Monster Energy® Kawasaki Team Green™ Captures Seven Supercross Championships at the 2015 Winter Olympics

Irvine, Calif. (November 29, 2015) – The 2015 Winter Olympics in Newberry, Florida couldn’t have asked for better weather as the skies have been crystal blue all week. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Austin Forkner continued to push the pace of amateur motocross, winning three supercross titles in the 250A, 450A and 250 Pro Sport classes. His teammates rode outstanding as well, with Garrett Marchbanks winning two titles, Nick Romano and Ryder DiFrancesco winning supercross titles in the 65cc class and Jordan Bailey, Joey Crown and Hannah Hodges all had exceptional performances. In addition, Kawasaki rider Kylie Fasnacht was crowned the Women’s (14+) champion.

Bright Futures

Forkner began the week by setting a blistering pace in the qualifying heats, winning three out of his four qualifiers. Forkner would carry that momentum into Wednesday’s finals as he started in the top three and wasted no time passing into the lead on the first lap, checked out and won Team Green’s first championship. In the 450A class, Forkner battled through the first turn for another top three start, however, passing became difficult as the day went on and lines became tighter and rougher. Forkner rode smart and waited for the right moment to strike. After five laps of pacing his competitor, he pulled the trigger and made the pass into first, winning his second title of the day.  Forkner's third final was the 250 Pro Sport class, which was a spectacular race as Forkner started from outside the top five and in eight laps had placed himself in the lead, never looking back and claiming his third championship. Unfortunately, due to a poor start and difficult passing, Forkner could not make it four-for-four and would finish fifth in his final race.

“Today was all about playing it smart, riding smooth and adapting to the track conditions quickly,” said Forkner. “Being the first race in the morning, the track conditions were very slick and there were not many lines so you had to be very smooth on the throttle. Although, for my second race, the track was really rough and rutted up, so I had to ride smart and not rush.”

Garret Marchbanks made his debut on his Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green KX™250F and did not surprise anyone on qualifying day as his lap times were not far off of the A class riders. Although Marchbanks would have a rough start in the Schoolboy 2 (13-16) class, he quickly made up for that performance by winning his first 250B championship in a dominating fashion by jumping into the lead early and pulling a seven second lead. Marchbanks did not stop there as he lined up for the 450B moto and was off to another top three start in which he rode like a man on a mission until the checkers flew. Marchbanks was crowned the 2015 Winter Olympics 250B and 450B champion.

“I was so happy to win my first championship on my new KX™250F,” said Marchbanks. “Every jump I hit on the last lap I was yelling in my helmet because I was so pumped. I couldn’t be happier to be have won two championships at my first national on the larger bike.”

Jordan Bailey rode impressively today as he was the highest Team Green finisher in Schoolboy 2 (13-16) and only got stronger and stronger as the track got rougher and rougher. Eventually, Bailey landed himself on the podium in the 450B class on his KX250F. Joey Crown ended up making multiple mistakes throughout the day that hurt his performance. Crown is looking forward to beginning the second half of the Winter Olympics on the motocross track.

Mini Champs

Kawasaki Team Green riders Nick Romano, Ryder DiFrancesco and Jett Reynolds are three of the fastest mini bike amateur motocross racers on the planet, unfortunately they must compete against each other for the top spot. Romano raced four classes; two 65cc classes with his teammate DiFrancesco and two 85cc classes with Reynolds. Romano would be able to capture one championship in the 65cc (7-9) Limited class and follow it up with three second place finishes. DiFrancesco would win the second 65cc (7-9) class after a crash from his teammate, Romano. Reynolds unfortunately did not have the day he wanted after such a dominant performance in the qualifiers. However, in his final race of the day, Reynolds made a tremendous comeback from 24th place to fifth in eight laps. An impressive ride at the end of the day on a deteriorated track that had been beaten on by hundreds of riders all day.

Hannah Hodges showed her true colors today as she toughed out an elbow injury sustained during her qualifying heat and finished an impressive fourth place after catching the leader, crashing and riding back up to fourth place.

Kawasaki rider Kylie Fasnacht was off to a great start in the Women’s (14+) class and mirrored her qualifying win performance to be crowned Women’s (14+) champion.