Cobra's Loretta Lynn's Report

HILLSDALE, Mich., – A couple young rippers from Bakersfield, Calif. – Stilez Robertson and Ryder Di Francesco – wrote a historic new chapter into the ongoing heritage of the American-made Cobra competition mini cycles as the two swept the 50cc classes at the 30th annual Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by AMSOIL.

Held at country singing legend Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., Di Francesco became the first five-year old in the storied history of the event to win the 51cc (4-6) AMA 2 Stock Junior class. He gave up the first moto to his central Cal riding buddy, Jett Reynolds, then went on to win the next two motos. New York’s Reed Cooper got progressively better as the week went on, going 5th/4th/2nd and placing on the Stock Junior class in 3rd behind Jett and Robertson.

Overall Cobra took eight out of the top ten spots in the Stock Junior class – including 1st through 7th place, and 16 out of the top 20 places!

Racing his final Loretta’s on a Cobra, Robertson set a 50cc class wins record that’s going to be tough to beat. Recording his 26th win, Robertson broke the record previously held by former Cobra racer Adam Cianciarulo. Robertson went 1st/1st/1st to win out in the 51cc (7-8) AMA 1 Stock Senior class to become the winningest AMA amateur racer ever on 50cc bikes.

Robertson led a Cobra charge in the Stock Senior class that included a 1st through 6th place sweep on the legendary Cobra King 50 bikes, joined on the podium by California’s Dilan Schwartz (2nd) and Utah’s Pierce Brown (3rd).

“Everyone at Cobra is thrilled for the effort put forth not only by our Stock Junior and Stock Senior class podium placers, but also for the efforts by their families backing these young racers,” said Sean Hilbert, President of Cobra Motorcycles. “Stilez and Ryder’s record-setting efforts highlighted another epic year for Cobra at Loretta’s. And while we certainly wish Stilez all the best as he moves forward with the Team Green program, we’re equally pumped to have such solid group of kids returning to the Cobra program for 2012.”

In the 65cc (7-9) Stock class Cobra’s Brown – on the American-made CX65 – raced to a 6th place finish, which was the second-best finish in the class for an eight-year old.

Ponca City update: In the 50 Pee Wee Stock through 6 class Reynolds and Di Francesco went 1st/2nd – with Cobra bikes taking nine out of the top ten spots! Similar results would follow in Ponca’s 50 Pee Wee Modified through 6 class as Reynolds was again unstoppable, joined on the podium by fellow Bakersfield, Calif., native Brock Bennett in 2nd place. Again, Cobra would capture nine out of the top ten places in the 50 Pee Wee Modified through 6 class – including 1st and 2nd place!

In the 50 Pee Wee Stock 7-8 class Cobra’s Ethan Mann, Brown and Robertson swept the podium with a 1st/2nd/3rd showing in the massive 57-rider class. Oregon’s Max Miller would step up and take top honors on his King 50 in the 50 Pee Wee Modified 7-8 class, with Robertson and Brown rounding out the podium.

The Super Pee Wee Modified 6-9 class would bring all the class champs together for one big race – all brands included – and Cobra racers would again sweep the podium with Brown, Miller and Robertson going 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

All totaled the Cobra Nation swept every 50 class victory at Ponca. Way to go, guys!

On the 65s at Ponca Brown made the transition from his King 50 to the Cobra CX65 nicely, winning the first 65 Junior Stock 6-8 moto and placing 2nd overall behind his Cobra 50 class teammate, Robertson. And in the 65 Junior Modified 6-8 class Brown scored another Ponca podium, placing 3rd overall.

For more information on the 2011 Red Bull AMA Amateur National Championships – including up-to-date scoring, link to the Loretta’s website at: http://www.mxsports.com
For Ponca City info link to: www.nmamx.com

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.