All things youth moto…

Cobra’s stellar mini cycles provide a powerful platform for the auto industry spark plug manufacturer’s continued growth in the premium small engine market

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Feb. 16, 2012) – Big news out of Cobra’s headquarters today as well-known automobile spark plug manufacturer – Autolite® – has partnered with the industry-leading mini cycle manufacturer to fire Cobra’s award-winning 50cc and 65cc two-stroke engines for the upcoming 2012 amateur MX competition season and beyond.

Engineering its Xtreme Sport iridium Finewire plug specifically to fit Cobra’s needs, Autolite® will include Cobra’s all-new 2012 electronic power valve CX65 in their booth at Indy this week (Booth # 1735B).

“Cobra is confident the legacy and heritage of Autolite’s involvement in the auto industry will lend itself to improving the spark ignition in both our 50cc and 65cc two-stroke engines,” said Cobra’s Sean Hilbert. “Autolite’s premium small engine spark plug design will no doubt offer the same quality and reliability the company’s been known for in motorsports since 1967.”

Autolite^® Xtreme Sport^™ Iridium Enhanced Small Engine Spark Plugs
Based on the success of the Autolite XP Xtreme Performance^™ spark plug design in the automotive market, the Autolite team is bringing the same high performance design to the growing small engine applications of motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs. This new plug design will feature:

• An iridium-enhanced 0.6mm finewire design for improved ignitability and longer life.
• More focused ignition versus standard plugs for faster fuel combustion to help prevent fouling.
• Engineered to last longer.

About Autolite®

Since its inception, the Autolite^® brand has provided the automotive aftermarket and Original Equipment Manufacturers the highest quality ignition products. As a leading supplier of spark plugs, ignition wire sets and Coil-on-Plug boots, the Autolite^® brand has the right ignition products for you, regardless of your vehicle make or model.

Winning is one thing – winning in the face of bureaucratic adversity is another as Cobra Moto podiums whilst weathering the Lead Law storm

Including the 2011 Cobra All-Star Team!

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Dec. 30, 2011) – In the corporate equivalent of clearing a 100-foot triple on 50cc bike, Cobra Moto won maybe its – and mini cycle racing’s in general – most important race of all time … the race to defeat the ominous CPSIA “Lead Law” that cast a shadow over the entire youth motocross industry the past two years.

Battling in suits and ties on one front, Cobra Moto was backed by some incredible young talent on the other – racers who were victorious in the vast majority of 50cc races at the major American amateur MX Nationals – from Oak Hill, Texas, to Mill Creek, Ala., Mesquite, Nev.’s Mini GPs, Ponca City (Okla.), Loretta’s (Tenn.), Branson, Mo., and the Florida Mini Os. Cobra Moto racers also won big at the annual MX Masters Kids in Europe and well as a number of Canadian MX championships.

“2011 will certainly go down in Cobra Moto’s heritage as a turning point year not only for the company, but the sport of mini cycle racing in general,” said Cobra Moto President Sean Hilbert. “Along with the principles at MX Sports, the AMA and the Motorcycle Industry Council, the biggest race Cobra Moto won this year was in Washington D.C.’s halls of Congress. Outside that it was the Cobra Moto kids that stepped up and made us proud, as they have since the company’s inception, at every major amateur MX National-caliber race throughout North America and Europe.” 

A number of factory-backed racers stood out for Cobra Moto in 2011. And most importantly, a number of them return for the 2012 competition season as senior members of their respective classes. Here’s a look at Cobra Moto’s 2011 All-Star Team!

Stilez Robertson (California) – 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 at the big one – Loretta’s – 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.

Pierce Brown (Utah) – Brown threw down at the season opener in Oak Hill, racing to victory in all three 50cc classes he entered on his Cobra CX50SR, aka the “King Cobra.” This included the 7-8 Stock, 7-8 Modified and the hotly-contested 4-9 Open class. In all Brown went 6-0 in six motos – the best results of any Cobra racer, setting the stage for excellent 2011 competition year for Brown and Cobra Moto. Brown also put the Cobra CX65 on a number of major amateur MX National podiums.
Ryder Di Francesco (California) – Stepping up big at 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 Cobra Moto-backed central Cal riding buddy Jett Reynolds, then went on to win the next two motos. Prior to Loretta’s Reynolds and Di Francesco had gone 1st/2nd, respectively, at Ponca – leading a Cobra Moto charge that would see the King 50 capture nine of the top ten spots in Ponca’s 50cc through 6 Mod class.
Jett Reynolds (California) – Wherever you found Di Francesco on the podium, Reynolds was sure to be there as well. From Ponca to Loretta’s, Cobra Moto’s Bakersfield Boyz – joined by New York’s Reed Cooper – also made up the entire 7-8 50cc class Olympiad podium at the Mini Os, the first time in memory which that’s occurred with one brand – Cobra Moto!
Brock Bennett (California) – The third Cobra Moto kid out of Bakersfield won big against his riding buddies at the World Mini GPs (50cc through 6 Mod class) and was a consistent high podium finisher at Ponca and Oak Hill.
Gage Linville (Georgia) – Although he got off to a bit of a slow start in 2011, Linville closed out the year on a high note, winning the coveted Olympiad title (MX/SX combined) in the 50cc 7-8 class at the Mini Os. Linville, 7, a longtime Cobra Moto-backed racer, will return to contest the 7-8 class again next year at all the major amateur MX Nationals.
Reed Cooper (New York) – Making the overall 50cc 7-8 podium with two Cobra Moto Bakersfield racers, Cooper blasted big at the Mini Os – winning the coveted 4-6 50cc Olympiad title. Reed also opened the season on a sweet note, sweeping top honors in both the 4-6 Stock and 4-6 Multi-Speed classes at Mill Creek.

Cobra Moto would also like to recognize its 2011 “Honorable Mention” racers: Tommy Rios (Florida), Tanner Ward (Canada), Jack Rogers (Maryland), Vance Stiers (Texas), Brayden Bruce (Wyoming), Dylan Woodcock (UK), Jayden Taylor (Michigan), Branden Walther (Texas), Hunter Budd (AX Champ, Texas), Cameron Davis (Pennsylvania), Kruz Sampson (Tennessee), Tanner Kemp (Ohio), Hunter Scott (Canada), Ryan Smith (Oklahoma), Cade Britt (Colorado), Alex Mann (Washington), Ramon Rusche (Oklahoma), Chase Yentzer (Pennsylvania), Seth Milam (Texas), Max Miller (Oregon), Chandler Baker (Oklahoma), Jeremy McKie (Canada), Tyler Archambault (Michigan), Dilan Schwartz (California) and Harry Wichmann (UK), along with a special Honorable Mention to Cobra’s top female racer – New Jersey’s Jordan “JJ” Jarvis!

Photos by Rodney Webb

Championships & podiums abound in the 50cc SX & MX classes, while the CX65 continues to expand upon Cobra’s winning heritage in the 65cc classes

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Dec. 2, 2011) – The annual Thanksgiving trek down to Gainesville, Fla., for the nation’s top amateur motocross racers again paid big-time dividends for the world’s leading manufacturer of podium-driven competition mini cycles – Michigan-based Cobra Motorcycles.

The 40^th annual Thor Winter National Olympics, presented by Pro Circuit – better known as the “Mini Os” – crowned two 50cc class Cobra Nation riders with the coveted “Olympiad” title for their combined MX/SX efforts at Gatorback Cycle Park. Georgia’s Gage Linville (7-8 class) and Nevada’s Reed Cooper (4-6 class), names certainly destine to be reckoned with in the future (see Cobra’s: Millsaps, Alessi, Canard, Bowers, Stroupe, Izzi & Cianciarulo), raced to overall combined class victories on one of America’s key proving grounds for competition mini cycle brands.

In addition, the overall 2011 Loretta Lynn’s 50cc class 7-8 podium, including Reed and two of Cobra’s Bakersfield (Calif.) Boyz – Ryder Di Francesco and Jett Reynolds – made up the entire 7-8 50cc class Olympiad podium at the Mini Os, the first time in memory that that’s occurred.

“Just a great competition week down in Florida. Cobra kids showed up in full force and again had a decided impact on the 50cc class championships, while Cobra Nation racers continued to make successful inroads into the 65cc class’ top five overall results with our American-made CX65,” said Sean Hilbert, President of Cobra Motorcycles. “Congrats to Gage and ‘Reedy’ on their Olympiad titles, and to all the other Cobra Nation members that made the trip this year to Gatorback.”

Standing out amongst the usual titles for Cobra at the Mini Os was the fact that a high number of Cobra-backed riders will return to contest their same class for 2012. Linville, Di Francesco and 65cc class chargers Pierce Brown (Utah) and Tommy Rios (Florida) will all return as favorites in their respective classes beginning with the Amateur MX Nationals’ season-openers this March.

Also noteworthy from Cobra at the Mini Os …

· Maryland’s Jack Rogers was on it in the 65cc 7-9 class, piloting his Cobra CX 65 to a 2^nd place podium finish in the SX division.

· Both Brown & Rogers raced pre-production 2012 CX65s with Cobra’s new, industry-exclusive electronic power valve. And how’d it perform? “Really, really – REALLY – well,” beamed Hilbert.

· Other Cobra Nation podium performances at the Mini Os were scored by: Pennsylvania’s Cameron Davis (2^nd, 50cc SX 4-8 Stock) and Ohio’s Tanner Kemp (3^rd, 50cc SX 4-8 Stock).

· 50cc class racer Branden Walther (Texas) won his first-ever major Amateur MX National overall, taking the 4-8 MX class championship at Gainesville.

· The UK’s Dylan Woodcock won the opening moto in the 10-11 65cc Stock class – and was poised for an overall podium finish – when he slowed up a bit to remove a tear-off and was plowed into by another racer, costing him that probable podium.

2011 Cobra Mini Os photos by Rodney Webb

Ontario’s historic Walton Raceway plays home to Canada’s “Loretta’s” and Cobra racers dominate the mini bike classes

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Aug. 29, 2011) – Canada recently hosted its answer to the States’ Loretta Lynn’s amateur MX championships with the annual running of the Parts Unlimited TransCan GNC held at the historic Walton Raceway in Ontario.

With more than 1,000 motocross racers and their families in attendance, Canada’s annual “Celebration of Motocross” is the culmination of CMRC (Canada’s FIM affiliate) regional qualifiers across each of Canada’s provinces from coast-to-coast. Four days of racing culminate with racers in their respective divisions being crowned as the country’s top amateur racer.

As it has in the United States, Cobra was well-represented on top of the Parts TransCan podiums as Cobra racers on the CX50 Junior, CX50 Senior and CX65 all won championships at the 20^th anniversary of the inception of the TransCan MX.

Cobra champions at Parts TransCan

50cc Junior

1^st – Scott Hunter, Orillia, Ont.

50cc Senior

1^st – Jeremy McKie, Beloeil, Quebec

65cc 10-11

1^st – Tanner Ward, Beachville, Ont.

“Cobra recognizes this major event north of our border and would like to congratulate our racers – Scott, Hunter and Tanner – on a job well done in being named Canadian National MX Champions,” said Sean Hilbert, President of Cobra Motorcycles.

Robertson breaks past Cobra ace Adam Cianciarulo’s 50cc career wins record; Di Francesco’s the first-ever 5-year-old to win class

Robertson & Di Francesco photos courtesy of Rodney Webb

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Aug. 11, 2011) – 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 30^th 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 5^th/4^th/2^nd and placing on the Stock Junior class in 3^rd behind Jett and Robertson.

Overall Cobra took eight out of the top ten spots in the Stock Junior class – including 1^st through 7^th 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 26^th win, Robertson broke the record previously held by former Cobra racer Adam Cianciarulo. Robertson went 1^st/1^st/1^st 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 1^st through 6^th place sweep on the legendary Cobra King 50 bikes, joined on the podium by California’s Dilan Schwartz (2^nd) and Utah’s Pierce Brown (3^rd).

“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 6^th 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 1^st/2^nd – 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 2^nd place. Again, Cobra would capture nine out of the top ten places in the 50 Pee Wee Modified through 6 class – including 1^st and 2^nd place!

In the 50 Pee Wee Stock 7-8 class Cobra’s Ethan Mann, Brown and Robertson swept the podium with a 1^st/2^nd/3^rd 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 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd.

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 2^nd overall behind his Cobra 50 class teammate, Robertson. And in the 65 Junior Modified 6-8 class Brown scored another Ponca podium, placing 3^rd 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