Silly season is wrapped up and we’ve seen some major switches inside the AMA Supercross paddock. Here’s a brief glimpse at who’s riding what in 2011.
San Manuel Yamaha - 7 James Stewart, 30 Kyle RegalJames “Bubba” Stewart returns as the catalyst for San Manuel Yamaha. Joining Stewart will be last year’s privateer wonder kid, Kyle Regal. After starting last year on a Valli Yamaha, then making a surprise switch to a privateer Honda for AMA Motocross, Regal will once again be aboard a Yamaha come A1.
Monster Energy Kawasaki - 2 Ryan Villopoto 32 Jake Weimer
Ryan Villopoto returns after a devastating leg injury that prematurely ended his season last year. Jake Weimer was all set to make his 450 debut at A1, but after suffering a broken arm Weimer is likely to miss a majority of the season.
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki - 1 Ryan Dungey, 24 Brett Metcalfe
Defending AMA Supercross and Motocross champion Ryan Dungey will once again be the thoroughbred that leads the stable of Rockstar Suzuki riders. Joining Dungey is Australian Brett Metcalfe, who is making the leap to Suzuki after spending the past two years at GEICO Honda. Metty has also ridden for KTM, Yamaha of Troy and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki—he’s done it all!
TwoTwo Motorsports - 22 Chad Reed
After spending the past three years on three different teams and three different bikes, veteran Chad Reed has ventured out on his own and will be riding a Honda under his new team, TwoTwoMotorsports.
Josh Grant made the leap to Team Honda for 2011.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Team Honda - 33 Josh Grant, 41 Trey Canard
After spending the past two years at Joe Gibbs Racing—aboard a Yamaha—Josh Grant returns to Honda, where he spent the majority of his time early in his career. “Ice” Trey Canard makes his highly anticipated full-season debut aboard a 450, after pulling off a surprising late season run to capture his first outdoor title.
DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha -25 Ryan Sipes, 35 Kyle Cunningham, 72 Nick Paluzzi, 387 Gareth Swanepoel, 533 Gannon Audette
Ryan Sipes and Kyle Cunningham make the jump from MotoConcepts Yamaha and Valli Motorsports Yamaha, respectively, to lead the DNA Shred Stixs/Star Racing team in 2011. Sipes and Cunningham will be joined by rookies Gareth Swanepoel, Nick Paluzzi and Gannon Audette. Swanepoel is a South African with years of GP experience and Audette is straight out of Loretta’s. All six are racing Lites.
GEICO Powersports Honda - 14 Kevin Windham, 17 Justin Barcia, 19 Eli Tomac, 21 Blake Wharton, 31 Wil Hahn
The wily veteran Kevin Windham returns for another go around aboard the GEICO Powersports team. Joining holdovers Justin “Bam Bam” Barcia and Blake Wharton will be Wil Hahn, who makes the jump from TLD Honda, and Eli Tomac, who began his pro career last year outdoors.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki - 15 Dean Wilson, 20 Broc Tickle, 28 Tyla Rattray
57 Blake Baggett, 100 Josh Hansen
Scot-Can-Merican Dean Wilson, South African Tyla Rattray and Josh “Hollywood” Hansen are holdovers from last year’s stable of riders. Joining the trio will be newcomers Broc Tickle (DNA Shred Stixs/Star Racing Yamaha last year) and Blake Baggett (Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki last year).
Red Bull KTM - 29 Andrew Short, 125 Marvin Musquin, 194 Ken Roczen, 800 Mike Alessi
Red Bull KTM will be debuting an entirely new lineup in 2011, with the exception of Mike Alessi, who may end up skipping supercross. Andrew Short makes the jump from Honda, and will be joined by European imports Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin. Roczen will race West Lites before heading back to Germany to contest the GPs and Musquin is already out of SX with a torn ACL.
JDR Motorsports/ J-Star Motors KTM - 927 PJ Larsen, TBD Tye Simmonds, 34 Dan Reardon, TBD Ryan Marmont
The Austrilian backed JDR Motorsports KTM team brings along a stock full of Aussis to lead its inaugural Supercross campaign. But there is an American on board, too, as PJ Larsen returns stateside after wrapping up his first career pro titles (Australian Lites MX and Super X). The Australian trio of Tye Simmonds, Dan Reardon, and Ryan Marmont will fill out the rest of the JDR Motorsports KTM team. Simmonds is a young kid, and despite his size is racing Lites, Marmont and Reardon will be in the big class.
The butt patch says it all.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda - 36 Cole Seely, 58 Travis Baker, 144 Christian Craig
Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda looks to find another diamond in the rough with a core group of young up-and-coming stars. Cole Seely returns for another year under the TLD tent, while Christian Craig will make his heroic return to racing after a nearly career ending back injury. Newcomer Travis Baker (Motoconcepts Yamaha) will look to flourish under the tutelage of Troy Lee and company.
Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki - 23 Martin Davalos, 71 Ryan Morais, 77 Ian Trettel, 156 Jason Anderson
Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki goes from a support team to become Suzuki’s full factory 250 effort. They feature one returning rider in 2011, Ryan Morais. Martin Davalos (DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha) joins rookies Ian Trettel and Jason Anderson as the new bright spots under the Rockstar tent.
JGRMX/Muscle Milk/Toyota - 18 Davi Millsaps, 23 Justin Brayton
After five years with Honda, Davi Millsaps will make the switch to Yamaha under the JGR tent. Justin Brayton is back for his second year.
BTOSports.com/BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki -26 Michael Byrne, 47 Jason Thomas
Veterans Michael Byrne and Jason Thomas headline the new look BTOSports Suzuki team. Both riders have spent time on Suzuki's, so adjusting to the bike should factor little into the new dynamics of the team.
MotoConcepts Yamaha 11 Kyle Chisholm, 12 Tommy Hahn, 45 Vince Friese
Kyle Chisholm returns after a breakout 2011, where he will be joined by holdover Vince Friese and newcomer Tommy Hahn (Rockstar Energy Suzuki).
Valli Motorsports -27 Nick Wey, 74 Austin Stroupe
After throwing out a slew of riders last year, Valli Motorsports has trimmed the meat so to speak, to just two members—both newcomers—Nick Wey and Austin Stroupe. Wey makes his way over from Monster Energy Kawasaki while Stroupe makes the leap to Yamaha after spending a year with factory Rockstar Makita Suzuki. This is Stroupe’s rookie 450 full-time season.
Dodge / Hart & Huntington Kawasaki - 9 Ivan Tedesco, 38 Chris Blose, 75 Josh Hill
Hart & Huntington comes into 2011 with a new bike and big names to go along. Chris Blose returns to the team after a solid season last year, while new faces Ivan Tedesco and Josh Hill look to be the face and the future of the team. Hill is still recovering from a massive crash over the summer and won’t be on the gate at Anaheim.
IT is the face of the Dodge backed Hart & Huntington Kawasaki team.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear powered by Munn Racing KTM - 61 Austin Howell, 70 Tevin Tapia, 94 Ricky Renner, 129 Vernon McKiddie, 149 Casey Hinson, 804 Jason Langford
This privateer team dipped a toe in the water last year and comes back with a much larger effort and a sweet-looking semi for 2011.
Team Tedder/Monster Energy Kawasaki - 133 Dakota Tedder, 166 Myles Tedder
Both Tedder boys made their pro debuts during last year’s AMA Motocross tour, this will be their supercross debut.
Rock River PowerSports Yamaha - 42 Weston Peick, 53 Jarred Browne, 87 Drew Yenerich 628 Joey Rossi, 707 Alex Millican , 801 Jeff Alessi
Rock River runs one of Yamaha’s premier amateur programs, but has been contesting the pro ranks with a separate team as well. Weston Peick, who rode for the team in the Ams, leads the effort again, with a slew of new hires alongside him.
Team Rockwell Time/Fire Police MX - 78 Sean Borkenhagen, TBD Cole Siebler, 854 Landen Powell, 758 Jason Potter, TBD Parker Eckman
Rockwell Time sponsors the sport heavily, and they’ve been backing the Fire Police MX squad for a few years.
Davi Millsaps will be under the Joe Gibbs racing tent for 2011.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Truth MX MB1 Kawasaki - 49 Ben Evans, TBD Bryce Vallee
Evans has been flying the privateer flag for a few years, while Vallee is a relative newcomer.
Red Seven/Twisted/Honda Powered by Naveen - 76 Kyle Partridge, 207 Sean Collier, 255 Daniel Hendrix, TBD Lance Vincent
Partridge rode for this team last year and returns along with some new privateer heroes.
AG Motorsports/ Dragon Racing Fuels KTM - 56 Phil Nicoletti, 60 Killy Rusk, 690 Ricky Winters
Veteran KTM wrench Al Albiker will run this 250 team. Jimmy Albertson was on board, as well, but parted ways after he determined he’d prefer to race a 450.
Renegade Racing Fuels/Eleven10Mods.com – 37 Darryn Durham, 46 Alex Martin, TBD Brandon Mays
This young Honda-mounted team hopes to make some noise in 2011. While the team’s main focus will be on the Eastern Regional Lites class, you will probably see Martin on a 450 at the first few rounds of the series.
