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.
2008 Rockstar U.S. Open Supercross Invitation List
Posted on August 8, 2008
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The invitation list for 2008 Rockstar U.S. open taking place on October 10 - 12 2008 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas has been announced.
The event will attract the worlds top Supercross riders with both the premier and the lites classes competing against each other in a combined class.
Grant Langston took out the event last year over two nights of racing with a consistent 2nd and 5th place finish which was enough to take out the overall. Chad Reed won the main on the first night and Jake Weimer, a lites rider, took the honours on the second night of racing.
Invited Riders
1. Grant Langston
2. Chad Reed
3. James Stewart
4. Tim Ferry
5. Kevin Windham
6. Ivan Tedesco
7. David Vuillemin
8. Michael Byrne
9. Ryan Villopoto
10. Ben Townley
11. Jason Lawrence
12. Ryan Morais
13. Darcy Lange
14. Ryan Dungey
15. Josh Hill
16. Jake Weimer
17. Josh Demuth
18. Mike Alessi
19. Trey Canard
20. Jeff Alessi
21. Nico Izzi
22. Paul Carpenter
23. Nick Wey
24. Davi Millsaps
25. Andrew Short
26. Nathan Ramsey
27. Dan Reardon
28. Branden Jesseman
29. Chris Gosselaar
30. Josh Hansen
31. Billy Laninovich
32. Josh Grant
33. Tommy Hahn
34. Matthew Lemoine
35. Tyler Bowers
36. Troy Adams
37. Mat Goerke
38. Kevin Johnson
39. Kyle Cunningham
40. Austin Stroupe
41. Robert Kiniry
42. Michael LaPaglia
43. Danny Smith
44. Bryan Johnson
45. Joe Oehlhof
46. Chris Blose
47. Ryan Clark
48. Heath Voss
49. Jeff Gibson
50. Josh Summey
51. Travis Preston
52. Eric Sorby
53. Cole Siebler
54. Jason Thomas
55. Tyler Evans
56. Justin Brayton
57. Brock Sellards
58. Jake Marsack
Redland city council says no to motorcycle enthusiasts
Posted on August 5, 2008
Filed Under Motorcycle parks | 2 Comments
Redland city council has reversed its decision to search for a site to build an off road motorcycle track in the Redlands. Support was given to the cause after motocross, trail riders and council officers called for action to accommodate the growing number of dirt bike enthusiasts in the area.
Deputy Mayor Toni Bowler led a push to reverse the decision, arguing that the state government was doing its own study across South East Queensland and the council should not waste its money. This was opposed by Mayor Melva Hobson, Peter Dowling and Helen Murray. The decision came after the manager of Redland Bay’s Kindilian centre Rebecca Fox complained that if a motocross track was built nearby it may force the closure of the outdoor camping facility.
Motorcycling Australia general manager Lindsay Granger condemned the council for backing down on its own study, saying that there are 1700 licensed riders in the Redlands and surrounding suburbs. This doesn’t include a large number of riders who are not licensed.
Voting with Toni Bowler included, Wendy Boglary, Craig Ogilvie, Debra Henry, Barbara Townsend, Murray Elliot and Kathy Reimers.
So what happens now?
Where do all the dirt bike riders go to ride?
There are a growing number of dirt bike enthusiasts thanks to the influx of cheap Chinese imported bikes. This means there are also going to be more inexperienced riders without adequate supervision. This will lead to more and more people riding illegally and risking the lives of themselves and those they come into contact with.
The Redlands has spent a million dollars on a skate park. But can’t take the needs of all its residents seriously and simply complete a study to find suitable land for a motocross track.
FIM Motocross And Supermoto World Series to be Broadcasted Live Online Free of Charge on Freecaster.TV
Posted on August 4, 2008
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The FIM Motocross World Championship promoter Youthstream and the online broadcaster Freecaster.tv have reached an important agreement to broadcast the series for free live and delayed on www.freecaster.tv from 2009.
This new partnership will bring important benefits to the sport; courtesy of the Internet streaming free of charge Motocross and SuperMoto will become a lot more accessible to accommodate all the current fans and to attract new audiences.
Thanks to Freecaster.tv, which is already showing and will continue to show the MXGP highlights and lots of extra features on the Championship, the FIM Motocross and SuperMoto World Championships will become the first major sports to be broadcast live and delayed online for free.
The FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship will be aired on Freecaster.tv which will cover also the MX3 and Snowcross World series, the Veterans’ World Cup and the FIM Off Road Awards.
The whole Freecaster.tv coverage will be available for websites to embed as the common goal is to increase the sports’ coverage and visibility worldwide.
Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo stated: “This is a very important moment for the fans worldwide, from next year they will be able to follow the FIM Motocross World Championships and SuperMoto World Championship free of charge from anywhere in the world. Thanks to this agreement between Youthstream and Freecaster.tv the Motocross World Championship will enter everyone’s homes all over the world. We would like to thank Freecaster.tv for believing and investing in our sport, and together I am sure we will reach unbelievable levels. Youthstream will continue to invest in the TV Production and from 2009 we will see the new camera on-board live, cameras in the pit-lane, jimmy jib, etc we always strive to increase the quality of the production and give always a better show to the fans. It’s fantastic that for the first time we will have also a highlight program completely dedicated to the MX3 and European Motocross Championship broadcasted on TV and on Freecaster.tv.”
Ricky Carmichael wins X Games step up competition
Posted on August 4, 2008
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Former Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael collected the second X Games gold medal of his career when he out-dueled Ronnie Renner for the win Friday night inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Five riders competed in the final, which started with the bar at 26 feet. Mike Mason, Brian Deegan, and four-time Step Up gold medalist Tommy Clowers were all eliminated at the 32-foot mark, leaving Renner, last year’s Step Up winner, and Carmichael to duke it out for the gold medal.
Renner’s first attempt ended when his front wheel knocked the bar off and on the second attempt his rear wheel caught the bar, sending it to the ground. Carmichael cleared the 33-foot bar with room to spare.
2008 Rockstar Motocross Nationals Pro open won by Jay Marmont
Posted on August 4, 2008
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Jay Marmont (Yamaha) has won the 2008 Pro Opens Championship at the final round of the Rockstar Motocross Nationals held at Coolum, Queensland.
Marmont only needed to finish in the top 15 in the first moto to take the title and with his 12th place finish he easily brought it home.
Speaking after the moto Marmont said that although he’s wrapped up the Championship, it wasn’t quite the finish he was expecting.
“I’m pumped, but that race didn’t end up how I wanted it too,” Marmont said.
“A guy went down and got stuck under his bike and I was riding the whole moto with the front end of my bike all twisted, and it was the longest 30 minutes of my whole life but I got through it!”
Marmont’s father, Peter, was thrilled with his oldest son’s victory after a nerve wracking race!
“I don’t know if I had any dark hairs left but if I did he just took them all off me after that one!” an emotional Peter said.
CDR Rockstar Yamaha Team Manager Craig Dack had nothing but praise for the young rider who had worked incredibly hard throughout the season.
“We’re really proud at CDR to have helped Jay realise a dream, and that’s to win a national Motocross Championship,” Dack said.
“The preparation started here in October, we were very focused on this Championship and he’s got a great bunch of people around him.
“I’m really happy for him, he’s a great man and he deserves the Championship.”
While Marmont had a less than average performance in the first moto it the main battle of the day was between Craig Anderson (Honda) and Daryl Hurley (Suzuki) for second and third.
2008 Motocross of nations teams announced
Posted on July 30, 2008
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The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the members of Team USA for the 2008 Motocross of Nations. They have made a selection of all green riders, no not novice riders, Kawasaki factory riders.
Monster energy Kawasaki riders James Stewart, Ryan Villipoto and Tim Ferry. James remains unchallenged and is leading the competition in the AMA motocross series. Ryan Villipoto, who is currently at the top of the points table in the AMA motocross lites series. Tim Ferry has had consistent results so far this season and is holding second place in the Motocross championship.
The motocross of nations will take place at the Donington Park Circuit in England on September 27-28.
SuperX race formats
Posted on July 30, 2008
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The Australian supercross series known as SuperX will bring new race formats to supercross which have never been tried before. SuperX promises to deliver supercross racing on a level never seen before down under, which full size tracks, live television broadcasts on fox sports and highlights on free to air TV.
20 Lap final
The standard 20 lap final remains where competitors qualify in two, ten lap heats. Those finishing in places 1st through to 9th will progress directly to the final, while riders places 10th to 20th in each qualifier will fight it out in a last chance race for 2 more finals places. The final will be contested oveer 20 laps and points are awarded in accordance with the Championship Schedule.
Super Sprint
Perhaps one of the most exciting formats in the championship, Super Sprint consists of Practice & Qualifying. Seeded Riders are included automatically, then up to a total of 40 riders with the best times qualify in 4 x 5 lap sprint heats of 10 Riders. Those riders who place between 1st and 5th progress to the semi finals, while riders placed 6th to 10th are eliminated. The semi finals consist of 2 x 5 lap sprint semi finals of 10 Riders each, riders placed 1st to 5th progress to the final and riders placed 6th to 10th go to the last chance qualifier (LCQ). First and second placed riders in the LCQ progress to the final and the rest are eliminated. The 6 lap Final consists of a maximum field size of 12 with a possible additional single wild card entrant.
Triple Challenge
40 Competitors will race in one of two 10 lap heats. Positions 1st through to 9th will progress directly to the final, while riders placed 10th to 20th will fight it out in a last chance qualifier for 2 more finals places. The final will be contested over three separate six lap races consisting of 4 riders, with points awarded for each race. This format allows riders to generate valuable championship points.
Survival
Competitors placed 1st through 9th from each of two heats will progress direct to the final, while riders
10th to 20th will fight it out in a last chance qualifier for 2 more finals places.
A 20 lap final consisting of all 20 qualifiers will be split across 4 x 5 lap races. After 5 laps the last 5 competitors will be eliminated. A start clock will begin counting down as soon as the first rider crosses the finish line, forcing trailing riders to sprint through the transition to the starting gate to line-up for
the next race. In the final race 5 riders are left to do battle in one decisive 5 lap sprint. Survival Format offers an exciting variation and ensures there are countless surprises with interest spread across the entire field not just the leading pack.
Man On Man
Much like a tennis tournament with competitors progressing from opposite sides of the draw, “man on man” is an exciting fast paced spectacle. 2 x 10 lap heats consisting of 20 riders are run to determine the “Man on Man” draw with 8 riders progressing from each heat. Eight, two man heats are then fought out over 2 laps with the winners proceeding to the quarter finals. The quarter finals consist of four, two man heats of 2 laps with the winners progressing to the semi finals. The semi finals consist of two, two man heats of 2 laps with the winners advancing to the final and the loosing semi finalists battling for one last spot in the final in the LCQ. The final consists of 3 riders in a 3 lap sprint to the finish.
Jeremy McGrath return to Supercross
Posted on July 24, 2008
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The infamous X Games installment number 14 is scheduled for July 31st through to August 3rd. One of the most celebrated athletes of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath, is using the time before the event to prepare himself for what could become his most exciting appearance yet. Though mostly retired from professional racing, the “King of Supercross” MC, has his sights set on a fourth X Games appearance and he could prove to be a spoiler to a stacked field of current AMA pros invited to compete along with him. But unlike in years past, the AMA’s leading event winner in Supercross history is channeling all of his energies into a single event, MotoX Racing.
“I was disappointed that I couldn’t compete at the NAVY Moto X World Championships back in April so I’m super anxious to race now,” said an enthusiastic McGrath who had been sidelined with a cracked femur from a crash while riding on his own track in the San Diego mountains. “I’m healed 100% and been back practicing a lot on my Honda 450F.”
McGrath is the AMA’s all-time Supercross title holder with 72 main event wins, 7 AMA championship titles, and a trio of X Games appearances to his credit. Among McGrath’s many personal highlights are his Step Up shootout against Matt Buyten at X Games 10 that revealed McGrath’s dig deeper style that defines his racing career and garnered him a Gold Medal that year.
To get himself back into fighting shape McGrath describes a regimen that includes both motocross training and bicycling. “Because of the injury I was off the bike for a long time until I raced the annual Mammoth Motocross in June. I did pretty good taking home a win and a 2nd but it was a wake up call that my fitness level wasn’t where I needed it to be,” said McGrath. “So I came straight home and revved it up. Also, unlike in years past where I rode two X Games disciplines (Step Up and Supermoto) I am zeroed in on my specialty, motocross, and leaving the other events alone. They’re great and I loved riding ‘em in the past but I’m sticking with the Moto X Racing event.”
Starting on Friday August 1st at the Home Depot Center, McGrath begins his X Games 14 campaign aboard a nicely prepped factory Honda 450F. If everything works to plan his sponsors Honda, Monster, Parts Unlimited, THOR, SPY Optics, Alpinestars, Troy Lee Helmets, and DC Shoes will be reminded once again why this nice family man from Encinitas, CA still commands their attention and support.
We might just get to see MC vs the GOAT (Ricky Carnicheal) go head to head in the step up event.
Redlands Motocycle Club seeks land for a new Motocross track
Posted on July 15, 2008
Filed Under Motorcycle clubs | 1 Comment
Redland City Council will consider council-owned and private land in its search to identify a potential site to build a motocross track in the Redland shire with officers expected to report on their progress by the end of the year. The newly formed Redlands District Motorcycle Club called for action in January because a cloud hung over the future of the nearest legal riding sites in Wynnum (Fort Lytton Motocross club) and Yatala. A recently opened track has also been set up in the Chandler velodrome but its future is uncertain.
The move is already under attack from councillors warning an official site would not prevent people from riding illegally in parks and bushland. Other councilors sounded alarm over noise impacts, saying they doubted a suitable site could be found away from residents. Redland City Council officers said 181 complaints had been lodged about illegal riding activity in public parks and reserves over the past 12 months.
The first step in controlling illegal riding activity would be to provide suitable facilities, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to participate in the sport legally. This would also reduce the risk of serious injury by vigilantes taking matters into their on hands and lacing popular riding trails with spikes and barbed wire.
“It’s actually time for some action,” senior planning adviser Angela Wright said last week. Division 4 Councillor Peter Dowling backed the investigation, saying illegal riding created “significant” safety issues. A report said the council would firstly investigate industrial areas, chicken farms, quarries, enterprise development areas, some council-owned bushland, and Redland Water and Waste land set aside for future waste transfer stations.
Division 7 Councilor Murray Elliott said the Redlands was a residential area and he could not think of a place that was far enough away from people’s homes.
Well Murray, did you hear me riding on the weekend?