Violation1.com/Shea Racing Race Report: Atlanta

ATLANTA – This past weekend, Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, started its string of participating in east coast races during Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship. At the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, team athlete Vernon McKiddie transferred directly from his heat race to compete in his first main event in the two seasons he has rode for Shea Racing. While teammate Ricky Renner’s night got sidetracked by a downed rider.

The Saturday, February 26 Georgia Dome AMA Supercross round, which was broadcast live on SPEED TV, was the second round of the Supercross Lites East Region series. The track was the most technical of the season with an on-off-on-off rhythm section that challenged athletes in both classes all night long. The packed house saw the best racing of the season and some of the most intense battles in years.

Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear's Renner #94 and McKiddie #129 were both lined up in heat number two on their Eleven 10 Mods/DR.D/Enzo Suspension-tuned KTM 250 SX-F bikes. Renner had a superb start and was in fourth during the early laps. Then suddenly a rider went down in a corner. Renner chose to go high on the berm around the outside of the other rider to avoid the carnage. Renner’s rear brake got snagged on the other bike’s foot peg causing him to go down. The impact left him done for the heat race, sending him back to the pits to get ready for the LCQ.

Meanwhile in the same heat race, McKiddie was hanging out in the back of the pack but he was not about to let up. He made some solid passes on his SuperSprox/IRIS Chain-geared KTM and stayed in a position to capitalize on mistakes by other riders to advance. On the final lap, McKiddie made some moves to be in a position for a transfer directly to the main. At the checkers, McKiddie flew over the finish line in eighth place. This marked his first appearance in an AMA Supercross Lites main event since 2007.

In the four-lap LCQ, Renner got pushed to the outside in the first turn. He had his work cut out for him to move up to one of the two transfer spots. Renner crossed the line in 19th place ending his night.

In the AMA Supercross Lites main event, McKiddie was lined up at the gate with clear and safe vision compliments of Violation Goggles. After the start, he got unintentionally nailed by another rider in the first turn. McKiddie crashed hard and it took about 30 seconds to regroup and start his bike. By the time he remounted, the lead riders were about to come around. With a lap down to start his race, McKiddie pushed hard, taking advantage of every opportunity and getting the experience this season of racing an AMA Supercross main event on his National Switchgear/Travisa corporate-sponsored KTM. At the end of the 15-lap main, McKiddie finished in 19th place. This put him in a position to be in the AMA Supercross Lites East Region standings at the 26th spot.

“It was an exciting night of racing,” said Tim Shea, team manager. “Vernon had an awesome heat race, being patient right until the end to move up five places to get a spot in the main event. He had some trouble at the start of the main and that's just racing. Vernon didn't give up and soldiered through to finish the main to be one of the 20 fastest Supercross Lites racers in the country Saturday night. Ricky was right in there in his heat race. I believe he would have been in the main if not for some bad luck tonight. We keep building—six main events in eight races feels great. Our sponsors made it all possible tonight!”

Shea continued, “We head farther south this weekend to Florida for the start of Daytona Bike Week. We’re all excited about competing on the Ricky Carmichael-designed track on the infield of the famed Daytona International Speedway. Ricky [Renner] will put the bad luck behind him and be ready to compete for a main event spot and Vernon will be right in there too. Come check our guys out or watch it live on SPEED.”

Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, heads to round nine of Monster Energy AMA Supercross this Saturday, March 5 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fla. This is round three of eight of the Supercross Lites East Region. Fans come out to see athletes Ricky Renner #94 and Vernon McKiddie #129 in their FLY Racing Evolution gear on DeCal Works-emblazoned KTM 250 SX-F race bikes. During the pit party stop by the team’s purple and yellow semi hauler to meet the riders and the Violation Goggles girls. The event will be broadcast live on SPEED TV at 7:30 p.m. EST. Keep posted to the team at www.sheamoto.com.