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Mini O’s Wrap Up In Florida
Cooper Webb won six titles at this year’s Mini O’s.
Jordan Smith ruled the B classes.
Shane McElrath battled Webb all week and came away with two titles.
The Winter Olympics of Motocross over Thanksgiving week at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, or “Mini O’s”, is one of the coolest amateur races on the planet. Racers and their families go down every year and spend Thanksgiving week racing their dirt bikes and participating in numerous family activities, like karaoke, a beauty pageant and lots of games. Oh yeah, and there is always a Thanksgiving dinner, sponsored by Parts Unlimited.
This year, Star Racing/Yamaha/Rockstar Energy’s Cooper Webb was a big winner at the event, sweeping all four titles in the 250 A and 250 Pro Sport classes in both supercross and motocross divisions. He also raced the 450 A and 450 Pro Sport classes on his Yamaha YZ250F, winning two championships in the 450 A classes and finishing on the podium in the 450 Pro Sport classes against more powerful machines.
“I had a good week, it’s tough competition in the A class and it feels good to have been a contender in each of the classes I raced,” said the 17-year old Webb. “I work really hard, and the goal is to win.”
Lucas Oil/ Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Shane McElrath was Webb’s chief competition and he came away with two titles in all, taking titles in the 450 Pro Sport in both Motocross and Supercross competition over Webb.
Webb, by the way, will make his professional debut at the start of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship May 18, at the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif.
Among the other many winners, Factory Connection/Amsoil/GEICO Honda’s Jordon Smith nearly ran the table the B classes, winning titles in the Open B Modified, 250 B Modified, Schoolboy (13-16) and 250 B Stock divisions in motocross competition and Open B Stock, 250 B Modified, Schoolboy (13-16), and 250 B Stock classes in Supercross.
Meanwhile in the Mini divisions, Jordan Bailey had some good battles with fellow KTM rider Brock Papi, with each rider taking home titles. Suzuki riders Ashton Hayes and Mitchell Harrison turned in good rides for titles during the week, as well. Other notable Mini class winners included Yamaha’s Chase Sexton and Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner.
{ Our thoughts and prayers go out to #96 Christopher “Jantz” Grodzicki’s family and friends. Jantz passed away last week after a crash with severe injuries at the Mini O’s. May Jantz Ride In Peace. }
Team KTM Baja
Check out this cool video by KTM of the SCORE/Baja 1000 FMF/Bonanza Plumbing/KTM Team after their return from the SCORE/Baja 1000: http://youtu.be/Z-fqiY21t6I
Enduro Illustrated
Photo courtesy Enduro21.com
If you’re into world enduro then you need to check out the latest from renowned off-road photographer and journalist Jonty Edmunds. Each year, Jonty publishes a year-end “Yearbook” of photos from all of the WEC rounds of the year and the 2012 edition is now available. Bringing together stunning images from each and every round of the 2012 Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship, the fifth edition of this publication allows the chance to relive what was a truly amazing EWC season. Packed full of stunning photography and in depth editorial analysis, the big, glossy, high-quality, coffee table photo annual is once again a magazine enduro fans won’t want to miss… Preview it now at www.enduro-illustrated.com
This year’s issue is available now from the www.enduro-illustrated.com website. Enduro illustrated 2012 again features detailed editorial reviews, comments and interviews (written in English), covering all aspects of the thrilling eight-round series. Enduro illustrated 2012 will be the definitive EWC season review annual.
The cost is only €9.50 (about $12.30 US) plus packaging and postage, and you can check it out now at www.enduro-illustrated.com.
GP Races Change Format
Due to the smaller grids found at the “overseas” or non-European races, the FIM and Youthstream have changed the format for those events at World Motocross rounds, combining the MX1 and MX2 classes into one race.
Here is the official ruling from Youthstream:
• MX1 & MX2 classes race together
• Maximum 40 riders: 15 MX1 riders + 15 MX2 riders + 10 additional riders regardless their class (MX1 or MX2)
• Classification per class
• FIM MX1, MX2, MX3, Women’s Motocross World Championships, FIM Motocross of Nations & FIM Veteran Motocross World Cup Regulations
• Art. 5.11 Qualifying
In order to qualify for the Qualifying Race, a rider must achieve a time equal to at least 108% of the average time of the top 10 recorded during the Pre-Qualifying Practice.
This format change will apply to races in Qatar, Thailand, Mexico and Brazil.
Rekluse Posts over $100,000 in 2013 Supercross Contingency
Rekluse is making a move into Supercross and motocross in a big way and the Idaho-based company has officially posted over $100,000 in contingencies for the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Contingency Program. Payouts will be made throughout the top 20 positions of the main event in both the Supercross and Lites classes.
According to Joe DeGano, Rekluse Marketing Manager, “We proved last year that Rekluse Auto-Clutches can compete at the highest level of professional racing with HRT Kawasaki and Munn Racing/KTM. Now, we are ready to prove that in larger numbers for 2013. Our contingency program pays out to all those racing with a Rekluse Auto-Clutch or manual clutch. We will be providing technical and product support to all Rekluse riders at all West Coast SX rounds and most of the East Coast SX rounds.”
Rekluse has also put together an aggressive product support program and is now accepting resumes for all professional racers that will be competing in the 2013Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship series.
To register for contingency or apply for product sponsorship contact Austin Paden, Race Team Support Manager (208) 608-9959 e-mail: Austin@rekluse.com
For further details contact Rekluse at 866-735-5873 or visit www.rekluse.com.
2013 Area Qualifier and Regional Championship Schedule Announced for Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The American Motorcyclist Association, in partnership with MX Sports, this week announced the 2013 Area Qualifier and Regional Championship schedule that will be the first steps to the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch on July 28-Aug. 3 in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
“It’s every amateur motocross racer’s dream to win an AMA national No. 1 plate at Loretta Lynn’s,” said AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “Whether you are a returning superstar or a first-time racer, the dream is rooted in success in the area qualifier program. We’re excited to once again work with MX Sports to present one of 2013′s most-anticipated schedules.”
The Area Qualifiers determine the fields for the seven Regional Championships that, in turn, qualify riders for the National. The full schedule is below.
“Together with the AMA, MX Sports has selected the nation’s premier motocross facilities and organizers to create the best road to Loretta’s yet,” said MX Sports Event Director Tim Cotter. “With the addition of several new facilities, the 2013 Area Qualifier and Regional Championship schedule will provide great variety and new experiences for our Loretta Lynn’s riders and families.”
The Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship includes classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus on a range of motorcycles, including 50cc minibikes to state-of-the-art highly modified 450cc motocross machines.
The Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, produced by MX Sports, is the premier amateur motocross event in the country. Nearly every professional racer competing in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship earned his way to the pro ranks through the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch.
For more information on the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch, see www.mxsports.com. For more information on AMA-sanctioned motocross competition, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing.
2013 Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Area Qualifier and Regional Championship Schedule
Northeast Area Qualifiers
February 23-24: Elizabeth City; Elizabeth City, NC; 757-449-3673
March 9-10: Tomahawk; Hedgesville, WV; 304-229-6682
March 23-24: Englishtown; Englishtown, NJ; 732-446-7800
April 20-21: TBA
April 27-28: Pleasure Valley Raceway; Armagh, PA; 814-695-2453
May 11-12: High Point; Mt. Morris, PA; 304-284-0084
May 18-19: Winchester Speed Park; Winchester, NH; 603-239-6406
May 25-26: Birch Creek Motorsports; Danville, VA; 434-836-7629
Northeast Regional Championship;
June 1-2: Unadilla Valley Sports Center Youth; New Berlin, NY; 607-965-8450
June 29-30: Budds Creek Amateur; Mechanicsville, MD; 304-284-0084
Southeast Area Qualifiers
February 16-17: MX of Marion Co; Reddick, FL; 352-591-2377
March 16-17: South of the Border; Hamer, SC; 423-323-5497
April 6-7: Mill Creek MX ; Pell City, AL; 205-699-8857
April 13-14: Aonia Pass; Washington, GA; 706-678-3737
April 20-21: North Carolina Motorsports Park ; Henderson, NC; 252-438-8192
May 4-5: Palmetto Motorsports Complex ; Gaston, SC; 423-323-5497
May 11-12: Thundercross MX Park; Okeechobee, FL; 321-689-3461
May 18-19: Lazy River MX; Chattsworth, GA; 706-278-1620
Southeast Regional Championship
June 8-9: Muddy Creek Raceway Amateur; Blountville, TN ; 423-323-5497
June 22-23: Gatorback Youth; Gainsville, FL ; 321-689-3461
Mid-East Area Qualifiers
March 23-24: Wild Cat Creek MX; Rossville, IN; 765-379-2482
April 13-14: Log Road MX; Coldwater, MI; 419-636-5430
April 20-21: Ballance MX ; Oakland, KY; 423-323-5497
April 27-28: Highfly MX; Crothersville, IN; 812-374-8228
May 4-5: Red Bud MX; Buchanan, MI; 269-695-6405
May 11-12: Thunder Valley MX; Livingston, TN; 423-323-5497
May 11-12: Polka Dots Motorcycle Club; Midland, MI; 989-832-8284
May 18-19: Fast Traxx Motoplex; Nelsonville, OH; 740-767-3740
Mid-East Regional Championship
May 25-26: Sunday Creek MX Youth; Millfield, OH ; 304-284-0084
June 22-23: Baja Acres Amateur; Millington, MI ; 989-871-3356
North Central Area Qualifiers
March 9-10: Paradise MX; Duquoin, IL; 618-542-6203
April 6-7: Lincoln Trail Motorsports; Casey, IL; 217-932-2041
April 20-21: Romp MX; Richwood, MO; 573-701-8674
April 27-28: Sunset Ridge MX; Walnut, IL; 815-379-9534
May 4-5: Motozone; Tigerton, WI; 920-419-2863
May 4-5: Fun Valley Moto X; Montezuma, IA; 641-623-3456
May 11-12: Little Falls Raceway; Little Falls, MN; 612-919-3457
May 18-19: Mcmotopark; Mt. Carroll, IL; 815-238-1614
North Central Regional Championship
June 15-16: Spring Creek MX Amateur; Millville, MN; 507-753-2779
June 29-30: Byron Motosports Park Youth; Byron, IL; 815-234-2271
South Central Area Qualifiers
February 23-24: Reynard Racing MX; Wellston, OK; 405-793-1049
March 2-3: Three Palms ; Conroe, TX; 936-321-8725
March 9-10: UnderGround MX Park; Kemp, TX; 903-498-4659
April 20-21: Buffalo Creek MX; Edgewood, TX; 214-939-4321
April 27-28: Van Way Moto Playground; Carencro, LA; 870-342-5373
May 4-5: Ponca City MX; Ponca City, OK; 580-762-3635
May 4-5: Thunder Valley; Lakewood, CO; 303-697-1003
May 18-19: Tony Wynn MX; Little Rock, AR; 870-342-5373
South Central Regional Championship
June 1-2: Freestone Amateur; Wortham, TX; 713-962-3386
June 15-16: Golden Pine Youth; Prentiss, MS; 601-506-8669
Northwest Area Qualifiers*
March 2-3: Prairie City ; Rancho Cordova, CA; 916-209-3855
March 16-17: Horn Rapids MX; Richland, WA; 509-496-2958
April 13-14: Honey Lake; Milford, CA; 530-827-2639
May 4-5: Oatfield Raceway ; Turlock, CA; 740-297-6686
May 11**: Washougal; Washougal, WA; 360-601-5347
Northwest Regional Championship
June 8-9: Washougal Youth and Am; Washougal, WA; 360-601-5347
Southwest Area Qualfiers*
February 23-24: Arizona Cycle Park; Litchfield Park, AZ; 623-853-0750
March 9-10: Competitive Edge; Hesperia, CA; 760-947-9054
March 16-17: Kahuku MX; Haleiwa, HI; 808-668-6276
May 4-5: Oatfield Raceway; Turlock, CA;
Southwest Regional Championship
May 25-26: The Ranch Youth and Am; Anza, CA; 949-276-5153
*Additional events may be added
**One day event —Shan Moore
Quinn Cody On Monster Energy Husqvarna Rally Team By Speedbrain
Quinn Cody - Photo Courtesy of Husqvarna
A broken femur at this year’s Baja 1000 ended a very rough 2012 of racing for Quinn Cody who just signed with Husqvarna to race world rally. He signed with Monster Energy Husqvarna Rally Team By Speedbrain just prior to the 1000 to race Dakar for the next two years and the world championship rally series. “It was supposed to be announced right after Baja but unfortunately I won’t be able to make Dakar 2013 but I’ll be racing the series and Dakar 2014. In the states I wanna do some EnduroCross stuff, some extreme races and maybe some local enduros to stay sharp on the bike.” Quinn said.
“2012 has been pretty rough. It started out at Dakar in January with a broken collarbone and a concussion. I healed up from that and my first race with KTM was San Felipe. About thirty-miles into that I hit a rock, got pitched off and broke my wrist. San Felipe was tough on everybody. Robby Bell and I shared the same medevac flight to San Diego and Timmy Weigand was behind us. That was a gnarly race and everyone was trying to go fast. No one really kept their head in San Felipe. After that I sat out the Baja 500 to heal fully. Everything was good after that, raced Vegas to Reno, which we used as testing for the 1000 and then I was out doing some rally training in Nevada about a week after Vegas to Reno and ended up damaging the hardware in my wrist that was left over from San Felipe. It was freak deal, I didn’t even crash. I had to have new hardware put in and let that heal for another six weeks. It was mid October and I had been hurt all year. I was feeling good through pre running the Baja 1000. Race night I made it almost through my section, which was about 5 ½ hours and technical. I made it within ten miles of the end, it was really foggy on and off the entire time. The fog takes a lot of concentration and I came into a side road with too much speed, low sided my bike and caught my leg on the berm. When my foot hit the berm it broke my femur and spit me up and over the bike.
After the crash I was lying in the dirt trying to figure out how I was going to get out of there. My leg was obviously broken, sticking out to the side in directions it wasn’t supposed to be pointing. I tried to drag myself back to the bike and figure out a way to ride out but it didn’t take me long to realize that wasn’t going to happen. A couple minutes later some locals pulled up in their Jeep and I convinced them to pick me up and put me in the back drive and me to the next pit. I still had another ten miles of whooped out dirt roads to get to highway and the KTM pit. The locals threw me in there and stabilized my leg as best they could but they had been pretty heavy into the Tecate’s and thought they were part of the race, bouncing down the road with my leg bouncing as well. It wasn’t the most fun ride but I made it to the pit and get transported to the hospital.
When I got to the pit Kurt was able to hop on the pre runner bike and ride back to the race bike and continue the race. The race bike was in perfect shape, nothing happened to the bike in my crash. He left the pre runner bike with some locals who amazingly rode it back to the KTM pits. They delivered it right to the pit.” Quinn
From Quinn’s Facebook Page
I truly never expected to be writing this statement under these circumstances, on my couch, with a broken leg that is. But let’s face it, things don’t always go the way we plan in life, in fact, sometimes they continue to take us away from our planed course. Some of you may have heard rumors about me signing with a new team for next year, so I thought it would best to set the record straight. So here are the facts:
I have signed with the Monster Energy Husqvarna Rally Team by Speedbrain to race Dakar and the FIM World Championship Rally Series for 2013-2014, unfortunately after my recent injury, I will be unable to compete in Dakar 2013, but plan to be fit and ready for the first round of the World Championship Rally Series in April and of course ready to tackle Dakar 2014. I was completely devastated after learning that I would not be ready for the upcoming Dakar and felt awful that I had let my new team down before I had officially been announced as their new rider. Speedbrain, Husqvarna and BMW have put forth great effort to develop the Husqvarna TE449RR into an incredible rally machine and have exceeded all of my expectations at every step of the process. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to race for this great team and will do everything in my power to make this a successful relationship.
It has been a dream of mine for years now to do a full season of rally racing and try to master the art of road book navigation so that I can go into Dakar fully prepared with a year of real racing experience under my belt. This opportunity is the best platform for me to become a true rally racer and achieve my dream of a podium finish at Dakar. I have been racing in Baja for the past 10 years and it has formed me into the person I am today. Baja has been great to me, given me opportunities to race all over the world with some incredible teams and has introduced me to most of my best friends. But after 10 years, I have found myself eager for new challenges and have found new motivation in the Dakar. Just like Baja, Dakar is something that you can’t explain, It is something that infects you, it is something so grueling and painful that gets in your blood and keeps pulling you back for more. The Dakar is the largest, most challenging motor sport event on the planet and is the obvious top tier in off-road racing. Moving forward, I am excited to be able to compete with such a high level team on the best equipment available.
Along with the World Championship Rally Series, I will also be competing in selected events for Husqvarna in the U.S. and possibly even get our feet wet with some racing in Baja. I am looking forward to 2013 and hope that I heal fast so I can prove myself to my new team. Thanks to all my sponsors for sticking by me through all the injuries I will overcome all of it and come back stronger and smarter. .—Adam Booth
That’s all for this week, check in next week for more off-road news.
