Cobra Introduces '09 Factory & National Riders
March 10, 2009, 1:23pm
HILLSDALE, MI – Cobra Motorcycles is proud to announce today its Factory, National Plus and National teams for the 2009 amateur MX national season beginning this week in Lake Whitney, Texas.
The all-time winningest American-made motocross bike, Cobra and its racers are poised to face two battles this summer – those on the track and those involving the recent turn of events with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and how its ill-fated new lead law is effecting the motocross industry and U.S. powersports dealers in general.
And all this at a time when the downturned economy is having a decided effect on racer turnout at the eight major amateur MX national events, not to mention the hundreds of regional races involving Cobra racers that take place coast-to-coast every weekend. Be it as it may, the American-made Cobra Motorcycle Company is standing strong by its riders and families and, with a lot of hard work, we’re all pulling through this together to go racing!
“Amateur racing’s what we do and all winter we’ve been looking forward to beginning the 2009 competition season this week in Texas,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert. “We’re already preparing to improve our position at the national races with even more Cobra support and service to our customers. And we’re expanding our contingency programs next year to cover more types of events.”
That said, Cobra would like to introduce the 2009 Cobra Factory and National Plus teams:
Cobra Factory Rider Hometown Class Bike
Michael Young Concord, N.C. 10-11 CX65
Lance Kobush Montgomery City, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Jordan Bailey Orlando, Fla. 7-8 CX50SR
Clay Woeste Florence, Ky. 7-9 CX65
National Plus Team
Brandon Smith Aztec, N.M. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tanner Amarillas Gilbert, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tristan Lewis Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Gavin Hultman Gold Canyon, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
By virtue of the fact that Cobra is an American company, they also support more than just racing. More than 80-percent of all Cobra motorcycles are built with parts manufactured in the United States. From raw materials, castings, forgings, extrusions, stampings, painting, plating, heat treating, tubing, polishing, decals – engines, frames, gas tanks, swing arms – are all built by American workers at companies here in the United States. Cobra’s proud of the fact that its helping to support families on and off the track.
“Cobra doesn’t have to choose what division or what products we will support in these tough times,” said Hilbert. “We don’t make road bikes, generators, snow throwers, scooters, outboard motors or cars. And other than watching Cobra graduates (Millsaps, Alessi, Stroupe, Canard, Izzi, Bowers, etc.) climb the ranks, we don’t have much interest in the professional side of the sport. Therefore our decision to put all of our efforts behind amateur racing is an easy one.”
From bike builders to racer promoters, this past year’s amateur national motocross circuit was no doubt affected by the economy as well. But according to Hilbert, Cobra’s brand was represented even better than other brands at all of the 2008 major amateur MX events. “Cobra families pulled together and did what they had to do to get to the race track,” he said. “And you have no idea how that motivates us as a company and has us working those extra hours, driving those extra miles to insure the entire Cobra family is taken care of.”
National Team
Brandon Hernandez Woodlake, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Tanner Craddock Weir, Kan. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Stilez Robertson Bakersfield, Calif. 4-6 CX50JR
Austin Forkner Richards, Mo. 10-11 CX65
Logan Lietzel Dillsburg, Pa. 7-8 CX50SR
Zach Smith Laingsburg, Mich. 7-8 CX50SR
Dawson Evitts Auburn, Pa. 7-9 CX65
Jonathan Lee Rockingham, N.C. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Michael Hicks Fenton, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Weston Geim Valencia, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Josh Strickland Zebulon, N.C. 7-8 CX50SR
Jackson Turpin Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Preston Yost Queens Creek, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Cullin Park Clermont, Fla. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Kruz Sampson Lebanon, Tenn. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Jack Rogers Brookville, Md. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
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.
High Profile Public Relations (HPPR), LLC, is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com.
And all this at a time when the downturned economy is having a decided effect on racer turnout at the eight major amateur MX national events, not to mention the hundreds of regional races involving Cobra racers that take place coast-to-coast every weekend. Be it as it may, the American-made Cobra Motorcycle Company is standing strong by its riders and families and, with a lot of hard work, we’re all pulling through this together to go racing!
“Amateur racing’s what we do and all winter we’ve been looking forward to beginning the 2009 competition season this week in Texas,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert. “We’re already preparing to improve our position at the national races with even more Cobra support and service to our customers. And we’re expanding our contingency programs next year to cover more types of events.”
That said, Cobra would like to introduce the 2009 Cobra Factory and National Plus teams:
Cobra Factory Rider Hometown Class Bike
Michael Young Concord, N.C. 10-11 CX65
Lance Kobush Montgomery City, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Jordan Bailey Orlando, Fla. 7-8 CX50SR
Clay Woeste Florence, Ky. 7-9 CX65
National Plus Team
Brandon Smith Aztec, N.M. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tanner Amarillas Gilbert, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Tristan Lewis Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
Gavin Hultman Gold Canyon, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/CX65
By virtue of the fact that Cobra is an American company, they also support more than just racing. More than 80-percent of all Cobra motorcycles are built with parts manufactured in the United States. From raw materials, castings, forgings, extrusions, stampings, painting, plating, heat treating, tubing, polishing, decals – engines, frames, gas tanks, swing arms – are all built by American workers at companies here in the United States. Cobra’s proud of the fact that its helping to support families on and off the track.
“Cobra doesn’t have to choose what division or what products we will support in these tough times,” said Hilbert. “We don’t make road bikes, generators, snow throwers, scooters, outboard motors or cars. And other than watching Cobra graduates (Millsaps, Alessi, Stroupe, Canard, Izzi, Bowers, etc.) climb the ranks, we don’t have much interest in the professional side of the sport. Therefore our decision to put all of our efforts behind amateur racing is an easy one.”
From bike builders to racer promoters, this past year’s amateur national motocross circuit was no doubt affected by the economy as well. But according to Hilbert, Cobra’s brand was represented even better than other brands at all of the 2008 major amateur MX events. “Cobra families pulled together and did what they had to do to get to the race track,” he said. “And you have no idea how that motivates us as a company and has us working those extra hours, driving those extra miles to insure the entire Cobra family is taken care of.”
National Team
Brandon Hernandez Woodlake, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Tanner Craddock Weir, Kan. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Stilez Robertson Bakersfield, Calif. 4-6 CX50JR
Austin Forkner Richards, Mo. 10-11 CX65
Logan Lietzel Dillsburg, Pa. 7-8 CX50SR
Zach Smith Laingsburg, Mich. 7-8 CX50SR
Dawson Evitts Auburn, Pa. 7-9 CX65
Jonathan Lee Rockingham, N.C. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Michael Hicks Fenton, Mo. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Weston Geim Valencia, Calif. 7-8 CX50SR
Josh Strickland Zebulon, N.C. 7-8 CX50SR
Jackson Turpin Locust Grove, Ga. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Preston Yost Queens Creek, Ariz. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Cullin Park Clermont, Fla. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Kruz Sampson Lebanon, Tenn. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
Jack Rogers Brookville, Md. 7-8/7-9 CX50SR/65
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.
High Profile Public Relations (HPPR), LLC, is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com.
