All things youth moto…

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

European foothold for the American-made Cobra minicycles and ATVs is crucial, according to President Sean Hilbert

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Oct. 5 , 2010) – The world’s leading manufacturer of competition minicycles and ATVs, U.S.-based Cobra Motorcycles, will represent with its latest line of bikes at this week’s (Oct. 6-10) INTERMOT show in Cologne.

Housed in Hall 5.1 at Koelnmesse, Cobra will showcase its CX50 Jr. and Sr. – aka the legendary “King Cobra” – models and the new crate-to-podium CX65 – all of which have proven their mettle at the European MX Master Kids events.

“Europe’s the birthplace of motocross, so it’s important for Cobra to have a foothold there,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert. “Cobra’s European racers have enjoyed great successes in numerous national caliber races across the region and we’ve worked to adapt the Cobra brand to their specific needs, including the Cobra King 50 Big Wheel package that originated in Europe.”

INTERMOT’s “Young Action” program will give young motocross enthusiast a firsthand look at the Cobra brand through special-built outdoor tracks to test the latest product. Best yet it’s all FREE to children under the age of 12 – which happens to be Cobra’s precise market in the youth motocross movement.

“Cobra’s international racing marketing efforts with the CX50 Junior and Senior lines, along with the CX65 and ATVs, are deeply rooted in the UK, France, Portugal, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia,” explained Hilbert. “This will be Cobra’s first year displaying at INTERMOT as we continue to grow the American-made brand of competition mini cycles globally. We look forward to visiting with our existing customers and introducing legions of new motocross enthusiasts and their dads to the Cobra Generation.”

Dubbed the “Center of the international two-wheeler world,” one of Germany’s biggest motorcycle events of the year will feature more than a thousand suppliers spread out over miles of booth space. Along with Cobra mini cycles the five-day event will also showcase the latest in motorcycles, scooters, lightweight and small motorbikes, electric mobility, clothing and accessories. With both indoor and outdoor displays, INTERMOT provides both up-close viewing and hands-on experiences for the enthusiasts attending. For more information on INTERMOT link to: www.intermot-koeln.com

Silverstone Holeshot

We had a feeling that the 4th round of the Red Bull Pro Nationals was going to be something special for Cobra as we rolled into Silverstone as part of the Air Asia British Moto GP. The all new Silverstone motocross circuit witnessed some incredible racing, particularly on Saturday night! Although the track was far from ideal, the event itself was a success with many of the Moto GP fans enjoying their first motocross experience.

Dylan Woodcock Headed toward his win.

The MCF and Silverstone knew it would be tough to get a new track perfect in its preparations as it was only finished a week prior to the event, but that couldn’t stop the tight racing in all the classes, and the road bike fanatics that came over to check the event out were impressed.

With a race programme designed to fit around the Moto GP schedule, the weekend was spread out over three days with the Pro class, the Fuchs-Silkolene 125cc British 2-stroke riders, and the Elite 65cc class.

After six races over the weekend, cool cat Dylan Woodcock took the overall win in the 65cc class ahead of his Cobra teammate Ryan Vickers. Vickers set down a marker in qualifying as he was 5 seconds clear but several crashes in the first race had him playing catch up for the rest of the weekend on the smooth Woodcock who looks every bit the motocross star with his long hair and Supercross style! The ever improving Harry Wichman took third and as the weekend went on became more of a threat to the Cobra pair to take the final step on the podium ahead of Drew Warren. Dee-Jay Walker made it three Cobra’s in the top six with a creditable fifth place while Jaydon Murphy battled hard all weekend for the final sixth place trophy.

Dee Jay Walker Railing It!