The latest KTM 450 Rally machine

2011 it heralds a new era for the Austrian manufacturer with four factory-supported riders competing on the latest KTM 450 Rally machine when this 16-day test of man and machine begins in Buenos Aires on January 1. 

KTM is also attempting to capture the highly prized title for the tenth consecutive time. The bikes and riders representing the brand from Austria have won the race each time it was held since they first lifted the trophy in 2001. The 2008 rally was cancelled on the eve of the race after terrorist threats from North Africa, after which organizers decided to move the annual event to South America.

When riders depart from the Argentinean capital on New Year's Day they start 16 days of pure adventure that calls upon all their racing and tactical skills and demands 100 percent physical and mental fitness. Designed to t est both riders and machinery to the limits of endurance, the race makes a large loop through Argentina and Chile taking in a huge variety of terrain, including crossing the Andes and days in the Atacama Desert, recognized as the driest place on the planet.

Spearheading the KTM attack in 2011
 
Spearheading the KTM attack are two riders that are recognized as the world's finest exponents of the sport - French-born Cyril Despres and Spaniard Marc Coma, who have won three and two Dakar trophies respectively for KTM. In 2011 they lead two separate teams and their co-riders are Ruben Faria of Portugal and Juan Pedrero Garcia of Spain. All four riders will be onboard the brand new KTM 450 Rally bike, which has been designed by KTM's R&D Department in close cooperation with the KTM Racing Department with valuable input from the two key factory riders. The KTM 450 Rally has been specifically developed for the Dakar in response to a rule change by the organizers in 2009, which limited the engine size down to 450 cc. The new bike, unveiled to the general public at Milan's EICMA Motorcycle Show in November, first saw action in the Rally of Morocco in October 2010 when Cyril Despres won the title.

What the riders must achieve
 
Riders can cover 800-900 km (500-560 miles) per day, although some stages are shorter. The majority of the competitors are amateurs, many competing to fulfill a lifelong dream. KTM is not only at the Dakar to support its own factory riders but also to give practical support to a large contingent of privateers. The company makes hire bikes available and customer packages that include comprehensive servicing and spare parts plus valuable expert input that ensures that the experience of what might be a once in a lifetime expe rience for some riders can be a lasting memory and the adventure of a lifetime. For this and other major rallies, KTM is present with a full range of services and the KTM Service Truck

What the KTM riders can expect
 
Some of the route through Argentina and Chile for this the third edition of the South American Dakar (and the 33rd annual) will be familiar to the KTM riders and some not. They already know the white dunes of Fiambala and Chile's Atacama Desert. They know what its like to experience the thrilling Andean descent to Iquique but this year they get to know five new provinces in Argentina. They will go very close to Bolivia and reach the northern-most tip of Chile on the border of Peru. Organizers have also reduced GPS functions for guidance to the so-called "way point markers" making navigation skills and reading and mastering the road book of vital importance. This year organizers have designed the route so that the more difficult stages are in the second half of the rally so the level of suspense will increase along with the progress of the race. They have promised that competitors and teams are in for an extreme endurance challenge and as both Coma and Despres know from personal and often bitter experience, the rally is never over until it's over. Anything can happen and frequently does.

The KTM Factory Riders for 2011:
 
Cyril Despres of Andorra first competed in the Dakar in 2000 and finished 16th overall and second in his category. In 2001 he finished 12th and won his first stage victory. In 2003, he won three specials and finished second. He also won the Rally World Championship. In 2005, he scored his first outright victory in the Dakar on a factory KTM. "That day will remain engraved in my memory forever," he said. "Wi nning the toughest race in the world and going up onto the podium surrounded by the Senegal crowd - Wow, what a great feeling," he recalls. Another Dakar trophy followed in 2007 and the third victory came in 2010. This year Cyril reduced his race program to concentrate on contributing to the development of the new KTM 450 rally bike. After winning the Rally of Morocco in what was the KTM 450 Rally bike's first outing, Cyril described it as "a dream competition debut".

Marc Coma, a native of Barcelona Spain was introduced to the sport at an early age through his father, who contested Spanish MX championship and his uncle, a dedicated fan. He went on to race motocross at regional, provincial and national level before moving to Enduro. He won the Junior Spanish Championship in 1995 on a KTM 250 cc and raced international-level Enduro before committing to professional rally competition. Coma first contested the Dakar Rally in 2 002 when he rode a CSV motorcycle but had to retire with mechanical problems while in the top 20 of the field. He joined KTM as part of the Repsol team for the Dakar in 2003. He finished in third in four stages and established himself as a serious contender. The Spaniard then won the Dakar Rally in 2006 in Africa and in 2009 repeated the success in South America. In 2010 Coma won the Rally World Championship for the fourth time following on from his titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The new team members
 
Cyril Despres has chosen Portugal's Ruben Faria as his team co-rider for Team Red Bull KTM. Born in 1974, Ruben first raced in 1982 in the Portuguese Championship after which he won a number of national MX and Enduro titles as well as, among others, being twice Portuguese Baja champion. He has won three stages in the Dakar, which he says is his favorite race. He wants to fin ish in the top five in 2011.
Marc Coma has Spaniard Juan Pedrero García with him in Team MRW Red Bull. He first raced at age 14. He spent much of his early racing career in Enduro and first competed on a KTM motorcycle in 2008. In 2010 he finished 10th in the Dakar. Pedrero has also placed second in the Baja Aragón

The stages for the 2011 Dakar
 
Day One Buenos Aires - Victoria - 377 km untimed, on the road to the first night in the bivouac
Stage 1 Victoria - Cordoba - 566 km road; 192 special for the technically proficient, narrow tracks, finishing in the mountains
Stage 2 Cordoba - San Miguel de Tucuman - 440 km road; 300 km special- Heading north and into the forest, plenty of jumps on the old track.
Stage 3 San Miguel de Tucuman - San Salvador de Jujuy - 231 km road; 521 km special: Desert canyons into earth tracks then thick forests
Stage 4 San Salvador de Jujuy - Calama - 554 km road; special 207; across the Andes via the Paso de Jama pass (at 4800 m) and into Chile and the Atacama Desert
Stage 5 Calama - Iquique - 36 km road; 423 km special: mixed terrain, rocky track and the dunes down to Iquique at an average gradient of 32%
Stage 6 Iquique - Arica - 265 km road, 456 km special: North to the Peruvian border over plenty of dunes and the dreaded fesh-fesh (known in Chile as Guadal"
REST DAY

Stage 7 Arica -Antofagasta - 208 km road, 631 km in two stages of special down to the Pacific Ocean. Endurance style riding of 40 km and dunes that will test the riders' skill and fitness over the longest stage
Stage 8 Antofagasta - Copiapo - 268 km road, 508 special: Tricky navigation in the Chilean desert finishing with a long sandy section at the end of the day
Stage 9 Copiapo - Copiapo - 35 km link, 235 km special: a loop through the desert that can trick even the most experienced that kicks off with a group start in rows of 10 and later rows of 20.
Stage 10 Copiapo - Chilecito - 686 km road, special 176 km: back Across the Andes and into the hot white dunes of Fiambala.
Stage 11 - Chilecito - San Juan - 164 km road, special 722 km; fabulous canyons in the foothills of the Andes against a sandy backdrop.
Stage 12 - San Juan -Cordoba - 123 km link, special 555 km. A final battle for the title on the long penultimate day starting with 100km of sand track
Stage 13 - Cordoba - Buenos Aires - 645 km link, 181 km special. Riders still need all of their concentration to settle the result with the short special finishing at the Baradero racing track.
Dakar 2011 - the numbers
Number of Dakar Rallies so far: 33
Number of Dakar Rallies in South America 2 - 2008 and 2009 - 2010 is the third
Dates for start and finish of the 2011 Dakar Rally: January 1-16
Total route: 9000km of roads, tracks and dunes, including nearly 5000 km of competitive mileage.
Distance that riders can travel in a single day: 800-900 km
Highest point of altitude: 4800 m
Average rainfall in the Atacama Desert: 0 mm
Longest stage: Stage 7 Arica -Antofagasta
Number of KTM bikes starting in 2011: 63 - more than any other brand
Engine capacity of KTM Rally machine 450 cc
Number of KTM Dakar victories: 9
Number of Dakar victories for KTM's Cyril Despres: 3
Number of Dakar victories for KTM's Marc Coma: 2
First Paris Dakar: 1979

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Chad Reed's training regimen

Chad Reed's training regimen always been a staple in the desire to win has,but unlocking the potential to maximize his speed and talent has been a course of trial and error. That is until now. Heading into the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season, Reed's time away from the sport may be the key to success based on history.

The two-time AMA Supercross class champion reflected on his most successful seasons, 2004 and 2008, noting that time away from the rigors of professional supercross racing and training have actually helped him.

"Before the 2004 season, I dislocated my shoulder and was away from training and riding for almost seven weeks" said Reed. "That year I won 10 races and was on the podium six times. Following the 2007 season, I had the entire summer off and won the 2008 championship."

Reed, who is third on the all-time AMA Supercross class wins list with 38, further analyzed his career path, noting that he made huge mistakes in trying to defend his championship, which he has yet to do.

"In the off-season, I have always worked hard to defend my titles, and I think that has hurt me" he added. "As I was trying to get better, I was actually hurting my progress."

Last season, Reed was forced to withdraw from the championship due to an injury to his left hand that happened in a crash with rival James Stewart. This allowed Reed to step away from the sport and live a normal life for a few months, which included becoming a father to his son, Tate. One could make the case that the AMA Supercross class veteran has been overworked and arguably so; he's first on the all-time consecutive start list with 116.

"I know that you have to be in it to win it" said Reed about his consistency.

As Reed's contract with the Monster Energy Kawasaki came to an end this fall, he was left without a job and the search wasn't easy. After exploring the market, he decided to take a chance and form his own team, riding Honda motorcycles with support from Pro Circuit. During the time that he was unemployed, the Australian native wondered if this was a sign to call it quits.

"I've been around and seen a lot and thought that forming my own team would be something that was fun, new and exciting," said Reed. "I've always tried to stay focused and do what I believe in, but there was something missing. It was like 80% was there and I was missing something and that was happiness. Right now I feel like I am at 100%."

Reed began racing in the U.S. in 2002, winning the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship as a rookie and moving into the premier class the following season. As he enters his 10th season, he welcomes the challenges the 2011 season presents.

"Everyone keeps talking about how competitive this season is going to be that I feel like it's going to be the young guys versus the old guys like James (Stewart) and I," said Reed.

While the rivalry between James Stewart and Reed was put on the shelf in 2010, it will be a major part of the 2011 storyline.

"James and I have a lot of respect for each other and what gets in the way is we both want to win and neither of us let anything get in the way of that," said Reed. "My job is to show up prepared and do what I do best."

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Alpinestars SuperMoto Tech 7 Boot

Designed for the unforgiving world of motocross; the Alpinestars SuperMoto Tech 7 features an advanced closure system and outsole derived from Tech 10 technology. A new boot offering a great specification, performance combination and true value for money.

Alpinestars SuperMoto Tech 7 Boot Features:

Alpinestars unique, specifically developed, replaceable, three-piece Supermoto outer sole. Fixed, one-piece, main area for rigidity and structural strength. Replaceable heel and front outer foot sections for sliding and wear resistance fit absolutely flush with the fixed sole to create a smooth, uninterrupted surface

The replaceable heel and toe sections are formed with a specially developed rubber compound and are affixed to the boot with mechanical grip tabs and steel screws with a washer and raised screw head protection to ensure the screws and assembly are not damaged by wear and impacts

Full-grain leather with impact and abrasion resistant PU shell for unmatched levels of safety
  
Closure system features 4 aluminum buckles with memory settings and a quick release/locking system with self-aligning design for easy, precise closure

TPU protects toes, foot, ankle and lower leg from serious impacts Contoured calf protector plate is injected with PU for high impact protection
Toe box area utilizes a unique dual injection process which offers greater flexibility and comfort
TPU rubber gaiter at the top of the boot effectively seals out elements
Dual compound toe-box for improved flexibility and increased impact protection
Inner side of the boot specifically designed with dual compound PU for improved grip
Achilles flex zones for superior comfort, control and support
A vented version is also available for summer riding/racing

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Youth Motocross Gear apparel at unbeatable prices

Is essential to ensuring safety for your child Having the correct Youth Motocross Gear, and this is particularly important for young riders.At ProBikeHelmets.com, you’ll find an array of premium Youth Motocross Gear and apparel at unbeatable prices.We have all of the essential Youth motocross gear,including motocross helmets, boots, gloves and Dirt Bike Apparel.

Motocross Helmets

A motocross helmet is an essential piece of Youth Motocross Gear, and all of our models have been evaluated to ensure that they provide optimal protection.At ProBikeHelmets.com, we only carry high-quality motocross helmets so that you can be confident when you and your children are on the bike.

Motocross Gloves

Our Youth Motocross Gear gloves feature breathable material while still providing reliable protection from heat exposure. Even with their protective padding, these motocross gloves give the rider a wide range of motion and are perfect for long rides.

Motocross Boots

As your feet are perilously close to the ground when on your dirt bike, motocross boots are one of the most crucial elements in a set of Youth Motocross Gear.Our youth off road riding boots not only come with a steel toecap but also feature a protective shin plate and padding for the lower leg.

Other Protective Youth Motocross Gear

In addition to our motocross boots, gloves and helmets, at ProBikeHelmets.com we also have an assortment of Youth Motocross Gear apparel and other protective Youth Motocross Gear.Our chest and rib protectors provide an extra layer of torso protection. Also be sure to check out our Youth Motocross Gear jerseys that can be used on casual rides or in competition.

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Youth Motocross Gear

Functional and protective from the elements is the primary purpose of Youth Motocross Gear clothing.Clothes also have important social and cultural functions. A uniform, for example, may identify a team or group. Most sports and physical activities are practiced wearing special clothing, for practical, comfort or safety reasons.Common Youth Motocross Gear sportswear garments include special jackets, shirts, suits pants, salopettes.


Motorbike Leather Suits

Leather suits are usually one piece or two pieces suits with combination of jacket and trousers worn by motorcyclists mainly for protection in a crash. The protective leather used in making leather suits is stronger, moderately flexible and much tougher. The leather suit is officially tested for ergonomics and impact abrasion, cut, tear and burst resistance. They do not have to be too heavy.

Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting, sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassels. The latter style, the jackets in particular, are also worn by people who are fond of the style but do not ride motorcycles. The modern leather suits have armors on the inside at major impact regions such as shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and back. They are designed to spread the impact load and shear strains to prevent and reduce harm levels of injury and disablement.

Befit Sports’ Super moto and Motorbike Leather Suits for men and women are made from 1.3 mm superior leather with perforated Panels for cooling. Removable Mesh Lining placed for optimal fit and comfort, CE certified protectors on the Elbow, Knee and Shoulder areas, replaceable PU Knee Sliders and foam padding on the arms, back and on hump.

Motorcycle Leather Jackets

A jacket is a type of sleeved hip or waist-length garment for the upper body. Some jackets are fashionable while others serve as protective clothing. Motorbike riders use a special designed jacket with padding on the shoulders and elbows, chest and back for maximum protection of the body. Motorbike jackets designed for protective use are safety equipment and thus are heavier, thicker and often equipped with armor, becoming a very practical item of clothing.

Have a glimpse on Befit Sports Leather Jackets, Motorbike Leather Jackets, Biker Jackets, Men’s Racing Jackets, Men's Leather Jackets and Supermoto Jackets, each with an elegant appearance. Befit Sports Leather Jackets are designed and crafted with fastidious care for maximum safety of a rider. Motorbike Leather Jackets are made from the high grade leather of thickness 1.2mm. You can even get a custom-made leather motorcycle jacket from Befit Sports made from premium soft touch cowhide and has a removable quilted liner.

Motorcycle Leather Pants

Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately. Motorbike leather pants are cut for comfort and fit, constructed of heavy-duty milled cowhide, the rider will be protected from abrasion but still be able to move freely without feeling restricted by the material.

Always insist seller for Befit Sports premium quality Leather Pants, Motorbike Leather Pants, Men’s Leather Pants, Biker’s Leather Pants, Motorcycle Leather Pants, Off Road Pants and Race Trousers made from cowhide 1.2mm genuine Leather with 100% Polyester Lining where Protection and comfort both matter. Every Biker must own a pair of these ultimate prime quality Leather Trousers that is well-off with its stretching fold Panels on Knees, waist and back with CE Protectors on Knees.

Motorcycle and Youth Motocross Gear Textile Jackets

Increasingly, motorcyclists are choosing protective equipment constructed of man-made textiles due to their improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water and the increased utility these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density 600-1000 Denier Cordura or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Gore-Tex. These artificial fabrics are said by some motorcyclists to be more comfortable.

Being Manufacturers and Exporters, Befit Sports has presented vast range of Waterproof Textile Clothing like Motorcycle Textile Jackets, Textile Long Jackets, Motorcycle Jackets, Men’s Textile Jackets and Women's Jackets with removable CE armor in the shoulders and elbows keeps impact areas safe, specially shaped with modern technical features by our designers. Prevention is more important than defense, therefore Befit Sports has included reflective piping all over the jackets. Motorcycle Bikers and Riders feel immense pleasure and easiness by using Befit Sports Textile Apparel on long journeys.

Youth Motocross Gear and Motorcycle Pants

Pants safety comes down to three factors:

*What they are made of?
*What type of incorporated safeguards they have?
*How well they accommodate added protection?
Synthetic fabrics generally provide better protection from inclement weather. Key elements of performance include strength; the protective clothing especially the trousers must maintain its integrity in the event of a crash, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance; whilst sliding the friction with the road can result in enough heat to melt many synthetic materials, ability to stretch and breathe for comfort. Pants are offered in various fabrics but Befit Sports textile pants particularly for bikers pants are made from Cordura 600D with combination of 1600D and synthetic leather Amara on knea area. Additional protection, by way of knee or hip protectors, is accessible in a variety of pants. If you are looking for protection, Befit Sports products are the best. Safety is obviously one of the most important factors in selecting MX pants.

As OEM, Manufacturers and Suppliers, Befit Sports has been struggling in pioneering new models of Textile Garments, Textile Trousers, MX Pants, Supercross Pants, Dirtbike Pants, Streetbike Pants, Enduro Trousers and Race Pants. Befit Sports highly recommends its Motocross Gear and MX clothing to the fervent Biker and Riders for their Safety and Protection. Befit Sports offers tailor made custom models too.

MX Shirts OR Sublimated Shirts:

These days the sublimated print shirts are most popular in bikers community. The fabric used in these type of jerseys is water repellent Polyester Textile having 140~200gsm. Befit Sports pays special attention in producing the shirts with boosted moisture absorbency and resistance, unfading sublimated graphics, set-in sleeves, and a great non-restrictive collar made from the same material as the rest of the jersey. Sublimation Jerseys, Sublimated Shirts, MX shirts Dirtbike Jerseys and T Shirts with having an attractive look are the distinctive collection of Befit Sports.

Rain Wear

Rain Gear keeps Rider safe from dirty weather. A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant coat worn to protect the body from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats that are waist length. A rain jacket may be combined with a pair of rain pants to make a rain suit. Modern raincoats are often constructed of breathable, waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex and coated nylons. These fabrics allow some air to pass through, allowing the garment to 'breathe' so that sweat vapour can escape. If light weight, durability and foul weather protection is what you are after, this is the Befit Sports Rain wear you seek. Revolutionary vent air fabric stretches and moves with your body better offering total protection from wind and rain. Reflective piping and details enhance visibility.

Whatever the conditions are Befit Sports Rain Suits, Rain Cumby, Rain Coat, Rain Jackets and Rain Pants provide ample safety to users from being wet. Befit Sports Rain Clothing is available in fashionable and modern designs.

Gloves

A glove is a type of garment which covers all or parts of the hand and fingers, usually extending over the wrist or part of the arm but allowing independent movement of the fingers. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb. Gloves are made from leather, from fabric, from rubber or from plastic too. Gloves protect and comfort hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasion and provide safety for what a bare hand should not touch.


Motorbike Gloves

Motorbike gloves are typically gloves made of leather. Additional protection may involve titanium or carbon panels for knuckles and the joints of the fingers. Optional features include weatherproofing. Leather gloves, Motorbike Gloves, Motorcycle Gloves, Racing Gloves, motorbike leather gloves, leather racing gloves, and bikers Gloves offered by Befit Sports meet Riders needs. Befit Sports Gloves are made from fine classy cow hide leather with Knuckle Protection.

Youth Motocross Gear Gloves

Motocross gloves are made from leather, synthetic leather and textile. These gloves typically have reinforced palms intended to protect the rider from abrasion injuries in case of slap. The variety of MX gloves or Motocross Gloves, Dirtbike Gloves are the specialty of Befit Sports characterized by handsome look, lightweight, adjustable elasticized Velcro band and double stitches on high stress area of the glove.


Armour Jacket and Armour Trousers

Armour Jacket and Armour Trousers are protective gear intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in case of collision. Armour has been used throughout recorded history, primarily for military purposes but now it has been used also in different fields of sports for the protection of the body of the wearer especially the ribs, stomach, back, shoulder, arms, hip and knee.

Shoulder Pads

Shoulder pads are a piece of protective equipment used to protect the shoulder from any injury. Most modern shoulder pads consist of a shock absorbing foam material with a hard plastic outer shell.

Elbow Pads and Knee Pads

Elbow pads and Knee pads are protective gear worn on Elbow and Knee to protect them against impact injury during a fall or a strike. Knee guards and elbow guards are worn in many activities such as motorcycling, cycling, roller skating, skate boarding etc.

Befit Sports strives to safeguard the Bikers from being hurt while carrying out their performance on road or off road. Befit Armor Suits, Armor Jackets, Armor Trousers, Back Protectors, Kidney Belts, Shoulder Protectors, Elbow Protectors and Knee Protectors are exceptionally shaped to the safety of the riders.

Saddle Bags

Saddlebags are bags that are attached to saddles. In simple words a pair of covered pouches hanging over the rear wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle or laid across the back of a horse behind the saddle. The excellent and exclusive Youth Motocross Gear Sports Bags, Saddle Bags and Tool Bags made from genuine cowhide and in different shapes and sizes are available with Befit Sports.

Pro Taper all-new website

The new Pro Taper site is informative, easier to navigate and provides much more interaction between the brand and consumers.  In addition to all of the latest Pro Taper news and products, you will be able to access everything from OEM bike specifications to educational product videos and even step-by-step installation instructions while browsing http://www.protaper.com/.

To kick things off, Pro Taper is offering three Ryan Dungey autographed custom "RD1 MX Champion" handlebar pads through our Website Launch Giveaway Game.  Follow the instructions below to find out how to win:

Browse through the on-line Pro Taper products, using the "Products" menu of the web site.  Make sure to look at all of the Product Photos and Technical Details for each.Find the photo of the "RD1 MX Champ" bar pad that will be displayed within one of the Product Pages on the site.Once you find the photo, copy the URL from your web browser and log on to Pro Taper's facebook fan page, facebook.com/protaperfans Post the link on our wall for your chance to win!

The first three posts on our fan page wall, with the correct link, will earn their own one-off autographed Ryan Dungey bar pad.

To keep up on all things Pro Taper:

Founded in 1991, Pro Taper revolutionized the motorcycle industry with the introduction of the 1 1/8" Taperwall handlebar.  Since it's inception Pro Taper has set the standard in which all other motorcycle handlebars are measured against.

Pro Taper is constantly evolving and pushing innovation to the next level.  Now offering a full line of quality product that includes everything from chains and sprockets to billet triple clamps and footpegs.  Year after year Pro Taper continues to dominate the off-road motorcycle industry.

The confidence instilled by Factory Race Teams, such as Rockstar Makita Suzuki and AmPro Yamaha, bleeds all the way down to weekend warriors looking for the highest performing and longest lasting products on the market.  Pro Taper stands for unsurpassed quality and a perpetual commitment to excellence.

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United States Air Force extend their sponsorship as the Official Military Partner of Monster Energy AMA Supercross

For the fifth consecutive year the United States Air Force (USAF) will extend their sponsorship as the Official Military Partner of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

The United States Air Force has a strong presence both on and off the track at Monster Energy AMA Supercross races. USAF provides an Honor Guard to present the American colors prior to the National Anthem at each race.  As part of the opening ceremonies, USAF will also conduct a Delayed Entrance Program (DEP) initiation for newly enlisted recruits. In 2010, more than 280 DEP inductees were sworn into the USAF and more than 60 USAF Honor Guards participated in presenting the Nation's colors during opening ceremonies.

"The United States Air Force has been a longtime partner of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and we are thrilled they will be back again in 2011," said Charlie Mancuso, President of Feld Motor Sports.  "At each race, our Monster Energy AMA Supercross fans interact with local members of the Air Force based in their communities and can explore the career opportunities the Air Force has to offer.  It is an honor to watch young men and women take the Air Force oath during the DEP ceremony prior to our races and is a very special and patriotic way to start each event."

Throughout the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, USAF will receive space on the concourse and in the pits to interact with supercross fans. Additionally, USAF will receive benefits such as Tuff Block and track signage, JumboTron and PA advertisement spots, and allocated space in the souvenir program.

Through their sponsorship activation with Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the USAF hopes to inspire race fans by showcasing the unparalleled opportunities and intriguing positions available in the Air Force.
For race schedules and ticket information for Monster Energy(r) AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam(r), Monster Energy(r) Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz?, and IHRA(r) Nitro Jam(r).  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com 

About the U.S. Air Force

The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace. This is achieved through a vision of Global Vigilance, Reach and Power accomplished by extraordinary men and women coming together to make a difference in the world. To learn more about Air Force opportunities, visit www.airforce.com.

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Carole Nash Motorcycle Live at The NEC

Despite taking place during the worst November weather conditions Britain has experienced for many years.The revamped Carole Nash Motorcycle Live at The NEC, Birmingham was attended by almost 100,000 people.

The halls were busy considering the appalling weather outside

The new-look nine-day event ran from 27 November to 5 December 2010 and has received strong praise from manufacturers, exhibitors and visitors alike. Honda UK returned to the Event after a one-year break and General Manager Steve Martindale has already hailed it a success: “This year’s Event has possibly been the best we’ve seen in a number of years with a really fresh new feel and great buzz around the halls.”

Kawasaki’s Sales and Marketing Manager Michael Johnstone is in agreement: “The event was awesome – really, really positive for Kawasaki. We had a huge amount of interest in the bikes and the whole team left feeling really pumped.” Marketing Manager of Phoenix Distribution Wendy Hearn also had a good experience: “It was absolutely fantastic. All the comments I’ve heard from journalists, visitors, dealers etc. have all been so positive and this bodes very well for next year.”

One such positive comment comes from visitor Pete Newell, who attended the event on the opening day: “I went to Carole Nash Motorcycle Live with my daughter and a friend. We were in the doors bang on 10am and full on until 6pm – what a fantastic day out! The event was well laid out and well organised, so my thanks to the organisers, sponsors and to the manufacturers who this year turned out in force to support what must surely be the UK’s premier motorcycle show.”

With 38 manufacturers and almost 200 other exhibitors present, interactive features giving visitors of all ages the opportunity to get on two wheels and non-stop bike-themed entertainment, the event had more to offer than ever before. The final product was the culmination of months of work by organisers MCI Exhibitions, who worked in close partnership with The NEC to ensure event offered enough attractions to bring in the crowds.

“This has long-been one of the most important events in The NEC portfolio and it’s one that we are very keen to see return each year,” explains Kathryn James, MD of NEC Venue. “The past 11 months have been a real effort from all parties to make it the best yet and we can certainly say that from our point of view Carole Nash Motorcycle Live 2010 was a success.”

Finlay McAllan, MCI Exhibitions Managing Director, is happy with the results: “We made every effort this year to provide one of the best-looking, most vibrant and interactive Events we’ve ever presented and for that I thank everyone involved. Taking everything into consideration – for example the weather and the legacy of the 2009 event – we are very pleased with the final result and we are looking forward to moving forward positively next year.”


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Thor Amateur Race Team set the pace for the 2011 season

The Thor Amateur Race Team has set the pace for the 2011 season when the 2010 Winter Olympics finished up last week .  Thor riders captured 29 championships throughout the weeklong event, and look poised for a very successful 2011 campaign.


One segment of the Thor race team that had a tremendous week in Florida was the Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki Team.  With riders like Jeremy Martin and Landon Currier leading the way, the team compiled 13 podium finishes and five championships.  Martin collected three championships (Supercross: 250 B Stock & Schoolboy (14-16); Motocross: 250 B Stock) which gets his 2011 season off to a tremendous start.  Newcomers to the Xtreme Rockstar Suzuki Team, Justin Summers and Jace Owen each brought home a title as well.



Thor veteran riders Justin Bogle and Cooper Webb were up to their usual winning ways as well.  Bogle collected three championships on his new Honda Factory Connection bike.  Despite having only six weeks to prepare on the new bike, Bogle's performance earned him the Dunlop Silver Tire Award, which is presented to the expert rider with the highest number of points in both the Supercross and Motocross disciplines.

Cooper Webb again proved that he is the person to beat in the Supermini class by winning three of the four championships.  One of the best battles of the week was between Webb and Dakota Alix.  You can check out that battle here.



There were plenty of others that showcased their talents all week long.  Jordon Smith, Joey Crown, and Tristan Charboneau all brought home titles and helped lead the Thor Amateur Race Team to a very successful week both on and off the track.



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Moto Team union of forces

Neil, a former British motocross champion, Grand Prix racer and highly rated team manager of the former CAS Honda squad, will be managing the development of the race machinery and mentoring the riders while Paul, who is a well-recognised ambassador of the sport as a former British Quad, Enduro and Speedway Champion, will oversee the general running of the team to his usual high standard.

The team is excited to announce a superb rider line-up with former British Champion Brad Anderson contesting the Honda CRF450R in the ACU British MX1 Championship and the Red Bull Pro National series, along with upcoming youngsters Luke Hawkins and Anthony Reville in the British MX2 Championship and the EMX-2 series aboard CRF250R machinery.

Anderson has truly established himself as the face of British motocross and is known for his gritty determination to win races. The ultra-experienced 29-year-old has won numerous championships, most notably the British MX1 title in 2009, and is excited to be competing with the PAR Honda squad for the third year running. Anderson will be looking to re-take the prestigious MX1 title having finished third in the series this year.

Aboard MX2 machinery once again will be 17-year-old Hawkins, whom has shown excellent speed in his first year in the pro-class after being thrown in at the deep end. The youngster has enjoyed top ten finishes in the super-challenging British MX2 championship, and finished an exceptional fifth overall in the E-MX2 series with a podium finish towards the end of the season. This steep learning curve and experience that has really brought on his speed is something Luke will be looking to capitalise on in 2011.

Joining the team will be Anthony Reville, who hails from Sturton-by-Stow in Lincolnshire. The 17-year-old has only been racing in the national series for four seasons, but has shown good promise and speed this year while running out of his privateer set-up in his first season at pro-level. The youngster finished fourth overall at the final round of the Under 23 championship, has shown good speed in the British MX2 series and is incredibly excited at being given the opportunity to step into a professional team set-up to bring his learning on even further.

The team is already working hard heading into the winter off-season developing its machinery for 2011 and is looking forward to launching the team at the opening British Championship round in February.

Paul Rowlands – PAR Honda

"It's great to be able to announce that we will be working with Neil in 2011. This should bring to the team the technical support and training for the riders that maybe we didn't have during the week, and help us go to the next level. I'm really looking forward to working with Neil and development of our bikes for testing is going well in readiness for next season. It's also great that we will be working with Brad again, and we will be looking to retake the British title we won in 2009. Luke has also come on really well in the last year, and we will contest all of the British MX2 and E-MX2 championship with him and Anthony, who is new to the team for next year."

Neil Prince – NP Racing


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Triumph Motorcycles returns to the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows

Triumph Motorcycles returns to the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows nationwide series. The first stop for Triumph will be the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach Friday, December 17 through Sunday, December 19. Triumph will unveil the largest new product line-up in the company’s 109-year history at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach,allowing attendees to be among the first in the United States to see the new bikes. Demo rides will also be available on select Triumph models for licensed riders.

“The Progressive International Motorcycle Shows are a great way to share our new products with customers across the country, and Triumph is looking forward to introducing some exciting new models including the Tiger 800 and Tiger 800XC adventure bikes, three new cruiser motorcycles, and the all-new Speed Triple and premium Daytona 675R sport bikes in Long Beach,” said CEO of Triumph North America Greg Heichelbech. “The motorcycle shows will allow Triumph fans a chance to really check out the new models up close and personal.”

Celebrating the 30th annual nationwide tour, motorcycle fans from all lifestyles will be treated to a completely new visual design and show environment designed to invoke more passion, excitement, sense of belonging and product selection than ever before. The completely new show experience will feature non-stop thrills from the Jason Britton Team No Limit Stunt Show, Progressive Insurance Open Road Experience with Flo, an Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Competition, hands-on do-it-yourself seminars, demo rides, MotoFlix movie screenings, Swag Wagon giveaways and more.

In addition to the Long Beach show, Triumph Motorcycles will also exhibit at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in New York, January 21-23; the I-X Center, in Cleveland, OH, Jan. 28-30; and at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, IL, Feb. 11-13.

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Airgroup Radiant Racing expands its sponsorship of the 2011 AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series

Starting in 1923, the National Enduro is one the longest-running national motorsports championships in the world. The championship series features AMA Racing-sanctioned events and is one of the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the country, giving both amateur competitors and the country's fastest enduro racers a showcase for their talents.

In 2011, Airgroup Radiant Racing will be a key series sponsor and the team will increase its presence by entering all ten races with a larger, more capable six-man race team.  Airgroup Radiant Racing General Manager, Jack Morrison, says that the team's riders are intentionally located all over the country and represent all skill levels. "Our team will showcase Airgroup's capabilities as a transportation & logistics company by making it possible for riders of all skill levels, located all over the country, to participate in this amazing and diverse series as a single team."

For 2011, Airgroup Radiant Racing has signed two "PRO" riders: Cole Kirkpatrick (GasGas, Texas) and Jordan Brandt (GasGas, California), two "A" riders: Steve Leivan (KTM, Missouri) and Travis Anderson (GasGas, Nebraska), and two "B class" sponsor riders: Jack Morrison (GasGas) and Brian Peterson (GasGas).

Several team-wide sponsorships are still in negotiations, but Airgroup will provide team transportation logistics with the backing of Professional Grade (tm)  GMC trucks www.gmcofchadron.com &  Flying A Motorsports www.flyingamotorsports.com race-prepped trailer, will support the team's transportation logistical needs; GasGas www.ggor.us is the primary racing motorcycle platform, using Rekluse www.rekluse.com performance clutches , perfect for the wide variety of terrain found in National Enduros.  Race bikes and tow vehicles will be using K&N filter products www.knfilters.com & Fuchs Silkolene Powersport Lubricants www.silkolene.com to keep the machines running competitively. Enduro Engineering www.enduroeng.com will provide the hard parts that protect the riders and machines from the 10 punishing races, RidePG www.ridepg.com will keep the bikes looking fresh and Moose Racing www.mooseracing.com will outfit our riders with race gear. Check out the team web site:  www.airgroupracing.com for additional information and announcements.

In addition to supporting a six-member race team, Airgroup Radiant Racing is a key sponsor for the 2011 AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series Presented by Moose Racing. Mr. Morrison says, "It is important for our company to give back to those that make this sport possible."  When asked about long term plans for Airgroup and its motorsports sponsorships, Jack Morrison says, "We are just dipping our toe in the water at this point and because we have several industry clients involved in motorsports, Airgroup & Radiant Global Logistics needs to support their revenue sources. Racing any motor vehicle on a national level puts tremendous transportation and logistical burdens on everyone from the individual racer, race teams, sponsors, media and other motorsport vendors. Airgroup's intention is to support the sports that are important to our valued customers."

Airgroup, a Radiant Logistics company, is executing a strategy to build a global transportation and supply chain management company through organic growth and the strategic acquisition of regional best-of-breed non-asset based transportation and logistics providers to offer its customers domestic and international freight forwarding and an expanding array of value added supply chain management services, including asset recovery and reverse logistics, order fulfillment, inventory management and warehousing.

Visit:http://motorcycle-rider-course.blogspot.com/

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Bob Hannah extended his with relationship with Matrix Concepts

MX legend Bob "Hurricane" Hannah have extended their relationship with Matrix Concepts.


Matrix Concepts Co-Managing Member Chadd Cole stated, "Bob has been an integral part of Matrix Concepts since we began the company and his product knowledge has helped us tremendously. We are honored to be associated with Bob."

Bob Hannah stated, "I'm proud to continue my relationship with the Cole family.  Eddie Cole and I go back to when I started my racing career and I've known Chadd and Cameron since they could walk. I've been involved with Matrix Concepts since the company was founded."

About Matrix Concepts

Matrix Concepts is based in Valencia, California founded in 2009 and is used by the top MX/Off-road race teams in the world. Matrix Concepts offers a complete range of track/garage necessities that include personalized off road motorcycle Stands, Loading Ramps, Tie- Downs, Utility cans and Worx Mats. For more information on Matrix Concepts products, visit: http://www.matrixracingproducts.com%20/ and facebook.com/matrixconcepts

Matrix Concepts "It's what the factory race teams use."


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The NIGHT of the JUMPs FIM Freestyle MX World Championship

The NIGHT of the JUMPs FIM Freestyle MX World Championship was by far the most thrilling conclusion ever.As nightfall engulfed the Estadio Castelao in Fortalesa, it was showdown time for the two World Championship contenders, Libor Podmol (CZE) und Brice Izzo (FRA). Both riders gave their all, as they traded incredible Backflip Combos in the finale. The Czech rider finally prevailed at the Brazilian Grand Prix and secured the long-awaited world championship title.

The winners podium

But firstly, they both had to progress through the qualifiyings that might well have been called ‘Brazil versus the rest of the world’. The five best ‘Brasilieros’, Marcelo Simoes, Gilmar Flores, Fred Kyrillos, Otavio Neto and local hero Claudio Rocha, tried to win through to the finals. Flores and Simoes turned in good performances but in the last analysis, all the Brazilians went out after the preliminary rounds. A sixth South American, Javier Villegas, fared better. The Chilean took third place in qualifying at his NIGHT of the JUMPs premiere and bagged a place in the finals, followed by David Rinaldo, Jose Miralles, Remi Bizouard and the two World Championship contestants, Podmol and Izzo.

It was clear that only a big mistake by Podmol in the final would result in Izzo clinching the title. Even if Frenchman Izzo had won this contest, the Czech only had to finish fourth to become World Champion. Libor needed some support from the other finalists, and they did all they could to oblige. Rinaldo produced a Double Grab Backflip, Jose Miralles his Superman Seat Grab Indy Flip, Javier Villegas did an impressive Tsunami Flip and Remi Bizouard performed the Ruler Flip plus Heart Attack Backflip.

But then Brice Izzo really went to town. He scored 425 points with a Lazyboy Flip, Tsunami Flip, Underflip and a Stripper Flip. That put Podmol under a lot of pressure, but the Czech kept his nerve: Underflips, a Cliffhanger Flip, and a Superman Seat Grab Flip Indy, to name but a few tours de force from his routine, gave him victory on the day and the 2010 FIM Freestyle MW World Championship crown.

Spaniard Jose Miralles, who finished second in the FMX World Championships last year at this same venue, was third. Javier Villegas won the Whip Contest and Bianconcini was best-placed rider in the Highest Air competition.

IFMXF will now take a short winter break until the 14-15th January, which sees the UEM Freestyle European Championship opener at the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Linz, Austria. First round of the FIM Freestyle MX World Championship takes place 19th February at the NIGHT of the JUMPs in Turin, Italy.

To watch the full TV show of Night of the Jumps please GO HERE 

Fortaleza, 12. Dezember 2010 – Results
1. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 429 Points
2. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 425 Points
3. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 401 Points
4. Javier Villegas CHI AMA Yamaha 392 Points
5. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 380 Points
6. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 369 Points
FIM Freestyle MX World Championships
1. Libor Podmol CZE ACCR Suzuki 222 Points
2. Brice Izzo FRA FFM Yamaha 214 Points
3. Jose Miralles ESP RFME KTM 196 Points
4. Remi Bizouard FRA FFM Yamaha 140 Points
5. Brody Wilson USA AMA Yamaha 119 Points
6. Massimo Bianconcini ITAL DMSB KTM 119 Points
7. Alastair Sayer BOT MSA Suzuki 106 Points
8. Fabian Bauersachs GER DMSB Suzuki 103 Points
9. Hannes Ackermann GER DMSB KTM 78 Points
10. Lukas Weis GER DMSB Suzuki 68 Points
11. Petr Pilat CZE ACCR KTM 61 Points
12. David Rinaldo FRA FFM Yamaha 55 Points
13. Josh Sheehan AUS MA Honda 48 Points
14. Rob Adelberg AUS MA Yamaha 34 Points
15. Martin Koren CZE ACCR KTM 20 Points
16. Marcelo Simoes BRA CBM Yamaha 15 Points
17. Javier Villegas CHI AMA Yamaha 14 Points
18. Thomas Wirnsberger AUT OeAMTC Yamaha 9 Points
19. Tomas Lysacek CZE ACCR Yamaha 8 Points
20. Kai Haase GER DMSB Suzuki 8 Points
21. Martin Schenk AUT OeAMTC Yamaha 7 Points
22. Gilmar Flores BRA CBM Yamaha 6 Points
23. William v.d. Putte BEL FMB KTM 5 Points
24. Fred Kyrillos BRA CBM Honda 4 Points
25. Aleksey Koleshnikov RUS KTM MFR 4 Points
26. Freddy Peters GER DMSB Yamaha 3 Points
27. Ales Liemann CZE ACCR Suzuki 3 Points
28. Otavio Neto BRA CBM Yamaha 3 Points

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Film franchise began shooting this past weekend at the Red Bull Catalina

The next addition to the iconic "On Any Sunday" film franchise began shooting this past weekend at the Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix under the guidance of Director Dana Brown,though still in development stages. Dana's previous credits include "Dust To Glory", "Step Into Liquid" and most recently "High Water". For his next project, Dana will continue the beautiful photography, eye-catching sequences and wonderful storytelling that his father Bruce Brown started with the Academy Award nominated "On Any Sunday" (1971) that has become the hallmark for motorcycle movies.



Because the 2010 Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix took place before the formal film package was complete, the motorcycle industry stepped up in a big way to help sponsor the production on Catalina Island. This epic undertaking included a crew of 17, a helicopter, POV riders and more. The companies to thank are Bel-Ray, Hinson Clutches, Kawasaki, KTM, Motion Pro Tools, Red Bull, Resource Marketing, Troy Lee Designs and Yamaha.

"For these companies to believe in the potential for what this movie could be and just jump in to help, makes me even more confident that this is the right project for us to work on," adds Brown. "Thank you!"    


Beyond the Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix event, other storylines and locations for the new OAS film are still being discussed, but fans old and new alike will not be disappointed. There should be something for everyone.
"We had a great, great shoot this weekend," says Director Dana Brown. "The racers and fans were fantastic, the racing was exciting and backdrops of Catalina and Avalon were just perfect. We could not have picked a better event to begin shooting the next 'On Any Sunday' film!" Though no formal name for the next film has been decided, it will include "On Any Sunday" as part of it.


"The sport has changed a lot in the 40 years since my dad's first movie and I plan on giving the audience the best of what they expect and the unexpected as well. What hasn't changed however, are the great people involved in motorcycling and that is why I am here," concludes Brown.

The project is slated to shoot throughout 2011 and with an anticipated release in theatres in 2012. It is a co-production between Dana Brown Adventure Films and Pipeline Digital Media, who's credits include "The Motocross Files", "Epic Ride" and most recently, " The Carlsbad USGP:1980".

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Ryan Villopoto in preparation for the 2011 Monster Energy Supercross season

A broken tibia and fibula resulted in Villopoto’s worst injury of his career and put him on the sidelines for nearly five months. The road to recovery has been a long one for Villopoto, with numerous surgeries and considerable rehab to get him back into riding shape. Just a few weeks ago, he resumed riding in preparation for the 2011 Monster Energy Supercross season.

"I’ve made some changes to improve my program and now it’s time to just prepare for this season and hopefully take care of some unfinished business.”With a season-leading seven victories and a season-long battle with Ryan Dungey for the championship in 2010, to say that Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto’s Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season came to a heartbreaking conclusion would be an understatement. Just as the championship picture was coming into focus, Villopoto, the 2008 AMA Supercross Lites West Region Champion, suffered a frightening crash while leading at St. Louis.

 “I’ve been off the bike for a long time,” said Villopoto. “The way things ended last season was unfortunate. I really felt I was riding the best I ever had on the 450. I’ve made some changes to improve my program and now it’s time to just prepare for this season and hopefully take care of some unfinished business.”

Through two years of competition in the premier class, Villopoto has yet to complete an entire 17-race season. During his rookie year in 2009, he suffered from a virus that sidelined him for three races and last season, his broken leg forced him to miss the final three rounds as well. However, in the time he has been on the track, Villopoto has proven to be one of the fastest riders in the class.

During his rookie campaign, the Washington native bounced back from his illness by capturing two of the final three races of the season. Last year, a slow start led to a surging middle portion of the season in which he grabbed seven wins in 11 races, giving eventual champion Dungey all he could handle.


RV: "“I’ve never been more motivated and never been in better shape than I am in preparing for 2011. I want that title and I’m ready to take on everyone.”“I definitely feel comfortable and confident on the 450,” added Villopoto. “I know what it takes to win and I know that I can win the championship. I’ve just had some really bad luck the last two seasons, but I’m ready to turn things around.”

Now that he’s back on the bike, Villopoto will have plenty of time to dial in his Monster Energy Kawasaki and get back into race shape. No rider in the series suffered from more loss than he did last season and as a result, no rider in the championship has more to prove. It wouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise if Villopoto has a chip on his shoulder coming into Anaheim 1.

“I’m definitely upset with how things turned out,” he said. “I really felt like I had Ryan (Dungey) where I wanted him and I was putting a lot of pressure on him. In the past he’s made some mistakes when the pressure is on so I was just waiting for my opportunity to capitalize.”

Villopoto’s determination to redeem himself is apparent in his off-season preparation.
“I’ve never been more motivated and never been in better shape than I am in preparing for 2011,” he added. “I want that title and I’m ready to take on everyone.”

Adding to Villopoto’s confidence heading into the upcoming season is the addition of longtime friend Jake Weimer to the Monster Energy Kawasaki team. The reigning AMA Supercross Lites West Region Champion is one of many rookies coming in to the premier class and the bond he shares with Villopoto will surely carry over onto the track for both riders.

“I couldn’t ask for a better teammate,” said Villopoto. “Jake and I have been friends for a while and we get along really well. Training and testing with him is going to make the offseason that much better and I’m looking forward to working with him on race day.”

As for putting all the pieces together and completing his first full Monster Energy Supercross season and possibly capturing his first premier class title?

“They say the third time is the charm, so hopefully this is my year.”

Visit:http://motorcycle-rider-course.blogspot.com/

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The 17th Annual Yamaha Pro/AM California State Championships

Take place this weekend on Saturday 17th Annual Yamaha Pro/AM California State Championships and Sunday Saturday features Grand Prix racing and on Sunday is motocross racing on the USGP courseSoCal Old Timers MX Club Racing races both days on the back track

San Bernardino, Calif. - December 7, 2010 - It's going to be another exciting weekend of racing out at Glen Helen Raceway, with two-day action from both the long-time running Yamaha Pro/AM California State Championships and the SoCal Old Timers MX Club Racing.

The 17th running of the Yamaha Pro/AM California State Championships are split into a two-day format. Racing gets underway on Saturday with the Grand Prix races. Held on a specially designed course that takes riders throughout the amazing Glen Helen Raceway facility, the Grand Prix races bring excitement and fun and are always a favorite amongst competitors.

The racing carries over to Sunday, when racers take to Glen Helen's world-class USGP track to compete in a traditional, two-moto motocross race. Champions in each class are decided on combined scores from both races.

The SoCal Old Timers MX Club Racing series, which brings together Southern California's older motocross racers, also races both days. Old Timers MX will take place on Glen Helen's back track and the racing is sure to be great. More information for SoCal Old Timers MX Club Racing can be found at http://www.socalotmx.com/.

The weather promises to be beautiful all weekend - so come on out and spend some time at America's Playground in Southern California!

Stay tuned to Glen Helen Raceway at http://www.glenhelen.com/, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/glenhelenraceway. Fans of Glen Helen Raceway on Facebook can print out a $1 off admission coupon.

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The video game giant THQ Inc. returns in 2011

The video game giant THQ Inc. will return in 2011 as the Official Video Game of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship. The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season marks the seventh year THQ has been a sponsor of the championship.Over the past seven years, Monster Energy AMA Supercross has served as a key marketing platform for THQ's widely popular MX vs. ATV(r) video game franchise. Dating back to THQ's initial Monster Energy AMA Supercross sponsorship in 2004, MX vs. ATV has been exposed to more than five million fans at supercross races alone. In the upcoming MX vs. ATV game, to be announced at the start of the season, THQ has been granted licensing rights to use the AMA Supercross logo.

"Partnering with Monster Energy AMA Supercross has always allowed us to connect with race fans on a unique level," said Michael Lustenberger, Vice President of Global Brand Management - Online, THQ.  "The upcoming 2011 season is no exception as we will reveal the next MX vs. ATV game at the first race and allow Monster Energy AMA Supercross fans to be the first to see it."

In addition to the online and in-stadium branding at Monster Energy AMA Supercross, THQ will receive space in the Pit Party for activation, providing fans the opportunity to be the first to play the next MX vs. ATV later in the season.
 
THQ will also receive commercial advertising units in CBS Sports network broadcasts of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and will have the opportunity to conduct focus groups during pit parties at select races. The focus groups will allow fans to critique the current game and will also give them a chance to share their thoughts on the approaching game.

"Feld Entertainment is thrilled to continue our outstanding and long-term partnership with THQ Inc. for the upcoming Supercross season," said Charlie Mancuso, President, Feld Motor Sports. "It has been a pleasure to work with such an innovative and engaging partner that continues to show its commitment to the sport, and we are excited about the growth and results the relationship will continue to produce."

The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and THQ sponsorship initiatives kick-off Saturday, January 8 with the opening round of the season from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam(r), Monster Energy(r) Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz?, and IHRA(r) Nitro Jam(r).  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit http://www.feldentertainment.com/.

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The GEICO AMA MiniMotoSX presented by Monster Energy

The GEICO AMA MiniMotoSX presented by Monster Energy will kick off for the eighth consecutive year now the AMA Supercross finals weekend in Vegas with action packed racing culminating in the ten separate main events on Friday, May 6th.  Entries are now open at www.minimotosx.com and the new South Point Hotel host has ticket and room packages available at www.southpointeventscenter.com/events/11-minimotosx.php.

With over 500 riders expected again, some practice and qualifying will take place on Thursday, May 5th.  After seven years at the Orleans Arena, the event will make a one year stop at the South Point Arena due to a scheduling conflict.  But the new venue is only five years old and is a great location, visible from Interstate 15 as you head into Sin City from the South.  It has a larger floor to work with so that will make for more space and longer lap times for the riders.  "MiniMotoSX always provides a lot of great action as it provides an opportunity for riders to experience the pressure of racing in front of a packed arena" noted Mike Karsting, the VP of events for Source Interlink.

Don't just watch Supercross in Vegas; make your plans to RACE in Vegas!
  
For rules and race information visit www.minimotosx.com or email minimotosx@sorc.com 

Source Interlink Media Motorsports:

Encompassing the highly successful AMA GEICO MiniMotoSX presented by Monster Energy, the AMA GEICO EnduroCross Championship Series and the AMA EnduroCross Grand Championships, the Source Interlink Media Motorsports brands reach millions of motorcycle enthusiasts with live events, DVD packages, web sites, television and magazine coverage. Visit www.minimotosx.com or www.endurocross.com 

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Dirt Bike Gear tires without tubes

As an engineer and self professed gear whore, I’ve always been keen to try different things to improve my ride.  I’ve tried heavy duty tubes, tire balls and bib mousses and have always had to compromise something, whether that be the ride performance, ease of tire changes or risk getting flat tires.  A few years ago, word spread of a new product that would allow one to run their regular Dirt Bike Gear tires without tubes, foam inserts or weird rubber balls.  Dubbed the Tubliss, by Nuetech, this system uses a liner against the rim that inflates to 110psi, sealing the spoke holes and creating an inner air chamber using the tire carcass.

I’ve read various reviews of the system and had gotten very polarized opinions.  Some people love it, others hate it.  A few riding buddies tried it out a couple years ago and weren’t impressed when they cut their tires and ended up with flats.  Others had slow leaks or various other problems.  At that, I wrote off the system to another failed gizmo and continued to deal with the frustrating installation of Tire Balls or expensive yearly replacement of bib mousses.  Looking at another roached out set of bibs this spring and promptly passing out when I called up my local dealer to find out the price of a couple new bibs, I once again began looking for a new system.  I looked at my bag of old Tire Balls, dirty, greasy and mostly deflated in the corner of the shop, then looked at the pile of pinched tubes in another corner.  Figuring I didn’t have much to lose, I called up Jeff Douglas at Nuetech and after a long conversation about his invention, had a set shipped up to me for testing.

A couple weeks later a box arrived from California and it was time to test out the final frontier of tire guts.
I was greeted by professional packaging, all of the parts needed and very detailed instructions on how to install the Tubliss system.  If that wasn’t enough, Nuetech’s website (http://www.nuetech.com/) has a very informative video on installing the Tubliss system.  Installation was very straight forward and took me about two hours to do both wheels.  It could be done very quickly but I took my time and triple checked everything.  Installing a tire with the Tubliss system is a little different than usual, but once accustomed to the procedure it is very, very easy.  For the first test I only used a light coating of armour-all on the Tubliss core and soapy water to help seal the system.  With everything installed, tire pressure set to 10PSI and bike loaded, it was off to Silver Creek (south of Salmon Arm) for the dust-fest known as the Rock Hound Hare Scrambles.

The Rock Hound is notoriously rocky as its name suggests.  The course is a mix of fast open terrain and wooded singletrack and I don’t think there’s a square inch of trail that doesn’t have a rock on it.  Most people either run mousses or heavy duty tubes pumped way up to about 15PSI, so this was an excellent test for the Tubliss system.  Feeling a little nervous before the race, I decided to pump the tires up a bit more to 12PSI, though looking through the concept of the Tubliss I doubt it would make a difference as there’s no tube to pinch anymore.  After battling thick dust and more rocks than I could ever care for, I’m happy to report that I had no flats.

With the spring race season at WFO, the following weekend it was off to Vernon for a PNWMA double header.  I mounted up my favorite tire combination - Michelin M12 front and S12 rear tires in hopes of a podium in the expert class.  I again only used some soapy water to seal things up.  Saturday night was the Night Pig hare scrambles that featured wet, slimy trails through the woods above Vernon.  With the slippery conditions I lowered the tire pressure to 10PSI and was rewarded with awesome traction and once again, no flats!  The following day was the Squealin’ Pig that featured a perfect 40+ km loop featuring wicked singletrack.  Again at 10PSI, the tires hooked up great and were doing great.  Near the end of the 2nd of 3 laps I pounded into a rock and ended up getting a front flat.  Well, I think that’s when it happened.  While racing I felt something funny happen to the handling, but continued for a third lap and finished.  It was only then that I noticed the front flat.  While it did go flat, I’m happy to report there was no rim damage and the bead stayed on for over 40 kilometers at race pace.  The Tubliss core at its high pressure keeps the bead clamped on to the rim and helps protect the rim from dents and dings.

Once home, I checked the tire and found a small 3/4 inch cut in the tire carcass.  I called up Jeff again and he said to try running some slime in the tire and that will usually help stop any leaks.  Some people go as far as to carry automotive tire plugs with them in case they cut the tire.  I went out and found some water soluble tire sealant (for easy clean up) and have since had zero issues for the rest of the season.  That includes two national enduros, countless hare scrambles and cross-countries and enough trail riding to wear out a top end and too many tires to list.  I’ve used new tires and old ones with the system and as long as I properly prepare the tire and rim, I haven’t had a problem.  Many people have issues with slow leaks but I think most of them aren’t following the instructions and thus have issues.  I have figured out a few things that make life easier with the Tubliss system.  The first one is the tougher the tire, the better.  The Tubliss system lets you run extremely low pressures without worrying about pinch flats, so even a hard rubber compound hooks up extremely well.  I’ve had great luck with Maxxis and Michelin tires, but basically anything with a stiffer sidewall works well.  In the future I plan on testing out some IRC and Trelleborg tires as they as supposed to be very tough.

Moving on to other advantages, the Tubliss system helps handling.  Like stated previously, I’ve used pretty much every system out there and have found problems with most systems.  Tubes suffer from pinch flats and the ultra heavy duty ones mess with the handling slightly.  Tire Balls are messy, a pain in the butt to install and prepare, completely go flat if a couple balls go flat and mess with the handling on jumps and high speed stuff.  They are also prone to going flat in high temperatures.  Mousses are pretty much guaranteed flat protection (except in the high speed desert stuff) but are expensive and really, really mess with the handling of a bike.  The mousses have a very dead feel to them and all that spinning weight acts like a gyroscope that will stand the bike up when you want to lay it over.  The Tubliss system truly shines over other tire inflation systems/replacements.  The Tubliss core is lighter than any of the other systems, uses air and allows a lower pressure.  All of these attributes make the bike feel better everywhere and go faster.  The Tubliss also allows cooler operating temperatures in the tire which helps the feel stay consistent and increases durability during high speed riding.  There is no friction between the tire carcass and the Tubliss system, unlike the other offerings.  No friction inside the tire allows it to flex like it’s supposed to (think of tubeless trials tires).  This system is the most durable setup and will last the longest, especially if you take care during tire changes to avoid hitting the liner with tire irons.  I have over 130 hours on the setup and everything still looks like new.  I do re-tape the rim every 30-40 hours just to be on the safe side.  At just over $100 per wheel, the Tubliss system is very reasonably priced and if you frequently get flats or run mousses, it will save you money.

There are a few downsides to the Tubliss system.  First, you can still get a flat tire.  It is more durable than many other systems but is definitely not completely flat-proof.  For races where flats are critical mistakes, like the ISDE I will still run bib mousses for the peace of mind.  Secondly, if you cut the tire it’s basically garbage as it won’t hold air anymore.  I plan on experimenting with automotive tire plugs to see if cut tires are salvageable.  I’ve also heard if you chunk off a knob it can cause the tire to leak, but so far running at lower pressures have made my tires last longer (less chunking on rocks since they flex instead of dig/cut) and I haven’t had any issues.  Finally, installation requires drilling the rim to fit the rim lock.  It’s not a huge deal, but personally I don’t like taking a drill to the rims on my bike.

Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the Tubliss system.  I was skeptical at first but was pleasantly surprised with the results.  The system is innovative, improves bike handling and reduces flats, all of the things I’ve been looking for to fill my tires.  I would 100% recommend this system for most dirt bikers.  That includes everyone from casual trail riders to off-road racers and definitely motocrossers.

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