Pre-Registered
*Austin Forkner
*Chase Sexton

“It was so cool to be up on top of the podium,” said Forkner. “The whole stadium was going nuts, I could even hear them on the track. My phone has been blowing up with messages and missed calls from all my friends. It was a great race. I jumped off the side of the finish line on one lap so that was pretty sketchy, but other than that I was smooth. I think supercross suits my style.”

Fee: $550

“In the first moto, myself and another rider were able to run away from everyone,” said Forkner. “It was awesome to get the win and I was looking forward to the second moto. I was a little late coming off the gate in the second moto and came around the first corner near the back. I made some quick passes the first lap and just tried to get to the front. My dad put on the pit board that I needed second place to win the overall. I put a pretty gnarly pass on second place and pushed him wide, but he didn’t check up and we hit hard. I thought I had second wrapped up on the last lap and that’s when I realized that when we hit, he put a hole in my radiator. Luckily the finish was on a downhill and I was able to coast across the line in third. I know I was the fastest 85 rider so I’m still happy with how it went.”

Check out team USA’S Austin Forkner in action

Check in to the Rockwell Training Facility

Take a virtual tour of the Rockwell Training Facility in Southern California and some of its athletes in action

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association has selected some of the fastest youth motocross racers in the country to compete at the 2012 Federation International de Motocylisme Junior Motocross World Championship Aug. 25-26 in Sivlievo, Bulgaria.

Two riders selected for each of the three classes — 65cc, 85cc and 125cc – will attempt to successfully defend the titles the U.S. team won in 2010 in France and 2011 in Italy.

This year’s 65cc team members are Conner Mullennix from Santee, Calif., and Parker Mashburn from Stephenville, Texas. Both riders will compete aboard KTM Orange Brigade 65s.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Austin Forkner from Richards, Mo., and Suzuki amateur support team rider Jake Pinhancos from Rochester, Mass., will represent the United States in the 85cc ranks. Both Forkner and Pinhancos have won AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships. In 2010, Pinhancos represented the United States in France where he won the 65cc FIM Motocross World Championship.

In the 125cc class are Jerek Balkovic from Camp Hill, Pa., on his Cernics Racing Yamaha and Jordon Smith from Belmont, N.C., aboard his Farren/PR2 Racing Suzuki.

“I feel that the opportunity to represent my country against the greatest riders in the world and showcase my talents is a major highlight in my motocross career,” said Smith, who won the Schoolboy 1 class at the 2012 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships. “I have been training hard, and I am ready. I feel honored to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest riders from the United States, such as James Stewart, Ryan Villipoto and Davi Millsaps, along with FIM World Champions Blake Wharton and Joey Savatgy.

“I look forward to using my talents to continue the groundwork they have laid and working with my teammates to prove that the USA is the best country for motocross,” he continued. “I am positive that all of our hard work, training and dedication will bring home another world championship for the U.S. team.”

KTM North America’s Amateur Motocross Support Coordinator Mike Sleeter will serve as 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 this year, brings years of amateur and professional racing experience and will surely be instrumental in the success of the team.

“Having the opportunity to help these amateur racers represent the United Sates is an honor, and I’m very excited,” Sleeter said. “I’ve had the opportunity to race abroad myself, and the experience will be one these kids will never forget. We have a strong team, and I have confidence that they will perform well and represent the United States with pride.”

AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow said that the team is looking forward to re-creating the success it experienced in 2010 and 2011.

“The amount of time and effort needed to put the team together and coordinate the logistics is substantial, but the pride and honor that is displayed by the entire team makes it worth it,” Bigelow said. “While in the past American riders, such as Ryan Villopoto in Italy in 2003, Blake Wharton in Bulgaria in 2007 and Eli Tomac in New Zealand in 2009, have won individual class titles, the overall team titles of the last two years have been exceptional. Without question, our amateur motocross program in America provides some of the best young racers in the world. I have no doubt that this year’s team will compete at the highest level and will be a force to be reckoned with in Bulgaria.

“With support from the AMA and the FIM North America, along with team sponsorship from Cernic’s Racing, Super Sketch, VP fuels, Dunlop, and Dirt Shirts, this looks to be another great adventure for these riders and their families,” Bigelow added.

The riders will keep fans up to date 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: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AMA-jr-MX-team/263824673718999

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teamusajrmx

Instagram: Search for “teamusjrmx”

If you would like to donate to the Junior Motocross World U.S. team, you may do so by contacting Kip Bigelow at the AMA by email at kbigelow@ama-cycle.org.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Saturday and Sunday morning approximately at 8:30 AM will begin the day with a briefing for the days agenda followed by a discussion directed towards conditioning the kids mind set in a positive winning way. There will be a warm-up period that will last for 20 minutes and at that time I’ll have a good idea where to begin. Everything being taught is going to be for the level of training needed for the kids. This is what I call the ABC process and with that I mean you start with there level and build on that…
Sections will be broke down and explained for race conditions and the best possible way to execute in the fastest most controlled manner. Once done properly and consistently numerous times we will move on to the next thing. Starts will be explained and practiced in all conditions. Sprints will follow shortly after so students can use what they have learned in race mode.
Sunday’s schedule will be directed towards using techniques in intense situations. Advanced techniques will be explained and asked to execute while jumping, cornering, rutted rough conditions, and passing riders. These will 6 hour days of mental conditioning, fundamental conditioning, bike set-up and technical training in race situations. Must be registered to attend.

Fee: $300
Deposit: $100 (put towards total fee)

Brandon Beabout
(951) 250-8765
Facebook.com/brandonbeabout
twitter.com/beaboutmx
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