Violation1.com/Shea Racing Race Report: Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – Continuing on its east region tour, Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, headed north this past Saturday, March 12 to Lucas Oil Stadium for Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship. Team athlete Ricky Renner transferred directly to the 250cc Lites East Region main event where he finished in 14th place – the highest position for the team since the 2009 AMA Supercross season.

This was the first journey north for the AMA Supercross tour. Due to the weather and space issues, the teams were pitted inside the nearby convention center. The track had a different soft dirt make-up due to the Midwest location which led to a good night of racing in front of a stadium-packed crowd.

Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear athletes Renner #94 and Vernon McKiddie #129 lined up for heat race one on their Eleven 10 Mods/DR.D/Enzo Suspension KTM 250 SX-F race bikes. In the heat race, Renner battled for his first transfer spot of the season, in the end holding onto the final transfer spot in ninth. Meanwhile, McKiddie, who crashed hard during afternoon qualifying and was bruised and battered, had a much tougher go at it. He hoped to build on his Atlanta main event finish, but was taken out in a turn on lap four ending his heat race journey.

In the LCQ, McKiddie surprisingly mounted up ready for the gate to drop with his hands firmly on Outlaw Racing bars and ODI grips. After the four-lap sprint, McKiddie, showing a great deal of determination, could only muster 20th place due to the affects of his qualifying and heat race crashes.

The line-up was set for the AMA Supercross Lites main. Renner was ready to battle in his FLY Racing Evolution gear. He had a solid start off the line and rode smooth in his first main event of the season. Renner improved each lap to finish 14th at the checkers to get on the board for the East Region series.

“During the three previous rounds Ricky was close to making the main and was only one spot from it at Daytona,” said Tim Shea, team manager. “We knew he would get into the main eventually. We hope this will be a stepping stone for him to make a streak of main events, and we'll do everything possible to support him. We are bummed for Vernon because he puts his whole heart on the track and after the Atlanta race had even more confidence. I was surprised he wanted to line up for the LCQ. We’ll all be ready to go for Jacksonville this weekend.”

Now both Shea Racing AMA Supercross Lites East Region riders, Renner and McKiddie, are in the AMA point standings. Renner is in 25th place and McKiddie is in 31st place. West Region Lites athlete Casey Hinson is 18th in the Supercross Lites West Region points. This is the first time for the private Shea Racing team to have three riders in the standings.

Shea added, “We have set backs and then wham we make progress. Our previous best finish as a team was 14th place in 2009. Casey Hinson had three 16th place finishes this season in the West. Now we have a 14th this season with Ricky’s performance at Indy. I am so proud of our riders and crew as we never give up an inch. We are here to compete each weekend and we will fight it out in Jacksonville. Thanks to our corporate sponsors National Switchgear and Travisa and our industry sponsors for making this journey possible.”

Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, heads to round 11 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross this Saturday, March 19 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. This will be round five of eight of the AMA Supercross Lites East Region. Fans come out to see athletes Ricky Renner #94 and Vernon McKiddie #129 in their FLY Racing Evolution gear and Violation Goggles 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 on SPEED TV at 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 20. Keep posted to the team at www.sheamoto.com.