BBMX Dade City Report
While most of the top US teams are 100% focused and ready to do battle in the Lucas Oil's Pro Motocross Nationals this upcoming weekend in Sacramento, CA - the BTOSports.com / Palmetto Suzuki / BBMX race team already notched their first summer motocross series race this past weekend on May 15th. New on the 2010 BBMX race team schedule this year is the addition of the Monster Energy Sponsor Cup Series, held in Dade City, FL.
The Monster Energy Sponsor Cup Series is the fastest growing series in BBMX's home state of FL, and is definitely a first of its kind for FL racing. The Sponsor Cup Series is in its 5th year of racing and has become a hot spot for FL racing from the early Spring to the late Fall. With 15 rounds in the points chase, a high pro purse and a hefty top 3 series championship bonus on the line - it is a must for all of FL's top pro riders to attend. And though the BBMX team will sit out the 2010 Lucas Oil Motocross Nationals, the team hopes to be able to give back to all their loyal FL fans who have supported them over the years. "We are going to miss the nationals this year for sure, but with all honesty it is a tough economy out there right now and we needed to work on our sales program back in FL for this year and the Monster Energy Sponsor Cup Series was just the perfect fit for us. The nationals are definitely not out of our future, we will be back for sure. What MX Sports is doing over there is just awesome and as time goes on, what they are doing will allow teams like ours to only grow stronger and win races", says Forrest Butler.
"Our focus right now though is on the Sponsor Cup championship and winning races. The facility at Dade City, the Sponsor Cup team layout, teams involved - it is very impressive. They have a 4000sq/ft building with an entire air conditioned VIP viewing area, it is very impressive. We are also set up and selling live for BTOSports.com out of our product display booth, it really is a good deal for all our team sponsors and our FL regional fans" adds Forrest.
As for the racing, the format is done similar to the nationals - all bikes are equipped with transponders and timed qualifying is used for gate pick. Team rider Kyle Keylon would grab the fastest qualifying time, with teammate Jason Thomas qualifying 6th. The first moto would find Thomas with a near holeshot on the ground and starting from dead last, Thomas's fortune would end right away with a broken shifter causing him to pull out. Keylon however made his way to the front quickly and took the lead by the half way mark. Unfortunately for Keylon, a broken front wheel would cause him to go down with just 2 laps to go and settle for 2nd place.
In the 2nd moto, Thomas would again have first turn problems and then a crash a lap 4 left him with a bike that wouldn't start, finding him a lap down. Keylon started 2nd this time and was quickly looking for the lead, he made several attempts but just couldn't get by the race leader, eventually finishing in 2nd by just a few short bike lengths. Kyle would end up 2nd overall on the night and up on the podium.
The next round will be on May 29th and both Thomas and Keylon will be a bit more prepared as this last weekend saw them both coming directly off the Las Vegas SX finale.
For more information on the Monster Energy Sponsor Cup Series, please long onto www.dadecitymx.com and view information on the Monster Energy Sponsor Cup Series.
btosports.com and butlerbrothersmx.com
There's no way that BTO Sports.com/BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki team can go racing without the help of their sponsors and would like to thank the following companies:
BTOSports.com, BBMX, Palmetto Suzuki, FLY Racing, Bel-Ray, Vortex, Pro-Circuit, WMI, Vanquish MX, Smith, FLU Graphics, Jett Boot, Wiseco, Leatt Brace, McGraw Insurance, Umbrella Girls, Dream Traxx, ASMF, ASV, Ti-Fuel, Factory Connection, Applied, Hinson, ICW, Twin Air, RK / Excel, QTM, Faction MX, Pit Posse, Outlaw, Dunlop, FLmx, MX Press, Polisport, Engine Ice, Galfer, Hookit.com, STMX, Kinetic Animation, Safety Kleen, Axcel
