Corporate Giant CEO Motocross Racer Killed Date: Feb.03.2012
CEO memory chip maker Micron Steve Appleton, 51, long known for taking risks in stunt piloting and motocross racing, died Friday 2-3-2012 when a small experimental stunt plane he was piloting steeply banked, stalled and crashed near an Idaho runway. Appleton started on the factory floor of Micron in 1983 and worked his way up. In 1991, he was appointed president and chief operating officer of Micron and in 1994, he was appointed to the position of chairman, chief executive officer and president. He assumed his position as CEO and chairman in 2007. He was an avid pro motocrosser and pilot. In 2006, he won the 20-car Baja Challenge Class of the SCORE Tecate Baja 1000, completing the 1,047-mile run from Enseneda to La Paz late Friday in 25 hours and 25 minutes, 30 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.
James Stewart Claims first win of 2012 in Oakland Monster Energy AMA Supercross rd 4 Date: Jan.29.2012
OAKLAND, Calif. (January 28, 2012) – In front of 46,017 fans at O.co Coliseum, Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his first Supercross Class Main Event of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season. GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, of Cortez, Calif., won his second consecutive Western Regional Supercross Lites Class race.
TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Rey/Honda’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., opened the Supercross Class Main Event by winning the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot.
Stewart became the fourth different Supercross Class winner of the season. Reed finished second and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Villopoto finished third. Reed and Dungey are now tied for first place at 85 points apiece. UM pics and story under Motosport heading.
France's Cyril Despres and Stéphane Peterhansel took their fourth and tenth Dakars respectively, all categories included. The champions were applauded on the podium on Lima's Plaza de Armas by a huge crowd which came to acclaim both the competitors and the arrival of the greatest rally raid in the world to Lima's capital. All in all, 97 motorcycles, 12 quads, 78 cars and 60 trucks made it to the finishing line of the 33rd Dakar, i.e., 249 of the 443 vehicles which started the rally in Mar del Plata.
Advantage Despres... The demonstration was decided at all levels. After covering 8,300 kilometres on roads, courses and dunes since the start in Mar del Plata, the gap between Marc Coma and Cyril Despres is 53'20". The Frenchman has won his fourth title in Lima... One more than his great rival in the elite of this sport! Once again, the extremely close race between the two champions proved that one has to be an all-rounder in order to win a Dakar: physical stamina is important, navigational mistakes were tiny but enough to decide their duel, their piloting was as good as it was fast, strategy played an important role, the mechanical aspect (on identical KTMs) was well-managed... with a disappointment for Marc Coma: on the eve of the finish, a gearbox breakdown prevented him from fighting on at a time when he was leading the general classification. The Catalan was also forced to replace his engine, which gave rise to a 45-minute penalty pursuant to the new rule. This time loss proved fatal, following a two-week battle in which victories were measured in seconds.
Behind Despres and Coma, Strong and consistent Hélder Rodrigues finished the rally in 3rd place, just like last year. Sole American Finisher Ned Suesse from Colorado Springs finished a very respectable 53rd on his KTM.
Ryan Dungey gives KTM their first win in SX Round 2 Phoenix AZ Date: Jan.15.2012
RED BULL/KTM’S RYAN DUNGEY WINS PHOENIX SUPERCROSS; KTM’S FIRST AMA SX CLASS VICTORY!
published at 15.01.2012
PHOENIX, Arizona – Red Bull/KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey did what he was hired to do – he won! Only two rounds into the series Dungey showed race fans everywhere what he and his new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition motorcycle could do as he crossed the checkers and took the win at the second round of the AMA Supercross Series held at Chase Field.
Not only did Dungey take the win, but he nailed the holeshot and led every lap of the twenty lap main event. Dungey’s first career win on his KTM machine also marks the first win in history for the KTM brand in the SX class. Just two rounds into the season Dungey has already written pages in the history books at KTM.
The day started off relatively mellow for Dungey as he qualified third fastest from practice and earned a fourth place finish in his heat to transfer to the main. Once he lined up on that gate, everything would change. Everything would go his way!
“I was definitely motivated by my teammate tonight,” remarked Dungey on the podium. “I saw that Marvin (Musquin) got second in the Lites main and knew I had to step up my game to match him and do well for our team.”
The gate dropped and Dungey launched forward to pull the holeshot on his KTM 450cc machine. He never looked back and checked out on the group behind him. He went on to take the win in the best way possible – leading every lap!
“This win feels so incredible,” remarked Dungey after the race. “The whole crew at KTM has been behind me 100% since I joined them in October and it is amazing to earn this win together!”
Red Bull/KTM Factory Team Manager Roger DeCoster, commented: “It is not just our team in the US but the whole crew in Austria at our Factory that have helped us get here. In only our second race of the season it is amazing to get a podium. It feels really good that we were able to deliver for the people that backed us. We have proved ourselves with a win and intend to keep progressing.”
AMA Supercross Season Opener Angel Stadium Anaheim Ca Date: Jan.09.2012
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won the Anaheim opener of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, before a sold-out crowd of 45,050 fans at Angel Stadium. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely, of Murrieta, Calif., dominated the opening race of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Class race en route to victory.
Villopoto, the defending class champion, opened the Supercross Class main event with the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot with Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing’s Ivan Tedesco, of Marietta, Calif., and TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray/Honda’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., following in second and third, respectively. Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., shot past Tedesco on the second lap as Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., made up for a mid-pack start to secure fourth place.
While riding in third place, Dungey crashed and gave Stewart third place, but on lap 11, Dungey swung back around Stewart. Stewart once again found his way around Dungey on lap 14 before crashing on the following lap. Villopoto cruised to his second consecutive Anaheim opener win with a 12.2-second victory. Reed finished second and Dungey finished third.
“Villopoto made us look silly out here tonight,” said Reed. “I am just happy to get second place tonight in this field of riders.”
Walk or Run a Lap around Infineon Raceway March against Gastric Cancer Date: Jan.05.2012
Join "John's March Against Gastric Cancer" at Infineon Raceway Sunday, January 1, 2012 Foot
Cancer picked the wrong guy, and now that man will lead the charge in a charitable fundraiser at Infineon Raceway.
John Cardinale, a long-time employee at Infineon Raceway, was diagnosed with gastric cancer in March, 2011, and he will lead the " John’s March Against Gastric Cancer" on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the raceway.
This unique fundraiser offers the public a chance to help raise funds for the Gastric Cancer Fund (www.gastriccancer.org) and enjoy a symbolic “march” around the raceway’s 12-turn, 2-52-mile road course.
The Gastric Cancer Fund is the first organization dedicated to helping fight gastric (stomach) cancer. Although gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, it is one of the most underfunded forms of cancer research. Through education, research, support and advocacy, the organization is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by gastric cancer.
"I'm happy to lead the charge in the battle against gastric cancer and bring some much-needed awareness to the disease," said Cardinale, vice president of marketing, communications and community relations at the raceway. "At the same time, I'm hoping we can raise funds for further research so that we can better understand and attack this disease."
The public can participate in the event for a suggested minimum donation of $40, which will include the chance to walk/run a lap around the 2.52-mile road course. A shorter, less hilly course will also be available for those who cannot complete the 2.52 miles.
Each participant will receive a T-shirt and light refreshments following the march, including water, fruit slices and other items. The raceway’s Wine Country Winner's Circle will also be available for those who want to take pictures before/after the march.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the march will begin at 10 a.m. No advance donation/registration are required; just show up the day of the event. Please note: only cash and checks will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to The V Foundation and mention "Gastric Cancer Fund" in the memo line.
Those who cannot attend the event are still encouraged to make a donation to the Gastric Cancer Fund. Donations can be mailed to John Cardinale, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476. Checks should be made payable to The V Foundation and mention "Gastric Cancer Fund" in the memo line. Donations can also be made online at https://secure3.convio.net/jimmyv/site/Donation2?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400. Please be sure to note that this gift is in honor of “John’s March Against Gastric Cancer.”
