San Diego, CA – JDR/J-Star/KTM Team rider Matt Moss earned the first-ever podium finish for the JDR/J-Star/KTM Team at the sixth round of the AMA West Supercross Lites Series held at Qualcomm Stadium.
The reigning Australian Lites Supercross and Motocross Champion jumped onto the radar after earning a 5th place result at the Oakland Supercross event which marked the JDR/J-Star/KTM teams best overall finish at the time. Two rounds later he successfully broke his own record and showed he can run with the best in his class after earning his first U.S. Supercross Lites podium spot in front of the San Diego crowd.
Moss started the night off well earning 3rd overall in his heat race after closing in on Red Bull/KTM rider Marvin Musquin. Moss had a great gate pick for the main event which paid off huge when the gate dropped for the start of the 15-lap main.
Moss launched his KTM 250 SX-F off the line to a 2nd place start around the first corner. He remained in the runner-up position for the first three laps before Cole Seely made a pass to takeover the position. Moss surrendered one more position a lap later to point’s leader Eli Tomac before setting into 4th place. Moss never tired and remained close to the lead group and put his KTM in a great place to take over the final podium spot once Tomac crashed near the halfway point. Moss quickly moved into the position and rode a steady race for the remainder of the event to secure his and his team’s first U.S. Supercross Lites podium.
“It feels so good to get on the podium tonight. I have worked so hard and have always dreamed of racing in the U.S. and it feels so amazing to finish on the box and advance my ranking in the points chase. I couldn’t do this without the continuous support of everyone involved on the JDR/J-Star/KTM Team and I extend my deepest thanks to them,” remarked Moss.
JDR/J-Star/KTM Team owner Jay Rynenberg was equally excited, remarking, “It’s been a long road getting to this point. Everyone on the team has worked incredibly hard to advance our team and it is very rewarding to see the pay off. Moss had a few bad years in a row and we picked him up a year ago and built him back up in Australia and now we are standing behind him in the U.S. He is a very dedicated and hard working rider and I am very proud of him and the team.”
The AMA West Lites Supercross Series will now take a break while the series heads to the East coast. Malcolm Stewart and PJ Larsen will compete for the JDR/J-Star/KTM Team on the east while Moss will return to racing action on April 21, 2012 when the Supercross Series returns west for the Seattle Supercross.
AMA Supercross Lites Class Overall –
1. Dean Wilson
2. Cole Seely
3. Matt Moss – KTM
4. Gareth Swanepoel
5. Nico Izzi
6. Gavin Faith
7. Billy Laninovich
8. Travis Baker
9. Vince Friese
10. Nick Paluzzi
11. Kyle Beaton
12. Bruce Rutehrford
13. Max Anstie
14. Killy Rusk
15. Martin Davalos
16. Marvin Musquin – KTM
17. Jason Anderson
18. Jean Varlo Ramos
19. Scott Champion
20. Eli Tomac
AMA Supercross Lites Class Points –
1. Dean Wilson – 116
2. Eli Tomac – 114
3. Cole Seely – 101
4. Marvin Musquin – 89
5. Nico Izzi – 78
6. Matt Moss – 73
