E3 Spark Plugs News

Australian-born Chad Reed has been a dominate force for the past eight seasons in AMA outdoor MX. He recently became the first motocross rider ever awarded the status of knighthood. Congrats to Sir Chad. Photo courtesy of TwoTwo Motorsports.

Seldom do you think about triple-digit temperatures when you’re headed to southern Michigan for a race but it was that hot at last week’s Lucas Oil 450cc AMA Outdoor Pro National in Buchanan, MI. But, as hot as the temperature was, the action on the track was even hotter. Ryan Villopoto came to Red Bud in hopes of making up ground in the 2011 points race but the Kawasaki rider almost saw all hopes of a national championship slip away earlier in Moto One. After a decent start, a hard over-the-bars crash dropped Villopoto to last place while his main competitors pulled away at the front of the pack.

What happened next was what legendary rides are all about. Gasping to get his breathe back, Villopoto remounted and pointed at his Monster Energy Kawasaki in the direction of race leaders Davi Millsaps, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey. By mid-moto, Reed and Dungey were working their way around the Yamaha of Millsaps while Villopoto had made his way to mid-pack and was closing in on the ill-running bike of his teammate Jake Weimer. Up front, Dungey was pressuring Reed through the sandy whoops and deep-rutted Red Bud turns. Villopoto’s championship hopes were renewed with a ninth overall in Moto 1 – a performance that earned him the Ricky Carmichael “Hard Charger Award”.

The start of Moto 2 saw the Monster Energy Kawasaki of Villopoto lead Dungey, Reed and KTM rider Mike Alessi through the first turn. This time there was no stopping the Washington-state rider as he established a quick a lead and never looked back. Dungey maintained his pursuit but was losing precious seconds each lap. The surprise move came when Alessi forced his way past Reed for third proving he is still a contender in 450cc class. Villopoto’s impressive ride was good enough for third overall while Dungey claimed second. A late race pass on Alessi would give Sir Chad his fourth overall victory of the season.

With Round 6 of the 2011 AMA Championship in the books, teams take a week off to prepare for Spring Creek National in Millville, MN. However, there is no rest for E3 motorcycle spark plugs racing fans as every weekend means there’s another opportunity to ride. If you’re looking to improve the performance of your street bike or off-road motorcycle, find out for yourself why E3 Spark Plugs are Born to Burn. You can purchase our high-performance plugs in parts and discount stores across the country; or visit an authorized online dealer to buy replacement plugs for your favorite bike.

Red Bull KTM rider Mike Alessi grabbed the 450cc holeshot at Round 3 of the Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship at High Point Raceway. Photo courtesy of www.alessiracing.com.

Over the weekend, E3 Motorcycle Spark Plug racing fans turned out in record numbers to line the Pennsylvania hillside for the first East Coast round of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship. Over the past thirty five years of outdoor motocross, High Point Raceway has become the measuring stick that determines which riders and teams are ready to make a run at the national championship title. This year, Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto would use Moto One to make a solid statement about his intentions to compete for the 450cc title.

Defending national champion Ryan Dungey grabbed an early lead but Villopoto wasted little time in passing the Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider and pulling away to a huge lead. Current points leader Chad Reed had a bad start but would quickly begin picking off riders on his way to a fifth place finish in the opening moto. After recovering from early season injuries, Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi had an impressive ride at Mount Morris with a third in Moto One but was docked one position for jumping the gate at the start. Dungey would finish in second place with Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps in third.

Steep off-chamber turns, deep ruts and mud (lots of mud) would put a damper on Villopoto’s dominant performance in the day’s first race. To no one’s surprise, Mike Alessi’s big bore KTM pulled the holeshot in Moto Two but gave up the lead to a hard-charging Chad Reed. Villopoto and Dungey started working their way through the pack to a second and third place finish. Alessi would hold on for 4-4 finishes and fourth overall for the day. Dungey and Reed would round out the National podium with Villopoto claiming his first overall win of the season.

There is no rest for the weary as the Lucas Oil Pro MX Championship continues next weekend with Round 4 in Mechanicsville, MD, at the famed Budds Creek MX Park. With less than 35 points separating the top four riders in the 450cc class, E3 Spark Plug motorcycle race fans are expected to line the fences once again. If you’re looking for a spark plug that was “Born to Burn”, pick up an E3 replacement plug for your motorcycle at an authorized online dealer, or your favorite auto parts or discount store.

Shift Racing's Chad Reed captured his second win in as many races for Two-Two Motorsports at the Freestone MX AMA National over the Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Shift Racing.

The only thing hotter than the air in Texas this Memorial Day weekend was the on-track action at the Freestone MX track outside Wortham, TX. Last week’s 450 cc class winner at Hangtown, Chad Reed, wasted little time claiming the win in Moto 1 after passing the Lucas Oil TLD Honda of Christian Craig on lap eight. Reed’s main rival, Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, chased the Two-Two Motorsport’s rider to the line for second place followed by Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto in third for yet another “red-yellow-green” finish.

In Moto 2, Dungey charged to an early lead followed by Reed and last year’s runner-up in the Lucas Oil AMA MX Championship, Brett Metcalfe. Villopoto and the Joe Gibbs Yamaha of Davi Millsaps were working their way through the pack when a mistake cost Villopoto his chance for a win. Off-road motorcycle ace, Ricky Dietrich, showed the loyal Texas crowd why he’s racing motocross this season and held on to a fourth place overall finish in the second heat. Disaster struck late in the race when the motor on the leader’s power plant failed. With Dungey sitting dead in the water, Reed grabbed the top spot on the podium followed by Millsaps and Metcalfe.

Dungey’s misfortune dropped the defending 450 cc National Champion to eighth overall for the day and fourth in the 2011 points race. Davi Millsaps’s new training regimen paid big dividends this weekend with a second overall at Freestone MX which vaulted the hard charging Georgia rider to third place in championship standings. Villopoto’s 3-5 finishes on the day was good enough for the final step on the podium and moved the Monster Energy rider to second in points. Reed’s gifted win in the second Moto gave the determined Aussie a twenty-one point lead going into Round 3 of the AMA outdoor national championship at the famed High Point MX track in two weeks’ time.

If you’re looking for the winning edge, E3 motorcycle spark plugs were “Born to Burn”. Get the most out of your favorite ride on the street, in the dirt or on the snow. Stop by your local auto parts or hardware store today; or use an online authorized E3 dealer to have E3 spark plugs delivered directly to your door.

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.