E3 Spark Plugs News

Pro MotoX racer Ashley Fiolek and SuperX champ Jeremy McGrath appear in Honda's "The Undying Dream" documentary short.

A while back, E3 Spark Plugs introduced our blog readers “The Power of Dreams,” Honda’s amazingly inspiring short documentary series. Indy car racer Danica Patrick appeared in one installment titled “Failure: The Secret to Success.”With another browse through the series’ website, we recently spotted other familiar faces are in the mix.

Pro Motocross racer Ashley Fiolek and Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath – both Honda racers, appear in a six-minute piece titled “The Undying Dream,” which parallels their own quests to become racing royalty with Honda’s quest to create increasingly energy-efficient, clean vehicles.

“As the energy shortage becomes more critical, there will be a shift for everyone to use public transportation instead of personal mobility,” says Honda Motor Co. President and CEO Takanobu Ito. “But that’s not our goal. We want to guarantee the freedom and the joy of personal mobility into the future.”

“The Undying Dream” also shows early home video of a three-year-old Fiolek already on the tracks, and of pro surfing king Laird Hamilton, who talks of growing up wanting to be a world famous wave rider and of conquering the famed Millenium wave.

“I know I can do it. I know I can achieve my goals,” says Fiolek about her drive to become the first woman to qualify for a men’s national race. “That’s a good feeling, to be first and to be successful.”

“It’s a battle between me and me,” adds McGrath, talking about the quest to continually improve his racing. “When you’re battling to be the best, you’re battling with yourself.”

You’ll also see some great vintage video of early Honda motorcycles that’ll have you reminiscing about your own first bike. But mostly, it’ll leave you feeling inspired. Have you seen any of Honda’s “The Power of Dreams” series? Which is your favorite? Has it inspired you to make a change, set a goal or implement a plan? E3 Spark Plugs wants to hear your thoughts. Leave us a comment on the E3 Spark Plugs website blog or on our Facebook fan page.

After a multi-week break in the WMX Championship series, the pro women racers returned to the motocross track for Round 6 at Southwick, Massachusetts. In Moto One, Honda Red Bull Racing rider Ashley Fiolek grabbed the holeshot and an early lead in the race. Unfortunately, for Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson, there was a seven-rider pileup and the series points leader went down in turn one. Up front, Fiolek was cruising followed by fellow-Honda rider, Tarah Geiger, and the green Kawasaki of Marissa Markelon. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Sara Price was running in fifth place with a hard-charging Patterson working her way through the pack to sixth.

For the "ump-teenth" time this season, Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Tarah Geiger stood on the third step of podium at a WMX national event. Photo courtesy of http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2126/Motorcycle-Photo-Gallery/2010-AMA-Womens-Motocross.aspx

With half the race to go in Moto One, Price and Moto Concepts Yamaha rider Mariana Balbi were battling for fourth place. Geiger would crash while running in second, but managed to recover and only lost one position. After battling her way through the field, Patterson moved into second with just a few laps remaining. The WMX series points leader was able to chisel away at Fiolek’s lead but was unable to catch the Red Bull rider. Fiolek would take the win in Moto One followed by Patterson, and Geiger rounding out the podium in third.  Price and Balbi took fourth and fifth respectively.

The always rough and tough Moto-X 338 track showed no mercy for the ladies as unexpected crashes and tough racing would be status quo for the rest of the day. Fiolek had another great start out of the gate in Moto Two to again take the holeshot and the early race lead. However, this time Patterson had a much better start and exited turn one on the rear wheel of Fiolek. In third was Warthog Racing’s Tatum Sik followed by the Troy Lee Designs Honda of Tarah Geiger. At the close of the opening lap, Patterson’s Yamaha rocketed past the Honda of Fiolek to take the lead. Fiolek pressured her rival for the lead back, but Patterson would pull away.

Once she was out front, Patterson put her Yamaha on cruise control and claimed a Moto Two victory ahead of Fiolek and Geiger. It would be Patterson’s fifth overall victory of the 2010 WMX season.  Fiolek would finish second in the moto and second overall for the Southwick national event. Geiger would post two solid third-place finishes for third overall at the famed Moto-X 338 track. For a better burn in your engine, insist upon E3 Performance Spark Plugs for your motorcycle, car or truck. Our patented technology will deliver the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology that you need to run out front.
(more…)

Red Bull Honda’s Ashley Fiolek finally got her 2010 AMA WMX season on track in Buchanan, Michigan, over the July 4th weekend. E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs fans cheered as the defending WMX National Champion and current series points leader Jessica Patterson battled for the lead in Moto One at the popular Red Bud MX National. DNA Shred Stix Yamaha’s Patterson tangled with a back marker late in the race giving Fiolek the cushion needed to take the win. Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Tarah Geiger led Yamaha’s Vicki Golden to the line finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Ashely Fiolek regained her National Championship form with dominate 1-1 finishes at Red Bud MX in Round Five of the 2010 AMA WMX Championship. Photo courtesy of www.ridelust.com.

St. Augustine, FL native Fiolek gave notice to the talented WMX field in Moto Two when she grabbed the holeshot for Moto Two. Patterson wasted no time putting pressure on Fiolek early in the second race and last weekend’s podium finisher Sara Price moved her Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki into third. As the deep-rutted Red Bud MX track was taking its toll on the talented field, Patterson and Fiolek gapped the field leaving the pair to fight it out for the moto win. TLD/Honda-powered Geiger picked up her pace and moved past Price for third place on the rough Michigan motocross track.

With nothing but first place overall wins in 2010, Yamaha’s Patterson fought to keep her winning streak alive with a late moto charge on the rear wheel of Fiolek. But, the Red Bull Honda rider would show the same determination that landed her the Number One plate in ’09 and kept Patterson behind her all the way to the checkers. Geiger brought her Honda home in third place ahead of Price and Yamaha rider Mariana Balbi who posted 5-5 finishes for fifth overall on the day. The victory moved Fiolek to 20 points behind Patterson for the series championship followed by Geiger, Golden and Price.

WMX riders have two weeks off before teams travel to Millville, Minnesota, for the July 17th showdown at the Spring Creek Motocross track. This will be Round 6 for the lady motocrossers with only three races remaining to crown the 2010 WMX National Champion. Follow all the action to the final round at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, PA, by checking WMX race results at the E3 Spark Plugs news blog and remember to install E3 Car Spark Plugs in your favorite vehicle. Our patented DiamondFire technology delivers Energy, Efficiency and Ecology to any engine including your lawn & garden equipment.
(more…)

Moto One was no surprise as Frenchman Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki) had already won all but one opening moto during the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA 250cc Pro MX Championship series. Teammate, and last weekend’s rookie winner, Dean Wilson (Kawasaki) kept pace for a second overall followed by Honda’s Trey Canard who tasted the Denver soil earlier on. South Africa’s Tyla Rattray (Kawasaki) continued to show his world championship form with a strong ride to fourth ahead of three American motocross riders Broc Tickle (Yamaha), Blake Wharton (Honda) and Eli Tomac (Honda).

Geico Powersports Honda rider Trey Canard finished second overall at the Thunder Valley National to take over the fourth spot in the 2010 Luca Oil AMA MX Pro Championship for the 250cc Lights class. Photo courtesy of www.treycanard.com.

After several years of racing under the lights in Lakewood, Colorado, promoters moved the Thunder Valley National race to daytime for 2010. Oklahoma rider Trey Canard must have liked the change as he took the lead in Moto Two ahead of his Honda teammate Blake Wharton. Early on, Scottish rider (via Canada) Dean Wilson and his Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammates Pourcel and Rattray followed in close pursuit. Pourcel would chase down the Geico Powersports Honda rider Canard in Moto Two giving Pourcel his first double moto win of the season. Canard crossed the line in second place followed by Wilson and Rattray.

The ladies returned to action this weekend at the Thunder Valley National in Lakewood, Colorado. Red Bull Honda rider Ashley Fiolek put her number one plate out front early but lost the top spot to Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson when she bobbled in the deep Thunder Valley ruts. Fiolek and Tarah Gieger (Honda) would tangle in a fight for the second spot allowing Patterson to coast to the overall win. Patterson leads the womens division of the AMA National Championship series ahead of fellow Florida WMX riders Fiolek and Gieger.

Don’t forget to check the E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs website next weekend as teams head east to Buchanan, Michigan, for round six of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship at the Red Bud Motocross National. If you want Energy, Efficiency and Ecology from your car spark plug, insist on E3 Spark Plugs and trust our patented DiamondFire technology to deliver more power and better mileage from a cleaner burn.

Click “more” to see to see full results.

(more…)

After winning the number one plate during his rookie supercross season aboard a 450cc factory Suzuki, Ryan Dungey disappointed some fans with his 8th place overall finish at Hangtown MX in the opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship two weeks ago. In round two at Firestone MX, Dungey silenced the skeptics with impressive 1-1 moto finishes to move within eleven points of series leader Chad Reed who finished second overall on the day. Native Texan Kyle Regal was third overall after he claimed the first pro podium of his young career with a solid ride in Moto Two that saw the native Texan pass KTM’s Mike Alessi, Honda’s Brett Metcalfe and the defending MX champion Chad Reed.

AMA Women's National Champion, Ashley Fiolek hasn't let being deaf slow her progress in the sport that she loves. The Red Bull Honda rider from St. Augustine, FL, also won a Gold Medal at the 2009 X-Games. Go, girl!

The Texas heat and humidity took its toll on Honda’s rookie sensation Eli Tomac. Tomac took the lead in the both motos and it looked as though he might repeat his AMA record setting performance of round one. But, in the first moto, Tomac lost the lead to Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel on the last lap. In Moto Two, Canadian rookie Dean Wilson would pass Tomac early and appeared to have a commanding lead that might earn him his first pro MX win. But, World Champion MX rider Tyla Rattray and Yamaha’s Broc Tickle passed Wilson on the white flag lap. Pourcel captured the overall for the day with 1-5 finishes and leaves Texas with a nine-point lead in the Lights Division of Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship series.

No surprises in the women’s division as the trio from Florida claimed the podium for the second time in two races. Yamaha pro Jessica Patterson won both WMX motos, St. Augustine native Ashley Fiolek had a pair of second place finishes with Tarah Gieger bringing her Honda home in third. The 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues next weekend at the RockStar Energy High Point National when riders travel to Mt. Morris, PA, for round three. Don’t forget to bookmark the E3 Spark Plug website and try our patented DiamondFire motocycle spark plug in your favorite ride.

Read on for race results and championship standings.

(more…)

Racing history was made this weekend at the opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship when rookie Eli Tomac became the first rider to ever win a debut event. The 16-year-old son of multi-time mountain biking champion John Tomac dominated an impressive field that included the reigning world champion and a couple of recently crowned U.S. supercross champions. The Geico Honda rider led most of the opening moto before dropping his bike with only a couple of laps to go. He would remount to finish third.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Champion Eli Tomac

After a red flag on the opening lap of the second moto sent the 250cc Lites class back to the starting gate, Tomac charged off the line, took the lead and never looked back. Honda’s sophomore sensation Trey Canard picked up the chase but could only watch as the rookie sensation pulled away for the second moto win. A 3-1 finish left Tomac tied in points for the National Championship chase with veteran French-rider Christophe Pourcel but a second moto tie breaker put Eli on the top tier of the podium for round one of twelve in the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Defending outdoor national motocross champion Chad Reed swapped moto wins with KTM’s Mike Alessi in the 450cc class with Reed eventually claiming the overall victory by a slim two point margin. After a long awaited debut for KTM’s 350cc rocket ship, Alessi pulled the holeshot and dominated the second moto in the big bike class. Factory Honda rider Davi Millsaps finished third and trails Alessi by a single point in the national championship hunt. Yamaha’s Josh Grant returned to racing with a fifth place overall finish after being sidelined by injury for the entire supercross season.

Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson of Tallahassee, Florida, won both motos of the Women’s AMA Pro Championship class and holds an eight point lead over second place finisher Ashley Fiolek of St. Augustine. The ladies from Florida dominated the opening round in Sacramento with Tarah Gieger of Winter Park bringing her Honda home third overall with a 2-6 finish.

If you are looking for E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs check our Power Sports Catalog for crossover part numbers to select the right plug for your street bike, chopper or dirt bike. E3 DiamondFire spark plugs are available at Advance Auto Parts, Baxter Auto Parts, Home Hardware, JC Motors, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Checker Auto Parts, Schuck’s Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, LORDCO Auto Parts, Summit Racing Equipment or online at Amazon.Com or SparkPlugs.Com. Don’t forget to catch round two of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship in two weeks at Freestone Raceway in Wortham, Texas.