Troy Lee’s Supermoto Mayhem at the Morongo roars into the Morongo
Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, Calif., on Nov. 9-11.
This year’s event marks the first time the AMA Supermoto Championship
has visited California’s Palm Springs desert area.
“We are very excited to promote the Supermoto Mayhem at the
Morongo,” commented Troy Lee. “This year we have moved the race to
Morongo and I am very happy with the response and how everything has
gone so far. This event will cap off one of the most thrilling and
exciting AMA Supermoto Championships in history. On Sunday we will be
crowning three series champions. The event area has given us an
opportunity to make a large track, which will provide top notch racing
all weekend.”
The Morongo venue offers unique capabilities and elements sure to
provide excitement and great racing action. Fans will witness up-close
racing that utilizes unique obstacles, such as the Parts Unlimited
UrbanCross jumps. An international field of racers will be competing
during the prestigious season finale.
The AMA Red Bull Supermoto class has been a battle all season between
Graves Yamaha’s Mark Burkhart and Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Jeff
Ward. Burkhart has a 17-point lead heading into the events this weekend.
Ward, however, of nearby Newport Beach, will have the California fans in
his corner.
Last weekend in Galveston, Texas, Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Cassidy
Anderson captured his first-ever premier AMA Supermoto victory. Burkhart
was able to remount from an early race crash and charged back to finish
third. Ward suffered a devastating blow in the series championship after
suffering mechanical problems while leading the race and ending up
finishing in 15th position.
“The win last weekend was worth everything I have been through
this year,” said Anderson. “It has been an up-and-down year with
some good rides but a lot of bad luck as well. Taking the win felt like
redemption for myself. I know I can win and I have the confidence to do
it again this weekend in Morongo.”
Burkhart, who has won five times this season, now takes his largest
points lead of the year into the series finale.
“It is still going to be a battle until the final race,” said
Burkhart. “Jeff (Ward) showed this weekend that anything can happen in
racing. I just want to keep doing the same thing I have been doing all
year.”
Ward, who is the defending AMA Supermoto champion, is hoping for some
luck after last weekend.
“It was an unfortunate situation,” stated Ward. “I am just going
to race as best I can and hopefully I can finish the year with some
wins.”
Ales Hlad won the main event in his first ever race in the AMA PPG
Supermoto Unlimited Presented by M&R class last weekend as the HMC
KTM team swept the podium.
“I really did not know what to expect being in America for the first
time,” explained Hlad. “I am happy to have this opportunity and win
this race. I am excited for Morongo this weekend and I just want to
learn as much as I can and get better as the AMA series comes to an
end.”
Factory Aprilia Rip It Energy Racing’s Ben Carlson continues to turn
in consistent finishes as he holds a 45-point lead over HMC KTM’s Kurt
Nicoll.
“The track last weekend was hard to pass on,” stated Carlson, “My
Aprilia has really been fantastic this year. I am hoping I can pick up
at least one more victory before the year is over and bring the
championship home after Morongo.”
The AMA Hot Wheels Supermoto Lites series has featured an exciting fight
between Graves Yamaha’s Brandon Currie and Troy Lee Designs Honda
rider David Pingree. But last weekend in Texas, it was AMA Supermoto
newcomer Troy Lee Designs Rodney Taplin who took the checkers after
cashing in on mistakes by Currie and Pingree.
“Winning in America was one of the best feelings I have ever had,”
commented Taplin. “I am from Australia and it’s a dream to come to
the USA and win an AMA race. Unfortunately I will not be in Morongo this
weekend as I have a race back in Australia.”
Currie extended his point lead to 21 points over Pingree and is very
confident heading to Morongo.
“I am looking forward to next weekend and hope I can get some luck on
my side,” remarked Currie. “I want to win but at the same time I
know I have to ride smart too. It is going to be a fun race.”
Tickets for the Supermoto Mayhem at the Morongo are on sale now. Tickets
can be purchased online at www.troyleedesigns.com,
or at a local TLD dealer, by phone 1 888-MORONGO, or the day of the
event. Adult weekend passes are $40, Kid weekend passes are $10. Adult
Friday tickets are $10 Saturday and Sunday is $25 per day. Kid single
day tickets are $5.
For more racing information and event information please visit the
website www.supermotomayhem.com.
For real-time, live timing & scoring, and complete results log onto www.amasupermoto.com.
WHAT: Round Nine and Ten of the AMA Supermoto Championship
WHERE: Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is located at 49500 Seminole Drive,
Cabazon, California, 92230
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 9, Amateur Racing, Saturday, Nov. 10, Qualifying and
Pro Racing, Sunday, November 11, Qualifying and Pro Racing
SCHEDULE: Friday — Amateur Racing 9:30am until 2:45pm. Saturday —
Timed Practice begins at 9:00 am. Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:00 am
with final events beginning at 1:30 pm. Sunday — Timed Practice begins
at 9:00 am. Opening Ceremonies begin at 1:30 pm with final events
beginning at 2:45 pm.