Weekend Ketchup – Dakar, Anstie, Yamaha and Langston
KTM riders will race in the Dakar again on Pirelli’s new Scorpion Rally
KTM rider Marc Coma and Jordi Viladoms will race in the Dakar again on Pirelli’s new Scorpion Rally, a tyre which made its debut by winning last year’s event as well as taking the runner-up spot.
These KTM team riders trust in the performances of tyres which were demonstrated from their numerous wins and podiums throughout the 2009 season. The was developed specifically for these types of rally-raids, being more suitable than previous tyres for the high-speed and heavy beating taken in these extreme off-road conditions. is strongly committed to continuing this product’s development, which in its second year will take the series’ performance to a new level of excellence.
Marc Coma and Cyril Despres
“Pirelli is energized and eager to begin the upcoming Dakar race and participate in the 2010 FIM Cross-country Rally racing season in cooperation with these strong KTM riders. We are convinced that the 2010 season will be the best on record due to the significant efforts we have put forth in product development and testing.” – Guglielmo Fiocchi, Managing Director of Moto Business Unit, Pirelli Tyres.
Grant Langston Returns to Racing with O’neal
The last season Grant Langston raced was in 2007. The 25-year-old Langston had battled his way thru the AMA National Motocross Series to win the Championship title in the premier 450 class! Grant then went onto the Las Vegas US Open in 2007 and also walked away victorious taking the 2007 US Open title!
After a World Championship title, 2 AMA Outdoor National titles, 2 Supercross Championship titles and a US Open title, it was clear, the young racer was in fact one of the most talented riders to ever grace the sport.
At the start of the 2008 Racing season Grants life took a tragic detour. Grant developed a problem with his vision. At first, it was thought to be a minor eye issue but was soon discovered to be Cancer of the eye. In true racers form, Grant battled the disease thru 2008. In early 2009, Grant was given a clean bill of health from his doctors. Indeed, the cancer was in remission and the unthinkable was told to Grant – He was clear to go racing!
Grants triumphant return to racing is no longer a dream. Grant will be entered into Round one of the US Supercross series in Anaheim California on January 9, 2010.
Grant is taking this journey seriously and has been carefully preparing his body, bike and equipment so that he has the absolute finest tools to compete throughout the 2010 season.
Grant has chosen O’NEAL protective apparel and Yamaha motorcycles for his triumphant return. Langston will compete in the 450 class for both the US Monster Supercross Series and the US AMA National Motocross series in 2010. “I was lucky and caught the cancer early. I spent 2008 treating the cancer and with the support of my family and friends have since recovered well. I have been training hard and am eager to be on the bike racing again.” Langston went on to say, “O’NEAL makes some fantastic gear and I am excited to be racing in their new 2010 line.”
O’NEAL, established in 1970, produces superior quality motorcycle protective apparel, helmets and accessories and distributes them worldwide. Frank Kashare, O’Neal’s Vice President said, “We are proud to be associated with Grant. He is an inspiration to all of us at O’NEAL and we look forward to racing with Grant for many years to come. He truly is a Champion on and off the track!”
Look for # 8 to be a regular on the podium throughout the Supercross and Outdoor National Series.
Yamaha Announces 2010 Race Teams
Yamaha Motor Corporation is proud to announce our largest ever contingent of Supercross/Motocross race teams for the 2010 season, this after a highly successful 2009 season, which saw San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart pilot his 2009 YZ450F to the prestigious 2009 FIM World Supercross title.
Team L&M and San Manuel Yamaha will once again have Stewart at the helm pursuing his third Supercross Championship. With a successful off-season and the all new 2010 YZ450F at his disposal, James is looking forward to making this season a most memorable one. James’ teammate at San Manuel Yamaha will be Josh Hill. A product of Yamaha’s amateur program, Josh has already proven himself as a threat to win main events after his maiden victory at Minneapolis in 2008. Josh returns fit and is ready for a fresh start and the opportunity to return to his rightful place on the podium.
Joe Gibbs Racing/Muscle Milk/Toyota team has 2009 Anaheim 1 winner Josh Grant returning for his sophomore season in the premier Supercross class. The surprise of 2009 with his solid performances both indoors and outdoors, Josh made the transition from the Lites class look easy. Joining him is newcomer to the team Justin Brayton. Winning the final AMA National moto of the year was a true breakthrough for Justin and combined with his impressive off-season performances, Justin starts out the 2010 Season ready for action.
DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing continues to be Yamaha’s official Lites team and with the new 2010 YZ250F, the team is ready for a successful season. During the off-season Star Racing made quite a few impressive rider acquisitions, hiring Nico Izzi, Martin Davalos and Max Anstie. Returning is team captain Broc Tickle who had his best season ever in 2009. Currently Tickle and Izzi are set to ride the West Coast rounds and Davalos and Anstie the East Coast rounds.
MotoConcepts Racing is joining the Yamaha Family for 2010. With the leadership of Michael Young as their Team Director and a successful freshman season under their belt, the team is looking to go big in 2010. Led by 450 riders Matt Goerke and Dan Reardon the team is looking to make an impact right off the bat. MotoConcepts will field four Lites riders, with seasoned veterans Ryan Sipes and Jeff Alessi showing the ropes to Vince Friese and Yamaha’s amateur standout Travis Baker. Alessi and Baker are set to race the West Coast rounds and Sipes and Friese the East Coast rounds.
After a very successful outdoor season in 2009, Valli Motorsports team owner Chad Lanza is entering the world of Supercross in a big way for 2010 with the hiring of two-time Supercross Lites Champion and 2005 AMA Lites National Champion Ivan Tedesco to be their premier class rider. With a wealth of experience, Tedesco is the perfect guy to put the Valli Motorsports 2010 YZ450F on the podium on a weekly basis.
Joining Ivan is rookie standout Kyle Regal who had some inspiring rides during the outdoor season with Valli Motorsports. Fresh out of the amateur ranks, Kyle’s entering his freshman season in Supercross, set to ride the West Coast rounds on the YZ250F and will be switching to the YZ450F for the outdoors.
Finally, former 125 AMA National Champion, 450 AMA National Champion and two-time Lites Supercross Champion Grant Langston will be returning to action in 2010 after embarking on a partnership with the JLaw/ampm/Boost Mobile Racing team. A fan favorite, Langston has battled back from a serious eye issue that almost had him retiring prematurely. Langston will be joined by another fan favorite and former West Coast Lites Champion, Jason Lawrence. Rounding out the team will be Sean Hamblin and Ryan Newton.
Riding Yamaha’s would be enough for riders like James Stewart, Nico Izzi, Ivan Tedesco and their teams to have a competitive advantage, but they also choose to outfit their race bikes with Yamaha’s exclusive line of GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) engine performance and functional products and Yamalube’s range of high performance lubricants.
“Unfortunately, there are only three positions on the podium!”, said Yamaha’s Racing Division Manager, Keith McCarty. “We have established strong new partnerships with some of the best and brightest Teams for the 2010 season and we look for Yamaha along with our in-house partners Yamalube, and GYTR to be the brands of choice!”
Related posts: