HILLSDALE, Mich., (March 18, 2009) - Future stars of American motocross - all running Cobra Motorcycles - dominated the competition at the season's opening amateur MX national round at Texas' 2009 Thor Lake Whitney MX Park Spring Nationals this past week/weekend.
All totalled, Cobra kid swept all four 51cc class championships, as well as scoring an impressive overall 2nd place podium finish in the 65cc 7-11 Modified class.
"Everyone at Cobra was very impressed with the performances this past weekend at Lake Whitney and we're looking forward to the riders continuing their effort this week at Oak Hill," said Cobra President Sean Hilbert.
Leading the charge for Cobra was National Team Plus member, Georgia's Tristan Lewis. Aboard the #735 Cobra CX50SR, Lewis won the prestigious 51cc 4-8 Stock Open class with a come-from-behind 3rd-1st two moto finish. "This was Tristan's first big breakthrough race," said Hilbert. "He is really, really fast." Note: Lewis was joined on the 51cc 4-8 Stock Open podium by Cobra Factory racer Jordan Bailey (Fla.) in 2nd and Cobra National Team racer Gavin Hultman (Ariz.) in 3rd.
Also winning a class title (51cc 7-8 Stock) on the CX50SR was Cobra National Team rider Logan Lietzel (Pa.). Lietzel, like Lewis, has to come from behind to take the class title, going 3rd/1st to win. Cobra National Plus Team racer Brandon Smith (Ariz.) was 2nd in the class and Cobra-mounted Carter Halpain (Texas) was 3rd.
In the 65cc class Cobra was led by National Team racer Austin Forkner. The ten-year-old Missouri native was nearly unstoppable when he was in control of the powerful Cobra CX65, going 2nd/2nd in the 65cc 7-11 Modified class that was chock full of former and present Cobra Factory and National Team racers.
"Austin had a great weekend on the CX65," said Hilbert. "He had a couple falls, but in the 7-11 Mod he stayed on two wheels and finished great."
Maybe the most dominant individual performance of the entire Lake Whitney even came from Cobra's National Team racer, Californa's Stilez Robertson. "Head and shoulders above everyone else," according to Hilbert, Robertson (as legend someday will have it) failed to turn his gas on in one moto and, after pulling the holeshot, leading then stalling his bike and getting it going again, made up a 35-second deficit to win the race.
"Stilez was 20 seconds a lap (A LAP) faster than anyone," added Hilbert of the talented six-year old. "He even pulled the holeshot in an Open 50 class moto versus all the eight-year-olds!"
Robertson won both the 51cc 4-6 Stock Oil Injection class and the 51cc 4-6 Stock class championships at Lake Whitney. Joining Robertson on the podium in the Stock Oil Injection class was Texas' Harrison Delano in 2nd. And in the 4-6 Stock class Oregon's Ethan Mann and Illinois' Landon Rapp
"Congrats again on a job well-done at Lake Whitney, guys. Focus on your schoolwork then get ready to chase after it hard at Oak Hill," said Hilbert. "The Cobra Factory support hauler is already parked at Oak Hill right now, stocked with parts and staffed with expert Cobra technicians to help you guys out this week. Again, good luck, race hard and be safe."
Next up for the Cobra kids is this week/weekend's second big amateur MX national of the season, the 33rd annual MSR Answer Pro Taper GNC International Motocross Final, presented by Motosport.com.
Cobra Factory Rider Hometown Class Bike
Michael Young Concord, N.C. 10-11 CX65
Lance Kobush Montgomery City, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Jordan Bailey Orlando, Fla. 7-8 CX50SR
Clay Woeste Florence, Ky. 7-9 CX65
National Plus Team
Brandon Smith Aztec, N.M. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tanner Amarillas Gilbert, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tristan Lewis Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Gavin Hultman Gold Canyon, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
National Team
Brandon Hernandez Woodlake, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Tanner Craddock Weir, Kan. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Stilez Robertson Bakersfield, Calif. 4-6 CX50JR
Austin Forkner Richards, Mo. 10-11 CX65
Logan Lietzel Dillsburg, Pa. 7-8 CX50SR
Zach Smith Laingsburg, Mich. 7-8 CX50SR
Dawson Evitts Auburn, Pa. 7-9 CX65
Jonathan Lee Rockingham, N.C. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Michael Hicks Fenton, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Weston Geim Valencia, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Josh Strickland Zebulon, N.C. 7-8 CX50SR
Jackson Turpin Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Preston Yost Queens Creek, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Cullin Park Clermont, Fla. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Kruz Sampson Lebanon, Tenn. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Jack Rogers Brookville, Md. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra's mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.
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