Preview of Round 5 in Detroit
Two Titans Tussle
Jeff Ward and Doug Henry are two American motocross legends who never faced each other as equals on the dirt since Ward was winding down his motocross career just when Henry was launching his.
Fortunately for racing fans the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited has provided an opportunity to bring Ward and Henry together as contemporary rivals. Ward and Henry will continue their battle as the series moves to the Waterford Hills road course in the Detroit suburb of Clarkston, on Saturday, July 8.
Ward, the Troy Lee Designs Honda rider from Newport Beach, Calif., leads the championship with three victories in the eight rounds leading up to Waterford Hills. Henry, of Torrington, Conn., trails by just seven points. Henry also has three wins to his credit this season aboard his Graves Motorsports Yamaha.
“I’m looking forward to racing in Michigan. That part of the country is a hotbed for motorcycle racing and the new track sounds like it’s going to be a challenge. I’m pretty happy with where we are at this point in the season. I’ve let a few opportunities get away, but I still have the points lead so I can’t be too upset.
- Ward
Henry is returning to peak racing condition after suffering season-ending injuries last August. Like Ward, Henry is anxious to get a look at the Waterford Hills layout.
It’s always fun to come to a new track. I feel like I’ve been pretty good about learning tracks quickly. Right now it’s a tight battle for the championship and my guess is that’s it’s going to be like that all year long.
- Henry
Team Red Bull KTM HMC racer Kunzel Brings Mo
After Utah Jurgen Kunzel flew back to Germany and trained like the devil. He entered the German Supermoto Championship and took two Supermoto 450 wins. Kunzel is bringing his winning momentum to Detroit.
UrbanCross Comes to Detroit
The Waterford Hills venue is new to the series. It marks the first motorcycle racing event for the venerable circuit. The track looks to be wide-open in terms of what AMA Supermoto competitors are accustomed to. It will also feature the return of the popular UrbanCross section. UrbanCross is an obstacle unique to AMA Supermoto racing. It features metal/wood ramps erected on the paved section of the track. One of the jumps is a 60 foot tabletop.
We are excited to have the UrbanCross section back for this event. UrbanCross brings a valuable element of challenge and fun to AMA Supermoto. It’s exciting for the fans and a unique test for the riders. We have addressed safety and logistical issues and our team has created a well balanced solution that enabled us to return UrbanCross to the championship. Special thanks go to our event promoter, Tom Zielinski as well as All Access, the company that built the UrbanCross elements.
-Joel Grover, AMA Supermoto Director
Grover added that fans can expect to see UrbanCross at a number of the remaining events on the championship schedule.
While much of the focus is on the Ward/Henry rivalry, there will be several other riders hoping to steal the show. Henry’s teammate Mark Burkhart, of Pickerington, Ohio, moved up from the Supermoto Lites class championship last year and has shown the ability to win on the 450cc bikes. Burkhart leads a clump of three riders battling for third in the championship including Red Bull KTM’s Kurt Nicoll and young Chris Fillmore, of the Troy Lee Honda squad.
Fillmore should be the crowd favorite at Waterford Hills. The 19-year-old Supermoto phenom was born in Pontiac and is a resident just up the road in Oxford, Mich.
It’s going to be great to race so close to home,” said Fillmore, who has scored three podium finishes this season. “I’m planning on going down to Waterford Hills and getting a look at the track. Winning at a home race would be a dream come true. I’ve been riding well, but realistically I probably need a little luck to get a win.
- Fillmore
Travis Pastrana on Deck
Former AMA Motocross Champion and X-Games Gold Medalist Travis Pastrana is slated to race in the Detroit Supermoto as he prepares for the upcoming X-Games Supermoto event. Pastrana rode well in the most recent round in Utah, but had issues with his Cernic’s Suzuki overheating.
We’ll get the problems with the bike figured out. I was happy with how things went in my return to Supermoto. I felt like I could hang with guys like Wardy and Henry for the first time. Riding these bikes is a blast. Sometimes I scare myself silly, but I’m getting better every time out.
-Travis Pastrana
Supermoto Lites
Cassidy Anderson, of Provo, Utah, will try to keep his perfect record in the AMA Hot Wheels Supermoto Lites class intact at Waterford Hills. The Troy Lee Honda rider has won every round so far this season.
Supermoto Unlimited
Team Red Bull KTM HMC riders Ben Carlson and John Lewis along with Frenchman David Baffeleuf, of the GP Husqvarna team, are in a three-way tussle over the series lead in the AMA 70/30 Racing Supermoto Unlimited class. Carlson, of West Bend, Wis., leads Lewis by a single point, but Baffeleuf is coming on strong after winning a few weeks ago in Utah, and is only three points out of the series lead.
The AMA Supermoto at Waterford Hills is round five of the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. It will provide a festive atmosphere to fans. In addition to the great racing action, Observed Trials riding great Geoff Aaron will present his Dunlop X-Show. The event will also feature freestyle motocross with the innovative Trevor Vines. There will also be a special mini-supermoto race that you can sign up to race. Go to www.detroitsupermoto.com for more details.
WHAT: AMA Supermoto, round five of the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited.
WHERE: Waterford Hills road course in the Detroit suburb of Clarkston.
WHEN: July 8, 2006.
SCHEDULE: Saturday, July 8 – Practice begins at 10:00 a.m. Timed qualifying from 11:20 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. Supermoto Superpole at 3:00 p.m. Final events begin at 3:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $15 at the gate, 16 and under are free.
ADDITIONAL: Observed Trials riding great Geoff Aaron will put on his Dunlop X-Show. Freestyle Motocross innovative Trevor Vines will also put on an exhibition. There will be a special mini-supermoto race that anyone can sign up to race in.
Supermoto Standings – Going Into Detroit
| Pos. | Rider name | Hometown | Machine | Team name |
| 1 | Jeff Ward | Newport Beach, CA | Honda CRF450 | Team Troy Lee Designs Honda |
| 2 | Doug A. Henry | Torrington, CT | Yamaha YZ450F | Graves Motorsports Yamaha |
| 3 | Mark Burkhart | Pickerington, OH | Yamaha YZ450F | Graves Motorsports Yamaha |
| 4 | Kurt Nicoll | Temecula, CA | KTM 450SMS | Team Red Bull KTM HMC |
| 5 | Christopher S. Fillmore | Oxford, MI | Honda CRF450 | Team Troy Lee Designs Honda |
| 6 | Troy Herfoss | Goulburn, | Husqvarna TC450 | GP Husqvarna |
| 7 | Jurgen Kunzel | Cato, WI | KTM 450SMR | Team Red Bull KTM HMC |
| 8 | Micky M. Dymond | Placentia, CA | KTM 450SMR | All Access Racing |
| 9 | Josh W. Chisum | Bakersfield, CA | Honda CRF450R | Josh Chisum Racing |
| 10 | Travis Marks | Lake Elsinore, CA | Honda CRF450R | ST Racing Motostrano.com |
- AMA Pro Racing Press Release
