If you missed any of the action that was broadcast 3 times this weekend on both ESPN and ABC you can watch the race here. http://jcrhonda.com/story/all/249 or here http://youtu.be/RlwndmpX_60

"I can see the momentum building with Colton Haaker, he is focused and confident and this program is steadily improving. I believe it takes key ingredients like talent, structure and support to make racing dreams come true and that's what we are seeing happen with Colton Haaker. I am super happy with and for Colton and as this program continues to develop I know for certain the best is yet to come." -- Johnny Campbell

Photo Credit: Jeremy Merrell

2013 JCR/Honda team video link: http://youtu.be/GBtkL9iStHs

Follow JCR/Honda on FB at www.Facebook.com/JCRHonda

Follow JCR/Honda on Twitter www.Twitter.com/JCRHonda

Follow JCR/Honda on Instagram @JCRHonda

2013 EnduroX, EnduroCross schedule for TV times and more info go towww.EnduroCross.com

XGames Enduro X

Foz do Iquacu Brazil, Foz do Iquacu, April 18, 2013

Barcelona, Spain, Olympic Stadium, May 18, 2013

Munich, Germany, Olympiastadiom, June 30, 2013                         

Los Angeles, USA, Staples Center, August 4, 2013                

AMA EnduroCross

Las Vegas, Nevada, Orleans Arena, May 3, 2013

Sacramento, California, Sleep Train Arena, June 8, 2013

Ontario, California, Citizens Bank Arena, September 21, 2013

Denver, Colorado, National Western Complex, October 12, 2013

Everett, Washington, Comcast Arena, October 26, 2013                    

Boise, Idaho, Idaho Center, November 9, 2013

Las Vegas, Nevada, Orleans Arena, November 23, 2013

Caselli and Ramirez both earned great starts coming off the line inside the top three. It was Ramirez that led the way for the first two loops with Caselli trailing approximately 15 seconds behind. When the riders approached the third loop, the course became more technical as they went into the woods. Caselli exceled in this section and was able to pass Ramirez to take over the lead. Caselli went on to take the win by 2 minutes over his teammate who held on for 2^nd.

“I am really happy to get another win and I am also happy to see Ivan perform so well here today. I now have a one race lead in the championship point standings and I am very excited for that. We will now head to the SCORE/Baja 500 event and I feel pretty confident that Ivan and I will do well there,” stated Caselli.

Next Event: Round 8 – Reno, NV – July 13, 2013

Overall Results –

1. Kurt Caselli – KTM
2. Ivan Ramirez – KTM
3. Nick Burson

Jacob Argubright 

In the XC1 Pro class, Mullins and his teammate Kailub Russell had to fight their way to the front of the pack from a bad start. Before the end of the first loop the riders had moved into the top five and shortly after that into the top three. Mullins and Russell where joined by Thad Duvall in the battle for the lead position. The three riders swapped the lead multiple times throughout the three-hour race. On the fourth lap of the race while battling with Mullins, Russell suffered a bad crash and lost a lot of time. After Russell’s crash Mullins was able to pull away out front and went on to take the win.

Russell was determined to charge back from his crash and actually reeled in Thad Duvall on the final lap making up a 30 second deficit. On the last lap, Russell made the pass to secure 2^nd position and joined Mullins on the podium.

The KTM team had another exciting highlight when rookie rider Grant Baylor took the win in the XC2 Pro Lites class. The win at the Limestone 100 marked Baylor’s first professional career win. In taking the victory, he also became the youngest rider to ever win an overall in the XC2 Pro Lites class taking the record from his older brother Steward Baylor.

Next Race: Millfield, OH – June 1-2, 2013

Overall Results (XC1 Pro and XC2 Pro Lites combined) –

1. Charlie Mullins – KTM
2. Kailub Russell – KTM
3. Thad Duvall
4. Paul Whibley
5. Grant Baylor – KTM
6. Rory Mead – KTM
7. Jason Thomas – KTM
8. Chris Bach – KTM
9. Jordan Ashburn
10. Jedediah Haines

Overall Point Standings XC1 Pro –

1. Charlie Mullins – 159
2. Kailub Russell – 140
3. Thad Duvall – 114

Overall Point Standings XC2 Pro Lites –

1. Jason Thomas – 131
2. Grant Baylor – 124
3. Andrew Delong – 121 

From that point, I just took it easy and began with ice, massage and therapy at Roslags Kliniken in Täby,Sweden to be ready for the GP in Gothenburg 6 days later. I began feeling what I believed to be half decent and fooled myself into thinking I was in good shape for the GP practice on the Friday but I was wrong there. L I felt terrible after practice but just dug deep for the event on Saturday (May 4). It started out aweful with 2 zeros before I managed to mentally shut off the pain and then pulled 2 wins and a 2^nd finishing on 8 points. I needed 9 points to go tot the semi final but I was happy with that and not even sure I could have rode in the semi as the muscles and nerves from my shoulders, neck and back were completely bound up so I could not move too well. Hey, I did the best I could and then decided that I really needed a break from racing to get well. I have now been off the bike for 2 ½ weeks and having treatment twice a day nearly everyday since. I missed 2 crucial matches for Piraterna and only 1 match for Polonia Bydgoszcz.

Today I saddled up again and made a trip down to my home track in Motala, Sweden to take some laps before heading out to Prague tomorrow for the Czech GP on Saturday. I got a lot of time on the bike today and feel so much better now. I am charged up and ready to attack the World Championship again as well as join my teams in the league title chases as well. Thank you all for the support and hanging with me. I’m Back!!!

Can’t wait to see you on the Podium again!

Greg #45

Motion Pro has joined with Team Ohio Racing / Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports (TOR-VETM) efforts to help empower disabled combat veterans in the AMA Paddock. For the remaining events in 2013, the Harley-Davidson Vance& Hines XR1200 teams partnering with VETM’s outreach (James Gang / Hoban Brothers Racing, Twisted Speed Racing and  Motolist.com Racing) will receive Motion Pro product support. Motion Pro has offered to provide those participating teams with the innovative Revolver throttle system, which is a big step forward in controlling the thundering American V-Twins. In addition to the Revolver throttles, participating teams will also have access to the broad range of unique and efficient tools and other products that Motion Pro is famous for. Combat veterans working directly within those teams will be receiving product support as well.

Motion Pro Race Support Manager Chris Van Andel says, "What Pete (Cline, VETM Founder) has been doing, to help out our returning veterans and give them an opportunity to work with some of the best professional race teams in the USA, is a really great thing. We have been helping out the vets with Motion Pro Tech Gloves and other items for some time now, but we had an idea to say thanks to the teams as well that are participating in this program."

Van Andel continued "Reading the responses from the veterans about their experiences at the track is extremely moving. These guys gave their all to protect our country, and to be able to give a little something back to them is very satisfying. The race teams are also making an extra effort to integrate these vets into their program, and really make them a part of it, not just visitors sitting on the sidelines. It's clear that this effort is something that is hugely beneficial to these vets. We wanted to do everything we can to support everyone involved in this great project."

“I connected with Van Andel and Motion Pro prior to our first race in 2012. I really wanted to work with an innovative and passionate American company in the AMA Paddock, and Motion Pro was that company. After the first event, TOR-VETM realized that we were on to something that was positively affecting our combat veteran participants. Motion Pro was there in the beginning, and for them to continue and increase their support to TOR-VETM is phenomenal. Being able to hand a set of Tech Gloves to our veterans is like Christmas for these guys. Providing Revolver throttles and product support to the team owners is icing on the cake” added TOR-VETM Founder Pete Cline.

Motion Pro, Inc. designs and manufactures high quality cables, tools and controls for motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and personal watercraft. Motion Pro was founded in 1984 by Christopher Carter. A gold medal winner in the prestigious 6-day ISDT, Carter and his team of engineers developed most of the tools and products we offer. Motion Pro products are used and endorsed by champions and professional mechanics worldwide. Motion Pro has its roots in racing and provides support to many professional and amateur riders. We also support a wide range of events covering amateur to professional dirt track, off-road, ATV and motocross.

About Team Ohio Racing’s / Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports: Team Ohio Racing is the first motorsports team to fully integrate disabled veterans into an active race team environment. By working with the Wounded Warrior Project, local alumni-warriors are incorporated into their AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines XR1200 team. Team Ohio Racing delivers respect to the WWP mission by working with WWP-Alumni members, allowing them to focus on their abilities instead of disabilities, and to heal and empower through motorsports.

Russell did not have the jump off the start he anticipated and he was sitting in last position as the riders came around the first corner. A short ways into the first lap the riders approached a large technical hill climb.

“In one way, I guess I was lucky I was in last place as we got to the hillside because I could see where everyone had crashed,” remarked Russell. “I was then able to take a better line up the hill which allowed me to move up to second position by the top of the hill.”

Russell maintained second place for the next three laps while the course started to break in. “Once there were some good lines in the course it became easier to not make mistakes and those of us in the top three were able to pull away,” stated Russell.

Around the halfway point, Russell was able to move into first after Paul Whibley stopped for fuel. Once in the lead, Russell never looked back and went on to win the race by 40 seconds.

Next Event: Fort Smith, AK – May 26, 2013

Overall Results –

1. Kailub Russell – KTM
2. Paul Whibley
3. Russell Bobbitt
4. Jordan Ashburn
5. Nick Fahringer

Photo: Simon Cudby

Bobbitt got off to a decent start and was sitting inside the top five as the riders rounded the first corner. A few hundred yards into the course, the riders encountered a large rutted hillside that held many riders up. Unfortunately for Bobbitt, a rider crashed right in front of him on the hill which caused Bobbitt to lose his momentum and find a new line up the hillside. He quickly manuvered around the rider and was sitting in third position at the top of the hill.

In the next two laps Bobbitt charged forward and actually held the lead at one point before he slid out in a slick corner allowing the top five riders to pass. Bobbitt spent the remainder of the race catching back up to podium position. On the last lap he had a great battle with Jordan Ashburn for the final podium spot. With only three corners to go, Bobbitt was able to come up on the inside of Ashburn through the turn and make a pass for third position. Bobbitt’s podium finish keeps him in the lead in the overall point standings.

AirGroup Radiant/Husaberg rider, Nick Fahringer, also had a decent finish at the Bedford round. Fahringer, struggled with a poor tire choice at this race, but still managed to finish fifth overall on the day. “I would have definitely liked to finish on the podium today, but I am happy I was still able to salvage a top five position,” remarked Fahringer.

Both riders now have a two week break before they head to the fourth round of the series to be held in Fort Smith, AK on May 26, 2013.

Overall Results –

1. Kailub Russell
2. Paul Whibley
3. Russell Bobbitt – HSB
4. Jordan Ashburn
5. Nick Fahringer – HSB

"This is an exciting step for our sport," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "The ability to live stream our events will help us reach a crucial demographic and provide coverage of the sport globally. Our staff has worked long and hard on this system and we are proud to be able to provide live streaming for the fans this season."

Initially, AMA Pro Live's implementation at AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events will consist of two video channels alongside live timing and scoring and social media feeds, providing complete coverage from the first practice until the final checkered flag. The first channel will feature a camera mounted in the P.A. booth overlooking all of the action, and will include an audio feed of Scottie Deubler and Barry Boone providing play-by-play analysis of the racing. The second camera will be located trackside near the start-finish line, giving fans a close-up view of the day's racing activity and allowing them to hear the thunder of the motorcycles as they roar around the track. Additional channels are planned for future events, including a roaming camera in the pits and on-board cameras mounted on the motorcycles.

AMA Pro Live will be live streaming content from all rounds on the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule. For those that can't make it to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif. for this weekend's Stockton Half-Mile, this link - http://www.amaprolive.com - will grant them direct access to AMA Pro Live and allow them to follow along as the event unfolds. Live streaming of practice and qualifying is set to begin Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. EST (12:30 p.m. PST), with opening ceremonies for the main event set to begin at 10:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. PST).

It's just a matter of days until the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles roll out their twin-cylinder machines for the first time this season. For tickets and more information on the Stockton Half-Mile, please visit http://www.showclix.com/events/17007

Jericho, UT – Factory FMF/KTM rider Kurt Caselli took his fourth consecutive win of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series at the sixth round held in Jericho, UT.

Caselli got off to a great start sitting in third position at the end of the bomb run. His teammate, Ivan Ramirez, earned the holeshot and led the pack as they began the first loop.

Caselli quickly passed into second place part way into the first loop. Moments later he was able to get around his teammate after Ramirez got turned around on the course. Once in the lead, Caselli quickly gapped the field and went on to collect his fourth win of the season with a four minute lead over the second place ride of Jacob Argubright. Ramirez eventually got back on track and was able to come back to a fourth place finish.

“The weather was amazing at this race,” remarked Caselli. “It was great for riding but a little dusty until I got out front. Once I was in the lead, I was able to just cruise and ride it in for the win.”

Next Event: Jericho, UT – May 18, 2013

Overall Results –

1. Kurt Caselli – KTM
2. Jacob Argubright
3. Nick  Burson
4. Ivan Ramirez – KTM
5. Robert Underwood – KTM

Overall Point Standings –

1. Kurt Caselli – 145
2. Jacob Argubright – 122
3. Nick Burson – 114

After the announcement of the collapse of the JDR/J-Star/KTM Team, KTM Motorsports and FMF Racing combined efforts to create a team for Savatgy, recently named the AMA Rookie of the Year.

“We see great potential with Joey in his rookie year and want to continue to help him achieve his goals and improve his results with our brand,” stated KTM North America, Inc. President Jon-Erik Burleson. “Unfortunately, his former team encountered struggles that have left Joey without an outdoor ride. Our long-standing relationship with FMF and their current involvement with our company and vested interest in Joey and his future have made this collaboration possible. We are excited to say that Joey will remain on a KTM for the outdoors series where we look forward to seeing continued progress in his results.”

Donny Emler, Marketing Director of FMF Racing, commented, “We have supported Joey since he was riding KTM 65’s as an amateur and it is great to support his effort in his first year pro. We have a great relationship with KTM and we are excited to come on as the title sponsor to this first year team.”

Savatgy, who is fresh off his first Supercross season, is excited for the launch of the new team at the start of the outdoor series. “This is my first year competing in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series and it feels like a new beginning. I have already been riding KTM for six months now, but to have a team of sponsors that I strongly support and that feel the same about me makes this an exciting opportunity. I am looking forward to the first gate drop at the Hangtown event. I am very excited about my future with the FMF/Orange Brigade/KTM Team.”

Timmy Weigand comes out swinging at round 4 of the 2013 AMA West Coast GP series, taking home a dominating win and extending his grasp on the 2013 championship with his 4th win of the season.

The opening round of the 2013 AMA EnduroCross season did not disappoint as JCR/Honda EnduroCross sensation Colton Haaker shined in the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. Battling all night long, Colton Haaker showed he has the speed and endurance to challenge for the championship. You can watch the race in its entirety here. http://youtu.be/UkcFL09An-Q

"I am very proud of all the hard work the team has put into 2013 and it shows in the results. We made some big commitments this year and with the help of our sponsors, racers and team we intend to make good on those commitments." -- Johnny Campbell

Broadcast live EnduroCross fans will be able to access the shows via the www.EnduroCross.com and www.DirtRider.com websites or the Motor Trend YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/motortrend), which already has over a million subscribers.

For more information, please visit www.EnduroCross.com

Davi Millsaps has had a season no one will ever forget. Accomplishing far more than any outside opinion could have dreamed of. From the beginning of the year when his results were considered a fluke to comments on the message boards now exclaiming that next year he will be #1. What a difference a year makes. Unfortunately next year is what Davi’s fans are going to be forced to wait for. Millsaps announced at the Vegas press conference that he will be going through a much needed surgery to repair his knee and femur. It’s a real testament to his commitment that he even completed the SX season. Certainly a tough decision to make when riding at such a high level, but it is the right one. It will extend his career in the long run and DM will be even better coming in next year. Maybe that is just what he needs to procure that elusive number 1 plate in 2014.

Although the Supercross Championship had been locked up by Ryan Villopoto a week ago in Salt Lake City, there was still 2nd place to be decided. Davi and Ryan Dungey were separated by a mere 3 points coming into Las Vegas. When the gate dropped for the main event the 3 top riders this season quickly found themselves in a familiar position. 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Millsaps did exactly what he needed to by picking up his incredible 12th podium of 2013. He eclipsed Dungey by 1 point, finishing 2nd overall in the championship for the second consecutive year.

Davi Millsaps – “Good Season. It’s over. 2nd overall. Not too shabby. Gonna come back swinging next year.I did the best I could. It was fun, exciting and I’m looking forward to what’s next to come.”

Blake Wharton also matched his season overall from last year with 3rd place in the East Coast 250 Championship. He just missed the podium in his main event with a solid 4th. He was also the top Rockstar Energy Racing rider in the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout with another top 5.

Jason Anderson picked up the first win of his young career one week ago. In doing so he had great starts all night. He rode good in Sin City but suffered from less than stellar results out of the gate in both the West Coast main and the shootout. He came through the pack good but just had too big of a deficit to make up in both races. He could only manage two 6th place finishes by night’s end. Jason finished 4th overall in the series.

Jason Anderson – “It was an alright day. I had bad starts. I’ve definitely had better starts. I ended up 6th in my main and the shootout and I just rode alright.”

Ryan Sipes is still racing himself back into shape after his long layoff. He was able to pick up a top 5 in the West main event however. His result in the shootout was not quite as good as he crossed the finish line in 7th place just behind Anderson.

Ryan Sipes – “It was better than last week I thought. Better than Salt Lake or Seattle. I felt like I rode a little stronger. I’m still not riding like I can but I’m working on it and getting closer. My starts are better so I just need to try to build off of it and take it to outdoors.”

The team now has a weekend off of racing so they can make the shift to focusing solely on the Lucas Oil Outdoor Motocross Championship beginning at Hangtown MX in Rancho Cordova, CA. Millsaps will immediately get his surgery out of the way and work to rehab for next season. Anderson who had a good SX season is very excited for MX as he is more comfortable on that style of track. Nico Izzi will be very eager to finally make his return to the race track after a knee injury sidelined him for the entire SX season. Sipes will enjoy the week off to work on returning to his top form. Wharton will also be working on some things to prepare for the much more physically challenging outdoor format.

450SX Overall

1. Ryan Villopoto Kaw
2. Ryan Dungey KTM
3. Davi Millsaps Suz
4. Jake Weimer Kaw
5. Justin Barcia Hon
6. Chad Reed Hon
7. Weston Peick Suz
8. Justin Brayton Yam
9. Andrew Short KTM
10. Broc Tickle Suz
11. Phil Nicoletti Yam
12. Robby Kiniry Yam
13. Kyle Regal Yam
14. Josh Hill Suz
15. Chris Blose Yam
16. Cody Gilmore Kaw
17. Kyle Partridge Hon
18. Nicholas Schmidt Hon
19. Tevin Tapia Suz
20. Trey Canard Hon

450SX Final Point Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto 371pts Kaw *Clinched title
2. Davi Millsaps 338pts Suz
3. Ryan Dungey 337pts KTM
4. Justin Barcia 277pts Hon
5. Chad Reed 239pts Hon
6. Trey Canard 221pts Hon
7. Andrew Short 214pts KTM
8. Justin Brayton 190pts Yam
9. Broc Tickle 176pts Suz
10. James Stewart 174pts Suz
11. Jake Weimer 157pts Kaw
12. Matt Goerke 139pts KTM
13. Mike Alessi 107pts Suz
14. Weston Peick 105pts Suz
15. Josh Hill 93pts Suz
16. Robby Kiniry 66pts Yam
17. Phil Nicoletti 58pts Yam
18. Eli Tomac 52pts Hon
19. Chris Blose 50pts Yam
20. Vince Friese 45pts Hon

250SX West Region Overall
1. Eli Tomac Hon
2. Ken Roczen KTM
3. Martin Davalos Kaw
4. Kyle Cunningham Yam
5. Ryan Sipes Suz
6. Jason Anderson Suz
7. Malcolm Stewart KTM
8. Cole Seely Hon
9. Tyla Rattray Kaw
10. Joey Savatgy KTM
11. Travis Baker Yam
12. Topher Ingalls Hon
13. Gared Steinke Kaw
14. Killy Rusk Hon
15. Dakota Tedder Kaw
16. Scott Champion Hon
17. Chris Plouffe Hon
18. Ross Johnson Hon
19. Austin Politelli Hon
20. Zach Osborne Hon

250SX West Region Point Standings
1. Ken Roczen 185pts KTM *Clinched 250SX West title
2. Eli Tomac 183pts Hon
3. Cole Seely 148pts Hon
4. Jason Anderson 139pts Suz
5. Martin Davalos 134pts Kaw
6. Kyle Cunningham 114pts Yam
7. Zach Osborne 112pts Hon
8. Tyla Rattray 99pts Kaw
9. Joey Savatgy 98pts KTM
10. Malcolm Stewart 88pts KTM
11. Christian Craig 87pts Hon
12. Travis Baker 80pts Yam
13. Austin Politelli 76pts Hon
14. Ryan Sipes 75pts Suz
15. Jessy Nelson 60pts Hon
16. Max Anstie 38pts Suz
17. Josh Cachia 29pts KTM
18. Jake Canada 28pts Hon
19. Scott Champion 28pts Hon
20. Dakota Tedder 24pts Kaw

250SX East Region Overall
1. Tyler Bowers Kaw
2. Marvin Musquin KTM
3. Wil Hahn Hon
4. Blake Wharton Suz
5. Gavin Faith Hon
6. Vince Friese Hon
7. Lance Vincent KTM
8. Cole Thompson Hon
9. Daniel Herrlein Hon
10. AJ Catanzaro Kaw
11. Brady Kiesel Yam
12. Levi Kilbarger Hon
13. PJ Larsen Yam
14. Ryan Zimmer Hon
15. Justin Starling Hon
16. Mitchell Oldenburg Hon
17. Adam Gulley Kaw
18. Jackson Richardson Hon
19. Landen Powell Hon
20. Steven Clarke KTM

250SX East Region Point Standings
1. Wil Hahn 198pts Hon *Clinched 250SX East title
2. Marvin Musquin 195pts KTM
3. Blake Wharton 171pts Suz
4. Vince Friese 118pts Hon
5. Gavin Faith 116pts Hon
6. Cole Thompson 96pts Hon
7. Dean Wilson 87pts Kaw
8. Lance Vincent 80pts KTM
9. Kyle Peters 78pts Hon
10. AJ Catanzaro 73pts Kaw
11. Jeremy Martin 71pts Yam
12. Justin Hill 68pts Kaw
13. Jimmy Decotis 66pts Kaw
14. Mitchell Oldenburg 66pts Hon
15. PJ Larsen 62pts Yam
16. Tyler Bowers 59pts Kaw
17. Levi Kilbarger 49pts Hon
18. Jackson Richardson 45pts Hon
19. Daniel Herrlein 43pts Hon
20. Steven Clarke 40pts KTM

Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout
1. Ken Roczen KTM
2. Kyle Cunningham Yam
3. Marvin Musquin KTM
4. Martin Davalos Kaw
5. Blake Wharton Suz
6. Jason Anderson Suz
7. Ryan Sipes Suz
8. Cole Seely Hon
9. Malcolm Stewart KTM
10. Tyla Rattray Kaw
11. Zach Osborne Hon
12. Joey Savatgy KTM
13. Eli Tomac Hon
14. Tyler Bowers Kaw
15. Vince Friese Hon
16. Lance Vincent KTM
17. Cole Thompson Hon
18. Daniel Herrlein Hon
19. Gavin Faith Hon
20. Wil Hahn Hon

Packing up and heading to Park City, Kentucky for the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mammoth GNCC, weather was expected to provide a serious mudder for Sunday's AM race. FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis rider, Kacy Martinez, came into the round second in points and feeling confident about her capabilities in the muddy conditions.

With such intense conditions, the crew at GNCC made the decision to combine the AM race into the PM race for a condensed two-hour event. With a little more time than usual to prepare, Martinez was mentally and physically ready to conquer the two-hour race. Off the start, Martinez grabbed a hold of the lead and strategically maneuvered her way through the muddy, burned in Pro lines on her KTM 250XC-F; that allowed her to guide her way through the course and downed-riders. "I was so happy to get the win after that crazy, hard race! I can't believe how muddy it was and how good I was actually riding. I felt really good the whole race and never got stuck once, I believe that helped me tremendously. I am stoked to be able to win a mudder that they said was probably the hardest mud race they have ever had. I'm pumped!" Martinez stated.

Over the course of the next two-hours, Martinez maintained the lead with composure and little pressure from the field. The only Women to complete three full laps, Martinez rode her way to the top podium spot ahead of Becca Sheets and Rachel Gutish.

Martinez now sits in the points lead, just two points of fellow-KTM rider Maria Forsberg and Becca Sheets.

Full results can be found here: http://www.racer-results.net/results/gncc/2013/results.asp

Las Vegas, NV – Factory FMF/KTM rider Mike Brown earned his first official AMA EnduroCross Series win at the opening round held at the Orleans Arena. Red Bull KTM Factory rider and reigning AMA EnduroCross Champion, Taddy Blazusiak, finished second overall.

Brown was the highlight of the show from the afternoon hot lap session where he earned the fastest time until the final finish line jump where he secured his first win. Brown never showed any signs of struggling and made the technical track look easy as he worked toward his win.

Brown, an X-Games EnduroX Gold Medalist, was placed in the first heat where he choose the far inside gate. His gate choice paid off and earned him the holeshot and helped him to lead every lap to easily qualify into the main event. Blazusiak followed in Brown’s footsteps and also took a heat win aboard his KTM 350cc machine.

The AMA EnduroCross Series added a new element to its night show line-up for the 2013 season where the twelve riders that qualify for the main event ride in hot laps with the fastest person getting first gate pick. Brown again took the honor of holding the top spot after turning a 40.1. Blazusiak earned the second choice spot with a time of 40.2.

The two riders choose the two inside gates for the start of the main event. Just as predicted, they rounded the first corner in that order with Brown taking the holeshot and Blazusiak in second. The two riders never changed position throughout the twelve lap main event. Brown went on to earn his first career EnduroCross win while Blazuisak took the runner-up position with Colton Haaker rounding out the podium in third.

“It feels so great to get my first win tonight. I’ve been training hard and working toward this goal for a few years now and everything finally feels right. I am extremely grateful to my team that has been behind me this season and built me a great bike. I hope to carry my momentum into the next round and work toward a championship,” stated Brown.

Blazusiak was also happy with his performance, “I struggled a little bit with bike set-up this morning but everything was improved for the main event. I am happy to start the season off on the podium but I definitely have a goal of being on the top step and will shoot for that at the next round.”

Factory FMF/KTM rider and the reigning Women’s EnduroCross Champion, Maria Forsberg, had a spell of bad luck in her main event. She grabbed the holeshot in the main but made a mistake approaching a large log section which sent her back to second place. A corner later she was taken out by another rider and because of the position of her fall, had to wait for all riders to pass by before she could get back on her bike. She restarted in last position and in the short three-lap race was able to climb back to fourth place just barely missing out on a podium finish.

Next Event: Sacramento, CA – June 8, 2013

Overall Results Pro Class  –

1. Mike Brown – KTM
2. Taddy Blazusiak – KTM
3. Colton Haaker
4. Cody Webb
5. Geoff Aaron – KTM

Overall Results Women’s Class –

1. Shelby Turner – KTM
2. Chantelle Bykerk – KTM
3. Rachel Gutish
4. Maria Forsberg – KTM
5. Sarah Whitmore – KTM

Park City, KY – Factory FMF/KTM rider Charlie Mullins still holds the GNCC XC1 Pro class points lead despite suffering a mechanical issue on the fourth lap of the event. His teammate, Kailub Russell, also suffered a technical issue on the muddy race course resulting in a DNF.

It was Russell who got off to a great start at the beginning of the race as he sat in the top five around the first corner. Mullins was last off the line but quickly came up through the pack and was in the top ten by the fourth corner.

At the end of the first lap both teammates were within striking distance of the lead. Russell continued to pressure Josh Strang for the lead position throughout the first three laps before he suffered a mechanical that took him from the race. Mullins made it to the fourth lap before the muddy conditions struck him with a spell of bad luck that also led to him not completing the race. Mullins suffered his mechanical issue with one lap remaining in the race which helped him hold on to a 14^th place position despite not finishing. The points earned from the race today along with his previous season wins allow him to keep the points lead heading to the next event.

Women’s GNCC point leader and Factory FMF/KTM rider Maria Forsberg finished 5^th overall at the Mammoth GNCC. She had a second place start and remained in that position through the first lap but encountered a technical issue shortly into the second lap that caused her to not finish the race. RPM/KTM rider Kacy Martinez had an error free race and was able to take the holeshot in the Women’s class and go on to win her first GNCC event of the season.

Next Event: Springville, IN – May 18-19, 2013

Overall XC1 Point Standings –

1. Charlie Mullins – 122
2. Kailub Russell – 105
3. Thad Duvall – 93

Salt Lake City offered a tight and rocky track for the riders to contest. The qualifying sessions went well for the trio with Blose 15^th, Kiniry in 16^th and Nicoletti in 17^th.

Kiniry led off the first heat race just inside of qualifying position. With steady and consistent laps Kiniry would maintain that qualifying position for the remainder of the heat.

Heat race two would be a little more exciting for the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha team as Nicoletti and Blose would be competing for their share of the nine possible qualifying spots. They both started inside the top 10 and had some fierce competition from the rest of the pack. Blose would maintain his qualifying position throughout the race, transferring directly to the main event. Meanwhile, Nicoletti was struggling in the whoops and fighting off pressure from other racers. He was able to hold off the rest of the pack and secure a qualifying spot alongside his teammates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

As the pack of 20 riders charged into the first turn for the           main event, Nicoletti, Kiniry and Blose were looking like they could come out with top 10 positions. Nicoletti did just that with Kiniry in tow. Blose, however, had gotten hit hard from behind and was sent to the back of the pack. By the end of the first lap, Nicoletti and Kiniry were both mid pack and Blose was in 19^th. Nicoletti and Kiniry were both working hard to maintain their positions while Blose was trying to make his way through the pack. As the checkered flag flew, Kiniry was able to pass his teammate for 14^th followed closely by Nicoletti in 15^th and Blose 17^th.

“After not making the main last weekend I really wanted to finish strong tonight,” said Kiniry. “The track was the biggest challenge tonight so I just focused on my riding and made sure not to make any mistakes. 14^th was okay but I am not going to stop working and give it everything I’ve got to get a top 10 next weekend.”

“I struggled with the whoops tonight,” said Nicoletti. “I was really hoping to repeat my top 10 finish from last weekend. For sure next weekend my goal is to improve on my best finish and get another top 10.”

“I started okay and was into the first turn close to the front of the pack when I got hit hard from behind,” said Blose. “I was lucky to not go down but it put me at the back of the pack as I went around turn two. I just put my head down and rode as hard as I could. I seem to ride well on the hard packed Vegas track so I’m looking forward to next weekend and ending the Supercross season on a high note.”

The series travels to Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas for the 17^thand final round of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series this Saturday, May4^th. Be sure to stop by the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha truck to show your support and to have your picture taken with Chris Blose, Phil Nicoletti and Bob Kiniry from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. See you there!

About N-Fab TiLUBE Yamaha Racing:

N-FAB is the industry leader in making quality Nerf-Bars, Pre-Runners and other Off-Road accessories. We design and manufacture the strongest, most durable and best looking Nerf-Bars available in the industry today. TiLUBE products offer engine protection in extreme conditions, outperform the manufactures requirements, are dyno tested to offer engine protection in extreme conditions and outperform the manufactures requirements.

Photo: Vital MX

N-Fab TiLUBE Yamaha is proudly supported by:

N-FAB, TiLUBE, Yamaha, St. Lawrence Radiology, Perfex, http://www.babbittsonline.com/Wiseco, Motion Pro, Akrapovic, Ride Engineering, Podium Ink, K&N Filters, Cycra, Mafia M/C, Fusion Graphics, Dunlop, Daniel Crower Racing, Enzo Racing, Tamer Motocross, ARC Levers, SDG USA, 77Five, Excel A60, Crank Works, Sunstar Sprockets & Chains, Metaltek, ODI Grips, Brembo, Dubya, Bermcannon,

April 28, 2013

Mullins Wins Rad Dad National Enduro

West Point, TN – Factory FMF/KTM rider Charlie Mullins took his fourth win of the season at the fifth round of the Rekluse/AMA National Enduro Series.

Mullins started the day off well taking the first test section win by 18 seconds on the next closest competitor. He kept his momentum going finishing second overall in the next three sections just seconds away from the top times. He found another burst of energy in the fifth and sixth tests where he again took the win in both sections to earn his fourth win of the season.

“It was a pretty muddy course today because of the rain but the course actually became pretty fun near the end when it began to dry up,” remarked Mullins. His Factory FMF/KTM Team Manager Antti Kallonen, also stated, “Mullins really turned it up in the final sections once he was able to gain more traction from the drier course. It allowed him to extend his lead as he worked his way toward another win.”

Now five rounds into the series, Mullins holds a 20 point lead in the championship standings. The next round will be held on June 9, 2013 in Marquette, MI.

Overall Results –

1. Charlie Mullins – KTM
2. Nick Fahringer
3. Russell Bobbitt
4. Andrew Delong
5. Mike Lafferty
6. Grant Baylor
7. Jesse Groemm
8. Brad Bakken
9. Ian Blythe
10. Jordan Ashburn

Overall Point Standings –

1. Charlie Mullins – 130
2. Russell Bobbitt – 110

Nick Fahringer – 108

Current GEICO EnduroCross star overcomes adversity to win first Global X Games Enduro X

Irvine, CA (April 22, 2013) – Taddy Blazusiak, the current GEICO AMA EnduroCross champion had to overcome a poor qualifying heat race and an extremely slippery track to win the first ever Global X Games Enduro X event, which was held in Foz Do Iquacu, Brazil. Cody Webb, runner up in the 2012 GEICO EnduroCross Championship showed that he is capable of challenging Blazusiak and leading when he washed out the front end to give up the lead. In fact, Webb and Blazusiak exchanged the lead several times in the first few laps. Webb recovered to finish second ahead of the UK’s David Knight, the multi time World Enduro and GNCC Champio, making it three nationalities on the podium.

"I don't know how it looks on TV but I have never ridden something as hard as this track," Blazusiak said after the finals. "It's so slick ... I'm super stoked on first place. I gave it all I had and I'm so pumped."

Colton Haaker, another American and winner of the 2012 Las Vegas opening round finished in fourth position riding a new Rockstar Energy, Lucas Oil backed Honda. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Taylor Robert rounded out the top five. 

2013 X Games Enduro X, Brazil, Men’s Final Results

1          Taddy Blazusiak           

2          Cody Webb     

3          David Knight    

4          Colton Haaker  

5          Taylor Robert   

6          Mike Brown      

7          Cory Graffunder           

8          Kyle Redmond 

9          Alfredo Gomez 

10         Max Gerston    

11         Geoff Aaron     

12         Bobby Prochnau          

13         Bryan Roper     

14         Ricky Dietrich   

15         Gary Sutherlin  

Watch the video of the Men’s final here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Qttkfrs0o

In the Women’s completion, it was another podium with three Nationalities represented as Spain’s Laia Sainz topped American Maria Forsberg and Puerto Rico’s Tara Geiger. Sainz is a multi-time Women’s World Enduro champion and looked very comfortable in her first ever X Games Enduro X event. Sainz took the lead from Forsberg on the first lap and rode a clean race to take the gold medal. Forsberg had to battle back from a first lap delay to earn the silver medal while Geiger, the former Women’s X Games Women’s Moto X champion rode a consistent race for the bronze.

2013 X Games Enduro X, Brazil, Women’s Final Results

1          Laia Sanz         

2          Tarah Gieger    

3          Rachel Gutish   

4          Kacy Martinez  

5          Chantelle Bykerk           

6          Jolene Van Vugt           

7          Maria Forsberg 

8          Marcella Gonclaves      

9          Mariana Balbi   

10         Stefany Serrao

Watch the video of the Women’s final here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_AcfeDk5XU

The top EnduroCross riders will now head to Las Vegas for the opening round of the 2013 GEICO AMA EnduroCross series will kick off on Friday, May 3^rd during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross finals weekend in Las Vegas.  You can get tickets at the Orleans Arena Box office: http://www.orleansarena.com/event-calendar/geico-endurocross-summer-2013

For more information, please visit www.EnduroCross.com 

2013 X Games Enduro X

Location                                   Date                                         Arena / Additional Information

Foz do Iquacu Brazil                  April 18, 2013                            Foz do Iquacu

Barcelona, Spain                       May 18, 2013                            Barcelona Olympic Stadium

Munich, Germany                      June 30, 2013                            Olympiastadion

Los Angeles, USA                     August 4, 2013                          Staples Center

2013 GEICO AMA EnduroCross, Fueled by Monster Energy Schedule

Location                                   Date                                         Arena / Additional Information

Las Vegas, Nevada                   May 3, 2013                              Orleans Arena (Friday during Supercross weekend)

Sacramento, California              June 8, 2013                             Sleep Train Arena

Ontario, California                     September 21, 2013                  Citizens Business Bank Arena

Denver, Colorado                      October 12, 2013                       National Western Complex

Everett, Washington                  October 26, 2013                       Comcast Arena

Boise, Idaho                             November 9, 2013                     Idaho Center

Las Vegas, Nevada                   November 23, 2013                   Orleans Arena

Like EnduroCross!  

EnduroCross tracks incorporate various elements of extreme off road racing into a Supercross-style setting, including rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, a water-hole…and even a few special obstacles like giant tires thrown in!  Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” this indoor off road racing will certainly keep you on your feet. For the seven EnduroCross events, be sure to log-on to www.motorsportshour.com for local air dates/times for the Lucas Motorsports Hour on the Versus network. 

Mullins Wins Big Buck GNCC

Union, SC – Factory FMF/KTM teammates Charlie Mullins and Kailub Russell topped the podium again for the fourth consecutive race adding a third win to Mullins championship hunt and the fourth podium for Russell.

Rain the week prior had made the track condition prime for off-road racing. There were only a few mud holes and the course was moist enough in most areas to keep the dust down. The optimal conditions allowed the racing to be close in all classes.

Mullins and Russell launched off the line to top three starts. Russell quickly moved into the lead with Mullins in tow and the two teammates speedily pulled away from the rest of the field. Russell would lead the first three laps of the race before Mullins made a pass for the lead after the gas stop. Russell suffered a crash shortly after the gas stop and lost 15 seconds to his teammate. He quickly recovered and put down a fast lap in order to make up 7 seconds on Mullins. For the final lap of the race the teammates were within 10 seconds of each other. As they approached the last mile of the race, Russell fell in a corner which allowed Mullins to move ahead and claim his third win of the season. Russell finished approximately 30 seconds behind in the runner-up position.

“Kailub gave me a run for my money today,” commented Mullins. “We have been close all season but today was definitely a challenge. It is great to be battling with my teammate and to have someone push me at each event. I am glad to get the win here today and add to my points lead.”

In the GNCC XC2 Pro Lites class KTM support rider Grant Baylor grabbed the holeshot. He ran inside the top five all day and eventually went on to finish second overall. His podium finish at the Big Buck GNCC allows him to maintain second place in the championship standings.

Factory FMF/KTM rider Maria Forsberg, fresh off her silver medal at the Women’s X-Games EnduroCross in Brazil, put together another solid performance to claim her third win in a row. Forsberg got off to a great start and battled with RPM/KTM rider Kacy Martinez throughout the day. When the checkered flag flew Forsberg took the win, Martinez finished second and Jessica Patterson rounded out the podium.

Next Event: Mammoth, KY – May 4-5, 2013

Overall Results (XC1 and XC2 Pro Lites combined) –

1. Charlie Mullins – KTM
2. Kailub Russell – KTM
3. Thad Duvall
4. Chris Bach – KTM
5. Paul Whibley
6. Andrew Delong
7. Grant Baylor – KTM
8. Aaron Plessinger
9. Josh Strang
10. Jedediah Haines

Overall Results GNCC Women’s –

1. Maria Forsberg – KTM
2. Kacy Martinez – KTM
3. Jessica Patterson
4. Becca Sheets
5. Hannah Otto – KTM
6. Mandi Mastin – KTM
7. Rachel Gutish
8. Felicia Robichaud – KTM
9. Brooke Cosner
10. Allie Spurgeon – KTM

Overall Point Standings GNCC XC1 –

1. Charlie Mullins – 115
2. Kailub Russell – 105
3. Chris Bach – 70

Overall Point Standings GNCC XC2 Pro Lites –

1. Andrew Delong – 108
2. Grant Baylor – 87
3. Jason Thomas – 81

Overall Point Standings GNCC Women’s –

1. Maria Forsberg – 78
2. Kacy Martinez – 76

Jessica Patterson – 74

"The talent that Colton Haaker has is extraordinary. This is set to be a banner year for JCR/Honda and Colton Haaker. I am going to be glued to ESPN tonight and hoping for a podium finish." -- Johnny Campbell

Irvine, Calif. (April 17, 2013) – In a racing discipline that has seen exponential growth, Monster Energy Kawasaki is prepared to battle for a championship in the 2013 AMA EnduroCross series. Returning riders Taylor Robert and Justin Soulé both reached the podium last season and will concentrate exclusively on EnduroCross in 2013 racing the KX™250F.

Last year Robert dominated the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) capturing his first professional championship for Kawasaki. He finished in the top-five in six of the eight rounds of the 2012 AMA EnduroCross series including three podiums on his way to third overall in the championship standings. Thus far in 2013, Robert has won two of three WORCS rounds and finished on the podium at the Enduro Del Verano in Argentina. With his focus on EnduroCross, he will also travel to the four X Games stops featuring Enduro X in Brazil, Spain, Germany, and Los Angeles. Past X Games medalist Soulé finished on the podium twice last season despite dealing with an injury at the second round. Looking for redemption, he will join Robert at X Games Los Angeles, and will line up behind the gate at the first round of the AMA EnduroCross Championship in May.

“We’ve reevaluated our program and are really excited to start the new season,” said Kawasaki Senior Racing Manager, Reid Nordin. “Taylor and Justin raced two different disciplines last year and were on the podium in both. This year concentrating on EnduroCross and riding only the KX250F, we expect them both be battling for wins every weekend. EnduroCross is getting a large amount of attention in off-road racing and will only continue to grow with the X Games.”

Robert will kick off the EnduroCross season this Thursday, April 18^th at X Games Foz Do Iquacu, Brazil in Enduro X. The AMA EnduroCross Championship series will kick off at The Orleans in Las Vegas, Nev., on May 3, 2013.

Lucerne Valley, CA – Factory FMF/KTM rider Kurt Caselli won the fourth round of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series held in the desert of Lucerne Valley to capture his second win of the 2013 season.

Caselli got a great jump off the start line and was sitting in second position as the riders ended the bomb run. He trailed the lead rider for the first 10 miles of the race before he made a pass to take over the lead. Caselli never looked back and went on to take the overall win by five minutes over the second place finisher.

“It was a 100 mile race today,” commented Caselli. “I knew that meant that we would be riding for close to three hours so I took it easy on the first loop and tried not to overdo it. By the time I got in the lead I was able to ride relaxed and really enjoyed the second and third loop. This season started off pretty inconsistent for me and I am happy to have two back to back wins.”

Caselli’s teammates, Ivan Ramirez and Toby Price, were not as fortunate with their results this weekend. Price suffered a serious crash early in the race and had to be flown to the nearby hospital. He sustained a broken neck and will undergo surgery this week. Ramirez was sitting inside the top five for most of the race before he rode off course and got turned around. He lost valuable time during that mistake. When he returned to the correct loop he was able to make up some time and eventually finished 15^th overall.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Toby and his family,” stated Caselli. “He is one of the toughest guys I know. He is very strong and will pull through this but we know it will be a long road to recovery and we wish him the best.”

Now four rounds into the series, Caselli moves into the championship point lead. He currently holds a three point lead.  

Next Event: April 27-28, 2013 – Lucerne Valley, CA

Overall Results –

1. Kurt Caselli – KTM
2. Jacob Argubright
3. Tuffy Pearson
4. Nick Burson
5. Evan Kelly

Robert Underwood – KTM

Forest Hill, LA – Factory FMF/KTM rider Charlie Mullins took his third win of the season at the fourth round of the Rekluse/AMA National Enduro Series where he won all six special tests in route to victory.

Rain the night before and morning mist had made the first few sections quite muddy. This proved to be no challenge for Mullins and his KTM 350 XC-F. He crushed the first test section taking the win by 37 seconds. He continued to stretch his lead in the remaining tests, taking the win in all sections. At the conclusion of the race he won by a margin of over two and a half minutes ahead of Husaberg’s Russell Bobbitt.

“I have never won all six special tests before,” remarked Mullins. “It feels pretty cool to do that. I felt really good today and had no issues. My bike was flawless. My team did a great job with my bike and I am grateful I was able to do my end and get the win.”

Now four rounds into the series, Mullins leads the championship standings by 11 points.

Next Event: April 28, 2013 – West Point, TN

Overall Results –

1. Charlie Mullins – KTM
2. Russell Bobbitt
3. Nick Fahringer
4. Mike Lafferty
5. Jesse Groemm
6. Grant Baylor – KTM
7. Josh Weisenfels
8. Andrew Delong
9. Ian Blythe – KTM
10. Brad Bakken

Overall Point Standings –

1. Charlie Mullins – 100
2. Russell Bobbitt – 89
3. Nick Fahringer – 83

Jacobsen joined the Superbike grid this season and after a top ten finish at the opening round, the New Yorker is keen to continue his progression, ending the session as the fastest of the two Tyco Suzukis.

Jacobsen said: "I am very happy with the way things have gone as this circuit is all new to me, but I have learnt a lot. The track is fantastic for me, suiting my style as it is fast and flowing. Hopefully now we can keep this going and I am looking to at least be in the top ten this weekend, but I am taking it by step by step. As my crew chief said to me earlier today; 'steady away!'

Round 2 of the 2013 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship comes from Thruxton this weekend (12-14 April).  For more information or to book tickets click here.

Last updated: Friday, April 12, 2013

Jared Mees Out Front Photo: Stefan Nelson
Behind the reining champ, it was Stevie Bonsey in 2nd, Weirbach Racing's Dominic Colindres in 3rd, The Fresno Flyer, Brandon Bergen in 4th, and Rodney Spencer Jr. rounding out the top 5. Finishing out the field was James Monaco, Jethro Halbert, Kris Bunch, Austin Scaggs and Kayl Kolkman, respectively.

I was caught a little off guard last week on local races getting kicked off until the column was already posted up. There were races last weekend on the East Coast, actually close to where I was in Philadelphia and also District 17 in North Central Illinois kicked off their packed dirt track schedule. While I know I missed some races last weekend and apologize for it, since we do have a packed Schedules page on the site now and I don't want to flood the column with upcoming races, I will just provide a list in the column each week instead of writing about each and every one. Here is what we have going on this weekend:

Pekin, IL Short Track
Satsuma, FL 1/2 Mile
Lodi, CA Practice
Lake Odessa, MI Halfmile and Short Track Practice

Next Weekend things get underway pretty seriously! Here is where you can find some racing next weekend. Please check out Schedules page on the site for more details!

Timmy trailed in second for the first half of the race, taking advantage of a pit strategy he took over the lead at the 1 hour mark of the 1.5 hour plus one lap race. The pressure continued as he was challenged up to the final 2 laps. Colton Udall ran strong and finished a solid second. Rounding out the podium with a come from behind push to the front runners was Evan Kelly.

A big thank you to the Hilltoppers for putting on such a fun event and providing the riders with a sweet 8 mile- high speed course consisting of desert sand, pavement and ridge trails with a fun dog leg down hill. This GP once again proved that Honda has the performance, dependability and reliability to win even the toughest races. -- "Johnny Campbell"

Photo Credit: Mark Kariya

Follow JCR/Honda on FB at www.Facebook.com/JCRHonda

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Follow JCR/Honda on Instagram @JCRHonda

Qualifying for the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha team went well as Phil Nicoletti led the way in 10th, followed by Chris Blose in 18th and Bob Kiniry in 22nd.
Once again, by virtue of their qualifying positions, all three rides were seeded into the first heat race of the night. Nicoletti got things off on the right foot with a great start, but made a huge mistake in the second turn. This costly mistake would not only end Nicoletti’s qualifying run, but also that of his teammate, Kiniry. Fortunately, the third member of the team started inside the top 10, rode a clean race and was able to transfer directly to the main event.

Nicoletti and Kiniry lined up for the LCQ knowing they would have to be first and second. As the gate dropped, they both rocketed to the front and rounded the first turn Photo: Vital MX right where they needed to be. Nicoletti quickly passed Kiniry in the whoops, taking over the lead and never looking back. Kiniry would hold up his end of the deal too, fending off some late race pressure and securing the final spot in the main event. Yet again, the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha squad would have all three riders in the main event. The gate dropped for the final event of the night and all three team riders made it cleanly through the first turn. Building on his LCQ win, Nicoletti was on the move and had worked his way up to 13th position by the halfway mark. He was able to crack the top 10 late in the race before making a mistake in the heat of battle and losing a few positions. At the checkered flag, Nicoletti would finish in 12th, followed closely by Kiniry in 13th and Blose in 15th. “It was looking like I was going to get my first top 10 finish,” said Nicoletti. “I pushed really hard early on in the race to and might have used up a little too much energy. I was a little off in the closing laps and a small mistake cost me the top 10 finish. Still 12th is a good finish.” “The whoops this weekend really were giving me trouble,” said Kiniry. “I got 13th this weekend but my expectations are still top 10. We will keep working on finding a little more speed so next weekend I will be closer.” “Qualifying went well today,” said Blose. “My speed in the heat race was good and it’s always nice to go directly to the main from the heat. The main went ok but I am going to keep working hard to get some top 10 finishes.” The series travels straight north all the way up to the Metrodome in Minneapolis MN. for the 14th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series this Saturday, April 13. Be sure to stop by the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha truck to show your support and to have your picture taken with Chris Blose, Phil Nicoletti and Bob Kiniry from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. See you there!

The afternoon began with what looked like a stellar one for AmPro Yamaha's Paul Whibley, as he grabbed his third consecutive $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. However, Whibley began drastically dropping positions on the opening lap. Whibley's team later confirmed that he was recovering from a wrist injury and illness from the prior week.

Shenandoah Honda/USWE-Sports.com's Thad DuVall began the day in the running for a podium position before taking a hard fall on Lap 2. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC's Josh Strang stopped to check on DuVall and then moved his way into the third place position. AmPro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn slid in behind Strang and the two maintained their respective positions for the first half of the race. Strang ran into some issues mid-race when he got tangled with a lapped rider and crashed, causing him to lose several positions.

Carolina KTM/RidePG.com's Chris Bach maintained a solid top five position amidst the early race madness, eventually putting himself into podium contention as the race wore on. Ashburn put in one of his best rides of the season, battling back and forth with Bach for the third place spot. Bach did everything he could to maintain his position, grabbing his first podium finish of the season in his home state of North Carolina.

?Living here in North Carolina for the past couple of years, I've really gotten used to riding in this terrain,? Bach said. ?I just felt comfortable out there today and I can't even explain how good it feels to be back on the podium!?

Mullins began gapping his teammate mid-way through the seven-lap race after Russell made a couple of mistakes and wasn't able to make up the time. Russell later commented, ?I've been pretty sick this week and that made it pretty hard to keep my energy level up enough to push it for three-hours out there but I'm happy to take home a second place today.?

Mullins now holds a five-point lead over Russell heading into Round 4 in South Carolina.

?This is my first time ever winning Steele Creek,? Mullins said. ?I've had a few close calls but I finally sealed the deal today and it feels good to get the win.?

The battle for the lead in the XC2 Pro Lites proved to be some of the most exciting racing action of the day, beginning with Samuel Evans grabbing the $100 DigitalOffroad.com XC2 Holeshot Award in front of thirty-two other XC2 racers. Although DirtWise Schools/KTM-Parts.com/Maxxis rider Jason Thomas led a majority of the laps, it was an all-out brawl between the top four riders all afternoon. KTM Support Rider Grant Baylor grabbed the early lead over Thomas and the rest of the field but F.A.R Husqvarna's Andrew DeLong and Rock River Yamaha's Aaron Plessinger jumped right into the mix by Lap 2.

Baylor, DeLong and Plessinger flip flopped positions several times throughout the three-hour race but Plessinger put the charge on when it mattered the most, as he caught Thomas and applied pressure for the lead on the final lap. Thomas led the young Plessinger wheel-to-wheel into the final turns before the finish line and that's where Plessinger made his move to take over the lead. Despite several attempts by Thomas to regain the lead, Plessinger went on to secure his first career win in the XC2 Pro Lites class. Grant Baylor grabbed the final podium position and DeLong took fourth after experiencing a crash late in the race that set him back from the lead pack. Plessinger and Thomas finished an impressive fourth and fifth overall, beating out many of the top XC1 riders on the adjusted time clock.                                

FMF/RPM/KTM Team Maxxis' Rory Mead finished fifth in the XC1 class, just ahead of the sixth place rider AirGroup Radiant Racing/RidePG.com-backed Nick Fahringer. Yamaha's Ricky Russell, Litz Racing/Ride Center USA's Takeshi Koikeda and XC1 rookie Adam Bonneur had a three-way battle going all afternoon. It was Ricky Russell who came away with the seventh place finish, while Koikeda grabbed eighth and Bonneur and Blythe rounded out the top ten.

Whibley salvaged an eleventh place finish for the day, while Strang took home twelfth after tweaking his knee during a crash. Tough luck for DuVall as he wasn't able to finish out the day after his crash on Lap 2. Whibley, Strang and DuVall will leave Round 3 without scoring any points towards the Overall National Championship chase.

North Carolina's very own Trevor Bollinger finished nineteenth overall to take the afternoon's Top Amateur Honors, while also securing the 4-Stroke A Lites class win.

The 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues April 20 and 21 with the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC. For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.

Stay up-to-date with exclusive content from the 2013 AMSOIL GNCC Series by following the series Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About GNCC Racing

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTVonline.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

XC1 Event Results:

1. Charlie Mullins (KTM)
2. Kailub Russell (KTM)
3. Chris Bach (KTM)
4. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
5. Rory Mead (KTM)
6. Nick Fahringer (HSB)
7. Ricky Russell (YAM)
8. Takeshi Koikeda (KTM)
9. Adam Bonneur (KAW)
10. Ian Blythe (KTM)

XC2 Event Results:

1. Aaron Plessinger (YAM)
2. Jason Thomas (KTM)
3. Grant Baylor (KTM)
4. Andrew DeLong (HSQ)
5. Jed Haines (YAM)
6. Shane Hufford Jr (KTM)
7. Cody Gragg (YAM)
8. AJ Stewart (YAM)
9. Travis Coy (KTM)
10. Zach Nolan (KTM)

XC1 Series Standings:

1. Charlie Mullins (85)
2. Kailub Russell (80)
3. Chris Bach (52)
4. Josh Strang (48)
5. Paul Whibley (43)
6. Thad DuVall (42)
7. Jordan Ashburn (39)
8. Ricky Russell (39)
9. Takeshi Koikeda (37)
10. Adam Bonneur (33)

XC2 Series Standings:

1. Andrew DeLong (78)
2. Jason Thomas (66)
3. Grant Baylor (62)
4. Shane Hufford Jr (46)
5. Zach Osborne (42)
6. AJ Stewart (38)
7. Mark Heresco Jr (31)
8. Aaron Plessinger (30)
9. Travis Coy (27)
10. Jesse Groemm (24)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

1. Charlie Mullins (85)
2. Kailub Russell (80)
3. Chris Bach (49)
4. Andrew DeLong (43)
5. Josh Strang (39)
6. Jason Thomas (37)
7. Grant Baylor (36)
8. Thad DuVall (36)
9. Paul Whibley (33)

Ricky Russell (27)

“THE GRIN” 2013

Newsletter 1

Hey Everyone

Here we are back in business again and lovin it!! The winter was a short one but with all this crazy European weather it is now starting to feel extremely long. I did a lot of practice and training in California this winter out at the Perris Flat Track (Big thanks to Freddie and Vince) as well as “Pirate” Speedway in San Bernardino and also in Tulare, California. As we do every year, testing and shaking down new products in order to be prepared for the new season are high on the priority list. I did the same this year and am very happy with our results. Now its to put them all to the test!

We kicked off the season with first Grand Prix in Western Springs-Auckland, New Zealand on March 23. Probably one of the most nerve racking events of the year for all riders because it was pretty much the first official race for us all. Well, it was for me anyway! I went into this event full of confidence after an amazing win there in 2012 and plenty of good winter training. I love the track and this year there was even more dirt on the track making it even faster than 2012. Throw a few holes and grooves into the mix and we had quite a stage to perform on . We had two practice sessions on the track before the race so I had plenty of time to find the right engine and bike for me. We tried 5 different engine combinations in the 2 practice sessions and ended up with the same two engines that we used the year before. That was a good feeling!

I started off with a good win in my first heat and that was just what I wanted. The track was so fast and probably slightly boring for the fans because once a rider hit the front, they just checked out. Great for the rider though... The track got a little more tricky as the day went on but the most inconsistency was at the start line. The two inside gate positions were really the only ones you had to take advantage of. Gates 3 & 4 were next to impossible to make it from. I did make a beauty out of gate 3 in my second ride though so no complaints here. :() I finished the heats with 10 points and 3rd choice of gates in the semi-final where I took gate 3 again. After an interesting first corner, I was in last place but managed to squeeze past Holder on lap 2 and then hunted down Jonsson who was having come clutch problems as I could smell. On the last lap I managed to get passed him and into the final. In the final I had no choice for the gates so I ended up in gate 4 for the second time of the day. Hampel took the start from gate 1 followed by Gollob in gate 2 and then Pedersen in gate 3. I worked myself silly trying to pass Pedersen for 4 laps and was close at the finish line but 4th place it was.

A big congratulations to Jarek Hampel on his win and my team went away pleased with the success of our first GP. There are 11 rounds to go now and I am definitely a “GOLD” Digger! Thank you for your support and See You on Top......

Greg 

Bobbitt had a flawless day. He launched his Husaberg off the line to earn the holeshot as the riders rounded the first corner. From that point on, he continued to stretch his lead throughout the two-hour plus race on the 7 mile looped course. When Bobbitt crossed the finish line he had lapped up to fourth place and finished an impressive 3 minutes ahead of Fahringer who was second.

“I am adapting well to the Husaberg and have really enjoyed racing the first two rounds of the OMA Series,” commented Bobbitt. “Today, my race was good from the start to the finish. My goal is to keep my win streak alive and maintain the points lead through the end of the season as we work our way toward a championship.”

Next Event: Round 3 – May 11-12, 2013 – Bedford, IN

Overall Results –

1. Russell Bobbitt – HSB
2. Nick Fahringer – HSB
3. Paul Whibley
4. Kailub Russell
5. Adam Bonneur  

Sally Jewell, President Obama's nominee to become the next Secretary of the Interior, had her confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on March 7th and exactly two weeks later the committee by a vote of 19-3 favorably reported her nomination to the full Senate. Sometime in April, her nomination will become the pending business on the Senate floor. We expect there will be a healthy debate about her nomination as well as specific Administration policies affecting public lands, but in time we expect that her nomination will be approved.

This legislative fight is far from over, but we are encouraged with the progress to date. Members of the House and the Senate are hearing loud and clear from OHV enthusiasts that the preferred alternative sought by the Marine Corps will have devastating consequences for OHV recreation in southern California. We are supporting another approach that would provide the Corps the opportunity to expand its base while at the same time preserve OHV riding opportunities. We are still in the tugging and pulling stage, but things are beginning to come together. Stay tuned...

A Land Grab by a Congresswoman from New York City

Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) have done it again by introducing H. R. 1187, legislation that would create additional wilderness areas totaling some 23 million acres across five states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming).

The lead sponsor, Rep. Maloney, hails from New York City. I am not sure what expertise a Member of Congress from Manhattan has in terms of public lands west of the Mississippi. One wonders whether she would like it if another Member of Congress introduced legislation designating New York City's Central Park as a wilderness area. At a minimum, such a designation would make it difficult for city workers to use a lawnmower to cut the grass!  Read more...

Wilderness in New York City
(commons.wikimedia.org)

New Monument Designations by President Obama

We saw this one coming, but we just didn't know when. President Obama announced on March 25th the designation of five new National Monuments. The one that gives us the greatest concern is the Rio Grande del Norte in New Mexico. The size and scope of that particular designation seems excessive. Certainly the canyon area of the actual Rio Grande River deserves this special recognition, but to include the surrounding area of more than 240,000 acres is another example of how the whole business of creating National Monuments is getting out of hand. Read more...

A Short Update on Budget Issues

The deadline for the $85 billion sequester came and went. The sky did not fall as some in the White House predicted, but the impact of these cuts is beginning to be felt in various agencies of the government. Congress has now approved funding of the federal government for the last six months of this fiscal year with the adoption of a continuing resolution. The $984 billion funding measure took into account the $85 billion across-the-board spending cuts outlined in the sequester agreement. Federal land agencies received an overall reduction in funding in addition to the 5% sequester haircut. We should begin to see the ramifications of those cuts certainly by this summer as these land agencies curtail activities.

The next looming financial crisis is the May 19th deadline for raising the federal debt ceiling. The question of raising taxes comes into play with this issue and political gridlock seems like a possibility. Congress will be preoccupied the next few weeks dealing with this issue.

There is some good news and it has nothing to do with the government. Officially, winter is over. Spring does seem a little slow in getting here but we know it is coming. So, try to forget our current fiscal worries by getting outside with your family and spend time recreating. The diversion will do us all good.

Sincerely,

Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access

Here are some of the pit/grid photos from Daytona. We learned alot about product placement and decal location at this event. I was blown away by the amount of people there were during Pit Walk and the amount of people who wanted to interview me and take my photo. It was crazy. 

I have been on the bike 2 times before this race. Actually I have been on the asphalt 2 times in general before this race. Talk about getting thrown in the deep end. I went from 22nd the first qualifier to 8th the second qualifier. I tensed up a little in the race (first ever start on asphalt against some the world's best), but even though I don't think I raced very good, I still ended up 15th out of 28 riders. I think.. well I know, we can be up front battling really really soon! 2013 is going to be a learning year. These guys have been racing on these bikes and tracks for a long time, but we will be competiting up front before long.

If you have any ideas from looking at these photos that we can do to help promote your brand, please let me know.

For my sponsors that help me with my AMA Pro dirttrack program, I will get you some photos from Round 1 of the AMA All-Star Series in Savannah, GA when they become available. I finished 5th at that event.

I couldn't do what I am doing without you guys. This honestly is a dream come true. Hopefully I can get the support I need to do the whole series. I know my Dad would be proud.

Action shots to come soon!