The MDK/Warthog Racing Academy Privateer Support Program in conjunction with its Warthog Nation member teams MotoConcepts and the U.S. Air Force finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th places at the October 25th, 2009 Sheffield Supercross in the UK.
Riding directly for the MDK/Warthog Racing Academy/MotoConcepts team was Tyler Bright in both the SX1 and SX2 classes. Riding a bone stock Suzuki RMZ 250F, Tyler charged to an excellent 4th place finish in the SX2 class after being caught up in a second turn pile-up that dropped him a half lap down from the leaders. Tyler was definitely the fastest one on the track as he passed riders as though they were standing still. It was a great effort for the up-and-coming 18-year old star. Tyler also rode his 250F to an excellent 5th place finish in the SX1 class, battling Jeff Alessi and Mike Brown the entire race for the final podium position. To everybody that was watching, you could not help but be impressed with Tyler's performance.
Special thanks to Nick of DK Offroad for providing the bike to Tyler and TT Incorporated, AXO, Bell Helmets, Liquid Performance, and Full Travel suspension for providing additional support.
Jeff Alessi, a recent MDK/Warthog Racing Academy graduate, is now on the elite MotoConcepts team -- a member team of the Warthog Nation. Things did not look good for Jeff at Sheffield as he injured his knee in practice two days before the event. But in what can only be called a gutsy performance, Jeff sacked up and forgot all about the pain for the 15 minute main event.
He got his MotoConcepts Honda off to a 4th place start and then stalked Mike Brown for several laps before blasting past Mike in the whoops to nail down a 3rd place podium finish for the team. Derrick Dwyer performed some fancy footwork on the PAR Home supplied Honda to get it running like a top just in time for the main event. Jeff would also like to than his other sponsors including Alpinestars, Shark Helmets, DeCal Works, and Race Tech suspension.
Former FIM Supercross World Champion Heath Voss made a long, hellacious 48 hour trip (cancelled flights, sat on the runway for 8 hours) from San Antonio, Texas to Sheffield to represent the U.S. Air Force and MasterCraft Boats. Heath, a life-time member of the Warthog Nation, pushed all the obstacles aside and arose to the challenge. With little sleep, and no time on a new bike, Heath Voss went out and won his qualifier convincingly. He made it look even easier in the main event, where he pulled the holeshot and ran away with the race for 16 of the 20 laps. Unfortunately, on lap 16, Heath made a small mistake that left him on the ground and let Colton http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pwst=1&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=colton+facciotti&spell=1 Facciotti by for the win. Still, Heath had an excellent ride, placing 2nd against tough odds. He made Warthog Racing, The U.S. Air Force, MasterCraft, PAR Honda, and Retired U.S. Army Colonel Jack Pryor proud.
Frenchman Benjamin Coisy, another member of the MotoConcepts team, had a day he'd rather forget. He was surely the favorite to win the SX1 class at Sheffield but the fates conspired against him. Papa and mechanic Jeff Coisy worked all day to sort out the PAR Homes Honda to his liking. The bike looked bad-to-the-bone when the custom graphics kit made by DeCal Works especially for Ben and Sheffield was applied to the bike. Victory seemed inevitable with the giant green Warthog heads snarling on the gas tank shroud. After a bad start in his heat race, Ben worked his was up to second, good enough to easily make the main. However, after a terrible start in the main, Ben showed great speed for a couple of laps before taking a soil sample of the Dirt Wurx prepared track. And that was that. Ben's night was over. Look for Ben to be back on track at his next SX race, as his showing at Sheffield is no indicator of his brilliance on a Supercross track. Ben's support team consisted of Shot Gear, and Shark Helmets.
Props out to Coltonhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pwst=1&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=colton+facciotti&spell=1 Facciotti for winning the SX1 class, Mike Brown for his victory in the SX2 class, and Tommy Searle for his come-from-behind win in the British Open class. Each of these great riders also regularly contributes to the Warthog Racing Academy privateers through generous donations, making it possible for dozens of privateers to live their dreams. Kudos to all of them. Since we are in England, The Warthog Racing Academy knights them all honorary and privileged members of the Warthog Nation.