SALT LAKE CITY (April 26, 2012) – Utah Governor Gary Herbert, along with President & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission Jeff Robbins, welcomed the return of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, today, hosting a pre-race conference from Rice-Eccles Stadium. Joining Herbert and Robbins on the stage was TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Honda’s Chad Reed, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Brayton and Trey Canard, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle.

TwoTwo Motorsports is pleased to announce the signing of former world champion and multiple AMA race winner Ben Townley to contest its 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship campaign.

With team owner and rider Chad Reed sidelined as he recovers from his AMA Supercross injury, the team sought a rider that could race competitively at the head of the 450 class while assisting in the ongoing development of the Honda CRF450 motorcycle.

                So, was it me, or was this year's Daytona absolutely spectacular. I mean more so than usual. There were easily a dozen or more super intense moments that had me on the edge of my seat, or standing, shouting at the television. I could talk endlessly about it, but really I shouldn't, so I've pared it down to my own personal list of 5 awesome things I saw, from my couch, from Daytona.

5 - Marvin Musquin breaks the top 5 on his 350 SX.

                It wasn't until Dungey took home his first win of the season that KTM got a win on the SX450, but no one's had much luck on the 350. A lot of people site the problems of being 100 ccs down as a major disadvantage, but I guess Musquin didn't get the memo. The Lites West rider had an amazing ride, qualifying fifth gate pick for the main before ending up fourth.

                I'm glad to see more of the west riders trying their hands out in the big bike class, and receiving some level of success too. Cole Seely, who came out and made a statement in the Lites class in Anaheim, has been tearing it up too.  

4 - Seeing not one, but TWO 2-strokes make the night events.

                I'm a two stroke fan, but like most I have come to accept that in the world of moto and supercross, two strokes just can't compete with their four stroke cousins. Or can they? Two riders line up on 2-strokes last night; one YZ125 and the other aboard a YZ250. Both two strokes succumbed to the mud, but Renner, the pilot of the 125, was in a transfer spot when his bike gave out. It was pretty awesome to hear that YZinger screaming in the mud and much.

                Bonus points: I got a reply from Tim Ferry himself, one of my favourite riders, when I commented that one of his tweets about 2 strokes broke my 2 stroke loving heart. It's always cool when someone famous like that replies to your tweets.

3 - Having Reed up in the booth with Fro, Goat and Sheheen.  

                I like Reed, and I've grown to like him more as the years go on and he matures. He's got great style, on and off the bike, and has come a long way from being all the things young, talented riders tend to be. I'm am happy to see that he has grown into a very respectful, well spoken team front man. He's gone from being a role model based solely on his talents, to being someone riders of all ages can look up to for the way he carries himself, on and off the track, and the way he takes new challenges on with, what from the outside at least, looks like a wry smirk and a positive attitude.  

                He was filled with insightful comments and a few good one liners at the expense of his hosts. While I'd be happier watching him race, I do hope that they invite him back into the booth.

2 - Bam Bam gets to keep his perfect record, but not without some challenging from Baggett.

                Justin Barcia got to keep his unmarred record, but not without some serious challenging from Blake Baggett. The mean, green machine came through the mud to challenge the red rider when pretty much everyone, except Baggett, had accepted that Barcia just might walk away with a 4th victory.

                In the end, Barcia did get a 4th victory, but it wasn't without some hard work. He had a comfortable lead at one point,

1 - Kevin Windham. He's the man.  

                He won his first heat race of the season in the muck and got his first podium of the year in the mud. Race #202 was pretty good to Mister Kevin Windham, not that it was a surprise. Even the commentators were talking about it. Going into the day everyone knew Windham would have a good night. He's a class act on the podium and on camera, and his riding style is just amazing. He's a big, tall guy and man can he ride the mud, and watching him ride through the puddles towards his first heat race win of the year was like "poetry in motion."

An honourable mention: Cole Thompson

                The kid from Canada is getting a lot of press down south these days, some of which is coming from fellow ex-pat Steve Matthes in the way of a RacerX.com Privateer Profile. I've got to say I am incredibly proud of Thompson for representing in the US. It seems every week he's getting better. In Daytona he broke into the top ten with a 9th place finish, improving on a 13th place finish in St. Louis and tying his best finish so far from Arlington.

                I'm looking forward to getting to see this fast Canuck race on home turf. Nothing beats the roar of the Roger's Centre at the Toronto when a Canadian is racing.

                The movie that started a new trend in off road films, juxtaposing enduro and moto riders, show casing the best of the best: Moto the Movie. It's been a while, but in the cold winter months it's worth a second watch while we wait for the snow to melt so we can ride.

1          22 Chad Reed Dade City, FL, USA  Honda CRF450 20 Laps TwoTwo Motorsports/BelRay/Honda/Shift/Fox/Etnies/SkullCandy/Factory
2          5 Ryan Dungey           Belle Plaine, MN, USA          KTM 450 SX-F +2.968 Red Bull/KTM/Akrapovic/Dunlop/Motorex
3          7 James Stewart          Haines City, FL, USA            Yamaha YZ450F +8.503 JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha/FMF/Sportsclips/Interstate Batteries/Pirelli/Oakley/
4          1 Ryan Villopoto        Seattle, WA, USA      Kawasaki KX450F +9.113 Monster Energy Kawasaki Motors Corp
5          24 Brett Metcalfe        Lake Elsinore, CA, USA        Suzuki RM-Z450 +22.881 Team Yoshimura Suzuki/Dunlop/Motorex/Vortex/One/Works Connection/
6          18 David Millsaps       Murrieta, CA, USA    Yamaha YZ450F +24.509 JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha Team/FMF/Sportclips/Interstate Batteries/Pirelli/
7          100 Joshua Hansen     Elbert, CO, USA        Kawasaki KX450F +28.304 Hart & Huntington
8          25 Broc Tickle Holly, MI, USA          Kawasaki KX450F +34.226 Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
9          14 Kevin Windham     Centreville, MS, USA Honda CRF450 +39.082 Geico Honda/Amsoil/Factory Connection/Planet Fitness
10        800 Mike Alessi          Hilliard, CA, USA      Suzuki RM-Z450 +40.558 MotoConcepts/JT Racing/FMF/Silkolene/We All Ride
11        21 Jake Weimer           Wildomar, ID, USA   Kawasaki KX450F +47.698 Monster Energy Kawaski
12        11 Kyle Chisholm       Valrico, FL, USA       Kawasaki KX450F 19 Laps Jeff Ward Racing
13        27 Nicholas Wey         Murrieta, MI, USA     Kawasaki KX450F +1.643 Motosport.com/TiLube/Foremost
14        29 Andrew Short        Smithville, TX, USA  Honda CRF450 +17.979 Supercross.com/Honda
15        54 Weston Peick         Wildomar, CA, USA  Kawasaki KX450F +35.980 R2MX/RogueCassles/Fly/Renegade/MTA/Factory Backing/Torco/Jer/Dunlop/
16        83 Kyle Partridge        Las Vegas, NV, USA Kawasaki KX450F +54.260 Hart & Huntington
17        33 Joshua Grant          Corona, CA, USA      Kawasaki KX450F 2 Laps Jeff Ward Racing
18        9 Ivan Tedesco            Murrieta, CA, USA    Kawasaki KX450F 1 Laps Hart & Huntington
19        41 Trey Canard           Shawnee, OK, USA   Honda CRF450 DNS Team Honda Muscle Milk
20        65 Ryan Morais           Murrieta, CA, USA    Yamaha YZ450F DNS Star Valli Yamaha/Rockstar Energy Drink/Metal Mulisha