Loaded Lites Class Features International Flair For 2011 Regional Championships
Traditionally, the AMA Supercross Lites class of Monster Energy AMA
Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is a stage for the young
stars of the sport to showcase their talent in hopes of ultimately
receiving a factory ride in the AMA Supercross class. Many former
champions of this division like Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, Chad
Reed, Ricky Carmichael, and Jeremy McGrath have all gone on to
capture coveted AMA Supercross class titles and for 2011, the AMA
Supercross Lites lineup is more talented than ever.
Despite the graduation of AMA Supercross Lites class champions from
the last three years - Christophe Pourcel, Jake Weimer, and Trey
Canard - Monster Energy Supercross will welcome the return of
several highly-talented competitors in addition to introducing a
potent lineup of newcomers, four of which boasting impressive
international credentials. In fact, a pair of new names will go
into the history books as Western and Eastern Regional title
holders once the season comes to an end on May 7 in Las Vegas.
Leading the way as title favorites for the upcoming season are
Lites class veterans Broc Tickle and Wil Hahn. Each rider is making
the move to one of the powerhouse programs in the division with
Tickle joining the legendary Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
team and Hahn becoming the newest member of GEICO Honda.
Additionally, fellow front-runners and former race winners Blake
Baggett, Justin Barcia, Josh Hansen and Blake Wharton along with
sophomore sensation Dean Wilson will be sure to throw their names
in the mix.
Adding to the incredible depth of the Lites class is the debut of
four international stars. While South African Tyla Rattray has
competed stateside since the 2009 season, the former World Champion
will race in Monster Energy Supercross for the first time in 2011
for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki. Joining him is fellow
South African Gareth Swanepoel, who becomes a full-time member of
the DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha team, as well as a pair of
highly-touted up and comers racing out of the new Red Bull KTM
stable in reigning two-time World Champion Marvin Musquin, of
France, and 16-year-old phenom Ken Roczen, of Germany.
With the implementation of an all-out AMA Supercross Lites class
shootout at the season finale in Las Vegas, both the Western and
Eastern Regional Championships will come down to the wire on the
final night of competition with nine races apiece throughout the
winter and spring. Moreover, the world's best AMA Supercross Lites
rider will be determined in a head-to-head showdown between the top
riders from each class to close out the evening. The 2011 AMA
Supercross Lites class will be unlike ever before!
The distinction of Monster Energy Supercross being the world's
premier off-road motorcycle racing championship couldn't be truer
with such a globally diverse field of young talent and worldwide
success. When the lights go out at Anaheim Stadium on January 8, it
will commence the most prolific season in the history of the sport.