PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the U.S. team that will compete at the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocylisme) Supermoto of Nations in Cremona, Italy, Oct. 12. The 2014 team will include Gage McAllister, Monte Frank and Johnny Lewis.
Brandon Ward and Eric Stump are alternates and will travel with the team to Cremona.
“Supermoto is a thrilling sport, and we’re excited for its resurgence in America,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “Sending riders to compete in the world team championship is another important part of accelerating the growth of U.S. Supermoto.”
Marco Pedde with Supermoto East Coast, which promotes the FIM North America Supermoto Championship Series, will manage the team.
“Supermoto has came a long way in the last few years, and the U.S. Supermoto of Nations team is the result of the hard work of the two AMA-sanctioned Supermoto series,” Pedde said. “Supermoto of Nations will be the great push the sport needs in America to get it back to where it belongs. I am really honored to be the team manager of the first American Supermoto of Nations team.”
Lewis competes in the FIM North America Supermoto Championship Series for Solid Performance KTM/Eyeball Moto.
“It’s been an amazing season racing the FIM North America Supermoto Championship Series so far with nine of 10 moto wins, and to now get the chance to represent the United States at the FIM Supermoto of Nations against the best in the world is going to cap off this awesome season,” said Lewis, who is from Coatesville, Pa. “I’m looking forward to teaming up with the other riders selected and putting in a great effort representing the USA.”
McAllister, who is from Lincoln, Calif., and rides for the Intents Racing team, said: “I am honored to be a part of the very first USA Supermoto of Nations team.”
Frank races in the AMA Supermoto National Championship Series for Team M&G Homes/Ajax Kawasaki. He’s second in points with four of six rounds completed.
“I’m pretty honored to be on the team since this is the first year,” said Frank, from Newcastle, Okla. “I’ve been racing Supermoto since 2006, so it’s good to still be around and get the opportunity to do this. The guys over there in Europe are super fast, so we’re looking forward to a great challenge. I’ve been going to Europe to race the last three years now, and everyone seems to take the sport just a bit more seriously over there, while over here in America, we’re still getting back up to speed. They might be a little bit more prepared in that sense, but Supermoto competition in the United States has definitely improved leaps and bounds with the new AMA series this year. We’re starting to get better rider turnout, and there’s a good group of fast guys committed to the series.”
Ward is part of the BW Racing team.
“I am extremely delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of the United States Supermoto of Nations team,” said Ward, from Newport Beach, Calif. “Racing in Europe has been a dream of mine for many years. I had the chance to race alongside the world’s best racers in the Mettet Superbikers last year, and ever since then I have had my eyes set on improving and being able to compete for a top finish alongside guys like Bidart, Hermunen, Lazzarini and the Chareyre brothers. Being selected to be a part of the United States SMoN team as an alternate is an unbelievable honor and if necessary, I will step in and represent the United States to the best of my ability.”
Stump rides for Eyeball Moto.
“Supermoto is coming back, and I am happy to be part of the first official U.S. Supermoto team competing at the FIM Supermoto of Nations,” said Stump, from Levittown, Pa.
Matt Stewart with USA Supermoto, which promotes the AMA Supermoto National Championship Series, and Jay Kliger, with the FIM North America Supermoto Championship Series, will be assistant team managers.
“Everyone at the AMA Supermoto Championship Series is excited to be working with the Supermoto East Coast Series in sending the first U.S. team to the FIM Supermoto of Nations,” Stewart said. “We look forward to a successful trip and sending a team every year going forward.”
Added Kliger: “For the first time, the USA will have an official team for the FIM Supermoto Of Nations. This has been a goal of ours. To be part of it and to represent the United States on the world stage of Supermoto with a team of such talented riders is a true honor. We appreciate all the support from the AMA and the FIM and look forward to representing the USA in Cremona.”
Competition in the FIM Supermoto of Nations features the S1 class, which includes 175cc-250cc two-stroke motorcycles and 290cc-450cc four-stroke motorcycles.
The United States has never competed in the FIM Supermoto of Nations, which was first held in Bulgaria in 2008. Italy won the event in 2013, with Bulgaria second and France third.
