Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
ROME, Ga. (May 20, 2016) – The opening round of the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is set to kick off this Saturday, May 21 in Sacramento, California for the GoPro Hangtown Classic. This weekend will serve as the beginning of a multi-year partnership for Pirelli to become the official motorcycle tire of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Pirelli will have its complete SCORPION™ MX tire lineup on hand, including the all-new MX32™ PRO rear tire that was developed during last season’s championship.
Leading the way for Pirelli-supported teams will be the No.51 of Justin Barcia, who was a two-time winner and third place overall finisher last season aboard his Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha. After sitting out a handful of races during the supercross season due to injury, he has his sights set on contending for the 450MX Class Championship this summer.
Alongside Barcia, the JGRMX team will be returning with Phil Nicoletti and Weston Peick, who finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 2015 championship. The New Yorker Nicoletti is known as an “outdoor specialist” and had multiple top five finishes in 2015. Just one year ago, Peick rode strong at the Hangtown opener to finish on the podium in the second moto en route to fourth place overall.
The BTO Sports/WPS/KTM team will be in full force as it fields a three-rider 450MX Class lineup heading into California’s capital city this weekend. Justin Brayton is riding at his all-time best and is carrying the momentum from a successful 2016 Monster Energy Supercross season. Alongside Brayton will be fellow veteran Andrew Short who is returning from an injury sustained earlier in the year. “Shorty” is no stranger to running at the front, boasting an incredible 21-career 450MX Class overall podium finishes. Completing the BTO Sports roster is rookie Benny Bloss, whose bigger, lankier build is well suited for the more powerful 450cc machine.
The newly formed Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki racing team is set to contest the 250MX Class in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship for the first time. Jimmy Albertson returns to the star-studded 250MX Class for the first time since 2007 and will use his experience to guide rookie teammate Josh Osby. Texan Kyle Cunningham completes the teams’ strong presence and is a previous podium finisher in the action-packed class.
MAD Racing/ Dirt Candy Graphics/Suzuki’s Matt Bisceglia has been working hard during pre-season testing and is determined to battle near the front of the pack when the gate drops at Hangtown. Australian Luke Clout will compete in his first-career professional motocross race in the United States, however, his performances overseas leave no doubt that he will be in the mix. Both riders will be in the 250MX Class.
The opening races from the Hangtown Classic kick off on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 1 p.m. PT and can be viewed on MAV TV, while second motos can be viewed on CBS Sports beginning at 4 p.m. PT. Check local listings for channel information.
To learn more about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit click here.
2016 AMA Pro Motocross Schedule
Hangtown Motocross Classic – May 21
Glen Helen National – May 28
Thunder Valley National – June 4
High Point National – June 18
Tennessee National – June 25
Red Bud National – July 2
Southwick National – July 9
Spring Creek National – July 16
Washougal National – July 23
Unadilla National – August 13
Budds Creek National – August 20
Ironman National – August 27
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ABOUT PIRELLI
Founded in 1872, Pirelli is among the largest global tire makers, and focuses its business on the high end, premium product segment where it is a world leader. Present in over 160 countries, Pirelli has 22 manufacturing sites and employs approximately 38,000 people around the world. Successfully competing in motorsports since 1907, Pirelli is currently the exclusive supplier of the Formula 1 championship, the Superbike world championship, and many other championships around the world.
Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) services NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) member countries through its Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) facility and research and development center at its Rome, Georgia headquarters, its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Silao, Mexico and its New York City, Montreal and Mexico City sales and marketing offices. The company manufactures, distributes and markets original equipment and replacement tires for export and domestic car/motorcycle applications (US, CA, MX) and Agro/Heavy Truck platforms (MX).
