Junior Motocross World Championship Team Chosen
AMA Announces Team For 2013 FIM Junior Motocross World Championships In Jinin, Czech Republic
The American Motorcyclist Association has
selected some of the fastest youth motocross
racers in the country to compete at the 2013 FIM Junior Motocross
World Championships Aug. 10-11 in Jinin, Czech Republic.
Multiple riders have been selected for each class -- 65cc, 85cc and
125cc -- to attempt to regain the Fédération Internationale de
Motocyclisme world title that the U.S. team relinquished last year
in Bulgaria, where it finished third after winning the title in
2010 in France and 2011 in Italy.
This year's 10- to 12-year-old 65cc class racers are Max Miller
from Springfield, Ore.; Aiden Tijero from Danville, Calif.; and Ty
Masterpool out of Paradise, Texas. All three riders will compete
aboard KTM Orange Brigade machines.
Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki rider Sean Cantrell from Newbury
Park, Calif.; Bonamigo Suzuki-mounted Michael Mosiman from
Seabastopol, Calif.; Rock River Racing star Chase Sexton from La
Moille, Ill.; and KTM Orange Brigade rider Mitchel Falk from
Carlsbad, Calif., will represent the United States in the 11- to
14-year-old 85cc ranks. Mosiman is racing for the team for the
second time, hoping to improve on his top-10 finish in Italy in
2011.
In the 13- to 17-year-old 125cc class is
Jarek Balkovic from Camp Hill, Pa., on his Cernics Racing Yamaha.
Alongside Balkovic, and also on Yamahas, are Rock River Racing
riders Cole Barbieri from Ukiah, Calif., and Tristan Charboneau
from Tenino, Wash. Alexander Frye from Huntington, Md., will
compete on an Orange Brigade KTM machine. Returning for his second
time is Josh Mosiman from Seabastopol, Calif., aboard his Bonamigo
Suzuki. Mosiman's outstanding performance in 2010 propelled the
team to a World Championship in France.
Two-time AMA Amateur National Motocross Champion Frye says he is
ready for the challenge.
"I am very honored to be a part of Team USA this year," Frye said.
"I cannot thank the AMA and [AMA Motocross Manager] Kip Bigelow
enough for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is a brand-new
experience for me, so I am excited to see how well we will work
together as a team. To be selected out of hundreds of kids to
represent the United States is like a dream come true. I'm very
thankful and blessed to be awarded this opportunity."
Chase Sexton, 2011 85cc 9-11 AMA Amateur National Motocross
champion, will lead the 85cc class in hopes of recapturing the
World Team title.
"To be selected for the Junior Motocross
World Championship is a huge honor," Sexton said. "To get to go
race with kids in my class from different countries is awesome. I
have been training hard and I feel ready for the heat and track
conditions, and ready to bring home gold for the United
States!"
KTM North America's Amateur Motocross Support Coordinator Mike
Sleeter will serve as co-team manager and organize the team's
efforts. Sleeter, a racer himself who also won a title at the 2012
AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, brings years of
amateur and professional racing experience and will be instrumental
in the success of the team.
"It's an honor to be able to work with top American amateur riders
and families to accomplish their goals of becoming the next MX/SX
star," Sleeter said. "I believe with the track record of riders who
have attended the FIM Junior Motocross World Championships, it
speaks volumes on the caliber of riders that attend this event.
Being selected for this event leads me to believe that these select
riders are well on their way to being the next superstars of the
sport. We have a very strong team this year, and I look forward to
the challenge and task of bringing back the title to the United
States."
The team will also have on board the services of Jeff Cernic as
co-manager. Cernic is owner of Cernic's Racing and longtime amateur
motocross supporter. He has an abundance of success on his resume,
including supporting Travis
Pastrana in his amateur motocross racing days.
The AMA's Bigelow, who also serves as the FIM Team Jury Delegate,
said that the team is looking forward to re-creating the success it
experienced in 2010 and 2011 and would like to look past last
year's podium finish.
"This is the fourth year the AMA has put in the effort to bring a
team overseas for this event, and with the depth of our team I
expect a strong showing," Bigelow said. "While in the past American
riders have won individual titles -- such as Ryan
Villopoto in Italy in 2003, Blake
Wharton in Bulgaria in 2007, Eli Tomac in New
Zealand in 2009 and most recently 2013 Supercross Rookie of the
Year Joey Savatgy
in Italy in 2012 -- our primary goal is to bring home the Team
World Championship for the United States. Without question, our
amateur motocross program in America produces some of the best
young racers in the world. I'm extremely proud to be a part of this
program that provides the riders and the families with this
exceptional experience."
The riders will keep fans informed with daily updates on the team's
Facebook page and Twitter accounts. Those on location during the
weekend will upload photos throughout the week on their Instagram
account as well.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/AMA-jr-MX-team/263824673718999
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/teamusajrmx
- Instagram: Teamusajrmx
If you would like to support the Junior World Motocross U.S. team,
you can do so by buying a team t-shirt, available on the AMA
website at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
