Terror on the Basebaths: Previewing the 2009 Monster Energy Supercross Series Starting Lineup
By Eric Johnson
On Saturday day evening, January 3, 2009 in Anaheim, California’s Angel Stadium, the Monster Energy Supercross Series — a series that in 1976 became a proper, stand alone discipline of motorcycle racing — will begin its 33 annual series of competition in the NFL Football and Major League Baseball stadiums of the United States of America.
Leading the way and certain to be terror on the basebaths all winter long in the 17-race series will be an army of Monster Energy-supported racers. To that end, let us introduce them to you.
Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
Born on the eve of the 1991 supercross series, Team Honda approached Mitch Payton and his rapidly growing Pro Circuit aftermarket operation in Corona, California and asked him if he wanted to operate their factory 125cc racing program. Payton went out, found a major sponsor, and said yes. And the rest, as they say, is history, On Saturday night, January 11, 1991 in the Orlando’s Citrus Bowl, Team Peak/Honda/Pro Circuit Honda rider Brian Swink won the very first race the team entered!
“We freaked out,” smiles Payton. “We couldn’t believe it. We won our first race.”
While the team is now referred to as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, it is now the early winter of 2009 and in the past 18 tears future legendary riders such as Jeremy McGrath, Brian Swink, Mickael Pichon, Ricky Carmichael, Grant Langston and Ryan Villopoto have won the Payton’s team seven AMA Lites National Championships and 15 AMA Regional Supercross Championships. Pro Circuit has always prided itself in the line “We Race”. Well, 22 number one plates certainly slams home the point that not only does Pro Circuit race, it wins. And wins A LOT!
For the 2009 AMA East and West Region Supercross Series, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team will send out Jake Weimer, Ryan Morais, Austin Stroupe and new team member, 2008 MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray.
“My life revolves around racing,” begins Ryan Morais. “I ride every day and train and other than that, I cycle. That’s honestly about it. I’m usually in bed or asleep by no later than 9 O’clock. This year is really big for me and I’m definitely taking full advantage of the opportunity Mitch has given me and I just want to know going into whatever Coast I’m racing that at the first round I’m 110% prepared.”
Last summer, Ryan Morais came down with a badass strain of staph infection called methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus. So intense was the infection that it took the Californian out of action for months. Aware that the longtime Lites rider deserved a chance, in October, Mitch Payton and his omnipotent Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team decided to take a gamble on Morais and signed him up for the 2009 season.
“I definitely think I can win now. Especially with the equipment that I’m on. I should be able to get some starts. I think that’s always been my weakness as far as being able to be up there to win a race these last couple of years. I’ve always kind of struggled with them. I think with the equipment and get good starts and be up front and be a threat for a win every weekend.”
Joining Morais and on Payton’s team for the first time in his career will be Jake Weimer. Despite placing 15th in the 2008 AMA West Region Supercross Championship and posting up some rather erratic results, Weimer did win his first race at Chase Field in Phoenix, and caught the eye of Pro Circuit chief Mitch Payton.
“There’s definitely some work ethic going on down there at Pro Circuit,” says Weimer. “They’re not afraid to burn the midnight oil. Like I said, when I was testing a bunch, there were times where I would test until I couldn’t see anymore. You know it’s definitely tough sometimes, but it’s just good to be around a team where everybody wants the same thing — to go out there and win. It’s definitely good.”
And Jake’s goal in 2009?
“To win the championship, for sure. There’s no negotiating that one. That’s what I need to do.”
Filling out the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team will be 18 year-old Austin Stroupe. Easily the sensation of the 2008 West Region Supercross Series, the youngster who hails from outside Charlotte, North Carolina won his first supercross as a rookie last winter, powering away from the competition to win before 50,000 fans in Houston’s Reliant Stadium. Tapped as a champion in the making, Stroupe is often compared to former teammate Ryan Villopoto (more on him a bit later).
“I love to race,” says Stroupe. “I dedicate my whole life to it 100% Racing is my life. I want to be like Ryan Villopoto. He has accomplished so much already. I look up to him and have learned a lot from him.”
Although added on as an eleventh hour team member as anticipated rider Christophe Pourcel injured his collarbone during off-season training, former Red Bull KTM rider and MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray has been tapped by Payton to ride for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team in 2009. A bit of an unknown quantity in supercross, the hard riding South African will undoubtedly find his way.
Jason Lawrence/Team Monster Troy
800 Occidental Avenue South in Seattle, Washington — location of the 68,000 seat-football stadium known as Qwest Field — was the site of the finale of the 2008 AMA West Region Lites Supercross Series. Leading antagonist Ryan Dungey of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki outfit, by six points, Monster Energy rider Jason Lawrence rode steadily in Jet City to place second and win his first AMA Supercross Championship.
“Winning the championship is so good,” said Lawrence after the main event.
For the 2009 AMA West Region Championship, Lawrence will be the lead player in the newly formed Monster Energy/Yamaha of Troy team. Backed heavily by Monster and Yamaha, Lawrence, who has been training hard in the last two months will be hard to beat in his title defense.
Josh Hill: Team Yamaha
For the 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, Team Yamaha factory rider Josh Hill was moved up to the premiere 450 Supercross classifications. Due to teenagers the teenager’s physical growth, Yamaha was forced to make the decision and Hill came through with flying colors, scoring two excellent runner-up finishes at both Anaheim II and Indianapolis. Them on Saturday night, March 15, 2008 and before 40,982 fans inside the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Hill claiming his first career AMA Supercross victory. After watching another class rookie, Ryan Dungey Makita Rockstar Suzuki outfit, grab the holeshot and lead the first three laps, Hill moved the Minnesota native out of the way and cleared out to win the race by precisely 5.397 seconds.
“Getting second was amazing a few races ago,” smiled Hill from the podium. “I don’t know how to put it into words – this win. The season has had its ups and downs, but this is huge for me. Yamaha put faith in me, and I am grateful for that.”
Look for the Monster Energy-backed Josh Hill to not only win races in 2009, but to contend for the championship, as well.
Ryan Villopoto: Team Monster Energy/Kawasaki
For the 2009 Monster Energy Supercross Series, Washington State-born Ryan Villopoto moves from the Supercross Lites division and up to the mighty AMA Supercross classification. And, lest we forget, his arrival in the world’s premier motocross series is so hyped and highly anticipated, he is already being typecast as a future Ricky Carmichael or James Stewart. A three-time and reigning AMA Motocross Lites Champion, in recent years, Villopoto has been acknowledged as the fastest, most determined and feared 250F rider in the world. Replacing the great James Stewart — Stewart gas moved on to form his own team with Yamaha — many believe that Villopoto has everything required to challenge former champions Chad Reed and James Stewart for the 2009 title in his rookie year on the big and powerful 450F motocross bike. And he also has a score to settle. Last spring, on Saturday night, April 19, 2008 at the final round of the 2008 East Regional AMA Lites Championship Series in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Ryan Villopoto, lost the championship to Honda rookie Trey Canard on the last lap of the race when the two collided and Canard came out ahead. Now with the smaller 250c bikes behind him, Villopoto is keen to show the world he’s ready for the major league and the Monster Energy rider would like nothing more than to stun motocross fans around the world by winning the Formula 1 title of motocross in his rookie year He rally can do it.
Tim Ferry: Team Monster Energy/Kawasaki
Tim Ferry, aged 34, is the elder statesman of American motocross. About to line up for the 18th AMA National Championship series of his astonishingly long career, Ferry has just become stronger and more confident with age.
“I mean I guess I have things figured out now,” smiles the native f Florida who will help rookie teammate Ryan Villopoto get his head wrapped around the series in 2009. “I get more of a rush on the bike while I’m racing now then I’ve ever had. I really ready to get going.”
Quite a way of looking at the professional motocross life from a rider who has experienced every single physical and mental up and down conceivable in the sport. Nonetheless, look for Tim Ferry to be every bit as consistent and driven in 2009, a perennial front runner more than capable of finding his way up onto the podium in 2009.
