All things youth moto…

Better known for his outstanding portrayal of the professional side of the sport though The Great Outdoors (TGO) series, Troy Adamitis created his very first piece focused on amateur motocross this summer. We’re sure you’ll agree that he did an outstanding job. While filming, he told us, “I’ve been around this sport for decades, I never knew this even existed!” Well, Troy…Now you do! Hopefully he’ll be back in the future to capture more of the Heart of Motocross.

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

Already impressive Cobra 65 & 50cc lines are fitted with an array of new features and components to make the bikes even that much stronger, faster and more reliable

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Oct. 25, 2011) – We see it in their faces … that “No freakin’ way” look when a mini dad shows up to the MX track for the first time and his kid – sad to say on another brand - has to face a gate full of Cobras.

Humbling and unsettling at the same time. We truly feel for the kid. But there’s certainly a way around it … We’d love to sell you a Cobra!

For 2012 the already fast, amateur MX national-title dominating Cobra lineup receives improvements in a number of areas – ranging from the CX65’s all-new, game-changing computer controlled electronic power valve 65cc engine to Cobra’s new and improved patented Cobra Friction Drive® – destine to change the competition mini playing field even more in favor of kids on new Cobras. And don’t forget Cobra’s CNC machined mag wheels that set the standard for maintenance-free service – all features that evolved from the Cobra engineering staff taking the time to show at the races with the legions of dads (and moms and grandpas) who keep the Cobra Generation™ running and getting their valuable input on how to improve our bikes.

“Cobra engineers and technicians have been working very hard toward the launch of these models — fender to fender, top to bottom, engine to chassis. We are very pumped to show off the improvements to the 2012 Cobra lineup,” said Phil McDowell, Cobra’s Chief Engineer. “From the CX50 Junior to the CX50 Senior (“King” Cobra) and the CX65, 2012 enhancements will further the lineage of the world’s most successful competition mini cycle line, making them even stronger, faster and more reliable.”

Here’s a look at the changes in store for the 2012 Cobra mini cycle lineup, beginning with the CX65.

CX65

· All-new engine featuring Cobra’s direct-acting electronic power valve. More torque, more power = winning performance.

· All new shift mechanism provides smooth power-shifting even in the deepest loamy conditions.

· CARD piggyback rear shock with adjustable rebound, adjustable high speed compression, and adjustable low speed compression – more features than most of the big bike shocks!

· Class-leading twin spar High-Strength Low-Alloy oval tube frame – super-strong, outstanding lateral strength with just the right amount of torsional rigidity.

· X-Track aluminium swingarm: Aerospace construction technology delivers light weight and improved rear wheel tracking.

· Largest air box in its class featuring the largest filter surface area of any 65cc bike out there. The result: More power under the worst of conditions.

· Improved Steering Head – Double-sealed steering head design improves bearing life and steering performance.

· All-new CARD front brake system. Super adjustable for all sized hands, progressive feel for excellent control, and a tight package for minimal weight and excellent ground clearance.

· Billet triple clamps with adjustable bar mounts.

· Scott soft compound grips.

· Dunlop MX51 rubber.

Cobra CX50 Sr., aka the “King” Cobra

· Revolutionary MXT front fork – Cobra’s new Velocity Sensitive Traction Control fork will revolutionize the competition minicycle market. Our exclusive-to-Cobra 30mm USD architecture is designed specifically for the 50cc application. It’s not just a shortened version of a fork meant for a larger bike! Furthermore, its action is very supple over small bumps, yet the fork is highly progressive for excellent control through the biggest of hits. Couple these improvements in damping with drastically reduced friction, and lap times will drop!

· Patented Cobra Friction Drive® – no one else has anything close. Cobra’s all new CFD design is much easier to maintain, and it offers reduced gear drag and lower rotating inertia. Of course, the benefits of a well-protected driveline and improved traction and suspension action are retained from our previous design.

· CARD piggyback rear shock with adjustable rebound, adjustable high speed compression, and adjustable low speed compression – more features than most of the big bike shocks!

· The King Cobra’s world-class engine features an improved exhaust port, reduced friction, V-force reeds, and a transmission gear set designed for the world’s toughest competition.

· Class-leading twin spar high strength low alloy oval tube frame – super-strong, outstanding lateral strength with just the right amount of torsional rigidity.

· New super-protective fork guards.

· Largest air box in its class with a real air filter featuring the largest filter surface area that is vertically mounted for optimal engine protection and maximum power.

· Improved Steering Head – Double-sealed steering head design improves bearing life and steering performance.

· Highly-tuned off-plane stamped pipe = more power, more ground clearance and less prone to damage.

· Cobra exclusive 2012 “Mag” wheels are lighter weight, stronger and, as always, maintenance-free! The new rear wheel is more than 25% lighter than last year.

· Billet triple clamps with adjustable bar mounts.

· Scott soft compound grips.

· Dunlop MX51 rubber.

CX50 Jr.

· An all-new piggyback CARD rear shock with high and low speed adjustable dampening control.

· An optimal combination of bodywork design, chassis layout, and suspension geometry that lets the CX50 Jr. squeeze out 25mm more suspension travel (front and rear) than our competitors.

· New enhanced frame design soaks up even more punishment for 2012.

· All-New Radiator Shrouds – Not only do the 2012 shrouds give the bike a much needed facelift, but they fit and perform better as well! Count on increased air flow over the radiator, improved radiator protection, and more comfortable ergonomics.

· Cobra exclusive 30mm USD forks feature more supple action for 2012.

· New cylinder head design for easier maintenance and improved torque.

· Cobra’s 2012 “Mag” wheels are lighter weight, stronger, and as always, maintenance-free! The new rear wheel is more than 25% lighter weight than last year.

· Improved Steering Head – Double-sealed steering head design improves bearing life and steering performance.

· Billet triple clamps with adjustable bar mounts.

· Scott soft compound grips.

· Dunlop MX51 rubber.

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.