Cobra Kids Roll Into Texas’ Amateur National Openers
Cobra’s amazing reign on the 50cc class’ expected to continue at Lake Whitney and Oak Hill to start the 2008 competition season
HILLSDALE, Mich., (March 12, 2008) – Cobras opening two rounds of the 2008 amateur national competition season get underway in Texas this week with annual running of the Lake Whitney AMA/Parts Unlimited Spring Classic and carrying on into next week with Oak Hill’s 32nd annual GNC International Motocross Final.
And once again Cobra enters the two Texas rounds with some future Cobra Generation kids who’ll no doubt be the marquee names in supercross a little over a decade from now.
“The Texas amateur national openers are always a fun time for the sport,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert. “Not only are Lake Whitney and Oak Hill a great way for Cobra racers to showcase their talents and hopefully carry momentum that can last them the rest of the summer, they’re also great venues for us to further shake down the ’08 Cobras and monitor the valuable input from all the dads spinning wrenches.”
Before we get into the rider list, Cobra would like to extend its heartfelt wishes on a speedy recovery to Cobra factory racer Hayden Justice, along with his father, Jay. The entire staff at Cobra, along with the motocross industry, is pulling together with positive thoughts for the Justice family.
Here’s a scouting report on some of the top Cobra racers competing in Texas the next couple weeks. Stay tuned to www.cobramotorcycle.com throughout the month of March for updates on both events.
Michael Young: This North Carolina kid is RED HOT. The top eight-year-old last year in the 50cc class at the Mini O’s, Young will step up to the new CX65 and should for sure gain Cobra engineers some valuable race input given the CX65s limited national competition experience this past year.
Sean Cantrell: On the short list of favorites to win the 7-8 50cc class this year, Cantrell’s the former AMA No. 1 plate holder in the 4-6 50cc class.
Jordan Bailey: One of Cobra’s newest factory riders after he won the 4-6 50cc title at Loretta’s last summer, Bailey moves up to the 7-8 class and should factor in the top scoring right out of the gate at Lake Whitney. He will also make his debut in the 7-9 65cc class on the Cobra CX 65.
Clay Woeste: One of the few kids to ever finish on the 7-8 50cc podium as a seven-year-old, Woeste won’t make Lake Whitney due to a wreck that totaled their families truck and trailer in an ice storm on the way down to Texas. Everyone made it back home safe, and the family is going to do their best to make it to Oak Hill.
Brandon Smith: The New Mexico racer possesses lots of raw speed and drive, becoming more and more consistent last year last season progressed. A podium place at Loretta’s last year will give him all the confidence he needs to rank highly in the 7-8 50cc class this summer.
Austin Forkner: Forkner completely dominated the 7-9 65cc class during the recent Texas Winter Series on his CX65. Cobra’s expecting some good results from him in this the first full competition season for the CX65.
Bradley Esper: Making his debut on the PR2 CX65, Michigan’s Esper showed great promise last year before an injury at the Sunday Creek Loretta’s regional put him on the sidelines for a few months. Word is Esper’s back up to speed now and is pumped to return to racing this week.
Tanner Stack: The experienced eight-year-old has the raw speed and talent to succeed. And as a senior in the 7-8 50cc class Cobra’s confident that he’s going to put up some great results this summer.
Gavin Hultman: Anther fast kid from the state of Arizona, Gavin has some very strong finishes last year in the 4-6 class. He will make his 7-8 50cc national debut this week at Lake Whitney.
Tristan Lewis: Lewis showed great speed last year and maturity at the Mini O’s when he and fellow Cobra racer Jordan Bailey battled it out for the 4-6 50cc class title. Lewis will make his debut on the Cobra King 50 at Lake Whitney.
Logan Lietzel: Hailing from PA, Logan starts his first year in the 7-8 50cc class after a very impressive finish to his 4-6 50cc class career last year. Logan rides with a lot of drive, so look for some good finishes from him this season.
Dawson Evitts: Dawson has spent the winter training hard down south at the Bell Compound. He is set in 2008 for a full attack on the nationals.
For more information, including results, from Lake Whitney this week keep an eye on Cobra’s website. You can also check out www.lakewhitneymx.com
Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra's mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.
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