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:
Carbon Raptor Hard Carbon Coatings, KTM North America, FayMyers.com, Race Tech, Rekluse, Moose Racing, Leo Vince, Fasst Company, RidePG.com, Fastway, IMS, TM Designs, Bolts, Matrix and ThumperTalk.com

About Carbon Raptor
Carbon Raptor Coatings and Engineering Services were formed to focus on all levels and types of racing. From extreme suspensions to NASCAR high horsepower engines running on the edge, current customers know the HARD CARBON COATING by CARBON RAPTOR is the solution where excessive wear, galling, and friction cause part failures that traditional protective coatings cannot overcome. Check them out at www.carbonraptor.com.

About Stillwell Performance
Stillwell Performance is the largest Race Tech Performance Center in the USA. Having access to state of the art suspension products, technology and support that when combined with their custom valving specs are sure to create "ultimate suspension" for your ride. Check them out online at www.stillwellperformance.com

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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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