Full steam ahead for the undisputed King of mini cycles, the American-made Cobras
HILLSDALE, Mich., (July 30, 2008) – This is it. The Little League World Series on dirt bikes. The 2008 Ski Nautiques AMA Amateur National Championships, or simply “Loretta’s,” has got underway on the balmy, rolling acres at country singer Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
And leading all other 50cc motorcycle manufacturers into Loretta’s are again the legendary, the undisputed Kings of the Jr. and Sr. Stock and Modified classes, the bikes many of the top pros started out on and have subsequently been dubbed “The Cobra Generation,” the proudly Made-in-American Cobra mini cycles!
“Loretta’s is like Christmas morning and final exams rolled into one for us,” said Sean Hilbert, President of Cobra. “On one hand all of us – parents, family members, Cobra staff – are as excited as the kids we have at Loretta’s racing. And on the other hand we’re as nervous – and probably more so – than the kids out there racing. Loretta’s is when Cobra’s countless hours of research, design and testing all come together on the world’s stage. There’s no bigger race for everyone at Cobra – period.”
History has been kind to Cobras at Loretta’s ever since Bud Maimone founded the company in 1993. More than 20 national AMA titles at Loretta’s have been won on Cobras, along with hundreds of other national-caliber races. To put it simply: Cobra is the most successful mini cycle in the history of American motocross.
65cc class
Fans of Cobra will for sure be keeping and eye on North Carolina’s Michael Young and his quest to bring Cobra’s first 65cc class Loretta’s podium back to the Hillsdale, Mich., factory. Young made history earlier this summer when he captured Cobra’s first-ever national caliber race, winning the 65cc 7-9 Modified class at Lake Whitney. Joining Young in the quest for 65cc class stardom will be Bermuda’s Jyire Mitchell and Missouri’s Austin Forkner. Mitchell first stepped up to the Cobra CX65 at the Southeast Regional at Birch Creek Cycle Park in Danville, Va., and did extremely well. And Forkner, who’s been on the CX65 since its inception and was integral in the bike’s development (according to Hilbert), has improved dramatically over the past two years and adds to Cobra’s effort pursuing the top 7-9 65cc class spots.
“As we develop our team, bringing the kids up from the 7-8 ranks into the 65cc class, this is Cobra’s first real entry into the bigger bike classes at Loretta’s and we look forward to continuing to grow into these classes as our kids age,” said Hilbert. “All three guys have what it takes to make the top ten overall, with Michael having the best shot.”
50cc class
Leading the way for Cobra in the premier 50cc Senior class will be California’s Sean Cantrell. Taking over from recent Cobra legends Adam Cianciarulo and Mark Worth as the nation’s top 50cc class racer, Cantrell tuned up for Loretta’s by capturing the 7-8 Stock class at Texas’ Lake Whitney MX National opener back in March. He then followed that up with a historic weekend at the Vegas Mini GPs, sweeping the 7-8 Stock and Modified classes. A past Loretta’s champ, look for big things out of this little dude from Newberry Park.
Other notable racers joining Cantrell in the Senior class on their Cobras will be the same lineup that just tore into Ponca City (Okla.), including North Carolina’s Justin Dunn, Arizona’s Gavin Hultman, California’s Cody Purcell and Michael Mosiman, New Mexico’s Brandon Smith – who was 2nd at Loretta’s last summer, Florida’s Jordan Bailey – who was last year’s 4-6 Loretta’s champ, Missouri’s Tanner Stack and Ohio’s Hayden Justice. Also, according to Hilbert, keep an eye on Kentucky’s Clay Woeste, who decided to forego Ponca to focus all his attention on Loretta’s.
“Clay’s one of the very few seven-year-olds to podium in the Senior class. Reminds us a lot of (Davi) Millsaps when he was with us,” said Hilbert.
A couple other Cobra Senior class racers who decided to pass up Ponca in favor of Loretta’s include: Georgia’s Tristan Lewis and Pennsylvania’s Logan Leitzel.
In the Junior class it’s always thrilling to see which wide-eyed, new-to-Loretta’s Cobra racer will rise to the top of his class. And it won’t be surprising to see a Cobra on top of the podium since the company has won every title since the class existed.
A few names to keep an eye on in the 50cc Junior class at Loretta’s include: Missouri’s Lance “Lightning” Colbush, California’s Brandon Hernandez, along with Arizonans Preston Yost and Tanner Amarillas.
Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra's mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.
High Profile Public Relations (HPPR), LLC, is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com.
