Team Riders Perform Well in Texas and Antonio Balbi Prepares for First SX Season

December 1, 2006 (Murrieta, California) – At the recent WMA Cup held at Cycle Ranch in Texas Maley Motorsports team rider Tatum Sik made her debut into the highly competitive Pro class. After great rides in the Schoolgirl and Intermediate classes during the week Tatum lined up against the established pro’s on Sunday.

In her first pro moto Tatum, who had some pre race jitters, got off the line toward the back of the field and rounded the first turn 3rd from last. She charged hard for the entire moto and fought her way to 7th by moto’s end and also received the “Hard Chargers” award for that race. Moto two started out worse as she rounded the first turn in last place but quickly started making passes. Half way round the first lap Tatum ran into another rider and broke her front brake lever off her Team FORD Racing/Maley Motorsports backed Yamaha. Riding the full moto with no front brakes and after a fall and off track excursion Tatum finally ended up 9th with lap times that would have her in second had she not had the problems.

In the Schoolgirl class Tatum put a hurt on the field in moto one winning the four lap moto by well over 6 seconds. Moto two was soured by a DNF after chasing leader, Jacqueline Strong, Tatum went down and was unable to restart her Yamaha.

In the Intermediate class she again won the first moto this time Strong was on her tail to the finish. The second moto started poorly and after passing 5 riders Tatum simply ran out of time to chase down the hard charging and very talented rider from Arizona.

Other team riders to do well in Texas were Jackie Ives who ended up second in the College girl class and Natalie Eichner from Hawaii who rode strong but ended with a blown engine in her CRF250.

In other news Maley Motorsports team rider Antonio Balbi Jnr has been tearing up the local SX practice tracks in preparation for his first full season on the AMA SX circuit. Antonio has been training hard and looks as though he will open a lot of eyes in 2007.

Special thanks to BELL Helmets, Team FORD Racing, Clearview pool chemicals, Cabo Pools, WRP, AP Brakes, SCOTT USA, Motostik, Nitro Fuels, MSR, Temecula Motorsports, OGIO, PRO X, Sisco Kity’s and Panicrev.