The Checkered Flag

Todd Skipper

A profile of Williams's Brazilian driver.

Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Martin Truex Jr. Bobby Ginn

Todd Skipper

Commentary legend Murray Walker and chief F1 writer Andrew Benson look at Fernando Alonso's career

Rubens Barrichello Kamui Kobayashi Vitaly Petrov

Todd Skipper

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

Race fans that look forward to the motorsports mecca that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans will have to wait one additional week.

According to an Autosport report, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest had announced the dates for the 2013 race as June 15-16, but following a request by the FIA, the dates had been changed. The race will now take place the 22nd and 23rd of June. The test date for the race will now be on June 9th.

In a statement from the ACO, the change was made, "in order to harmonize the world calendar of motor racing events."

The schedule change will not alter the fact that the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains as the centerpiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. The current season includes 12 Hours of Sebring, and six hour races at Spa, Silverstone, Sao Paulo, Bahrain, Fuji, and Shangai.

Next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans pushed back a week originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Simo No Fear Racing Boris Said Ford

Todd Skipper

We are a bit late to this news, in internet terms at least (we’re WAAAY ahead in print terms, for whatever that is worth), but Kawasaki announced at the Moscow round that it has re-signed factory rider Tom Sykes to its 2013 World Superbike team. Eight podiums so far this season, including one race win and seven of pole-position starts, Tom Sykes has been delivering solids for Team Green this season. So, it should come ...

JEFF WARD JEFF MATIASEVICH RICK JOHNSON

Todd Skipper

A profile of the returning Lotus Formula 1 driver, Romain Grosjean.

David Reutimann Calvin Wells Michael Waltrip Racing

Todd Skipper

Wild Wally Palmer is back on the Bike and Getting Ready for EnduroCross
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Palmer shows off video of his first time back on the bike after knee surgery - GEICO AMA EnduroCross News Release

Irvine, CA (April 25, 2012) – If you have ever been to a GEICO AMA EnduroCross event or watched one on TV, you have probably noticed Wild Wally Palmer. He is a madman on the track that always gives it 100% and typically catches more air than anybody. And in spite of some ugly crashes that led to a destroyed knee in 2011, he made it to every event and continued to attract more fans along the way. He literally used duct tape to hold his knee together at the Everett Washington event and still qualified for the main event on his two wheel drive Christini.

After the Vegas finals in November, Palmer finally got a much needed knee surgery and is just now back on a Trials bike to start getting ready for the Las Vegas opening round coming up inside the Orleans Arena on Friday, May 4th. He sent over a link to this video showing some POV action at his EnduroCross practice track along with this note; “I’m going to start riding a big bike on Thursday for the first time since the last EnduroCross. My leg is feeling good. Here is the track I made that is pretty close to the Vegas track map. I even made the over and under bridge. Check it out!” Here is the link: http://youtu.be/y-kua3pgXyg

If you are planning a trip to see the Monster Energy Supercross finals in Las Vegas, then make sure that you come in a day early to catch the GEICO AMA EnduroCross by Lucas Oil championship opener, which is an X Games Qualifier. If you have never watched one in person, you will be blown away by the obstacles and intense racing action.

For more information, go to www.EnduroCross.com.

2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Schedule

EnduroCross tracks incorporate various elements of extreme off road racing into a Supercross-style setting, including rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, a water-hole…and even a few special obstacles like giant tires thrown in! Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” this indoor off road racing will certainly keep you on your feet. For the seven EnduroCross events, be sure to log-on to www.motorsportshour.com for local air dates/times for the Lucas Motorsports Hour on the Versus network.

ENDUROCROSS is a registered trademark of Source Interlink Magazines, LLC.
For rules and race information visit www.EnduroCross.com or email endurocross@sorc.com.

Source Interlink Media Motorsports:
Encompassing the highly successful GEICO AMA MiniMotoSX presented by Monster Energy, the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship Series, presented by Lucas Oil and the AMA EnduroCross Grand Championships, the Source Interlink Media Motorsports brands reach millions of motorcycle enthusiasts with live events, web sites, television and magazine coverage. Visit www.minimotosx.com or www.endurocross.com.

GrindMedia:
Source Interlink Media’s GrindMedia is home to renowned action and adventure sports magazine brands Surfer, Surfing, Snowboarder, Skateboarder, Powder, Bike, Canoe & Kayak, SUP-Standup Paddler, Dirt Rider, ATV Rider, and Paved. Along with our standalone websites, including GrindTV.com, Newschoolers and Motocross.com, GrindMedia is the leading provider of print and online action sports and entertainment content in the United States. Delivering significant reach across both action sports enthusiast and various in-market consumer audiences, GrindMedia produces more than 20 leading events and webcasts such as Surfer Poll Awards, Powder Video Awards, Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, EnduroCross and International Surfing Day. Grind Media is also the exclusive action and adventure sports content provider for Yahoo! Sports. To learn more, visit grindmedia.com.

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RON LECHIEN JOHNNY OMARA GUY COOPER

Todd Skipper

Denny Hamlin, slated to undergo surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) Wednesday morning in Charlotte, will only need clearance from his doctor to resume competing in NASCAR, according to officials with the sanctioning body.
Hamlin injured his left knee Jan. 22 while playing basketball, and had hoped to put off the surgery until after [...]

Mercedes GP Renault Force India-Mercedes

Todd Skipper

Who will win the 2012 championships? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

F1 is set for a frenetic end to the season with nine races crammed into 13 weekends. Will Fernando Alonso and Red Bull hold on their championship leads?

Who will win the 2012 championships? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Raynard McGlynn McGlynn Racing Derrike Cope

Todd Skipper

Jonathan Rea has been drafted in to replace Casey Stoner during the Australian's absence due to the ankle injury he suffered at Indianapolis. The Ulsterman is to test the factory Honda RC213V at Brno during the official MotoGP test on Monday, and then again at Aragon in just over a week's time.

The decision to draft in Rea was made as a reward for his loyalty to Honda throughout the years. Rea has stuck with Honda in WSBK, and achieving strong results on a CBR1000RR that is starting to get a little long in the tooth. Rea winning the Suzuka 8 hours endurance race earlier this year was also greatly appreciated by HRC top management.

How many races Rea will get on the bike is still uncertain. Casey Stoner has now arrived in Australia, and is expected to have surgery on Wednesday. He is almost certain to be forced to miss Misano, and the following race at Aragon is also uncertain. None of the remaining rounds on the MotoGP calendar clash with World Superbikes, so though Rea would find himself with a full schedule, it would be possible for Rea to substitute for Stoner for the rest of the year, if necessary.

Below is the official press release from Honda, and a video statement from Rea courtesy of the Honda World Superbike team:

Jonathan Rea to test for Repsol Honda Team

DAVID VUILLEMIN HEATH VOSS WIL HAHN

Todd Skipper

Red Bull's Mark Webber becomes the sixth winner in six races with victory in Monaco , crossing the line just half a second ahead of Nico Rosberg, with Fernando Alonso completing the podium.

Ferrari Mercedes GP Renault

Todd Skipper

Race Tech Dominates at Pikes Peak

Carlin Dunne and Greg Tracy aboard Factory Spider Grips/Ducati machines with Race Tech Gold Valves and tuning dominated the motorcycle division at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with 1-2 finishes respectively.

Carlin Dunne and Greg Tracy aboard Factory Spider Grips/Ducati machines with Race Tech Gold Valves and tuning dominated the motorcycle division at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with 1-2 finishes respectively. Dunne crushed the Pikes Peak motorcycle record he set just last year en route to his victory at the second oldest motorsports race in the country!

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STEPHANE RONCADA KYLE LEWIS ERNESTO FONSECA

Todd Skipper

Since coming to the Cup Series in 2005, Furniture Row Racing has grown into its current form gradually. Over the first several years of their existence, poor finishes and DNQs were the norm. But owner Barney Visser stayed the course, and with Regan Smith at the wheel, the team has gained respectability. Their first taste [...]

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Jeff Wyler Jeff Wyler Racing Johnny Benson

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Lotus intend to spend more time developing E20 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: Lotus to spend more time on E20 ? New Jersey race chief resigns ? Button says set-up was cause of tyre trouble

Lotus intend to spend more time developing E20 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Vitaly Petrov Nico Hulkenberg Vitantonio Liuzzi

Todd Skipper

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer Finishes Third in Seattle
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Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer Finishes Third in Seattle
Irvine, Calif. (April 23, 2012) - Despite dismal weather predictions for Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross at Centurylink Field in Seattle, Wash., the weather turned out to be beautiful and sunny come race day. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer powered through the rutted track on his KX(tm)450F to earn his fourth podium of the season in third place. Not far behind was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Broc Tickle who rode a solid race to finish eighth. Returning to the series with the rest of the Supercross Lites Western region, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson was looking to extend his points lead and inch closer to the championship, but an incident with another rider sent him to the ground and left him fighting to finish seventh. Hometown hero and reigning champion, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, was riding strong all night until a crash in the main event forced him out of the race early and would leave him in 19th place.

Back on the Box
In the past, Weimer had struggled with the soft dirt in Seattle and knew he would have to work hard to get a good result. Instead of finding consistent lines and clicking them off he would really need to adapt to the track on a lap-by-lap basis. Weimer proved he could adapt quickly and continued to show improvement every time he hit the track. Though he qualified ninth, in the heat race he got a great start and finished second. When the gate dropped for the main event he got another good start on his KX450F and came around the first lap in third. Weimer held onto third place the entire 20 lap main to secure his fourth podium of the season. The outstanding effort advanced Weimer from seventh to fifth in the points standings.

"I really didn't feel comfortable all day so it felt great to finish on the box," said Weimer. "I knew it would be tough racing here, because the track is always soft and rutted. That really isn't my specialty. The track continued to break down throughout the night and there were a few spots where the ruts got really deep so I had to keep adjusting my lines. There was one rut that had a huge rock right in the middle of it, which was really sketchy. I feel pretty good about tonight because I was able to fight through it and come out with a better result than I expected."

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High Expectations
Since he took the first professional win of his career in Seattle, Tickle had high expectations coming into the event. He got off to a slow start, qualifying 12th, but knew he needed to find some solid lines before he put on a charge. In the heat race he put it all together and rode strong to finish sixth. When the gate dropped in the main event, Tickle got pinched off and funneled to the back of the pack, coming around the first turn in 15th. Undeterred, he put together a solid charge and picked off nearly half of the field to finish eighth. Tickle currently sits tenth in the points standings.

"I thought I rode the best I had all season," said Tickle. "I rode solid and stayed aggressive all 20 laps and passed half of the pack in the process. You know this has been a crazy season; anything can happen on the track. The top ten racers in the Supercross class are riding really strong so it's difficult to break into the top three to get a podium. I just have to keep pushing forward and working hard no matter how tough it gets. I know eventually it will all pay off. I'm going to focus on my starts this week and hopefully I can carry this momentum into next weekend."

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Battleground
After a two month break while the series headed east, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson was pumped to return to racing and hoped to stretch his 2-point lead in Seattle. He got the night off to a great start, qualifying in the number two spot and went on to dominate the six-lap heat race, taking the holeshot and winning by almost four seconds. When the gate dropped for the main event, Wilson immediately went to work. He came around the first turn in third and quickly made a move on second, which was returned shortly thereafter and a battle for second ensured. While jockeying for position the two riders got tangled up mid-race, sending Wilson to the ground. Although he went down hard, he picked up his KX(tm)250F and did the best he could to finish seventh and salvage points. Wilson currently sits second in the points, only four points behind the leader.

"I'm super bummed on tonight's result," said Wilson. "Me and Eli (Tomac) were really going at it. I was able to get around him pretty quickly on the first lap, then he got me back, and we went back and forth a couple times. It was some pretty aggressive racing, but we're going for a championship and giving it everything we got out there. We were halfway through the race and he came across the track, we got tangled up, and I got the worst of it. I just have to put this behind me because we still have another race before the final in Vegas. He only has four points on me and this is racing so anything can happen."

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Roar of the Crowd
Although he had already clinched the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, Seattle-native Villopoto wanted to win in his hometown more than ever. With family and friends from his childhood in attendance and spread throughout the stadium the emotional stakes couldn't have been higher. During opening ceremonies when he rolled out onto the track the roar from the crowd was deafening. With the crowd cheering behind him, Villopoto started off the night strong, winning his heat race by nearly seven seconds. When the gate dropped for the main event he was only able to get a mid-pack start. He immediately went to work, looking to charge his way toward the front, but lost the front end and went down, forcing him out of the race.

"The day started out great," said Villopoto. "I found some good lines during practice and was able to connect everything during the heat race. In the main event I didn't get the start I needed and had to work from mid-pack. I was trying to pass three racers on the inside of a turn, came in hot, tried to grab some front brake and ended up washing out the front end."

Hometown Hero
When Villopoto arrived in Seattle days prior to the race the town was already buzzing. Television stations and local newspaper were all vying for his time and wanted to chat with their local hero and recently crowned, two-time supercross champion. While travelling between television stations and visiting extended family, he also swung by the local Seattle Children's Hospital to spread some cheer with teammate Weimer. On race day the pits were absolutely packed and it seemed like everyone on the paddock had some connection with Villopoto. Although the result of the main event was not what anyone expected, everyone who came out to visit him on Saturday knows he has the heart of a champion and is proud of his accomplishments.

"It's always really awesome to come home and race in front of the people that watched me grow up racing," said Villopoto. "I have a lot of family out here so it's always nice to come home and spend time with them too. It seems like most of the people here remember watching me race growing up, know my family, or have pictures with me from my amateur days, so this race is really special for me."

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Mission Impossible
Because Seattle gets so much annual rainfall and Centurylink Field is an open stadium, getting the dirt to settle and pack properly is nearly impossible. While the track crew worked tirelessly to build, shape, and protect the track prior to race day, rain had inundated the track for almost an entire week prior to the event. To help the track better withstand the relentless rain, the track crew mixed the dirt with asphalt and lime to help maintain its composure. When racers arrived on Saturday morning they were informed there would be one less practice session due to the track's deteriorating condition. However, once racing began the onslaught of hundreds of dirt bikes eventually pounded the track into a rutted mess. Sometimes you just can't beat Mother Nature.

Next Weekend
Next weekend, Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the penultimate round of the series before the 2012 season wraps up in Las Vegas, Nev.

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Results
Monster Energy AMA Supercross - Round 15
Centurylink Field - Seattle, Washington
April 22, 2012

Supercross Class Results
1. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
7. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
8. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
10. NICK WEY, DEWITT, MICH., KAWASAKI
19. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI

Supercross Lites Western Region Results
1. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
2. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki,
7. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
8. Billy Laninovich, Riverside, Calif., Honda
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
10. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda

Supercross Class Points Standings
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 323
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 222
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 219
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 207
5. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 191
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 178
7. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki, 176
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 173
9. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 166
10. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 146

Supercross Lites Western Region Points Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 134
2. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 130
3. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 119
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 111
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha, 78
6. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 78
7. Matt Moss, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 77
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 75
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 73
10. Billy Laninovich, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 70

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