Nico Izzi awarded rookie of the year
Posted on September 12, 2008
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Nico Izzi has been awarded the 2008 AMA motocross championship rookie of the year. Nico is the newest member of the Rockstar Makita Suuki team. Izzi stated that he didn’t expect the award but was pumped to receive it. Izzi’s team mate Ryan Dungey won the award last year. In his first season, Izzi finished 3rd overall in the east coast AMA supercross lites and 5th overall in the AMA motocross lites after recovering from injury early in the season.
The 17-year-old Michigan native was pleased with the 2008 season. “My 2008 season overall was really good,” said Izzi. “I was happy with Supercross and finishing in the top three. I had some good races on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 and some not-so-good races that maybe could have been better. But in the end, it all worked out and I just tried to be consistent. The Motocross season started a bit rough, with getting injured and everything, but it ended pretty good. I mean, it doesn’t get much better than to finish the season with a podium in the last race at Steel City.”
Maddo takes third place in the 2008 Red Bull X-Fighters FMX competition
Posted on September 9, 2008
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Aussie FMX legend, Robbie ‘Maddo’ Maddison secured third place in the 2008 Red Bull X-Fighters overall standings after a thrilling second place victory in the World Series final which took place on Saturday, 6 September at the legendary Stadion X-lecia (Stadium of the Decade) in Warsaw.
Maddo finished the series off with a bang, moving up from fourth place to third on 320 points - just 25 points behind overall second place winner Dany Torres (ESP). This year’s high-flyer Mat Rebeaud (SUI) already secured his victory in the Red Bull X-Fighters 2008 overall standings before the final in Poland, after winning four of the six rounds in Mexico City (MEX), Texas (USA), Madrid (ESP) and Wuppertal (GER).
Just one day before the legendary stadium was razed to the ground, Maddo roared the crowd with his impressive tricks and jaw-dropping jumps which scored him the lead in front of American Jeremy Lusk, who crashed twice in the Polish capital.
The world-exclusive Super Session saw four teams of three riders fight it out in the disciplines of Step Up, Speed&Style, Quarterpipe Jam and Classic FMX. Superstar Travis Pastrana made his for-one-night-only comeback at the Session, finishing in first place with “Team Renner” (Ronnie Renner/USA, Travis Pastrana/USA, Thomas Pages/FRA, just ahead of “Team Rebeaud” (Mat Rebeaud/CH, Jeremy Lusk/injured/USA, Mike Mason/USA), “Team Maddison” (Robbie Maddison/AUS, Myles Richmond/USA, Gilles Dejong/BEL) and “Team Oglaza” (Bartek Oglaza/POL, Libor Podmol/CZE, Dany Torres/ESP).
“Now they can tear down the stadium. That was the ultimate goodbye – there is nothing that could beat that for a final farewell,” agreed Mat Rebeaud and Travis Pastrana.
Red Bull X-Fighters 2008 promises FMX fans an even bigger and better series next year. Stay tuned for the list of riders and exciting locations for Red Bull X-Fighters 2009!
Final Results Red Bull X-Fighters Warsaw:
1. Dany Torres (ESP)
2. Robbie Maddison (AUS)
3. Mat Rebeaud (SUI)
Final Overall Standings Red Bull X-Fighters Series 08:
Mat Rebeaud (SUI) 465 pts
Dany Torres (ESP) 345 pts
Robbie Maddison (AUS) 320 pts
Honda releases the new fuel injected 09 CRF450R
Posted on September 8, 2008
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The new Honda CRF450 looks good. The bulky side plates now have a sleeker look about them. Lets hope the fuel injection brings on a even smoother power curve to the awesome power the 08 model has.
Mike Allessi back on track
Posted on September 8, 2008
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Mike Alessi is headed back to Europe for a few international supercross races. According to his father, Tony, the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider is solid right now, working with Roger DeCoster on his 2009 program, where he will ride the 450 class in both AMA Supercross and AMA Toyota Motocross. Mike will be the featured rider at the races in Sheffield, England, and Madrid, Spain.
Grant Lanston eye tumor puts career in doubt
Posted on September 8, 2008
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Grant Langston finally got to run his #1 plate at a National. Unfortunately for him, it was just during opening ceremonies at Steel City. Langston has never even tried to defend a single championship. After he won the 2000 125cc World Championship, he moved to the USA. After his ‘03 AMA 125cc National MX Championship, he moved up and out of the class. Then, after moving back to the 125cc/Lites class, he won 125cc Regional SX titles on each coast before moving back up for 2007. Now, after finally winning a title you would’ve thought he would be forced to defend, he came down with the eye ailment that has hindered him all year.
Grant Langston was very happy to be at the racetrack last weekend
“The thing is, the diagnosis [on my eye] has changed,” Langston said. “Originally, it was diagnosed as a hemangioma, which is basically a blood clot in or somewhere around the eye, and I had it kind of a little bit behind and in the eye. It was leaking in there. That’s what was causing the problems. I did cold-laser treatment, and what actually happened is – I don’t know all of the ins and outs of it, but I don’t know if it developed from this, or if it was just coincidental – it’s now a full-blown tumor.”
After going to all kinds of eye doctors all around the country, Langston says he’s now busy seeing tumor specialists to figure out if it’s cancer or just benign. There have been rumors that Langston would have to go into early – even if only temporary – retirement until his eye is sorted out. “At this point, every day I lay in bed and think about these things,” Langston said. “What do I do? Sponsors want to know, friends want to know, my family wants me to be healthy regardless, and it’s like, there are so many scenarios going through my head, and I until I know for sure exactly what the outcome is going to be or what I have to do [to fix it], I don’t want to make any comments like that.”
Reed to ride US open
Posted on August 29, 2008
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The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open announced today that two-time U.S. Open and current AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed will compete in this year’s race inside Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena October 10-12. This year’s Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open will be Reed’s American début with his new Rockstar Makita Suzuki team.
“I really enjoy the US Open; It’s a race I look forward to every year,” said Reed. “The track brings back great memories from when I was a kid racing in Australia. This year will be extra special for me because I will be riding my new RMZ450 for Rockstar Makita Suzuki for the first time in the U.S. I came so close to the Trifecta last year. I really want it bad this year!”
Reed won back-to-back U.S. Open championships in 2003 and 2004, besting rival and motocross legend Ricky Carmichael. Known for his indoor skills, Reed has 35 career AMA Supercross wins and is third on the all-time win list.
Reed conquered the field in supercross this season, as he won his second AMA Supercross class championship. Along his journey to the championship, Reed enjoyed nine wins and four additional podiums.
“When I moved to America, it was a race I really looked forward to competing in,” added Reed when talking about racing in the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open. “It receives great publicity, so after winning the race in ‘03 and ‘04, it helped boost my profile in this sport.”
Reed came to the U.S. from Australia in 2002 and has quickly become one of the world’s top supercross racers. In his AMA rookie year, he won the 125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series. The following season he moved to the premier AMA Supercross class, winning eight races and scoring an additional six podium finishes en route to second place in points standings. In 2004, Reed had his best season ever, earning 10 wins and the first championship of his career. Since moving into the premier class, he has yet to finish worse than second place in AMA Supercross.
“The U.S. Open is a fun weekend for the riders and fans,” said Reed. “The track is really tight, which reminds me of the supercross races I competed in while growing up in Australia. It’s fast and intense and all of the riders are eager to get their hands on the $100,000 check.”
Reed VS McGrath SuperX 2008 Brisbane Australia
Posted on August 29, 2008
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Australia will play host to a battle of champions, as seven-time AMA champion Jeremy McGrath jets ‘down under’ to take on current world number one Chad Reed in the final two rounds of Super X, the all-new Australasian Supercross Championship.
Widely regarded as the sport’s most successful competitor, the Hall-of-Fame inductee will pull on the legendary #2 jersey for a bar-to-bar battle with current World Supercross Champion, Reed, reigning Australian Supercross Champion, Dan Reardon, who is based in the US and will be flying home for the series as well as local frontrunners at the Townsville (22 November) and Brisbane (29 November) events.
The McGrath versus Reed matchup is a mouth-watering prospect; both riders are renowned for their fearless and flat-out approach to riding and a relentless passion for victory.
Now based in San Diego, McGrath said he was looking forward to heading to Australia to compete against Reed and the current crop of Australian stars.
“I’m excited to be heading to Australia, there’s a lot of buzz about the new championship and the new formats it is introducing to the sport,” said McGrath.
“It will be great to race alongside Chad (Reed), the spotlight is on him after his recent win and this can only be good for other Australian riders as their talent is placed on a world stage.
“The Townsville and Brisbane events are based in large, open venues so I’m looking forward to seeing and racing on some unique tracks.”
McGrath has strong ties to Australia, with his mother and grandparents both having grown up here.
Chad Reed, who was making his way through the junior ranks when McGrath was blazing a trail for the sport in the 1990’s, said the opportunity to race his good friend and all-time great was one he was very much looking forward to.
“I am so excited that Jeremy (McGrath) is going to come down to Australia and race in two rounds of Super X,” said Reed.
“He is a true legend of the sport and was my hero when I was coming through the ranks. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for Australian sporting fans, to see Jeremy, myself and (defending Australian champion) Dan Reardon all going head-to-head.”
“We are only five weeks out from the opening round and the series is really starting to take shape, I can’t wait to be back racing in front of an all Australian crowd,” he continued.
2008 Australian Motocross of Nations team announced
Posted on August 21, 2008
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Motorcycling Australia has announced the Australian line up that will contest the 2008 FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations to be held at Donington Park, Great Britain on 28 September 2008.
The three riders who will represent Australia in this prestigious event will be Chad Reed, Michael Byrne and Brett Metcalfe.
Last year’s event, held at Budd’s Creek, USA, was won by the American team with top riders Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto and Tim Ferry securing a home victory, while injury and mechanical problems kept the Aussies; Reed, Andrew McFarlane and Michael Byrne out of contention.
Australian Team Manager, Gary Benn, said that even though all three riders have performed strongly over the past few months, selection was still quite hard.
“Selection is quite hard in some ways because they’re obviously racing on the other side of the world, so we can only look at their results in the races and we have to base it all on that,” Benn said.
“Chad has obviously shifted from Yamaha to Suzuki, following his World Championship win, and is very motivated with his new team and new bike.
“It could be said that the team this year is as strong if not stronger with both Brett and Burner riding very well.
“I’d like to think, all being well, with no injuries, mishaps or mechanical breakdowns, we should be on the podium for sure!”
Kawasaki sweeps the AMA motocross series
Posted on August 19, 2008
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The first moto at Spring Creek in Millville, Minnesota marked one of the highest achievements in James Stewart’s motocross career. Stewart is the 2008 AMA motocross champion after riding to victory with another perfect 2 wins from two starts for the round. Stewart has been plagued with machine failure and injury in previous years, not to mention the G.O.A.T. Ricky Carmichael getting in his way. Stewart remains undefeated for the 2008 AMA motocross season so far this season.
The premier class is a little light on for entertainment given that Stewart moves into the lead on the first last, pulls away from the field and then coasts the last couple of laps due to the huge lead he builds up over the race. That said, behind Stewart the competition is a lot closer with the places changing every race.
In the lites class Ryan Villopoto dominated the opening moto at Spring Creek Motocross Park, finishing ahead of Ryan Dungey, but the second moto was a bit more eventful when Villopoto crashed on the first lap. “I just came down the first downhill and I was pushing hard,” stated Villopoto. “I think I hit a wet spot. The next thing I know I was rolling on the ground.”
It was enough to hand the overall win to Dungey, who opened up a commanding lead on the Lites field. But in the bigger picture, Villopoto didn’t give anything up to Dungey since his second place finish was more than enough to clinch the championship.
Check out the latest AMA motocross championship results
Chad Reed signs with Team Makita suzuki
Posted on August 9, 2008
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It has been confirmed, after rumours were being tossed around earlier this year that Chad Reed, the 2008 AMA supercross champion has signed with Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki for the 2009 AMA supercross season. The American Suzuki Motor Corporation made this announcement.
Reed will race the 2009 supercross season and selected events in the U.S. and will also race in the Australian Supercross season. Chad will be racing a full injected RMZ-450. The Australian supercross will support new race formats and full sized supercross tracks in the major cities of Australia and should attract some other big names from overseas.
“I’m extremely excited to be starting a new chapter in my career and to be working with Roger DeCoster and Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki,” said Reed. “It will be a whole new experience for me which I’m really looking forward to. I rode Suzukis for a good part of my amateur career and have some great memories from then and now I’m excited to be racing the new Suzuki EFI RM-Z450. I believe this bike and my new team have great potential and I couldn’t be happier.”
am very excited to have been able to sign Chad Reed to Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki,” said team manager, Roger DeCoster. “Our team has worked very hard to get to the level we are at today and I’m glad we’ve been able to secure a rider with such accomplishments and determination as Chad so that we may continue to be top contenders. Our sponsors have been extremely supportive over the years and I’m happy that we are able to provide them a top-level rider and team to support him.”
Reed’s first race with Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki will most likely coincide with the 2009 supercross season operner at the Rockstar Energy Drink US Open at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on October 10-12.
It will be interesting to see where James Stewart ends up as it was rumoured that Stewart would be singing with Suzuki as well.
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