Supercross

Less than a half of a lap into the new AMA Supercross season, Team Unbound Energy/Moto XXX was strapped in and going full speed on an emotional rollercoaster. In the very first heat race of 2006, Kyle Lewis and Timmy Ferry entered the first turn in the number one and two spots respectively. Unfortunately, things unraveled quickly. Sort of.

The third turn of the Anaheim 1 track sent riders into one of the most ferocious whoop sections seen on a race track in quite a while. The teammates had a host of factory stars behind them as they began negotiating the waste-deep moguls. Things looked good for both until about halfway through the section, where Ferry missed one. His front wheel dove, the rear came up and he went over the bars and into the dirt rodeo style. He jumped back up quickly, but couldn’t get his bike turned around until the entire pack had run away. Lewis on the other hand, continued to battle. By the end of the 8-lap heat, he held onto fourth place and transferred directly into the main event.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 7, 2006) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his third Amp’d Mobile Supercross before a sellout crowd of 45,050 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. Honda’s Andrew Short opened the Western Region AMA Supercross Lites series with a main event win.

Honda’s Kyle Lewis, of Henderson, Nev., got the holeshot to start the 20-lap main event but it was Honda’s Ernesto Fonseca that jumped into the early lead. Fonseca, of Murrieta, Calif., led until a fourth lap crash removed him from the top spot, leaving the battle to series contenders Chad Reed, Ricky Carmichael and Stewart.

Las Vegas is set to be invaded by Off-Road riders and enthusiasts November 18-19th. The second annual Endurocross is coming to the Orleans Arena in the Orleans Hotel and Casino and promises to display some of the most exciting racing spectators will see this year.

Last years’ indoor Off-Road event saw the lead exchanged multiple times; there was no guessing who was in contention for the overall win. The treacherous course contained logs, tires, water sections, and a steep rock wall that ultimately decided the riders’ fate.

An exhausting course, complete with the elements listed above will still be included in this years’ course, and will host the same format, utilizing starting gates, qualifying heats and a Last Chance Qualifier to transfer to the main event. According to the Endurocross USA website, “Ten riders total earn a spot on the start line of the Maxxis Endurocross for Saturday nights event and will race against the invited Pro riders for Championship Title and Purse.“ The finest Off-Road riders from American and Europe will be invited.

US RIDER COUP ON EVE OF BRISBANE SUPERCROSS MASTERS OPENER

America’s top supercross privateer TYLER EVANS has signed to contest the 2005 SUPERCROSS MASTERS championship? he jets in for the opening round at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on July 23.

Negotiations have just concluded which will see the outgoing Californian link with Team Motorex KTM – the Australian factory squad – for all five rounds of our national championship. News of the Evans entry has further intensified the Open class competition for this years Supercross Masters.

Defending champ TROY CARROLL sees his title under siege from No Fear Honda’s CRAIG ANDERSON and Kiwi DARYL HURLEY – both returning to local competition after two years in torrid US supercross action. And now the Evans signing is a major coup for both the local KTM organization and the Supercross Masters series.

With the 2005 Supercross series nearly over and the outdoor season just around the corner, it’s conceivable that some teams and riders may have shifted their focus to getting ready for the grueling summer schedule. While Team Honda/Moto XXX is certainly preparing for the rigors of the AMA Nationals, sandbagging the final rounds of Supercross has never been an option and the privateer squad’s performance in Houston, TX should serve as solid proof.

Kyle Lewis is more than just the senior member of Moto XXX. He’s become something of a privateer icon, representing everything that fans love about the working class heroes of motocross. His propensity for beating factory riders and their priceless bikes to the first turn is one of the traits that earned him such status, and he did it again in Houston, claiming the $1500.00 Butterfinger Holeshot prize. After the start, Lewis battled factory riders for the entire 20 laps of the main event. Finishing 9th, he recorded his best finish of the season and now sits 11th in World Supercross points, 18th in the AMA series. Considering the fact that he missed a few rounds due to scary crashes, both Kyle and the team have a lot to be proud of.

With just two rounds of the THQ AMA Supercross series remaining, Moto XXX is reaching mid-season form and turning in consistent results. At the most recent round, held in Seattle’s new Qwest Field, both Kyle Lewis and Justin Buckelew placed themselves in the 250cc main event and rode with confidence for 20 laps. The 2005 season has seen such stiff competition in the 250cc class, that it’s been rare to see privateer teams place multiple riders in the mains. With the outdoor season just around the corner, those kinds of performances couldn’t come at a better time.

Justin Buckelew led the way in Seattle by finishing 13th in the main, his best 250 class finish of the year. Of course, “J-Buck

BTX Motorcycles – Junior Race Team’s Taylor Potter from Warranwood in Melbourne had had a roller coaster night at the Full Throttle Sports Summer of Supercross final round at Avalon that ended for him with a 2nd place overall in the Junior 85cc class and 3rd place overall in the Junior Lites class.

“I never want to do that again!

In Saturday night’s racing in the Victorian Summer of Supercross BTX Motorcycles – Junior Race Team’s Taylor Potter took his KTM 85SX to four huge wins to totally dominate the 85cc class in the second round of the Honda Summer of Supercross at Bacchus Marsh on the western edge of Melbourne.

Racing started at 7.00 pm for the Warranwood youngster in front of a fantastic coloured sunset that made for an awesome back drop for the first races.

Michael Byrne grabbed the holeshot, and Chad Reed dropped the bike in the first turn.

Carmichael passed Byrne halfway through the first lap.

Kevin Windham dropped his bike as well, and appeared hurt, and didn't finish the race, being taken away by the Medics while the race was still going.

Jeremy McGrath had a get off on the second lap, and retired from the race as well.

Chad Reed made a huge charge from the back of the pack after his first turn getoff, working his way right up to third place by the 10th lap.

Reed continued on to take 2nd from Byrne on the 14th lap, but was unable to catch Carmichael, who had a 20 second lead, to challenge for the win.

Ivan Tedesco won the 125 race, from Billy Laninovich and Nathan Ramsey.

Australia's Brett Metcalfe, on the only two stroke in the race, finished in 5th place.
Jay Marmont finished in 10th.

Tedesco also announced that he would be racing in the 250 class in season 2006 while he was on the Podium.