Taddy Blazusiak in the box seat to take title

Taddy Blazusiak may have had to settle for third in the first round of the World Enduro Championship in Genoa in November but on Sunday night the Polish extreme Enduro maestro won three finals in Round 2 in Barcelona to surge ahead in the points and set himself up to defend his title On a night of action when KTM also presented the 2011 Enduro Factory Team and the new KTM 350 EXC-F Factory bike, it was extreme Enduro specialist Blazusiak and KTM's E3 world champion David Knight who saw most of blue ribbon action. Following Taddy's 3-way victory, David, riding the new 350 EXC-F factory bike, was the fastest qualifier and scored a 2-3-2 result for his efforts in the three finals.

Taddy in the box seat to take title
With the championship trimmed to three instead of the initial five events, leaving only one more round, Taddy is now perfectly placed to reclaim his crown from last season. After picking up a perfect score of 60 points on Sunday, he surges to the front of the overall table with 103 points, 17-points ahead of Joakim Ljunggren of Sweden.

New team member Guerrero up with top riders
On a night where many of the top riders were sidelined, KTM factory team boss Fabio Farioli said he was also satisfied with the performance of his newest recruit to the team lineup young Cristobal Guerrero who was riding in front of his home crowd. Guerrero was also onboard the new 350 bike and finished the night with a 5-7-6 result. Teammate Thomas Oldrati of Italy raced in the first two finals but had to retire from the third because he had hurt his shoulder in qualifying earlier in the day. Finland's Mika Ahola, the winner in Genoa's first round finished back at seventh and now has 73 points.

A triumph for the new 350 EXC.F factory bike
The night was also a triumph for the new Enduro machine, which follows on from the 2010 release of the revolutionary 350 SX-F on which Tony Cairoli won the MX1 World Championship in its first season out. The new 350 EXC, in the experienced hands of David Knight was one of the stars of the evening in front of a huge crowd in Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi stadium in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Hard work and dedication
The new 350 EXC-F factory bike represents hard work and dedication by KTM's R&D department with direct input from leading factory riders like Knight and others. The project was led by KTM's Joachim Sauer, who won the Enduro European Championship in 1987 on the first 350 Enduro LC4 prototype.


Presentation of the 2011 Enduro Factory Team; honoring KTM heroes
KTM used the occasion of the Barcelona event to present the official 2011 Enduro Factory Racing team, including team boss Fabio Farioli and KTM head of Motorsports Pit Beirer together with the revolutionary new machine. Also invited were 100 members of the international, KTM dealers, sponsors and partners.

Honoring the KTM Enduro heroes
The company also took advantage of the electric atmosphere of the event to pay tribute to KTM Enduro legends: Arnaldo Farioli, who has been with KTM since 1964 as the eternal KTM racer, businessman and dedicated Orange family member; Anton Marsignac, in 1982 the first ever Spanish Enduro Champion on a KTM and for more than 20 years a KTM importer who runs a successful KTM dealership; Toni Stoecklmeier, former top Enduro champion, ISDE Six Days rider and a long-term key player in the KTM Management and bridging the gap to the latest generation, KTM's Joachim Sauer. Sauer won the Enduro European Championship in 1987 on the first 350 Enduro LC4 prototype and 24 years has been in charge of the project to produce the latest revolutionary 350cc EXC-F machine.

Results of Round 2
 
1, Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM, 60 Points (1-1-1)
2, David Knight, UK, KTM 350, 48 (2-3-2)
3, Joakim Lundgren, Sweden, Husaberg, 41
4, Alfredo Gomez, Spain, Husaberg 35
5, Graham Jarvis, UK, Husaberg 28
6, Cristobal Guerrero, Spain, KTM 350, 26
7, Mika Ahola, Finland, 22
8, Dougie Lampkin, UK, Gas Gas, 18
11. Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM 13


Standings:
 
1, Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM 103 points
2, Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg, 86
3, Mika Ahola, Finland Honda, 73

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2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series once again crammed into Angels Stadium

Shrouded in pink for breast cancer awareness the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series once again crammed into Angels Stadium for Round 5 of the championship in Anaheim, California. San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart nailed his third victory of the season in dominant fashion ahead of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed. In the Lites main Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen returned to the top step of the podium after putting on an awesome performance despite breaking his hand earlier in practice. Geico Powersports Honda's Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen kept Hansen honest throughout the entire15-lap contest, with Roczen landing his first podium finish ever in AMA Supercross.

Supercross

Stewart was on fire out of the gate with the holeshot as Villopoto and Reed chased the ’09 SX champ into the first turn. The first few laps saw riders struggle to keep pace as Stewart wasted little time settling into a fierce rhythm. KTM’s Mike Alessi had his shining moment in the race occur after overtaking Reed for third, but it was short lived as Reed came right back to reclaim his position. Meanwhile Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey had difficulties during the startRV couldn't match Stewart's frantic pace in Round 5 at Anaheim and took second ahead of Chad Reed.  and was running 10th after two laps. Also earning mediocre starts were Geico Honda’s Kevin Windham, Factory Honda’s Trey Canard and Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe, with the trio running 11th through 13th, respectively.

Stewart was unstoppable as his lead increased. As the only rider making using of quad jumps on select portions of the track, Stewart made his work seem easy in comparison to the rest of the field.

“I am so proud of everyone on my team for making this happen,” said Stewart. “It’s awesome to come here and win in front of a sold-out crowd here at Angel Stadium. I am out here racing against the best guys in the world, so this is never easy.”

A separate stand-off for fourth broke out behind the leader which included Alessi, JGR Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, Kyle Chisholm, KTM’s Andrew Short and Dungey. Brayton eventually won the five-rider battle and surfaced in fourth as Canard squeezed into the top-five after making up significant ground from his poor start. In a shocking moment Dungey’s chain broke, forcing the defending Supercross champ to call it quits on Lap 9. At the halfway point the race was largely decided as the three frontrunners continued to separate themselves from each other and the rest of the field.

Stewart won the battle while RV maintained a good pace for second. In the end Villopoto was only 0.3 seconds off Stewart’s fastest lap time.

“The track was slippery tonight, but I had to ride hard and ride smart,” said Villopoto. “I’ve learned from a few mistakes I have made this year, so I am happy to finish second and move on to next weekend’s race in Houston.”

For the second race in a row Reed earned a podium finish after getting a good start and keeping up. Rounding out the top-six was Brayton, Canard and Short, with Short matching the best finish for KTM in the Supercross class.

2011 AMA Supercross Anaheim 2 Results:
1. James Stewart (Yamaha)
2. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)
3. Chad Reed (HondaChad Reed
27 points in the championship. 
4. Justin Brayton (Yamaha)
5. Trey Canard (Honda)
6. Andrew Short (KTM)
7. Ivan Tedesco (Kawasaki)
8. Kevin Windham (Honda)
9. Brett Metcalfe (Suzuki)
10. David Millsaps (Yamaha)
11. Kyle Regal (Yamaha)
12. Mike Alessi (KTM)
13. Matt Boni (Kawasaki)
14. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
15. Nick Wey (Yamaha)

2011 AMA Supercross Championship Points:
1. James Stewart, 117
2. Ryan Villopoto, 112
3. Chad Reed, 90
4. Trey Canard, 87
5. Ryan Dungey, 79
6. Brett Metcalfe, 67
7. Andrew Short, 64
8. Kevin Windham, 59
9. Justin Brayton, 57
10. Ivan Tedesco, 48

Kawasaki's Josh Hansen made it win number three at A2 after leading a tight battle ahead of Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen.Supercross Lites

Hansen led with a holeshot in the Lites field followed by Tomac and Roczen. Hansen’s teammate and winner of the Oakland Supercross, Broc Tickle, remained in fourth as Tomac went to work on Hansen for the lead. The two traded spots in the early laps before Hansen made a solid block pass to remain up front. In the process of trying to take the lead Tomac lost footing of second as Roczen swept into the runner-up spot. It was a long night for TLD Honda’s Cole Seely, who started outside the top-10 but continued to fight through the field. On Lap 7 Tomac collected himself and passed Roczen back for second as Hansen continued to increase his lead.

Further back DNA Shred Stix Yamaha’s Kyle Cunningham was in fifth ahead of Suzuki’s Martin Davalos as Seely crashed out and dropped back to 12th. On the final lap Roczen and Tickle began to hone-in on Tomac for second, and despite one last push from Tickle, Tomac managed runner-up status with Roczen and Tickle taking third and fourth, respectively. Hansen posted a spectaculor ride after sustaining an injury to his hand during practice. Despite this he not only pulled the holeshot but also led during every lap of the race under extreme pressure from his rivals. Meanwhile, Cunningham made steady progress in the contest and rode solidly to finish out the top-five while Davalos seemed to struggle over A2’s highly technical circuit, eventually finishing sixth.

Hansen’s latest victory puts him eight points ahead of Tickle and more than 20 points ahead of Tomac as the series breaks for its first East Coast race in Houston next weekend..

2011 AMA Supercross Lites Anaheim 2 Results:
1. Josh Hansen (Kawasaki)
2. Eli Tomac (Honda)
3. Ken Roczen (KTM)
4. Broc Tickle (Kawasaki)
5. Kyle Cunningham (Yamaha)KTM's Ken Roczen landed on the podium for the first time in AMA Supercross at A2.
6. Martin Davalos (Suzuki)
7. Ryan Morais (Yamaha)
8. Brice Rutherford (Kawasaki)
9. Ryan Marmont (KTM)
10. James Decotis (Honda)
11. Cole Seely (Honda)
12. Antonio Balbi (Kawasaki)
13. Jake Canada (Kawasaki)
14. Ben Evans (Kawasaki)
15. Scott Champion (Kawasaki)

2011 AMA Supercross Lites Championship Points:
1. Josh Hansen, 113
2. Broc Tickle, 105
3. Eli Tomac, 91
4. Ryan Morais, 84
5. Cole Seely, 70
6. Ken Roczen, 69
7. Kyle Cunningham, 60
8. Martin Davalos, 60
9. Tyla Rattray, 58


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Lindsey Scheltema third-year spokesmodel for the AMA Arenacross Series

Lindsey Scheltema,third-year spokesmodel for the AMA Arenacross Series serves as the face of the sport and announces the races every weekend while also serving double duty with the series’ TV coverage.

Lindsey Scheltema: “My duties as Miss Arenacross include not only attending pre-race promotional events, but also setting the majority of them up. So far this season we have put on health and safety demonstrations in schools, hospitals, and local YMCA's. Also, I’m the spokesperson for the series, dealing with on-site media as well as in-studio visits. When race day comes, I am the co-announcer during the races."As a professional rider in her own right and arguably the most well-connected person in the AMA Arenacross Series pits, we checked in with Lindsey to get her thoughts on what has taken place so far this season, what fans should keep an eye out for as the series moves forward, and what exactly the role of Miss Arenacross entails.

Lindsey, we’re one month into the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series season. What are your thoughts on what’s happened so far?

“This has been a very exciting season so far. We've seen a lot of battles happening, not just in the Arenacross class but Arenacross Lites as well. The Dash for Cash has been a positive turnout and those intense short races have been getting more risky as well.”

Did you expect Jeff Gibson to have such a great start to the year? As one of the announcers during the race and a pro rider yourself, what do you think Gibson has done so well this season?

“Gibson is one of (the series’) smartest riders. He knows how to be consistent and look at the big picture. His performance has been a picture-perfect flashback to the 2009 season when he dominated tremendously. In Denver last weekend, he had some rough starts, but still managed to end up on top and stay atop of the points.”

Are you surprised it’s taken four rounds for the Babbitt’s team to get a win? What are your early thoughts on how this championship might play out?

“I'm actually not surprised about Team Babbitt's performance so far this season. They have been on top so far with consistent podium finishes. Everyone has tough competition to race against, which is going to make for a very interesting and intense race season.”

What rider(s) has surprised you this season?

“A couple of riders have really stood out to me as far as improving and stepping their game up. Dano Aulseybrook is one of them. This is Dano's first full season in the Arenacross class and although he had a couple of bike malfunctions and rough times, he has proven, especially after Saturday in Denver, that he has what it takes to stay on top and compete with the top guys.”

“Another rider I have been impressed with is Gibson. He struggled with a lot of health issues since his 2009 championship so to see him be able to overcome everything and still look stronger and more consistent than last season is incredible.”

What is a storyline that AMA Arenacross Series fans should keep an eye on as the season moves forward?

“Well as far as a storyline, since we are so early in the season there are still a lot of points up for grabs and the championship still lays in anyone's hands. There's always that chance for an underdog to come up and start putting things together. As the season progresses, riders get stronger and more used to the tight, quick racing. I'm just excited to be along for the ride.”

Vicki Golden made her debut last weekend, helping the female demographic in the sport take a huge step forward. As a racer yourself and a fellow competitor of hers, what does her foray into the AMA Arenacross Series mean from your point of view?

Lindsey Scheltema: "As Miss Arenacross, the one thing I think I have learned and progressed the most from is my public speaking abilities. The experience and time since taking on this role has become a major strong point for me.”“Vicki stepping up was the best thing for women in racing. Women have been working through the ranks in the motocross industry (for years) and to see females start to make their way into the winter (indoors) season is so promising to the future of women's racing. To see her put on a huge charge in her first attempt on the Arenacross scene was great not only for me to see, but the fans were equally as ecstatic by her performance.”

What exactly are Miss Arenacross’ duties on a given weekend?

“My duties as Miss Arenacross include not only attending pre-race promotional events, but also setting the majority of them up. So far this season we have put on health and safety demonstrations in schools, hospitals, and local YMCA's. Also, I’m the spokesperson for the series, dealing with on-site media as well as in-studio visits. When race day comes, I am the co-announcer during the races. This year, I am also the on-site broadcaster for Speed TV as well as the pit reporter.”

This is your third year as Miss Arenacross. What have you learned over that time?

“I can't believe this is my third year! It’s crazy to me how fast time flies. As Miss Arenacross, the one thing I think I have learned and progressed the most from is my public speaking abilities. The experience and time since taking on this role has become a major strong point for me.”

Round five of the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series kicks off in just a few days from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, on Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5 starting at 7:00 p.m. ET!

New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.

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Team Husqvarna put the tragedy behind them and focused on competing in the 2011 WORCS series

Husqvarna and the entire Zip-Ty Racing Team extend their condolences to their friend Nathan, his wife Amanda and sons Nathan Junior and Braxton. God's speed, Champ.

When racing began under gloomy conditions on Sunday, Team Husqvarna teammates Cory Graffunder, Jamie Lanza and Bobby Bonds put the tragedy behind them and focused on matters at hand - competing in the 2011 WORCS series. "The bikes were brand new at the Hare And Hound in Lucerne and we had a couple of fluke problems like a stick through the radiator and a rock cracking the cases during the shakedown race," says team boss Ty Davis.

Graffunder used the extra horsepower of his 2011 TC449 to grab the PRO2 holeshot. Despite the slick, muddy course, Graffunder's Husky found plenty of traction and carried him to a podium finish. "Cory rode amazingly well today... must be the conditions were like what he is accustomed to in Canada," says Husqvarna National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman.

Jamie Lanza rode his street-legal TE310 to a top 20 finish on the tough Honolulu Hills course, just outside of Taft, California. "Pretty amazing feat considering just how gooey the mud was... his bike was literally caked in mud!" adds Eastman.

Finally back from a lingering broken collarbone suffered in a Supercross crash, the 2008 WORCS champion (and only privateer to ever win the series championship) Bobby Bonds was happy just to be back in the saddle again. "I just received clearance from my doctors to race on Thursday," says the former pro motocrosser turned off-roader. Just being able to finish the 1 hour/plus 1 lap race in such sloppy conditions was a victory in itself, a fact "Bondo" attributes to training with motocross legend Goat Breker out in Randsburg. "Goat bet me his hat that I couldn't finish," laughs Bondo. Not only did Bonds finish, he came in 7th his first time out on the TC449.

2011 TC449
See the entire Husqvarna Motorcycle lineup (http://heroesridehuskys.com/pages/11motorcycles.html)
Next WORCS Race: February 26-27, 2011 - Buffalo Bill's in Primm, NV.

Husqvarna Motorcycles. Tradition on two wheels since 1903.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a part of the BMW Group since October 2007, are widely known and respected in the off-road world for a heritage of competition and numerous motocross and enduro world championships. Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna motorcycles have been designed and manufactured in Varese, Italy since 1987.

Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC is part of BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America is located in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Husqvarna has continued to expand its professional race team to compete in AMA Enduro, GNCC, Endurocross, National Hare & Hound, the AMA Hare Scrambles Series and WORCS competition. Husqvarna team riders are competing in the premier classes of each series aboard 2011 Husqvarna TXC449, TXC511, and TE310 off-road models.

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Risk Racing with three brand new products to show their dealers

This year  at the dealer expo,Risk Racing have three brand new products to show their dealers for the 2011 selling season.  Also, just as in the past two consecutive years, Risk Racing products have been chosen as finalists in the Dealer Expo Kickstart New Product Award.   In 2009 Risk Racing won the Tools category with their Magnetic Light Mine.  In 2010 Risk Racing won two categories with their Fusion Grips and their Palm Protectors.  This year they again have two products in the running with their newly designed RR1 Ride-On Lift and their inventive FLEXiT Light.

Risk Racing invites all dealers to swing by booth #2733 from Feb 18th-20th to check out the new products, vote for their favorite product, get familiar with current products and generally chat about the sport we all love.  For a fun video invitation to the show click the image below.


For more information about the 44th edition of the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo visit http://www.dealerexpo.com/. Plans are moving forward at a rapid pace to make 2011 Dealer Expo the buying experience in the Powersports industry.

About Risk Racing
Founded in 2005, Risk Racing products are researched, designed and tested by professionals. Risk Racing(r) products provide racers with functional, innovative solutions. They are engineered for reliability and performance in demanding environments.  All Risk Racing(r) products are designed and engineered in the USA and are protected with design and utility patents.

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Shaun Simpson victory in the SX1 Pro Class

On his LS Honda debut at round two of the British Supercross Championship, held at London?s O2 Arena Shaun Simpson scored his first win of his 2011 campaign.Simpson?s victory in the SX1 Pro Class capped an eventful evening that saw him crash out of contention in the British Open Class final following a clash with SX specialist Jack Brunell. Shaun’s day started positively, and with a promising practice session under his belt he went into his first British Open Class heat race in an optimistic mood. Any hopes of an easy transition into the main event were dashed with a poor start, though. Shaun was relegated to the rear of the pack, but being the only rider brave enough to attempt a tricky triple jump he was able to make up ground. However, in a bid to avoid the last chance qualifier Shaun collided with Stephen Sword’s rear wheel. The incident left Simpson and Sword in a heap, and facing a tense last chance qualifying race in which only one rider would progress to the final.

Fortunately Shaun made it through the British Open Class LCQ unscathed to take his place in the main event. The SX1 Pro Class heat was less noteworthy, and Shaun earned his place in the final courtesy of a comfortable top five finish. Before the finals the crowd were treated to a series of one-lap head-to-head races. Shaun dispatched Brunell in his first outing and took on Alex Snow and Ashley Greedy in an anxious three-way scrap for honours. Shaun’s opportunity to demonstrate his pace was cut short by Greedy though, whose aggressive riding resulted in Shaun’s LS Honda getting punted off the track.

Simpson was ready to make amends in the British Open Class final, but yet another average start left him with a lot to do. The track was tight, making passing riders very difficult, but Shaun worked his way back up to fourth place before losing the front when attempting to pass Brunell. With just three laps to go the accident curtailed any aspirations of a double win and Shaun eventually finished a lowly eleventh.

With his focus switched to the main event, and winning the SX1 Pro Class, a determined Simpson made short work of the final. He skipped past Mike Brown, Brunell and Tom Church in the opening few laps before stretching out a gap and taking his first victory aboard his new LS Honda CRF450R.

“It was a mixed night for me but I set out to win the SX1 Pro Class and not get injured, and that is what I did,” said Shaun. “I had a few dodgy starts, but I was the only guy tripling the back section so I was able to make up a lot of time there. The Honda’s power meant I could square off the corners and use its grunt to skip over the obstacles. It felt really balanced on what was a fairly tight and technical track so I was really happy with its performance. Riding Supercross is always good fun, and to win on my debut was great, however now I am focused one hundred percent on motocross and carrying this momentum into the pre-season internationals.”

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Jeff Gibson took the early lead in the Arenacross class main event

TUF Honda rider Jeff Gibson, of Blacklick, Ohio, took the early lead with Tyler Bowers in tow as the gates dropped on the 25-lap Arenacross class main event.For nearly 20 laps, Bowers paced his rival, losing and gaining ground throughout each lap. While the duo appeared to be evenly matched, Bowers did excel in the whoops and took advantage of it, getting a wheel inside Gibson and eventually making the winning pass. Once out front, Bowers pulled away for his second win of the year. Gibson secured second while the Ohio-based Foremost Insurance/Spinechillers/HondaofFairfield.com team received a much-needed boost to its 2011 effort in front of its hometown crowd with a strong podium effort from Zach Ames, of Prospect, Ohio.

The Arenacross Lites class main event was more of the same from Gulley. The Missouri native is effectively dominating his East Region competitors and in the process has established himself as the clear rider to beat to claim the championship. On Friday night, he fended off Hot Rods MX Racing’s Austin Coon, of Spencer, W. Va., who finished second, and Gateway Cycles Kawasaki’s Steven Mages, of Sardinia, Ohio, in third.

The Toledo Arenacross continues tomorrow night from the Huntington Center, kicking off the festivities at 7:00 p.m. ET.

2011 Arenacross Toledo Results:
1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
2. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
3. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda
4. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Yamaha
5. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki
6. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
7. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha
8. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Honda
9. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki
10. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., Suzuki

2011 AMA Arenacross Lites Toledo Results:
1. Adam Gulley, Jonesburg, Mo., Kawasaki
2. Austin Coon, Spencer, W.Va., Honda
3. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
4. Patrick Massie, Washington Court, Ohio, Honda
5. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Kawasaki
6. Tyler Sehr, Belleville, Ill., Honda
7. Kyle Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki
8. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., Honda
9. Austin Primavera, Larue, Ohio, Suzuki
10. Kenneth Henry, Ashtabula, Ohio, KTM

2011 Arenacross Championship Points:
1. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda – 135
2. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 130
3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 122
4. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki – 97
5. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda – 96
6. Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Ho nda – 84
7. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 78
8. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Yamaha – 72
9. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki – 66
10. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha – 65

2011 Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Points:
1. Adam Gulley, Jonesburg, Mo., Kawasaki – 75
2. Patrick Massie, Washington Court, Ohio, Honda – 58
3. Austin Coon, Spencer, W.V., Honda – 43
4. Steve Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki – 42
5. Tyler Sehr, Belleville, Ill., Honda – 40
6. Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 38
7. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Kawasaki – 29
8. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., Honda – 24
9. Kyle Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki – 22
10. Zachary Jaynes, Princeton, Texas, Yamaha – 20

New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.

Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!AMA Arenacross Racing News Vets and Youth Converge in AMA ArenacrossMiss Arenacross Lindsey Scheltema InterviewArenacross Month at Motorcycle Hall of FameChad Johnson Nabs Arenacross Win in Denver2011 Arenacross Denver Results Arenacross Racing News AMA Arenacross Championship PointsArenacross Jeff Gibson, 135 Tyler Bowers, 130 Chad Johnson, 122  Gray Davenport, 97 Zach Ames, 96  Cole Siebler, 84 Nathan Skaggs, 78 Kevin Johnson, 72 Cory Green, 66  Kelly Smith, 65  Arenacross Lites East Adam Gulley, 75  Patrick Massie, 58 Austin Coon, 43 Steve Mages, 42 Tyler Sehr, 40  Related Articles Chad Johnson Nabs Arenacross Win in Denver 2011 Arenacross Denver Results 2011 Arenacross Dayton Results 2011 Arenacross Kansas City Results

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Nathan Woods tragic passing

At the age of 32,Nathan Woods passed away on Friday, January 28, 2011,from injuries sustained during the open practice session for the first round of the WORCS series in Taft, CA. Nathan is survived by his wife Amanda and their two sons, Nathan Jr. and Braxton.

Woods, with more WORC's wins to his name than any other rider in series history as well as two WORCS Championships to his credit, had joined the Carbon Raptor Stillwell Performance Racing for the 2011 season. Since joining the team, Woods had bonded well with his young teammate, Kevin Rookstool, and was very excited and motivated to begin the season with the new team and to help mentor Rookstool throughout the year.

"The entire team is extremely saddened by Nathan's tragic passing. We were all so excited about this season and the opportunity to work with a great man and champion like Nathan and were confident he would have been a front runner in both the WORCS and EnduroCross series. We will race this season with heavy hearts, but knowing that Nathan will be with us, as demonstrated by Kevin's amazing 6th overall finish yesterday despite the circumstances," said Team Owner Alan Stillwell.

"Everyone at the RiderDown Foundation is deeply saddened by the loss of Nathan Woods this past weekend," said Bruce Vermeulen, President of RiderDown. "He was a great ambassador for our sport and will be missed greatly. We are accepting donations to help the family during this very difficult time and will be sending an initial check from previous fundraising efforts immediately in memory of Nathan. 100% of all donations mentioning the Nathan Woods Memorial Fund will be given directly to the family." Payments can be made through your PayPal account or with any major credit card with all proceeds going to support Nathan's family. When submitting your donation please enter into the notes field that it is for the Nathan Woods Memorial Fund. Please visit www.RiderDown.org and their Donate Page at http://www.riderdown.org/forum/awcl_dsl.php?do=donation to help.

Nathan's local Templeton, CA Rabobank location has also started a Nathan Woods Memorial Fund and will be accepting donations by check or credit card at any of their locations nationwide with all proceeds going to the Woods family.

Powersport Grafx will be donating #54 Never Forgotten helmet stickers that will be available shortly.
Please stay tuned to www.stillwellperformance.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stillwellperformance for more updates and information on how to assist the Woods family.

RiderDown Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping responsible off road motorcyclists and ATV racers who have been injured while riding. Proceeds are used to provide assistance to the riders and their families when faced with medical expenses and related issues. Our Tax-ID for your year-end deduction is: 47-0955896

Carbon Raptor Stillwell Performance Racing is supported by:
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Iain Hayden made it in the top-10

Competing against the world’s best snow-mobile racers at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado this weekend Team Rockstar Energy Polaris Racing’s Iain Hayden made the illustrious top-10 club.

“When you come to the Winter X Games, you know you’re in for some of the toughest racing anywhere. I was striving for a podium finish but that didn’t seem to be in the works for me today,” Hayden said. “Finishing top-10 on my Rockstar Energy Polaris Racing IQ was still a satisfying accomplishment, however, and I’d like to thank everyone involved with the team for making it possible.”

Hayden and his teammate Lee Butler both pre-qualified for the Games at an ISOC National in Duluth, MN back in late November 2010. They garnered 2-3 results, respectively, making them part of an elite group of 22 riders that made it to Aspen for the Snowmobile SnoCross showdown on Sunday, January 30th.

In the first of two qualifying heats, staged to trim the drivers down from 22 to 15 for the final, Hayden took his Polaris IQ to a solid fourth place finish, basically running his own race. This result at once secured him a front row starting position for the final.

Butler, who gated for the second qualifier, was unable to find his groove and found himself relegated to the LCQ. Unfortunately, he faired no better in the LCQ and did not qualify for the final.

“Sitting out the final wasn’t quite what I came to Aspen for. Today was just one of those days that no matter what I did, it just didn’t turn out right,” Butler said.

In the final, Hayden was unable to make it out of the gate to run with the top-five going   into turn one. He battled hard for position on the technically demanding and hard to pass on track, to eventually settle for eighth place at the finish line. The 2011 WXG SnoCross course was, at eight-tenths of a mile, twice as long as last year’s and the longest since 2007, when it was three-quarters of a mile.

It was Hayden’s fifth consecutive appearance at the ESPN made-for-TV Winter X Games, which are televised worldwide, making it one of the most popular winter sports events of the year.

Also on hand in the Rockstar Energy Polaris Racing paddock this weekend was special guest rider Dave Turner. The below-the-knee, left leg amputee, finished fifth for the team in the Snowmobile Adaptive SnoCross final. It was a memorable moment for Turner, who improved six positions on his WXG debut performance in 2010, when he finished 11th.

“We worked hard to get the Rockstar Energy Polaris sleds up to par for the high altitude racing in Colorado. We did a lot of testing during the week and we are happy with Iain’s eighth place and Dave’s fifth,” said team owner Andre Laurin, “It is unfortunate that Lee wasn’t able to qualify, but it was definitely not for lack of trying. When you arrive in Aspen, you know that seven drivers are not going to make it to the main and Lee happened to be one of them this time out.”

Team Rockstar Energy Polaris Racing would like to congratulate Iain Hayden and Dave Turner on their excellent performances this weekend at Winter X Games 15. We’d like to thank Lee Butler for his super efforts to qualify as well as the entire team staff for their hard work behind the scenes. A special shout goes to all our sponsors for their support, especially HMK for making us look oh so good both on and off the track, with their fabulous line of snowmobile clothing.

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Ryan Morais powered his Yoshimura-equipped Suzuki RM-Z250 to a sixth-place finish

Ryan Morais powered his Yoshimura-equipped Suzuki RM-Z250 to a sixth-place finish and teammate Martin Davalos finished the 15-lap lites main event in 16th in the 2011 AMA/FIM Supercross Lites West Championship season Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

Morais started his day qualifying 14th. His Suzuki RM-Z250 powered him to a second-place finish after a strong ride in an exciting heat race. In the main, the Rockstar Energy Suzuki rider was sixth at the start and was able to work his Suzuki up to fifth before falling back and eventually finishing sixth. Morais' overall consistent results have moved him up to third place in the Lites West point standings.

"I think my day went alright," said Morais. "My heat race went really good. It was a good battle and I ended up second. My Rockstar Energy Suzuki team did a great job getting my bike ready for the main. I didn't get a great jump in the main, but was able to work up to fifth. Then I had a few mistakes and tightened up and ended up finishing sixth. The track conditions were tough and I'm happy I was able to keep my Suzuki RM-Z on two wheels. I'm third in points, but I have to start winning some of these if I want to win this championship, so that's what I'm going to focus on. I'm going to put some time on my Suzuki this week and get ready for Anaheim."

Martin Davalos started with a fourth-place qualifying effort on his RM-Z250. A tough heat race yielded the Rockstar Energy Suzuki lites rider an eight-place finish, which resulted in a poor gate pick for the main. Unfortunately, in the main, after a decent start, he fell in the sand section and restarted in last place. Davalos ended up with a 16th-place finish.

"It was a disappointing weekend," said Davalos. "In the first practice I hurt my groin a little bit, but I pulled through and my Suzuki RM-Z powered me to a fourth-place qualifying time. The heat race was tough and I went down in the sand and just barely qualified. I went down in the sand again in the main and eventually got going in dead last. My Rockstar Energy Suzuki team did a great job, but I had a disappointing weekend. I know I have the speed and the fitness; I just need to work on my head and my concentration. I hope to be better for Anaheim."


The 2011 Rockstar Energy Suzuki team's next event is Saturday, February 5th, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. You can meet the Rockstar Energy Suzuki team riders at Chaparral Motorsports, 555 South H Street, in San Bernardino, CA from 6 - 8 PM on Wednesday, February 2nd.

Oakland Supercross Lites Class Results:
1.  Broc Tickle
2.  Joshua Hansen
3.  Eli Tomac
4.  Ken Roczen
5.  Tyla Rattray
6.  Ryan Morais
7.  Kyle Cunningham
8.  James Decotis
9.  Bruce Rutherford
10. Ryan Marmont
16. Martin Davalos
2011 Supercross Lites Class Standings:
1.  Joshua Hansen - 88
2.  Broc Tickle - 87
3.  Ryan Morais - 70
4.  Eli Tomac - 69
5.  Cole Seely - 60
6.  Tyla Rattray - 58
7.  Ken Roczen - 49
8.  Martin Davalos - 45
9.  Kyle Cunningham - 44
10. James Decotis - 40

About Rockstar: ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful Energy Drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng, and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in sixteen amazing flavors. Also, check out ROCKSTAR Energy Gum and ROCKSTAR Energy Shots. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink supports the active Rockstar lifestyle in every sport. Go to www.rockstar69.com for athlete and event updates, videos, profiles, and product information.

About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans.

About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is "The Leader in Performance" and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit, and quality that have been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit http://www.yoshimura-rd.com.

Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki is grateful for the support of their sponsors: Rockstar Energy Drink, Suzuki, Yoshimura R&D, Dunlop, Maxima, Renthal, ONE Industries, Works Connection, Hinson Clutch Components, Renegade Fuels, Skullcandy, Motosport.com, Mechanix Wear, Dragon Goggles, 661 Boots, DC Shoes, Losi, RK Chain, Excel and Lightspeed.

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1100EVO open the next chapter in the US Ducati Monster story

As the flagship of Ducati’s best-selling Monster range, today’s unveiling of the 1100EVO represents a milestone in Monster history. The 1100EVO  has opened the next chapter in the US Ducati Monster story- a legend that began with the debut of the original Monster 900 at the 1993 Chicago Motorcycle Show.

The unveiling was met by a great applause from media and fans alike; no doubt due to the impressive features of the best Monster ever. The 1100EVO is the first Ducati to reach 100 air-cooled horsepower, which is backed up by a significant 76lb/ft of torque thanks to the Desmodue Evoluzione engine. Wrapped into a svelte 373lb package, the 1100EVO also boasts the best power-to-weight ratio in Monster history. In the interest of rider comfort, the 1100EVO features a new seat design and higher handlebars- the combination of which gives the rider an excuse to stay on their bike longer and ride farther.

Perhaps the most significant feature of the new Monster 1100EVO is the addition of the new Ducati Safety Pack- a simple to use combination of rider aids incorporated into the motorcycle with the interest of rider safety. The Ducati Safety Pack’s four way adjustable Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Bosch-Brembo ABS braking system work together to keep riders safe and confident on the best Monster yet. This system represents a significant upgrade on a bike that retains the same MSRP as its predecessor- $11,995.


The 2012 Monster 1100EVO will be on display alongside the new Diavel- which has already proven to be the other hit of the show- and the rest of the Ducati lineup throughout the weekend at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center in New York; where Ducati fans are welcome to come by for an espresso at the Ducati Caffe and to admire the Italian icon’s latest creations.

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Steve Ramon rode for three hours across the French sand at Le Touquet to stand victorious

The 31 year old Belgian Steve Ramon  - a FIM Steve Ramon Motocross World Champion in two categories and seven times Belgian MX national champion - rode for three hours across the French sand at Le Touquet to stand victorious and add the honour to his impressive CV.

Using a modified 2010 RM-Z450 Grand Prix machine - including a larger fuel tank, speedometer, different gear box and ratios and configuration to comply with the Enduropale rules - Ramon swiftly hit the front in the race with eleven 15km laps, hundreds of entrants; and with a crowd of more than 200,000 lining the coast. A winner of numerous beach events and an extremely capable racer in the sand, Ramon faced some pressure on the final circulation from Frenchman Jean-Claude Mousse, but was still able to take the chequered flag in the high-profile competition that was inaugurated in 1975.

"I had a lot of fun and to win at Le Touquet has always been one of my goals," said Ramon. "When you see all the people watching, you get to see just how big this event is; I have won a lot of beach races and I guess I came here as the favourite but it was still a hard ride.

"I started around fourth or fifth and took the lead before the end of the first lap," he continued. "We managed our pit-stops well and the last stages were tough physically as well as trying to find a way past all the backmarkers. Mousse made a mistake on the final lap and I was able to take advantage. Overall it is an amazing result, not just for me but also for Suzuki."

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 will now commence a busy schedule of testing and racing building up to the first round of 15 in the 2011 FIM Motocross World Championship that begins in Bulgaria on April 11th. Ramon and team-mate Clement Desalle are next due to appear at the Valence International event near Lyon in two weeks time.

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