Author: Brent Stallo
Pourcel To Race World Championships
Many sites are now confirming that Christophe Pourcel has finally landed a new deal for the remainder of 2011. According to sources, the French ace is back and ready to race in Europe with CLS Kawasaki as a replacement for Ben Townley. After leaving Motoconcepts after two disappointing rounds in the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross series many expected Pourcel to return to Europe and replace Townley. Well, it looks as if the rumors were true. We are unsure when to expect Pourcel back on the gate, but it could be as early as the GP of Germany. The question now is, will we see the same results out of CP as when he last won the World Championship?
Wil Hahn Makes Return At RedBud
As if you didn't have enough of a reason to get stoked about Round 6 of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championships at ReeeedBuuuud this weekend, Wil Hahn will be making his much anticipated return to action. Hahn, who suffered a back injury while practicing for supercross at the beginning of the season was slated to make his return to outdoor racing this summer. However, a shoulder injury prevented that from happening. Now, nearly nine months off the bike, the GEICO rider is hoping to make the rest of the summer one to remember. Expect to see Hahn battling for podium position by seasons end and be sure to keep an eye of the #31 this weekend at RedBud.
Facciotti/Medaglia Continue To Roll In Canada
Yamaha Red Bull Blackfoot Fox Racing's (whew, that's a mouthful) Colton Facciotti and Tyler Medaglia are on the road to greatness. With near perfect rides in the mud during Round 3 of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals in Morden, MB, both Blackfoot riders sealed their fate with yet another impressive win.
Track conditions were nearly unbearable throughout the weekend, and while Facciotti's moto win streak was broken by his MX1 teammate, Dusty Klatt in the first moto, the BC native fought back in moto two to take the overall with a 2-1 finish. As for Medaglia, he was forced to work his way past the holeshot artist of Kaven Benoit in both motos, but was fortunate enough to do so and take two convincing moto wins.
Strang Takes the MotoSport.com Snowshoe GNCC
Josh Strang is no stranger to the brutal conditions offered up by what most refer to as the toughest GNCC race on the calendar. The MotoSport.com Snowshoe GNCC is world renowned for its unforgiving terrain and this year, believe it or not, was even rougher.
With rain pounding the West Virginia area for the better part of the month, Snowshoe participants had their work cut out for them, but it was FMF/Makita Suzuki's Josh Strang who would come out on top with the $5000 top prize after a race long battle with WMR Off-Road/Cockwork/FMF/Planet Fitness KTM's Nate Kanney.
Due to conditions several riders saw the lead throughout the race, but only one would manage the rocky mountain course with true efficiency. In all, Am Pro Yamaha's Paul Whibley, FMF/KTM Charlie Mullins, JG Racing/GEICO Powersports Honda's Rory Mead, Am Pro Yamaha's Thad DuVall and KTM rider Stu Baylor, along with Strang and Kanney, all held the lead somewhere during the three-hour race.
Strang now leads the series over Charlie Mullins 153 to 142 as the best off-road riders in the land head to Millfield, OH on July 9-10 Round 9 of the series.
Adams Wins in Rome
A wave of Roman fans rolled through Stadio Olimpico as Nate Adams and Andre Villa revved up for the final showdown battle on two wheels. Adams got off 18 flawless jumps within the 120-second time limit to win over the five-member Senate of judges, picking up his fifth victory in the 11-year history of the Red Bull X-Fighters. "It was the most difficult win in my career after I had a crash in Qualifying," the 27-year-old American said afterwards.
On the biggest FMX course ever built in Italy - with 11 kickers and eight dirt landings - the athletes pushed themselves to their limits, jumping distances of up to 100 feet and as high as 45 feet. Co-favorite Dany Torres, who won in Rome last year, sent a shiver through the crowd when he crashed at the end of a botched landing in the second round. His bike veered off the course and into a barrier, his boot shattering the tempered glass wall.
Torres came to Rome with five broken bones that weren't quite healed, but nevertheless won the Qualifying round. Judging by the way his right ankle feels right now, he will leave Rome with six broken bones. The Spaniard was confident he would be ready to battle for the victory at the next stop in front of his home crowd in Madrid.
Adams widened his lead in the overall 2011 Red Bull X-Fighters standings, following a third place in Dubai and victories in Brasilia and Rome, to 40 points over Villa. The Norwegian still has plenty of time to catch Adams in the three remaining stops in Madrid (July 15), Poznan, Poland (August 6) and Sydney (September 17).
The Red Bull X-Fighters Rome telecast will air on FUEL TV this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m PT.
Final Results Rome:
1. Nate Adams (USA)
2. Andre Villa (NOR)
3. Josh Sheehan (AUS)
4. Blake Williams (AUS)
5. Dany Torres (ESP)
6. Eigo Sato (JPN)
7. Adam Jones (USA)
8. Robbie Maddison (AUS)
9. Javier Villegas (CHI)
10. Maikel Melero (ESP)
Current 2011 Standings:
1. Adams (USA/265 points)
2. Villa (NOR/225)
3. Torres (ESP/145)
4. Maddison (AUS/135)
5. Blake Williams (AUS/135)
