Last man standing is the name of the game. There are no sure bets on the road to Vegas, and the 2010 Supercross is no exception. With Grant, Stewart and Reed out of the running, the Championship is in the air, right along with Ryan Dungey's bike for the majority of the racing in San Francisco. What could have easily been one fell swoop for the "rookie," the 450 main proved to be anything but and put a new man on the box. Well, technically a man who is very familiar to the box, but in an uncharacteristic downturn, has been facing a rough start to 2010. Ryan Villopoto had this to say.

Without James and Chad in the race how do you think you'll do?
I think with James and Chad out, it is going to be a lot easier, there are still a lot of fast guys out there but its going to make it better.

Have you changed your mentality from running with James and Chad, to running with Dungey now?
I always said James and Chad, but now its changed. The goal it to win races, so that's the focus. I know I am fast enough to be up there, I just need to get out there and do it.

Ryan Villopoto has had a number of inconsistent finishes. This is a pattern unfamiliar to Villopoto, the former Lites Champion. One has to wonder what could have had such a drastically negative effect on the career of a once motivated and talented individual. It was mentioned, Ryan Villopoto's family was present for the first race this season. His family has been absent from his most recent races, and it was obvious with his family once again in attendance, the RV we all know and respect was back. Upon her son's first win of the season, Mrs. Villopoto was brought to loving tears.

In the Lites Class, fellow Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer was confident in his ability to win in San Fran. Weimer has been having an impressively strong season in the Lites class, and prior to San Francisco had yet to show any signs of weakness. On his season so far Weimer commented, "Three races down and three wins, so nothing to complain about, I've been having fun and doing what I want to do."

Do you think you can carry this momentum to the end of the West coast series, and win the Championship?
Yeah, I am in a really good spot. I don't think it's a fluke that I am in a good spot. I can definitely do that.

Is there a lot of competition between yourself and fellow Pro-Circuit teammates?
Definitely, at the end of the day we both want to win. There are a lot of teams, but we both get along and try to manage it. At the same time we know when its time to get down to business.

With a points lead on the line, do you find yourself riding more conservatively or are you out for the win?
Definitely riding more conservatively, I mean I have to be careful. I am looking for good starts, but ultimately I want the win.

Jake Weimer was a shoo-in to essentially take home the West Coast Championship. With a strong team, and past experience, Weimer has the strongest background. But as the story goes, there are no safe bets. A rider who proves that rule to be solid is Josh Hill. The once infamous accomplice to J-Law is now dominating the Supercross class and is showing a new face.

How do you feel about your season so far?
Well good, except for the first race I went to the LCQ and got 6th, but now I just want to pick away at Dungey's lead. Hopefully I'll be in the points lead soon.

With James and Chad out of the running does that give you a spark of motivation towards a championship?
I just need to go out and win races. If I don't start beating Dungey, he's going to get ahead of me. Dungey hasn't been known to hold up good under pressure, so I figured in 14 races he'd have a few mistakes and I am going to try not to.

Are the changes you made to your program going to stick?
Well yeah, I feel like what I had to do to get to this point wasn't hard. I just have to stay with it, and I am just as fast as any of those other guys. I think I'll be able to keep it up and I have 14 more races to do it. I went and surrounded myself with good people, who know the body and know nutrition, I have the best team you could be on, and San Manuel Yamaha is really doing a good job. They have knowledge a lot of people don't have. It is a whole combination of everything. I didn't go out and go all Rocky, it's the work of an entire team.

What inspired these changes?
'09 sucked, if I kept going that way I wouldn't want to race. Being 10th sucks you get roosted and its just a bad place to be in. I want to win I want to be on the podium and do good, that's my goal.

Do you love to win or hate loosing?
It depends who is beating me. Right now there isn't a James Stewart or a Ricky Carmichael out there. Those guys aren't beating me. The guys out here now are guys I have grown up with that I've beaten a lot before. I don't feel like any of these guys should be beating me and I don't want to let them anymore. I guess I hate to loose right now. I don't want Villopoto and Dungey to beat me.

What brings you to San Francisco?
I flew over to America to qualify for Red Bull X-Fighters but it was cancelled. I had a bit of spare time so I decided to come watch San Francisco Supercross. The racing here is a whole lot better than Australia. It is really fun to come out and watch these, and I've been doing a few autograph signings for Monster.

Will you be taking part in the Australian Nitro Circus tour?
Yeah yeah for sure, Travis and them will be coming over and it is going to be one hell of a show. It's something new, and we've done Crusty for the last few years but this will be fun. Definitely dangerous, but really fun.

Who are you betting on to win tonight?
I hope my buddy Hill gets up on the podium and Hansen takes it for the Lites.

What would you attribute your win to?
I just really wanted it tonight, and I didn't even get the best start. I have to give it up for Jesus Christ and everyone around me at the Geico Powersports team. I am really glad I am up here and hope to get up here again

Canard and Villopoto definitely showed Weimer and Dungey that to be number one, you can't let off. With San Diego next week there will definitely be some good racing ahead.

Words and Photos: Kristen Beat

On Wednesdsay March 18th the San Diego Hall of Champions opened a new exhibition in honor of Jeremy Lusk. The museum has inducted the X-Games gold medalist and San Diego native into their halls to preserve the Lusk legacy and celebrate in his world renowned accomplishments.

A disheartened audience including fellow athletes such as Nate Adams, Robbie Maddison and the entire Mulisha family joined to celebrate at this bitter-sweet occasion. Front-man of the Metal Mulisha, Brian Deegan, took this time as an opportunity to introduce the Lusk Legacy Foundation.

Brian Deegan
"The Lusk Legacy Foundation is a foundation that we formed to add safety to fresstyle motocross. It's a sport that's so new that nobody's figured out yet how to make it safe. It sounds crazy because it's so dangerous as it is but there are certain things like for what happened with Jeremy that could be prevented. I mean it was too windy, the ramps weren't right and the medics weren't trained. I think that could have made the difference and from here on out that's what I want to change. I want to make sure everything is safer, and hopefully all of the promoter's work with us and if they don't they won't be sanctioned by the L.L.F. and that's the way I see it. I think we are a powerful enough group to pull some weight around and make it work."

How can people get involved?
"This is a foundation that will be run and strengthened by the fans, I want people to be apart of it. They can go onto www.lusklegacyfoundation.com and we are working it out where you can become a member. It's not just for freestyle motocross it's for free riding in general, it's just going out in the hills and making sure one of you knows CPR or one of you has an EMT pack. Stuff like that, it will save a life. I want you to log on and become a member, and back it. Of course it takes money to make things happen so donate, and a lot of the money will be going back to his family."

Can you tell us about the upcoming poker tournament?
"Yeah, one of the first things we are doing is a poker tournament up at Pechanga April 15th. It's just a way to get things moving, it's a celebrity poker tournament so there's going to be a lot of people there and the Mulisha, so it will be a night of fun and all of the proceeds will go back to Lauren and the foundation so we gotta kick this thing of. Every time I watch the video of Jeremy it reminds me why I'm doing it. There's moments you just feel like that's my boy, and I don't want to see that happen to anyone else."

Nate Adams
"It's been tough, you know him and Brian were really close, best friends and Stenberg and Potter, everyone was close with him. It was just such a huge blow. It was like he was the tough guy the bull dog it was supposed to be anyone but him. It was a huge blow to the whole freestyle community and the Mulisha and others like me who were close to him. It's definitely opened our eyes and good is coming out of it. Getting better safety regulations is good and Jeremy definitely influenced people in a positive way."

MCRMX Indy Race Report - Another Top Ten for Coisy

Spokane, Wash. (March, 4 2009) - MotoConcepts Racing (MCRMX) is heading to Bike Week in sunny Florida, after a successful stop in Indianapolis for the 9th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross FIM World Championship Series. Five-time French Supercross Champion Ben Coisy posted his second top ten of the year, with an impressive 6th place ride. Coisy was the second Honda across the line, moved up to 14th overall in points, and is now poised to take a run at privateer of the year.

"Ben had a great day and rode aggressive," stated Team Manager Steve Lamson. "It was good to see him back in the top ten where we feel he belongs. We are looking forward to Daytona and continuing to build on the success."

Team MCRMX rider Tyler Bowers also landed in the main event. The 17-year-old Kentucky native was flying around and finished 6th in his heat race. Teammate Coisy was just ahead in 4th place. Bowers is continuing to improve from week to week and gaining valuable experience at a young age. In the main event he finished 18th and will look to move toward the top ten again this weekend.

In the 250 class, MCRMX got another heat race holeshot out of Vince Friese. Friese's holeshot was the second in as many weeks and made for smooth sailing into the main event. In the main, Friese just missed the top ten and landed in 11th overall. After three rounds in the 250 East class, the rookie Friese is now 17th overall.

Onto the weekly Cole Siebler points watch, where the injured MCRMX 450 rider has missed the last four races as he recovers from a broken knee cap. Even with all the races missed, the Idaho native is still 20th overall in points.

MCRMX would like to thank team sponsors: MotoConcepts, MDK, FMF, FLY Racing, Pirelli, DeCal Works, Smooth Industries, Alpinestars, Utopia, Vortex, TCR, Sunline, Dragon Racing Fuel, Excel RK, Goldfren, Boyesen, Guts, Motion Pro, DT1 Filters, Motorex, Leisure Concepts, Northwest Steel Fab., Extreme Motosport MX park.
All interested team sponsor enquires please contact Alison Turner alison@atlantic-promotions.com 805-214-1106.

30 YEARS IN MOTOCROSS LEADS TOYOTA INTO
JOE GIBBS RACING SUPERCROSS PARTNERSHIP

Automotive Leader Blazed Sports Marketing Trail in Motocross by Becoming
Synonymous with the Sport's Lifestyle

TORRANCE, CA, Feb. 19, 2009 - In the mid-to-late '70s, sports sponsorships and motocross were as raw and rugged as the dirt tracks of the sport itself. Seeking to build credibility and awareness for its truck line, Toyota recognized the synergistic relationship with dirt bikes and trucks among a loyal and active fan base. Fast forward 30 years, Toyota and motocross have both benefited from the partnership that now includes Toyota's official vehicle sponsorship of AMA Supercross.

Effective sports sponsorships enable a brand to build and affinity and loyalty among a targeted demographic. Over time, Toyota and its trucks have become part of the motocross subculture. Motocross was always about dirt bikes, motor oil and helmets, but today, trucks are every bit as engrained in the culture.

"Toyota recognized early on that it was important to connect with a targeted, passionate fan base," commented Les Unger, Toyota's National Motorsports Manager.
Over the years, Toyota has evolved into a brand that truly understands motocross' unique consumer base, with a truck line-up that features nameplates like the full size Toyota Tundra that truly resonate within this audience's more rugged and action-oriented lifestyle.

Recently, Toyota has raised the bar again in partnering up with one of the sports and racing world's most respected names, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Gibbs has forged a legendary history as one of the NFL's greatest coaches, followed by his success in competitive racing as one of NASCAR's most successful Sprint Cup Teams. Now Gibbs has taken his legacy from the concrete ovals of NASCAR to the undulating dirt tracks of supercross with JGR MX under the leadership of his 36-year-old son, Coy Gibbs. Understanding the strength of the Gibbs legacy of leadership and success, Toyota wasted no time in forging a partnership that would bring the two leaders together.

"Toyota's been in supercross for more than three decades and is arguably the strongest brand name amongst motocross fans, so we were ecstatic when Toyota approached us about sponsoring JGR MX," said Gibbs. "While the funding they provide is critical, the company's understanding of the motocross culture and the unique needs of its teams and riders makes the partnership very valuable for us."

Throughout the years, as Toyota enjoyed record sales and increased consumer loyalty; the company sought new sports with similar potential. Action sports represented a new frontier and untapped market years ago. Toyota is now enjoying similar success with its primary sponsorship of the popular Summer and Winter Dew Tour action sports series. The brand's affiliations with leading action sports stars including Bob Burnquist, Jamie Bestwick, Greg Lutzka, and Andreas Wiig among others have provided additional credibility.

"These sponsorships are critical to our strategy of earning long-term loyalty with consumers, and that begins with younger consumers for whom these sports are of paramount interest," said Keith Dahl, Toyota's National Marketing Manager. "We see the action sports platform as the beginning of a life-long consumer relationship, where we can appeal to them at every stage of life with most high-quality and reliable products that never let them down."

While Toyota's interests are multi-faceted and focused on building and maintaining brand loyalty, for Coy Gibbs and his JGR MX crew, it's simply about one thing: winning.
"We understand Toyota's goal in reaching and earning the loyalty of die-hard motocross fans, and the best way we can help them is by getting to the podium week in and week out," said Gibbs. "We're off to a good start this season, and we know it will take time and hard work to ultimately realize a championship, but with Toyota's support, we intend to get there."

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs over 36,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com , www.lexus.com , www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com .

AMA Arenacross Series Interview: Triple Effect Kawasaki's Brock Sellards
After Long Drought, Veteran Rider Captured First Win of '09 in Sacramento

AURORA, Ill. (February 25, 2009) - Brock Sellards is one of the most familiar names in the AMA Arenacross Series. A longtime racer and top competitor in the series, 2009 has been somewhat of a change for Sellards. Coming towards what he realizes is the end of his professional racing career, he has began making the transition into normal everyday life, picking up a full time job and shifting his focus to what lies ahead after racing. While he is still passionate about the sport and will continue to be a part of the AMA Arenacross Series as long as he can, at 30 years old he is part of the old guard and this chapter of his life is slowly coming to a close.

Last weekend, Sellards grabbed his first win of the 2009 season, ending what for him was a long winless streak that dated back to the end of the 2008 season. After challenging for the title just one year ago, Sellards is now happy to just be running at the front of the pack on a consistent basis after picking up a ride for this season at the last minute. Despite not having the ability to spend as much time on the bike as he'd like week in and week out, he is proud of the accomplishments he's made this year.

Congratulations on the win Brock. How does it feel to make it back on top?
It feels good. I was getting frustrated with the seconds and stuff, being so close. To finally get a win made me feel like I'm back in place.

It's been a while since you last won. Is it because the series has become more difficult or has it just taken you longer to get acclimated?
No actually I came out in the first round and would have had the first race won and I crashed. I've just been really close but I just couldn't get the win. There have been mistakes that I've made that I usually don't make that cost me the wins this year. I finally put in an error-free race.

You mentioned on the podium that a lot of people doubted you because you were old. You proved them wrong. Why do you think people thought that?
The whole thing is kind of a joke. Actually, we're all old. Me, Demuth and Gibson are close to 30, Demuth is 31, I'm going to be 31. Kelly Smith is about 30. Chad Johnson is about 28 or 29. I mean we're all old and its just kind of a joke. The thing is I went into the season not even planning to race. I didn't even have a ride then at the last second I got a ride. So basically what I did was have no practice or anything during the summer right into the series and I knew it wouldn't be till about the halfway point when I figured I'd be back to riding fast enough. So when I almost won at the first round I was surprised.

Let's build on the ride a little bit. How did the Triple Effect opportunity come about for you?
Actually Denny Bartz (Babbitt's Monster Energy Kawasaki) helped put that together. I was trying to put something together with the Tuf Honda team and then I was trying to do something with (Denny's team). At the last second he called Charlie (Wallwork) at Triple Effect and put something together with me. So he kind of help put that in place for me.

You mentioned age. A lot of the guys at the front of the pack are veterans. What is it about the AMA Arenacross Series that helps you more experienced riders be successful?
It's because we're professional supercross riders that towards the end of our supercross careers (race arenacross). I've won a lot in supercross and I've won championships and I love the sport so much that I transferred into AMA Arenacross because I could still win. It's still racing at a competitive level that I can win at. Guys like Jeff Gibson, myself, Chad Johnson, Kelly Smith, Danny Smith and Kevin Johnson. We're all professional supercross racers and had established ourselves, so we made the transition and put in good results.

There seems to be a lot of parity in AMA Arenacross Series racing. Anyone can win on a given night, what do you think plays into that?
Well there is only so much that can be done with the track given the space available. It's not like supercross where a lot of variations can be made (due to more space). There is usually around eight jumps. A triple, the finish line, and whoops. So basically everyone races on a pretty consistent track every week and gains a lot of experience. A lot of success is determined by track conditions and getting the holeshot. It doesn't matter how fast you are because you can only be so fast when everyone is on the same track.

How would you rate your season?
For me my year has been great. I did it for fun. I had no expectations put on myself. I'm not taking it as serious as I usually do because I have a job now. I work all week so I don't really even practice. I just go out and have fun racing on the weekends. So to still come up there and be able to win, my season has been going great.

Can people expect to see you back next year?
Oh yeah for sure. I'll be back next year for sure. I know what I have to do now with working and everything else. So next year will be a lot more organized for being able to work in practice for each week. I think it'll be pretty good with how things have worked out.

What are you looking to achieve for the final three rounds?
I just want to be consistent enough to finish the season (on a positive note). I think Jeff Gibson is out of the question to catch, but I want to finish the series in second. I'm just going to go out there and work my butt off to get as many good finishes and hopefully wins that I can because obviously those give you the most points. To try and get up there and finish the series in the top three is my goal.

This weekend the series heads to Reno, Nev. and the Livestock Events Center for ArenOcross. The action kicks off on Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m. followed by a second night of racing on Saturday, February 28 at 7 p.m. The exciting weekend concludes on Sunday, March 1 with amateur day beginning at 10 a.m.

After an off week, the AMA Arenacross Series heads to Wachovia Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pa., on March 13-15, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com , www.ticketmaster.com , www.tickets.com . For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com .

About Feld Motor Sports
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam , Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA Nitro Jam . Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com .