Dakar Champion Chris Blais Benefit at Pole Position Raceway

When RiderDown Foundation decided to help Dakar Champion Chris Blais in his recovery effort, Man and Machine, Racer X Virtual Trainer, and Concept2 Indoor Rowers couldn’t help but want to be a part of it! In addition to the support that RiderDown has provided to Chris since his injury last year while pre-running for the Vegas to Reno desert race we’ve come up with a very unique project.

The TX-IV is the most advanced fitness rower and workout system yet! This is a full WORKS Limited Edition, 2008 Transformx TX-IV Moto Endurance System. Man and Machine, Concept2 Indoor Rowers, Racer X Virtual Trainer and RiderDown will be presenting Chris with his own personally customized edition. There will also be an auction for an exact duplicate TX-IV Moto Endurance System with the proceeds going to help RiderDown Foundation and Chris's recovery.

“Rob Hill of Man and Machine has really gone above and beyond with this project,” says Bruce Vermeulen, President of RiderDown. “These are the trickest rowers ever made. The attention to detail is unbelievable and the extra fitness accessories included are really sweet. These are really moto-specific factory style machines!”

This moto-endurance training system is used by some of motocross’ best riders, including James Stewart, Kevin Windham, and Travis Pastrana, and is the preferred training system of James’ trainer, Aldon Baker. According to Rob Hill of Man and Machine “Everyone at Man and Machine is a big fan of Chris Blais. He is a phenomenal rider and athlete; this TX-IV is a tribute to Chris and all of his success. When I spoke with Bruce from RiderDown last summer and he told about the extent of Chris’ injuries I knew that we had to help.” Rob continues, “We built Chris a Works TX-IV. It is a functional tribute that will help his rehabilitation mentally and physically. The TX-IV is designed to make Chris feel like he is back on his bike while training. Chris is very competitive and determined. We have a lot of faith in his recovery.”

“Concept2 is committed to improving people’s lives and fitness through training. Although we are known for Olympic and more traditional endurance sports such as running and Triathlons we have come to have a huge respect for the dedication and drive that riders and drivers in motorsports have come to show,” says Greg Hammond of Concept2. “Over the past couple of years we have had some of the top Freestyle, Motocross and Off-road racers train on our Indoor Rower. When we were contacted by RiderDown and were told that we could have an opportunity to help Chris Blais and his family we jumped at the chance. We do a lot with adaptive rowing throughout the world and with Chris’s racing background and how hard he was working in his recovery it seemed like a perfect fit. We are extremely happy to be teamed up with the RiderDown Foundation, Man and Machine, and Racer X Virtual Trainer to help Chris as much as we can.”

“I am extremely proud to be a part of such a worthy cause,” says Tim Crytser of Racer X Virtual Trainer. “When Bruce and the rest of the boys asked if I wanted to help Chris, I couldn’t wait to get started. The rower that Rob designed is amazing. I just hope no one out bids me for that thing because I want it!”

Don’t miss it! The presentation to Chris will be happening at Pole Position Raceway in Corona, California on Friday, May 23rd starting at 7pm with the action continuing through ‘til midnight. Chris will be there, along with many special VIP guests including David Bailey and Ernesto Fonseca. Additionally, Pole Position, in a very gracious gesture, will be donating a portion of all race entry fees from the evening to the RiderDown Foundation. There will also be many special prizes given away throughout the night.

Check out www.Blaisracing.com for more info on Chris and also www.RiderDown.org for more information on the Foundation’s diligent efforts to help our fellow riders.

About RiderDown Foundation:

With a nationwide network of volunteers ready to lend support and assistance to injured riders, RiderDown is actively giving back to the off road community. As a non-profit, 501©3 charitable organization, RiderDown has been delivering on its mission of “Helping Riders Up” since 2005. Dedicated to helping responsible off-road motorcyclists and ATV racers who have been injured while riding, proceeds are used to provide assistance to riders and their families when faced with medical expenses and related issues. The medical bill review team they work with has saved injured riders thousands of dollars on excessive and/or unnecessary medical charges and their “Angels” visit injured riders in the hospital and at home, offering a friendly voice during difficult times. To find out more about RiderDown and ways you can help, go to www.RiderDown.org or contact them at info@RiderDown.org.

About Concept2 Indoor Rowers:

Concept2 got its start in 1976 in the mountains of Vermont. Dick and Peter Dreissigacker, fresh from Olympic training, started making composite racing oars, that are now the oar of choice among the world's top rowers. They went on to create the Concept2, this too has become the gold standard for Olympic athletes as well as the Indoor Rowers found in most commercial gyms around the world. From rehabilitation centers to the proving grounds of the US military Special Operations groups. Concept2 s is committed to helping athletes reach their goals no matter their sport. Concept2 is a company devoted to working with top athletes as well as anyone who cares to better their physical wellbeing and because the employees are athletes themselves it allows us to better serve our customers. Our product line includes the Indoor Rower and Dreissigacker Racing Oars. Though much larger than we once were, we remain dedicated to providing the most innovative rowing products and programs to our customers. www.concept2cts.com

About Man and Machine:

Man and Machine is the home of Transformx Endurance Systems. Transformx is a functional fitness system designed to elevate athletic performance for action sports (motocross, snowmobile and boarders), martial arts, yoga and lets not forget where we all started... bicycling. Competition or just training for fun, all Transformx Endurance Systems are innovative functional fitness products that challenge performance thresholds and deliver superior results. www.manandmachine.com

About Pole Position Raceway:

Pole Position Raceway is the number one chain of indoor kart tracks in the United States. It was created by former Dirt Rider editor-in-chief Ken Faught and his partner Jason Williams. There are four facilities in the United States (Corona, CA, Murrieta, CA, Oklahoma City, OK and Las Vegas, NV) that have nearly $2 million dollar in authentic memorabilia on display. Celebrity investors include Jeremy McGrath, Chad Reed, Grant Langston, Mike Metzger, Greg Albertyn to name a few. The high-performance karts are capable of 45mph and are probably the closest thing that most people will ever get to racing real cars. For more information check out www.PolePositionRaceway.com.

About Racer X Virtual Trainer:

Tim Crytser is Racer X’s Virtual Trainer. Racer X Virtual Trainer is dedicated to bringing motocross and action sports athletes the best information available on motocross training, and nutrition from top professionals in the motocross industry. Virtual Trainer strives to be your one-stop information zone by providing how-to articles on training, nutritional advice from a registered dietician, insider input from trainer Aldon Baker, interviews from past and present riders and access to an expert panel that is unparalleled on the internet comprised of Doctors, Physical Therapists, trainers, dieticians, and more. Updated with a fresh article every Thursday, Racer X VT is your go-to source for motocross training. www.racerxvt.com