I didn't really want to give the number up, but if anyone
could have it I thought that Ryan would represent it the best,"
said McGrath.
Thor is excited for the continued partnership with Villopoto, and
wishes him the best of luck running the #2 this racing season.
thormx.com
Andrew McFarlane back to Kawasaki in 2008 -ozzy go- fullnoise.com.au
Australian Andrew McFarlane will ride Kawasaki again in 2008
after being named as part of the line-up for the newly formed,
Xtreme Pro Lites Kawasaki racing team that will compete in both
the 2008 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championship.
Built on its successful amateur program Xtreme Team Green, the
Xtreme Pro Lites program is expected to offer a natural
progression as Kawasaki’s top amateur riders make the transition
into the professional ranks.
“It only seemed right that we have a complete connection
between amateur and pro,” said Dave Gowland, Team Green™
Motocross Supervisor. “This is a true farm club and we are
working together to build a better program that will not only
benefit Kawasaki but provide Xtreme Pro Lites and Mitch Payton
at Pro Circuit with a higher class of rider.”
Led by former MotoSport Outlet Kawasaki manager Bill Keefe, the
rider line-up will include Tommy Hahn, Kyle Chisholm, Phil
Nicolette, and McFarlane. The team will field two riders to
compete in the East and West AMA Supercross Lites along with
the AMA Motocross Lites Series... full story on fullnoise.com.au
pic from vitalmx.com
Team Solitaire/MB1 Racing signs Bob Kiniry
Team Solitaire/MB1 Racing is pleased to announce the
addition of Bob Kiniry to their 2008 race team lineup.
Bob joins Team Solitaire founder and veteran racer
Ryan Clark. Mike Battista, managing partner of Team
Solitaire/MB1 Racing, had this to say: “Bob has shown
incredible speed and skill, and he possesses a
determination and work ethic that sets him apart from
many of his competitors. We look forward to providing
the tools he needs to become a podium threat in
2008.” Bob will contest the 2008 AMA Lites Supercross
Series and the 2008 AMA Lites Motocross Series aboard
a Honda CRF250R. Team Solitaire/MB1 Racing is an
independent Supercross and Motocross race team
based in Phoenix, AZ. transworldmotocross.com
For more information on the team and its marketing
partners, please visit www.teamsolitaire.com
pic from vitalmx.com
Tim Ferry TransworldMX Interview -ozzy go-
Catching Up With...Tim Ferry 10.23.2007
TWMX caught up with Monster/Kawasaki rider, Timmy
Ferry recently to see how testing was going, his views
on Supercross, and what happened at the U.S. Open.
interview on transworldmotocross.com
Austin Stroupe Injured
Following one of the most dominate team efforts in
motocross history, bad luck seems to have finally befallen
the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team. Two team
riders have suffered broken collarbones in the past two
weeks. Barely a week removed from the announcement
that two-time defending AMA Toyota Motocross Lites
champion Ryan Villopoto's shoulder injury comes news of
their hot rookie prospect, Austin Stroupe, suffering a
clavicle injury at Lake Elsinore this past Saturday night.
Racer X contacted Austin's father, Todd, who confirmed
the injury. "Yeah, he lost the front wheel in a corner
before a small jump and just lost it. Nothing too major,
just kind of slammed him down real quick. He is off to the
doctor today and will have surgery and get a plate put on
it, then be out probably be out four weeks or so."
Besides Villopoto and Stroupe, Ben Townley wrenched his
shoulder at the Motocross of Nations last month and sat
out the race; he will be riding a factory Honda next time
we see him. But one month before that, Christophe
Pourcel, who was set to join the team this fall, separated
his hip in a crash over in Europe, complicating where the
team will assign riders--West or East--for the 2008 AMA
Supercross tour.
Here's to wishing a full and speedy recovery for Austin
and a little good for the rest of the boys at Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit squad. racerxill.com
Austin Stroupe at Glen Helen - tedescophoto.com
Ryan Villopoto TransworldMX Interview -ozzy go-
Catching Up With...Ryan Villopoto 10.22.2007
Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto
suffered a broken collarbone, a punctured lung and some
cracked ribs in a horrendous crash at the MX Oasis Supercross
track last week, only days after returning from a 10-day
vacation. The two-time MX Lites National Champ already had
surgery to repair the damage and is home is Washington
recuperating, and phoned the TransWorld Motocross offices to
check in... interview on transworldmotocross.com
Ryan Villopoto Injured
Ryan Villopoto crashed yesterday at a friend's practice track in
Beaumont, CA. It was his first day back on a supercross track
after taking some time off. Six laps into it he cased the first three
in a triple-triple section and his feet came off the pegs. He hit the
next three sitting down and went over the bars. Randy Lawrence
said that he was unconscious at first. He is doing better now and
on his way to a surgeon to have his collarbone plated. He also
broke a couple ribs and may have slightly collapsed a lung. RL
said it was the gnarliest crash he had seen in a while. Stay tuned
to Racer X Online as we learn more on Villopoto's condition.
David Pingree/RacerX
Updated: 10/17/2007
Yes, the rumors of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan
Villopoto going down hard while practicing yesterday are true,
and while he spent the night in a local hospital, it sounds like he
may be released today.
While broken ribs, a broke collarbone and a concussion are no
fun, it sounds like we can be glad that his injuries weren’t much
worse.
Get well soon, Ryan. VitalMX
Racer X Films: Austin Stroupe -ozzy go-
This was Austin Stroupe's first week on the Kawasaki SX track.
Racer X Films was there to film the action. click here for the video
RacerX Number Cruncher: Larry Brooks -ozzy go- racerxill.com
Welcome to the Shift Number Cruncher. It’s a gnarly
week around here for me so I have a quick one for you
this time. If you recall Racerhead a couple weeks ago,
we ran a letter that Larry Brooks sent us expressing his
displeasure with our inability to remember him when we
ran some of the numbers he raced with during his long
and successful career. He did forget we ran him in the
#36 cruncher, though. Brooks has played a huge role
in the sport for the better part of the last three decades.
He was a super-fast racer and an even stronger team
manager for some of the biggest names in the sport.
We felt we owned him a little payback so we dug up
some pictures and history. This one’s for you, Larry!
click here for the full story on racerxill.com
Three Questions with Ryan Villopoto and Practice Update - amamotocross.com
What else can be said about Ryan Villopoto that you don’t already know?
The two time AMA Motocross Lites Champion, and member of last year’s
winning USA MXON team is back again, and ready to prove once gain
that he is the man to beat in the Motocross Lites/MX2 class at Budds Creek.
First Ryan, congratulations on your second AMA Motocross Lites
Championship – talk for a minute about what this second title means?
Oh, it means a lot to me. Winning the first one, and then coming back and
winning the second one against someone that was racing so hard and just as
good as I was, made it even better. We both really wanted it, and both
battled hard all season – so it meant a lot to come out with it at the end.
How do you feel about this event, your second MXON, being here at Budds
Creek?
It should be awesome; hopefully we can bring to the table the same things
that the guys over in Europe bring. For sure we have one of the best teams,
and I want to be up on top again.
You are generally referred to as the Lites rider to beat; who else do you
think will be running at the front?
Well obviously Ben; we did it all this year. I know that Cairoli was fast last
year, and he should be this year too – us three for sure!
Practice Update: Later in morning practice, Villopoto would set the best lap
time in the MX2 (Motocross Lites) class; Carmichael and Ferry would then
do the same in the MX1 (Motocross) and MX3 (Open) classes. New
Zealand's Ben Townley and Darryl Hurley would both crash hard in
practice. Townley eventually got up and returned to finish practice on his
spare bike, but I am afraid that Hurley could be done for the weekend.
photo from MX Weekend Window
Motocross.com Video: Lites Class Championships Wrap Up -ozzy go-
Ryan Villopoto won his second consecutive
National Championship this past weekend.
Date Added: Sep 13, 07 - click on ozzy go
to the video on motocross.com
RacerX Rev-Up: Chaos A.D -ozzy go-
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. Before we get going
here let’s all stand up and give the outdoor nationals a round of
applause. (YEW!!!) The 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross
Championship presented by FMF was simply as good as any of us
could have hoped for. Five different winners in the AMA Motocross
class, five instances of James vs. Ricky, and the BT and RV show
came right at us throughout the 12 race series. Every single moto
was a fair-and-square opportunity for the riders to show the world
what they had. The boys were going for it with each drop of the
gate and it kept the t-shirts swinging every single lap. Typically
the season kind of dies off a little after the last pyrotechnic
explodes at the Las Vegas supercross. Not anymore, folks. It’s
funny, a year or so ago an “insider” told me the outdoor nationals
would be dead by 2008. I thought about that guy on my way
home from RedBud this year. Yes, supercross has grown into a
beautiful animal, but there is so much more to the season when
it’s through. Oh yes, there is copious amount of drama after the
light goes down in the stadiums. In my opinion that’s when the
real shit goes down. Let’s call it Chaos A.D. and let’s go back and
run through what was simply an astonishing summer. click on
ozzy go to the full story on racerxill.com
Glen's party is over. Let's go to Budd's! -ozzy go- amamotocross.com
Glen Helen featured the final stop on your AMA Toyota Motocross
Championship Series – by FMF – and, granted it was minus a few
stars and it was at that spectacular track just up the street from
the women’s prison, yet it was still the end of the road for a
wonderful, exciting and unpredictable year of “outdoor” AMA
Motocross. South Africa’s Grant Langston (“Granite Langstone” in
Flintstonia…) was surely not the man in command all season, yet
for those watching at Southwick, Massachusetts, as Yamaha’s
Langston passed and briefly sparred with Kawasaki’s James
Stewart, these were signals that this fierce competitor with the
charming accent and bright resume was going to be making his
mark in this series.
At the hilly, difficult and incredibly breathtaking San Bernardino
course, Langston was granted a 1-3 finish that gave him the
overall and the championship and, indeed, it was well earned.
Naturally, admirable performances all season long from Mike
Alessi, Andrew Short and Tim Ferry made this one of the most
hair-raising series endings in a while.
Additionally, the Lites class came down to a near photo-finish, as
teammates Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley went at it all season
long, while RV had five season overalls and more points Townley
had his share of victories, yet with RV coming in to California with
a small, yet comforting points lead, his 1-2 finish behind Townley
at Glen Helen was enough to gain the upper hand and the AMA
Lites class championship.
Who were the Surprise-STAND-Out riders of-the-year?
For me, I’d have to say Martin Davalos in the Lites and Gavin
Gracyk in the MOTOCROSS Class. Both had incredible seasons.
Next weekend is where we dust off our trophies in the garage,
use a cotter-pin to clean under our fingernails and think about this
upcoming WORLD CLASS FESTIVAL OF MOTOCROSS At Budd’s
Creek, Maryland.
September 22-23. Most of us pull in Friday and leave Monday. The
hardcores are already there, streaming past the Amish buggies,
the smoky fish-shacks and a sweating Jonathan Beasley – the
charismatic Budd's Creek...click on ozzy go to the full story
pictures from tedescophoto.com
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