Stewart Heats Up Houston with Two-Race Win Streak

Press Release Issued By Supercross Media (March 28, 2006)

AURORA, Ill. (March 28, 2006) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., brings a two-race win streak into Houston’s Reliant Stadium this Saturday, April 1 for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. Reliant Stadium is the birthplace of Stewart’s first AMA Supercross class win, which took place last year. While Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael has a comfortable points lead for the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the race for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP is heating up.

Stewart, who has seven wins on the season, started his win streak in Orlando where he led all 20-laps in the main event. Before 41,010 fans last weekend, the 20-year-old superstar repeated that performance at the inaugural race inside Detroit’s Ford Field. The two wins positioned Stewart to tie Carmichael for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP this weekend in Houston.

Stewart trails reigning World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series champion Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., by three points in Amp’d Mobile World supercross GP standings and 20 points in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series.

Yamaha’s Chad Reed sits in second place, 10 points behind Carmichael in the AMA Supercross class but is struggling due to a shoulder separation suffered before the stop at Daytona International Speedway. The tough Australian has ridden through the pain earning podium finishes at two of the three races since the injury.

“Everyday, I do what I need to do to get my shoulder strong,” said Reed of the injured shoulder. “I’ve just accepted the fact that it’s an injury that’ll be here a while and I just gotta do my part by keeping strong and giving it everything I got. Never give up and fight ‘til the end.

“It’s my problem. Obviously, I know I can ride better without a shoulder injury but it is what it is. I feel I’m giving up some on the track and that sucks but I’m figuring out how to ride my race with my situation.”

Stewart turned a blazing fast 48.8 lap time in the main event and established a decent lead in his race against the clock.

“I just wanted to ride and put twenty consistent laps together,” said Stewart. “The track changed a lot and all I could do was to try and stay up. I saw Ricky (Carmichael) coming up through the pack and I saw Chad (Reed) pushing hard too. I knew those two were going to start battling because they are so close for the AMA Supercross points race. I just want to win races,” said Stewart. “I figure if I win races, I’ll come out close to winning the (Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series) title. I’m just going out there and doing my own thing and getting good (lap) times. “

This season a consistent Carmichael has been on the podium 14 out of 15 races and has won six races.

“I’m worried about myself, not anybody else,” said Carmichael. “I have my goals and I’m not worried about anyone. I need to take care of myself before I worry about someone else.”

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., leads his Honda teammate Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., by 22 points heading into the final race of the Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites championship. Grant could give Honda their first lites title since 1993 when Doug Henry won the championship. Last weekend Grant’s win in Detroit marked Honda’s seventh consecutive lites win, a feat that hasn’t been done since 1993 as well.

The rich history of supercross in Houston dates back to March 15, 1974 when Jim Pomeroy won the 250cc main event aboard a Yamaha. Since 1974, the city of Houston has been on the AMA Supercross schedule and in seven of those years, the Houston Astrodome hosted two races.

In front of 43,445 fans last year, Carmichael clinched his fourth AMA Supercross Series championship and his 12th AMA National Title. Honda’s Andrew Short, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first 125cc Western Regional AMA Supercross Series race, leading all 15 laps in the main event.

Tickets are available at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, all participating Yamaha dealers (tickets also available at Yamaha outlets), or charge by phone at 713-629-3700.

This weekend’s race will air on SPEED on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. EST. A tape-delayed, one-hour television broadcast of the AMA Supercross Lites racing will air on SPEED on Sunday, April 9, at 6 p.m. EST.

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings

1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 286

2. James Stewart, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 283

3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 267

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 227

5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 215

6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 209

7. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio,, Honda, 150

8. Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Honda, 148

9. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 146

10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 116

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings

1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 259

2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 249

3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 239

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 194

5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 185

6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 181

7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 146

8. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 125

9. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 108

10. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Honda, 96

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

1. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 141

2. Joshua Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 119

3. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 114

4. Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 96

5. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 80

6. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Honda, 67

7. Robert Kiniry, Lafayette, N.Y., Honda, 66

8. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 59

9. Teddy Maier, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki, 48

10. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 45

Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

1. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 118

2. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 116

3. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 107

4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 99

5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 95

6. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 94

7. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 91

8. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda, 78

9. Darcy Lange, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 55

10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 52

Aprilia USA announces 2006 AMA Flattrack Team and sponsorship.

Press Release Issued By Piaggio Group USA (March 28, 2006)

Following recent successful tests aboard their latest generation AMA Flattrack machine, Aprilia USA is proud to announce that Lloyd Brother Motorsports, Inc will field Aprilia V990-powered machines in the 2006 AMA Flattrack Season. The primary rider for the team will be Henry Wiles of Blanchard, Michigan competing in 1 Mile and ½ Mile venues.

“Flattrack is a classic racing series in the US,” says Mike Kull, Vice President of Marketing for Aprilia USA, “To see Aprilia, a brand with a long established tradition of racing, fight for an American championship is a very proud moment indeed. We encourage all Aprilia fans to attend the races and cheer on their team.”

“We are very happy to support the Lloyd Brothers in their continuing efforts towards success in the AMA Flattrack Championship,” Says Robert Pandya, Aprilia USA Off-Road Product Manager. “The Lloyd Brothers are truly the spirit of the sport and have challenged conventional and new Flattrack machines with their design.”

Henry Wiles will pilot the machine. “From the first time I tested the bike I know that David and Michael were on to something – the power is great, but the control is phenomenal. It’s cool to be on a different machine from the rest of the field, and I know that the fans appreciate the effort,” says Wiles.

The Aprilia USA / Lloyd Brothers Motorsports will be touring the AMA Half and full-mile circuits totaling thirteen events this season. The team will be supported by the Aprilia USA rig at all Mile events and select half mile events. Product sponsors already signed on are Komodo Leathers, Leo Vince Exhaust systems K&N Filters, Motion Pro Tools and Cables, and Spectro Oils. Additional sponsors are being sought for what will surely be one of the most interesting teams in the 2006 AMA Flattrack season.

The schedule for the season can be viewed at www.amaflattrack .com. those interested in Flattrack racing can learn more about the Lloyd Brothers effort at www.flattrack.com, a web presence that has been very supportive of the effort since its beginning.

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
MX3 World Championship and Euro 125 kick-off this weekend (28.03.2006)
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Busy weekend for the Motocross fans! After a long break since the exciting 2005 Motocross of Nations in Ernée, the first weekend of April will see a lot of riders in action. Zolder (Belgium) will met the opening round of the MX1-MX2 World Championship, while the MX3 World Championship and 125 European Championship will kick-off in Castelnau de Lévis (France).

Same date, same place than last year for this MX3-Euro 125 opening round, first one of the longest MX3 series with fourteen rounds in the calendar. Reigning World Champion Sven Breugelmans and team-mate Yves Demaria will be the favourites of the GP and the series on their factory KTM, but some of the other fifty-seven riders involved in this GP will never give-up and start the season with high goals. They all remind that last year surprising German Marco Dorsch and French Julien Vanni won the two motos, and that there was no orange bike on the final podium of the event !

Now considered as a real stage before the MX2 World Championship, the 125 European opening round registered ninety-three entries, representing fourteen countries. The series will count ten rounds this season, and 2005 vice-champion Dennis Verbruggen (Yamaha) is the main favourite. With his great experience the Belgian rider was already last year the main opponent to Jeremy Tarroux, who is now involved in the MX2 World Championship.

(Source: www.motocrossmx1.com)

KTM Press Newsletter

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KTM NORTH AMERICA
US Hare & Hound: 3rd round El Centro, CA (27.03.2006)
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Track was super fast and sandier than usual. Track was dusty and had two loops; First loop very fast and about 50 miles where they had to have extra gas stop and second loop was more technical going along the canyons. Whether was warm around 85’F.

All of our three factory riders bikes worked spotless today and all riders was happy for bike set ups. All three riders spend some extra time on Saturday to set up suspension to fit this track.

David Pearson had pretty decant start and he was 8th end of the bomb run (1mile start straight) Matt Gosnell and Kellon Walch came around 20th to the bomb.

All three riders worked their way up to top after the start. David and Kellon manage to keep charging thru the whole race and finish race 4th and 5th. Matt Gosnell made his way up to 6th spot but couple mistakes force him back to 8th on the end.

Result
1. Destry Abbott KAW
2. Steve Hengeveld HON
3. Russell Pearson YAM
4. David Pearson KTM
5. Kellon Walch KTM
6. David Kamo KTM
8. Matt Gosnell KTM