COSTA MESA, CA – May 20, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Join Kawasaki for “Race Day” at the Dainese D-Store in Costa Mesa on Sunday, May 26th. We’ll be there to cheer-on Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes as he races his Ninja® ZX™-10R on home soil during World Superbike round five at Donington Park in England.
When: This Sunday! May 26, 2013
Where: Dainese D-Store – Orange County
1645 Superior Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
The party begins at 11:00 a.m. and World Superbike Race Coverage starts at noon! We’ll catch all the action on the Dainese D-store’s nine-foot screen. Enjoy free food and drinks, courtesy of Kawasaki, enter the raffle to win cool Kawasaki and Dainese prizes throughout the day. You can also chat with former AMA ace tuner, Joey Lombardo, check out a selection of Kawasaki’s factory team roadrace bikes, and even get your photo taken with a racebike and an umbrella girl!
RICHMOND, CA – May 20, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – LeoVince USA is now the U.S. distributor for Airoh, a premium helmet manufacturer based in Italy. The Aviator 2.1 D.O.T. line of off-road helmets will be the first Airoh model available from LeoVince USA, followed by additional styles in the coming months.
As with all of the products they distribute, LeoVince USA only selects manufacturers who exhibit top-level quality and a homegrown, personal touch. Airoh is no different. The family-owned company offers top-tier helmets across all riding categories and helmet styles, including off-road, full-face, modular, urban jet and even junior designs. Airoh joins a growing list of manufacturers now distributed by LeoVince USA, including Dion Device brake lever guards, GPR stabilizers, BMC Air Filters and Bridgestone racing tires.
Airoh may be a new name to many U.S. riders, but they are already a well-respected brand in pro racing and hold the title as the top offroad brand throughout Europe. In the U.S., some of the standouts who trust their safety to Airoh helmets are Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton and Jason Anderson, who race the 250 class of Monster Energy Supercross.
The Aviator model is the top choice of many of Europe’s best motocross riders, including six-time Grand Prix motocross champion Tony Cairoli. On the road side MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso also wears Airoh, and the GP500 full-face helmet line includes a replica sporting the Dovizioso graphics.
Airoh founder Antonio Locatelli stresses the research, development and innovation that go into each helmet. Technicians and athletes work together to constantly refine the designs to improve both rider comfort and increase rider safety. The U.S. helmet will feature dual homologation utilizing both the DOT and ECE safety standards ensuring this helmet protects as well as it performs.
“We’re proud to be introducing Airoh helmets into the U.S. market,” says LeoVince USA Executive Vice President Tim Calhoun. “They produce a premium helmet that is safe, light and innovative. Much of the decision to work with LeoVince USA was because we are experienced in working with exceptional European companies looking to enter the U.S. market. We understand how to brand these companies and are very aware of what their expectations are. Most importantly LeoVince USA operates as a true partner for these companies, not just a reseller or distributor.”
LeoVince USA will begin distribution with five Aviator 2.1 D.O.T. models with additional 2014 styles and colors to follow.
The Aviator is Airoh’s premium off-road helmet and its features include:
Two shell sizes of multi axial carbon and Kevlar
Sizes XS-XL
Wind-tunnel tested design
Maximum lightness, comfort and safety
Airoh Emergency System for quick and safe removal
Spare accessories
Sliding visor with quick-screw release
Multiple front and rear vents for internal airflow
Removable, washable inner pads
ECE and DOT homologation standards
For more information about Airoh and LeoVince products, visit the LeoVince USA website at www.leovinceusa.com. To keep up with the latest product and racing news from LeoVince, be sure to like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leovinceusa.
Airoh Aviator – Captain
Part #: AV2CP38
MSRP: $569.00*
Airoh Aviator – Rockstar
Part #: AV2RK17
MSRP: $612.00*
Airoh Aviator – Carbon (New For 2014)
Part #: AV2C17
MSRP: $612.00*
Airoh Aviator – Linear Bi-Color
Part #: AV2LI38
MSRP: $569.00*
Airoh Aviator – Viper, Black Gloss
Part #: AV2VP17
MSRP: $569.00*
Airoh Aviator – Viper, Green Gloss (New For 2014)
Part #: AV2VP33
MSRP: $583.00*
Airoh Aviator – Viper, Orange Gloss (New For 2014)
Part #: AV2VP32
MSRP: $583.00*
Airoh Aviator – Black Matte
Part #: AV211
MSRP: $496.00*
Airoh Aviator – White Pearl
Part #: AV214
MSRP: $496.00*
* Current MSRP
The full press kit can be downloaded here.
About LeoVince
LeoVince USA, located in Richmond California, is the US distributor of the LeoVince family of products including LeoVince Exhaust and LeoVince Carbon Fiber. LeoVince USA also distributes GPR Stabilizers, Bridgestone Racing Tires, Airoh Helmets, BMC Filters and the innovative new Dion Device. With two locations to serve all of North America most deliveries arrive in three days or less. With innovative dealer solutions and exceptional customer service LeoVince remains one of the fastest growing companies in Powersports. To find out more about LeoVInce visit us at www.leovinceusa.com. To learn more about becoming a LeoVince USA dealer call us at (510)-232-4040 or email us at sales@leovinceusa.com.
PICKERINGTON, OH – May 20, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to welcome support from Wellard Group Holdings for the U.S. national team’s effort at the International Six Days Enduro in Sardinia, Italy, Sept. 30-Oct. 5. Wellard will also be the title sponsor of a U.S. club team at the event.
“Racing for the ISDE World Trophy is one of the biggest financial and logistical commitments in the sport,” said AMA Off-Road Racing Manager Chuck Weir. “Wellard’s backing helps provide some of the crucial resources that we need to support our racers at this world championship event.”
In addition to buying multiple team jerseys for each U.S. national team rider at the ISDE, the riders on the Wellard Club Team will receive direct financial support to help cover their expenses. Competitors who are interested in riding for the Wellard team must qualify through the U.S. ISDE qualifier program and must pre-register with Wellard here: www.wellard.com.au/589.
Wellard Managing Director Mauro Balzarini has been involved with off-road racing for many years and was a multi-time national enduro champion in his earlier riding career. Balzarini has competed in six ISDEs himself.
Italy will be the seventh appearance of a Wellard Team at the ISDE. In that time, they have taken three Australian teams, including the first Australian Women’s ISDE team that earned a podium finish in Portugal. They’ve also fielded two New Zealand teams, one that was second in the World Club Team Cup in Mexico and one that was third in Finland. This will be the second consecutive year the company has backed a U.S. team.
Wellard is a global leader in the production and distribution of livestock and grain. It includes Wellard Rural Exports, Australia’s largest livestock exporter and ship owner and Wellard Agri, a large mixed farming landowner and operator specializing in the production of grains, legumes and livestock.
In addition to several three-rider club teams, including the Wellard-backed team, the United States will be represented by the World Trophy Team, the Junior World Trophy Team and the Women’s World Trophy Team at the ISDE.
The club teams are selected based on rider performance in two ISDE qualifiers. U.S. ISDE qualifiers are being organized by the Appalachian Dirt Riders May 25-26 in Wellston, Ohio, and the Boise Ridge Riders June 1-2 in Idaho City, Idaho. Details for the Ohio event are at www.adrohio.org. More information about the Idaho event can be found at www.boiseridgeriders.com.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
CORONA, CA – May 20, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Mitch Payton’s talented seven rider lineup embarked on their quest for a 2013 AMA Pro Motocross Championship last weekend at the season-opening Hangtown Motocross Classic. With sunny skies, balmy temperatures, and the largest Hangtown crowd in history watching on, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s four 250 Class riders and pair of 450 Class competitors set the tone for a promising summer by showcasing their speed and impressive aggression.
Baggett Starts Title Defense on the Podium
Reigning 250 Class Champion Blake Baggett has not lined up on a starting gate since the opening round of Monster Energy Supercross in January. The time away from competition not only allowed Baggett to recover from a wrist injury, but also ensure he was at his best for the challenging summer season.
Baggett picked up the 2013 season where he left off in 2012 by cementing himself at the front of the field and challenging for the overall win. While he ultimately missed out on duplicating his victorious effort at Hangtown from a year ago, Baggett was still in the mix during each moto, posting 3-2 finishes to land second overall.
“Obviously I wanted to win and start this season off right, but it’s hard to complain about a podium finish with so many good riders out there,” said Baggett. “ We’ll learn from this weekend and come out event stronger next weekend.”
Hill Captures Hard-Fought Top 10 in Debut
Justin Hill’s AMA Pro Motocross debut wasn’t as easy as the rookie might have liked, but despite some adversity thrown his way, Hill refused to give up and was rewarded with a top-10 finish.
After some misfortune on the opening lap of the first moto, Hill crossed the line in 31st and instantly began his climb through the field, passing 18 riders en route to a 13th-place finish. In Moto 2, Hill’s fortunes improved with a mid-pack start, but he still climbed from 16th to ninth to secure 10th overall.
“It was kind of a wild day for me, but my KX250F was just so strong that I didn’t realize how many riders I actually passed,” said Hill. “It was great to get two solid motos under my belt and know what it’s going to take to get the job done this season. I’m pumped with how things started.”
Davalos and Durham Plagued with Misfortune
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s most experienced 250 Class riders – Martin Davalos and Darryn Durham – had hopes for a strong start to their first full seasons with Mitch Payton’s squad, but both veterans were stuck with misfortune that hurt their position on the overall results.
Davalos was hit with adversity in the opening moto, when he crashed on the third lap while battling for a spot inside the top 10. Davalos was unable to finish the moto, but returned to action in Moto 2, bouncing back to finish 12th and salvage 17th overall.
“It wasn’t the day we wanted, but considered what happened in the first moto I’m just happy to come out of here healthy,” said Davalos. “The bike was good and the speed is there, I just need to do some work heading into the next weekend.”
Durham set the tone for a good day with an impressive ride in Moto 1, battling at the front half of the field the entire race and beginning the afternoon with a sixth-place result. In Moto 2, Durham put himself up front again, but was hit with bad luck after contact with another rider resulted in a crash on Lap 3 that took Durham out of contention. Unable to finish the moto, he settled for 14th overall.
“Everything was going great and then it just ended so abruptly,” said Durham. “I’m definitely bummed and I’m a little banged up, but I’m pumped with how well we were able to race. I know I have the speed to run up front, so I just need to stay out of trouble and hopefully things will work out.”
Rattray Leads the Way for the Team in the 450 Class
After a stellar debut season in the 450 Class last season, Mitch Payton added a second bike to his stable for 2013 with Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson.
Rattray led the way for the effort at Hangtown with a consistent day that resulted with a top-10 finish. The former world champion and veteran rider knew coming into the season that consistency would be the key in the highly talented 450 Class and he was just that at the opening round, posting a pair of ninth-place moto results to finish ninth overall.
“There’s a lot of guys who know how to get the job done out there, so I just wanted to find my place and set a good tone for the season,” said Rattray. “I definitely want to be up front with the big names, but it’s a long season and it was good to get a solid foundation. We’ll just look to make improvements from here.”
Wilson Shows Promise in 450 Class Debut
As a former 250 Class Champion, Dean Wilson knows what it takes to succeed in AMA Pro Motocross, but his move into the 450 Class presents a new level of challenges for the rising star. At Hangtown, Wilson learned what it takes to run up front after battling around the top five for most of the first moto. A late stall hurt his finish, but he proved the speed is there.
In Moto 2, Wilson needed to show his ability to come through the field and was able to overcome an incident on the opening lap to climb from 32nd to 14th, passing 18 riders in one of the most talented fields in history. Despite not racing since March, Wilson showed promising speed and resiliency en route to 14th overall.
“This isn’t the way I wanted things to start, but all we can do is learn from it,” said Wilson. “I was able to learn a lot in both motos and if I keep working on my fitness for these tough motos I expect to be a top five guy.”
Missing from Action
Adam Cianciarulo was eagerly awaiting his pro debut at Hangtown, but the decorated amateur rider was forced to watch the race from the sidelines after an illness prevented him from competing. Cianciarulo will continue his recovery in hopes of getting on the track next weekend in Colorado for the second round of the championship.
Photos courtesy Steve Cox
RESULTS >>
Round 1: Hangtown Motocross Classic – 250 Class (Moto Results)
1. Ken Roczen (1-1) 2. Blake Baggett (3-2)
3. Eli Tomac (2-3)
… 10. Justin Hill (13-9) 14. Darryn Durham (6-36) 17. Martin Davalos (38-12)
…
Adam Cianciarulo DNR
Round 1: Hangtown Motocross Classic – 450 Class (Moto Results)
1. Ryan Villopoto (1-1)
2. Ryan Dungey (2-2) 3. James Stewart (3-3)
… 9. Tyla Rattray (9-9) 14. Dean Wilson (17-14)
CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS >> 250 Class
1. Ken Roczen – 50 points 2. Blake Baggett – 42 points
3. Eli Tomac – 42 points
… 10. Justin Hill – 20 points 14. Darryn Durham – 15 points 17. Martin Davalos – 9 points
450 Class
1. Ryan Villopoto – 50 points
2. Ryan Dungey – 44 points 3. James Stewart – 40 points
… 9. Tyla Rattray – 24 points 14. Dean Wilson – 11 points
Looking Ahead >> Thunder Valley
The 2013 AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads to the Rocky Mountains next weekend with the annual Thunder Valley National in Lakewood, Colo. The second round of the championship will celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with one of the most unique and picturesque tracks on the planet.
Don’t miss anything!
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Based in Corona, Calif., Pro Circuit Products, Inc. is a leader in off-road motorcycle and ATV exhausts and aftermarket performance parts. Started in 1978, Pro Circuit is the go to shop for recreational riders and professionals for everything from suspension work to complete engine packages, and everything in between.
Created by former desert racer Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit proves its products and services week-in and week-out through its tagline “We Race.” Every product that dons the Pro Circuit stamp stems from the legendary Pro Circuit race team. A staple in the professional paddock, Pro Circuit Racing has earned 28 AMA championships and more than 200 race wins in more than 30 years of competition.
45th Running of Hangtown Motocross Classic Draws Record Crowd
SACRAMENTO, CA – May 19, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – With a record event attendance of nearly 25,000 fans, the 45th running of the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic proved to be one for the history books as the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicked off in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday. After missing an entire season in 2012 due to injury, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto made a valiant return, sweeping both 450 Class motos atop one of the most stacked fields in the series’ recent history. Additionally, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen claimed his first career 250 Class overall victory at Hangtown.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, who missed most of the second half of the 2012 season, made a comeback of his own by grabbing the Motorcycle-Superstore.com holeshot in Moto 1, garnering one point toward the overall championship holeshot bonus of $25,000 in the 450 Class. However, keeping the lead wasn’t an easy task as three other former 450 Class Champions and several returning contenders chased the 2008 champ early on.
The 450 Class Boasted one of the most stacked fields of racing in recent series history. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
Villopoto took over the lead on the opening lap with Stewart and defending champion Ryan Dungey close in tow. The trio diced it out in the first half of Moto 1 but it was ultimately Villopoto who locked in the moto win, with Dungey in second and Stewart in third.
Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard returned to the Hangtown Motocross Classic for the first time since his 250 Class championship-winning season in 2010. Canard made a statement early on as he jumped in behind the lead battle and even closed in on Stewart near the end of Moto 1. Just behind was the epic battle for fifth place between Canard’s teammate Barcia, BTO Sports/KTM’s Andrew Short, Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Malcolm Stewart, Smartop/MotoConcepts Mike Alessi and 450 Class rookie Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson. Malcolm Stewart, Alessi and Wilson experienced issues that dropped all three in the running order, while Canard and Barcia prevailed, rounding out the top five, with Short sixth.
Dungey, Villopoto, Stewart, Grant and Alessi battled all day at Hangtown. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
James Stewart began Moto 2 in similar fashion to the first, grabbing the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot once again and taking over the points lead in the season-long chase for the end-of-the-year cash prize. From there, Stewart engaged in a battle for the lead with Dungey, while Villopoto followed close behind. Near the halfway mark, Villopoto made his move to the front, leaving Dungey and Stewart to fight for the second place position. Dungey bested Stewart for the second place spot in Moto 2, giving the Minnesota native second overall for the day with a pair of second place finishes. Stewart, the 2012 Hangtown winner, scored (3-3) for third place overall. Villopoto went on to secure the first overall win of the 2013 season with a score of (1-1).
“Hangtown has always been a rough place for me so for the bike to feel like it did today was amazing,” Villopoto said. “I’m obviously happy with that and happy with how I rode. I feel like we’re in a really good place and it’s only going to get better from here.”
450 Class podium: (left) Dungey, (center) Villopoto, (right) Stewart. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
The 250 Class was set to be a showcase with a full lineup of returning contenders, including defending 250 Class Champion Blake Baggett. Fresh off a wrist injury, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider had no reservations about getting to the front early on as he grabbed the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot in Moto 1. However, the Red Bull KTM duo of Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen quickly gained control of the lead. Musquin led three laps before his teammate commanded the lead for the remainder of Moto 1.
Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen claimed a career first overall victory in the 250 Class. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac began the first moto just outside of the top five but made his way into podium contention early on. Tomac first set his sights on Musquin and then made his way around Baggett to eventually secure second place in Moto 1. Baggett finished third, while Musquin took fourth and MyPlash Star RacingYamaha/Metal Mulisha’s Cooper Webb rounded out the top five in his Pro class debut.
In Moto 2, GEICO Honda’s Zach Bell grabbed the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot but it was once again Roczen who jumped out front on the opening lap. Roczen set the pace early on and Baggett remained close in tow throughout the first half of the race. Roczen eventually put a gap on the defending champion in the final laps of Moto 2, going on to secure his first career victory in the 250 Class.
“Coming here, I didn’t really know what to expect because I sort of took some time to have fun during the week off [between supercross and motocross],” Roczen said. “It’s important to me to keep things fun but next week it’s time to put in some work and make my performance even better.”
250 Class podium: (left) Tomac, (center) Roczen, (right) Baggett. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
Baggett’s score of (3-2) was enough to give him second overall for the day, while Tomac went (2-3) for third overall. Musquin captured a pair of fourth places to claim fourth overall, while GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne rounded out the top five overall with a (9-5) score.
New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan took the opening round of the Women’s Motocross (WMX) Triple Crown by storm, sweeping both motos of the day in her WMX debut. Duncan bested Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Sayaka Kaneshiro, who finished second overall with a (2-3) score and Texas native Taylor Higgins rounded out the overall podium. Six-time WMX champion Jessica Patterson finished second in Moto 2 but bad luck in the first moto gave her 10th overall for the day.
New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan swept both motos of the WMX Class. Courtesy: Simon Cudby
The WMX Triple Crown returns to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship June 8 for the GEICO Hangtown National in Mt. Morris, Pa. Round 2 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to Lakewood, Colo. for the Rockwell Watches Thunder Valley National next weekend, May 25.
For tickets and additional information, please visit AlliSports.com/motocross and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic
Prairie City OHV Park – Sacramento
May 18, 2013
Round 1 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-2)
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (3-3)
4. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda (4-4)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (5-5)
6. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki (8-7)
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (6-10)
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (12-6)
9. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (9-9)
10. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (13-8)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki, 50
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM,44
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki,40
4. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda,36
5. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 32
6. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki, 27
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 26
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 24
9. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki, 24
10. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 21
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (1-1)
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (3-2)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (2-3)
4. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (4-4)
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda (9-5)
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (8-7)
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (12-6)
8. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (7-13)
9. Joseph Savatgy, Cairo, Ga. KTM (10-11)
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (13-9)
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious professional motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.
Alli Sports
Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series, GoPro World of Adventure Sports and Octane Academy; Alli Media, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners and distributes content through a variety of channels; and Alli enterprises consisting of E-commerce, event merchandise and branded licensed product. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.
AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form the NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, 11 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and all of their respective digital properties. The NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.
Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.
May 17, 2013, – (Motor Sports Newswire) – 2013 brought an array of talented riders to the track for an action packed Monster Energy Supercross season. This episode of Changing of the Guard takes you through Davi Millsaps’ role in the 2013 season.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is an off-road motorcycle racing competition, produced inside a stadium that seats no less than 35,000 fans, where dirt is brought in and sculpted using construction equipment. Widely regarded as the king of extreme sports, AMA Supercross is considered the NASCAR of motocross. Some of the world’s greatest athletes compete in what has been described as the most physically demanding sport in existence Top supercross riders James Stewart, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and more battle it out for the 2013 AMA Supercross crown.
Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is the premier off-road motorcycle racing circuit in the world, produced inside the world’s most elite stadiums. Monster Energy® Supercross tracks are man-made inside the stadium. Some of the sport’s marquee names include Chad Reed, James Stewart and former supercross greats Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael. Regarded as the king of action sports, supercross has been described as one of the most physically demanding sports. Monster Energy® Supercross can be seen on CBS Sports and SPEED Channel.
Minneapolis, MN – May 17, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – For the second year in a row, the Mystik® Lubricants Terracross™ Championship will be presented by Polaris RZR®. The series, known as rough, tough and muddy racing, invites some of the most recognized power sports and action sports athletes, such as Daryl Rath, Doug Gust, Chris Burandt, Paul Thacker and others to tackle some of the toughest, manmade tracks imaginable.
“Polaris is excited to be part of Terracross for its second year,” said Jason DiFuccia, marketing manager for Polaris RZR. “The Terracross tracks provide an incredible challenge to the racers and are perfect to showcase the capabilities of our products.”
Polaris RZR vehicles will be used exclusively in the “Pro Polaris RZR,” “Hero Adaptive” and “Women’s” classes, with the Scrambler XP 9850 H.O. being the majority ATV in the “ATV” class. Terracross athletes will battle in pursuit of the Terracross Championship at three national events during the circuit’s 2013 racing season. Fans can catch the action live or aired on CBS Sports Network. The 2013 schedule is as follows:
August 10 & 11-Elk River, Minn., ERX Motor Park
September 7 & 8-North Branch, Minn., Hay Days
October TBD-Mystik Terracross Finals
“With Polaris being the industry leader and innovative expert of the Side x Side market Terracross is privileged to have them on board as a partner,“ said Joe Duncan, Terracross Sport Organizer. “By building a machine we can take off the showroom floor of a dealer and go straight to the race track it creates an accessible and cost effective way of going racing.”
More information about Terracross can be found at Terracrossracing.com, on Facebook at Terracross Championship and on Twitter @Terracrossrace.
About Polaris
Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.
Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industrie SA, Aixam Mega S.A.S., and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.
NEW YORK, NY – May 17, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – As part of its ongoing surveillance process, Fitch Ratings takes the following rating actions on the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust 2011-2:
–Class A-2 notes affirmed at ‘AAAsf’; Outlook Stable;
–Class A-3 notes affirmed at ‘AAAsf’; Outlook Stable;
–Class A-4 notes affirmed at ‘AAAsf’; Outlook Stable;
–Class B notes upgraded to ‘AAAsf’ from ‘AAsf’; Outlook to Stable from Positive;
–Class C notes upgraded to ‘AAsf’ from ‘Asf’; Outlook to Stable from Positive.
KEY RATING DRIVERS:
The rating upgrades to the class B and C notes are a result of low loss performance and strong loss coverage. The transaction has continued to perform within Fitch’s expectations with cumulative net losses currently at 1.04%. The affirmations on the class A-2, A-3, and A-4 notes reflect loss coverage levels consistent with the current ratings. In addition, under the credit enhancement structure, the securities are able to withstand stress scenarios consistent with the upgraded ratings and make full payments to investors in accordance with the terms of the documents.
The ratings reflect the quality of Harley-Davidson’s retail motorcycle loan originations, the strength of its servicing capabilities, and the sound financial and legal structure of the transaction.
RATING SENSITIVITY:
Unanticipated increases in the frequency of defaults and loss severity could produce loss levels higher than the current projected base case loss proxy and impact available loss coverage and multiples levels for the transactions. Lower loss coverage could impact ratings and Rating Outlooks, depending on the extent of the decline in coverage.
In Fitch’s initial review of the transactions, the notes were found to have limited sensitivity to a 1.5x and 2.5x increase of Fitch’s base case loss expectation. To date, the transactions have exhibited strong performance with losses well within Fitch’s initial expectations with rising loss coverage and multiple levels. As such, continued performance consistent with recent performance for the transactions would most likely result in positive rating actions. Conversely, a material deterioration in performance would have to occur within the asset pools to have potential negative impact on the outstanding ratings.
Initial Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivity are further detailed in Fitch’s Oct. 31, 2011 presale report, available by clicking on the link at the end of the press release.
ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY’S PUBLIC WEBSITE ‘WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM‘. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH’S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ‘CODE OF CONDUCT’ SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.
Contacts
Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Eugene Kushnir, +1-212-908-0830
Associate Director
Fitch, Inc.
One State Street Plaza
New York, NY 10004
or
Committee Chairperson
Steven Stubbs, +1-212-908-0676
Senior Director
or
Media Relations
Sandro Scenga, +1-212-908-0278 sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com
TORRANCE, CA – May 17, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – American Honda proudly announces Dan Betley as the new Honda Muscle Milk team manager beginning with the opening round of the 2013 Motocross season at the Hangtown Classic in Sacramento, CA. Betley successfully filled the role during the 2013 Supercross season as he led the team to two victories and six additional podiums.
Since he began his career with Honda in 1989, Betley has held multiple positions within the race team, including his most recent as Engine Development and R&D specialist. He has worked with many high profile motocross champions such as Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael, making him highly qualified for the role as team manager.
“Dan has been with Team Honda for many years and has played an important role in the team’s success,” explained Honda Race Team Director Ray Conway. “It seems natural for him to move up to Team Manager and he has done a great job filling in during the 2013 Supercross season.”
“I’m looking forward to transitioning into my new role,” explained Betley. “It’s a challenging job but I got a good feel for what it entails while filling in during the 2013 Supercross season and I’m grateful Honda chose me to continue as team manager. We have two extremely talented riders in Trey Canard and Justin Barcia and a great team behind them, so I am looking forward to a successful Motocross season.”
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
BOULDER, CO – May 17, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The vast majority of electric motorcycles and scooters sold worldwide are sold in China. To date, little demand for these vehicles has existed outside Asia Pacific, with the exception of a few Western European countries such as Germany and Spain. According to a recent report fromNavigant Research, that will begin to change in the next several years: sales of e-motorcycles and e-scooters in North America will grow from a little more than 4,000 in 2012 to more than 36,000 in 2018, a nearly ten-fold expansion, the study concludes.
“The market for e-motorcycles and e-scooters will grow as manufacturers provide more robust features, including longer range capability, better performance, and in the case of e-motorcycles, higher speeds,” says Dave Hurst, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “The North American market is still very much in its infancy, but the United States will see strong growth, with a compound annual growth rate of greater than 50 percent through 2018.”
In Asia Pacific, scooters and low-powered motorcycles are widely used as everyday transportation. In North America, by contrast, motorcycles and scooters (including e-motorcycles and e-scooters) are more likely to be used for recreation than as a primary form of transportation. The interest in higher-powered and touring motorcycles is higher in North America than other regions, and so e-motorcycles and e-scooters are often purchased as complements to other forms of transportation.
The report, “Electric Motorcycles and Scooters”, provides a comprehensive examination of the market drivers and barriers, technology issues, governmental incentives and regulations, and key drivers of growth in the e-motorcycles and e-scooters industry. The report includes e-motorcycle and e-scooter sales forecasts through 2018, as well as detailed profiles of key industry players. The report also provides forecasts for lithium ion and lead-acid battery technologies used in e-scooters and e-motorcycles. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.
About Navigant Research
Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.
About Navigant
Navigant (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.
* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Electric Motorcycles and Scooters,” is a summary and reflects Navigant Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Navigant Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.
