This Week's Birthdays
February 9: Alpinestar’s Jaime Lilly
February 9: GNCC competitor, David Bishop
February 10: Team Suzuki test technician, Dave Feeney
February 10: GNCC Factory KTM mechanic, David “Hollywood” Cripe
February 10: Five-time GNCC Champion, Rodney Smith
February 10: Two-time National Enduro Champion, Russell Bobbitt
February 10: Cernic's Kawasaki's Dylan Slusser
February 11: In the early 1970s, Geoff Fox started a small business distributing European motocross bikes and parts. Then they started making motocross shocks and a race team followed. Soon they were wearing brightly colored hand-made gear and fans loved it. Fox seized the opportunity and started making motocross gear for the customer. Over the years, Fox Racing has sponsored top riders such as Mark Barnett, Rick Johnson, Damon Bradshaw, Donny Schmit, Steve Lamson, Jeremy McGrath, Doug Henry, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and many, many more. Today, the Fox head logo might be the most recognized icon in youth culture.
February 12: Mike LaRocco started racing professionally in 1988 and is a two-time AMA National MX Champion. He won the last 500cc AMA Motocross Championship in 1993 and followed it up with the 250cc Championship in ’94. LaRocco raced professionally for 19 years before retiring in 2006 after more than 200 AMA Supercross starts.
February 12: Many years ago, a young lady named Lisa Akin from Niles, Michigan, used to race against the top amateurs in the country – in the men’s class! When the Loretta Lynn’s AMA Amateur Nationals started in 1982, she won the very first women’s class title, and kept winning for three more years. A great rivalry erupted between her and California’s Mercedez Gonzalez, and in 1988, they would take their battles to the last corner at Loretta Lynn’s before Akin-Wagner (she was married by now) emerged as champion again. It was her last Loretta Lynn’s as a racer, but she’s been back many times to support her husband and son as they competed.
February 13: Former 250cc World Champion rider Mickael Pichon, who also took a pair of 125cc AMA Supercross titles in the years he spent in America.
February 13: GNCC competitor, Jeffrey Pickens
February 13: Gavin Gracyk has had a life and career of many highs and lows. Don’t count this kid out because he will be back in the summer.
February 13: 1994 Loretta Lynn’s 250 B Modified Champion Chris Wheeler
February 14: Former pro racer (bikes and quads) Tom Carson of Asterisk.
February 14: Victory Sport’s Sam Gammon
February 15: Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps has yet to find the speed he had in 2008 but once he gets things clicking, he will be a regular on the box.