Press Release from MX Sports:

With a premier television package on both the national and global level, MX Sports continued its dedicated effort to broaden the exposure of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship by reaching an agreement to bring American Motocross to our nation’s deployed military. In conjunction with Kneip Media Agentur (KMA), every round of the 2009 season will be broadcast to the thousands of troops all over the world via the American Forces Network (AFN).

Beginning with the opening round of the season from Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. on May 23, the armed forces outside the continental U.S. will have the chance to watch the world’s best motocross racers compete for the championship over 12 rounds throughout the summer, on a tape-delayed basis.

“It is an honor to be able to provide our troops the best coverage the sport has ever seen and the chance to keep up with the series,” said MX Sports Vice President Davey Coombs. “They put their lives on the line on a daily basis in order to protect the millions of us in the United States and to provide broadcasts over the American Forces Network is a small way of saying thanks.”

The AFN reaches 175 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, resulting in groundbreaking exposure throughout the world for virtually all members of the Armed Forces.

Tell us a little about yourself. I am now 32 years old and living in Mooresville, NC with my wife Davi.  We just built our dream home overlooking Lake Norman and we couldn’t be happier.  More importantly, we are expecting our first child in late December.

You were a successful local expert racer what made you decide to pick up a wrench and move to California? Well saying I was successful is very generous of you, but I’ll take the compliment.  Moving to California was a matter of practicality  I wanted to make a living in the industry and wrenching was a way to do it.

Any advice for someone looking into breaking into the field? First of all, be aware of the demands of the job.  It is not all glamour under the lights of a stadium.  You have to start at the bottom and work your way up like in any profession.  In my case, Joel Dengler gave me an opportunity and I ran with it from there.  Check your ego at the door, work without complaint and most importantly network within the industry.

Best thing about the job? The best thing about the job is simply doing what you love for a living.  I know it sounds cliché, but really how many people can honestly say they get up and enjoy their jobs.

Worst thing about the job? Worst thing about the job is simple: airports and airplanes. I’m still waiting for them to figure that whole Star Trek time travel thing out.

Proudest moment as a mechanic? Proudest moment as a mechanic was definitely winning the 2002 West Championship with Travis Preston.  Championships are the sole focus for every team, rider and mechanic.  Plus we beat Stewart that year.  I only know one other guy who can lay claim to that and he is permanently out to pasture….

Over your years in the business you worked for some of the most well respected teams. Pro Circuit, Factory Honda and now Joe Gibbs Racing. Are there any similarities between all of them? All the top race teams have certain elements of similarity between them.  Pro Circuit and Honda are established and their records speak for themselves.  However don’t be surprised to see JGR making a strong showing in the coming years.  Personnel wise, all the right pieces are in place.  Jeremy Albrecht, as we all know has deep roots in the sport.  Along with team owner Coy Gibbs, they have put together a truly professional organization.  We will be here in the years to come and will be successful.

How about differences? The only difference is that we are not located in the epicenter of motocross which is still obviously So Cal.  At times, their weather may be more cooperative in the winter, but that is all I can think of.  Carmichael, Stewart, Reed, Ferry, Millsaps, Byrne and young guys like Stroupe and Dungey all call the Southeast home.  Hard to argue with that fact.

Do you still get to ride? I still get to ride, but my days of competing are over.  However, I do race mountain bikes competitively and proud to say that I won last year’s Charlotte MTB series in the expert class.  Must be all the pollution from Cali and Jersey, when I got here I was breathing like Lance Armstrong.

You lived in California, New Jersey and now North Carolina. Where do you like it the best? By far I prefer North Carolina.  The people are friendly, the state is beautiful and it is an awesome place to raise a family.  I do miss all of my Jersey boys and family though.

Any chance of seeing you at Raceway Park racing again?

You will absolutely see me at Raceway Park again. After all these years it is still my favorite track and I consider the people there like part of my extended family.  Don’t tell the AMA, but I am trying to shoehorn Kyle Bush’s NASCAR engine into a 450 frame.  Can you say holeshot money…

Any closing words?

Thanks for your time and get better Tommy!

Jim Kapitan Read more

What is motocross? Is it the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? Is it the feeling that you get when you clear that big double? To every rider it can mean something else, but for me it is the people I have met and the friendships that have been forged that have enriched my life along the way. I have been friends with some of these guys since we all rode minis. Read more

Race Report Southwick:

Words and photos by Scott Lukaitis

AMA National Motocross racing from MX338 Southwick MA August 23/24 2008


The shifting sands of Southwick played host to the next to the last round of the AMA National Motocross Series presented by FMF on the weekend of August 23rd and 24th. With the new schedule in place this season Southwick moved from its traditional June date to the end of August. The heat of a New England summer could have been unbearable but pleasant conditions with temperatures in teh low 80’s and low humidity brought the Southwick faithful out en masse. Could James Stewart keep his perfect season in tact? Could Ryan Dungey beat Ryan Villopoto again? How will John Dowd do? An what about this De Reuver guy? All of these questions would be answered by the end of racing on Sunday. An here is how it went. Read more

WMA National Motocross Racing

Southwick, MA

August 23-24, 2008

Photos and words by Scott Lukaitis

For the first time in the series history the WMA National Motocross Championship came to the rough sands of Southwick. The ladies would do battle over the course of the weekend with moto one taking place Saturday afternoon and moto number two going off on Sunday morning. Read more

The nationally renouned MX338 racetrack in Southwick Massachussets hosted the second to last round of the AMA National Motocross Series presented by FMF this past weekend. 5 New Jersey based riders signed up and attempted to qualify for the 40 man gate in each class.

Todd Stavac (Point Pleasant) was the only NJ rider signed up in the MX Lites class. Todd was off the blistering pace set by the class leaders and missed out on qualifying for Sunday’s race action. Stavac’s fastest time on Saturday was 2:19.66.

In motocross class action 4 different NJ riders took to the track. Barry Carsten’s  (Bayville) 2:11.92 was respectable but not quite fast enough to make the cut.

Onorino Fascelli  (Williamstown) was another NJ based rider trying to qualify. Fascelli’s 2:14.24 left him off the 40 man roster for Sunday.

Making his professional debut Brian Mulcahy (Hewitt) missed making the main by just one spot and if the LCS was one lap longer he would have put his 2-stroke KX 250 onto the grid. After going down in teh second corner Mulcahy had the two stroke singing and eventually worked up to sixth in the LCS missing by one spot. Brighter things are ahead for the Kawasaki rider.

The only NJ rider making the Sunday show was Adam Blessing (Toms River). After setting the 30th fastest time with a 2:06.12 Blessing ran in the top 10 early in the first moto only to be involved in crashes with other riders. The Honda rider still had a good showing with moto results of  31-25 for 30th overall.