Merge Racing and Kyle Regal

GuyB
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GuyB
Edited Date/Time 1/20/2012 3:10am
This note just landed in my in box... good deal!


Merge Racing Technologies is proud to announce they will be racing in the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship with the 2009 450 Rookie of the Year, Kyle Regal. Kyle will campaign a 2010 CRF450R, with support from American Honda, Honda Pro-Oils, Fly Racing, WPS, Oakley, JoJo Clothing and Twin Air.

"We are looking forward to Kyle lining up at Hangtown," states Michael Holigan of Merge. "It is going to be a fun summer. We owe a special thanks to American Honda, Fly Racing, WPS, and Oakley for helping us put a program together for 2010."
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CamP
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CamP 5/5/2010 9:20am
5/5/2010 9:20am
I guess the cat's out of the bag!

Congrats to Regal for scoring a good deal for outdoors.
Riesenberg448 5/5/2010 9:59am
5/5/2010 9:59am
A good deal? Sounds like a privateer racing on his own dime to me. Best of luck to him.
GuyB
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GuyB 5/5/2010 10:10am
5/5/2010 10:10am
Racing (and a new team announcement) is way better than sitting on the sidelines.Also the news lately (departing from Valli Motorsports Rockstar Yamaha) was sort of a bummer. To hear he's set up for the Nationals is what I meant by good deal.
BikeGraphixKC 5/5/2010 10:11am
5/5/2010 10:11am
What is Merge racing? Merging out of contract after contract?! WOW I'd keep a good ride like the Valli one if I could!

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Coyote
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Coyote 5/5/2010 10:12am
5/5/2010 10:12am
GuyB wrote:
This note just landed in my in box... good deal! Merge Racing Technologies is proud to announce they will be racing in the 2010 Lucas Oil...
This note just landed in my in box... good deal!


Merge Racing Technologies is proud to announce they will be racing in the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship with the 2009 450 Rookie of the Year, Kyle Regal. Kyle will campaign a 2010 CRF450R, with support from American Honda, Honda Pro-Oils, Fly Racing, WPS, Oakley, JoJo Clothing and Twin Air.

"We are looking forward to Kyle lining up at Hangtown," states Michael Holigan of Merge. "It is going to be a fun summer. We owe a special thanks to American Honda, Fly Racing, WPS, and Oakley for helping us put a program together for 2010."
Worked with Kyle last year and he's going to surprise a few people I am sure. His departure from Valli will only help fuel his fire and look forward to seeing him on the starting line!! He didn't get 450 Rookie of the Year for nothing!!
Brent
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Brent 5/5/2010 10:15am
5/5/2010 10:15am
Sounds like Mike Holigan is back with a new team
Congrats, you must be a glutton for punishmentKissing

Good luck in 2010
aggiemoto99
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aggiemoto99 5/5/2010 10:30am
5/5/2010 10:30am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:37pm
Regal didn't like the 09 honda 450 last year, instead raced the 08. What makes him think he will like it this year?


I have watched regal race locally for a while...and he is one hell of a racer...and I hear his program is amazing too.


But WOW he needs to stick with a team for his future!!!! Even if he kills it outdoors and gets top 5 all the time...does he think his past history will due well for him come signing time when the 6th place guy has been loyal to his past employers???


circus
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circus 5/5/2010 10:39am
5/5/2010 10:39am
Good luck Kyle. Racing is better than just sitting around!! Kick some ass.
CamP
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CamP 5/5/2010 10:53am
5/5/2010 10:53am
Riesenberg448 wrote:
A good deal? Sounds like a privateer racing on his own dime to me. Best of luck to him.
How many pros do you know with support from American Honda?
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WFO 5/5/2010 11:19am
5/5/2010 11:19am
aggiemoto99 wrote:
Regal didn't like the 09 honda 450 last year, instead raced the 08. What makes him think he will like it this year? I have watched...
Regal didn't like the 09 honda 450 last year, instead raced the 08. What makes him think he will like it this year?


I have watched regal race locally for a while...and he is one hell of a racer...and I hear his program is amazing too.


But WOW he needs to stick with a team for his future!!!! Even if he kills it outdoors and gets top 5 all the time...does he think his past history will due well for him come signing time when the 6th place guy has been loyal to his past employers???


He has been on the bike for a couple of weeks and Merge has got it dialed in. He looks awesome on the bike.
he will be fine. his results will do the talking.
Honda "SUPPORT" says it all.

D
Riesenberg448 5/5/2010 12:28pm
5/5/2010 12:28pm
Riesenberg448 wrote:
A good deal? Sounds like a privateer racing on his own dime to me. Best of luck to him.
CamP wrote:
How many pros do you know with support from American Honda?
I know of a few guys who would barely qualify for a national. How much support is he getting would be the better question (obviously should be more than those guys).

I just don't think he can withstand a whole summer on the nationals as a full on privateer and put in the results he's shown previously. Judging from what guys have done in the past, they can do it for awhile, but they can't withstand and usually cap out at the 5th-6th place range.

Bottom line is, I think he's making his job harder by going the privateer route and trying to outsmart the teams. In the end, if he's going to make a living at this, he'll need a team to pick him up and they'll have to know he isn't going to bad mouth their equipment.


GuyB
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GuyB 5/5/2010 12:38pm
5/5/2010 12:38pm
The subject line of email that I got announcing that deal said, "Another team for the 2010 Nationals."

It might be less privateer than you think. Besides, I don't think privateer (think Valli Motorsports Rockstar Yamaha, MotoConcepts Yamaha, Rockstar Energy Suzuki, etc.) has quite the connotation that it used to. Remember Tommy Hahn winning a National last year when the Canidae squad was still on Kawis?
CamP
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CamP 5/5/2010 12:57pm
5/5/2010 12:57pm Edited Date/Time 5/5/2010 12:59pm
Riesenberg448 wrote:
I know of a few guys who would barely qualify for a national. How much support is he getting would be the better question (obviously should...
I know of a few guys who would barely qualify for a national. How much support is he getting would be the better question (obviously should be more than those guys).

I just don't think he can withstand a whole summer on the nationals as a full on privateer and put in the results he's shown previously. Judging from what guys have done in the past, they can do it for awhile, but they can't withstand and usually cap out at the 5th-6th place range.

Bottom line is, I think he's making his job harder by going the privateer route and trying to outsmart the teams. In the end, if he's going to make a living at this, he'll need a team to pick him up and they'll have to know he isn't going to bad mouth their equipment.


You don't have a clue about what's going on here. All Regal has to worry about this summer is racing his best.
moto314
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moto314 5/5/2010 1:02pm
5/5/2010 1:02pm
Maybe Reardon get get a ride on that team also.
Riesenberg448 5/5/2010 1:05pm
5/5/2010 1:05pm
CamP wrote:
You don't have a clue about what's going on here. All Regal has to worry about this summer is racing his best.
You are correct on that one, but it wouldn't be Vital without someone like me speaking my opinion about something i don't know about.

What I do know about is the past track record of privateer vs. factory (and top tier satellite teams). So my opinions are based off of that. I welcome Regal to prove me wrong; I have nothing against him and don't wish him to do bad. I'm all about a new face stepping up to the top, but if he says he's going to be there at the front, he better be there or expect people to call him out on it.

CamP
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CamP 5/5/2010 1:12pm
5/5/2010 1:12pm
It's not like Regal stepped away from a Factory Yamaha ride...even if there was such a thing. If bike sales don't improve, everyone is going to be looking for a ride like Regal's.
jbomx363
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jbomx363 5/5/2010 1:19pm
5/5/2010 1:19pm
Team Bookoo Part 2?

Steve Matthes is the brand manager? Haven't heard 2 cents about mergeracing from him.

Should of hired DV12 as team manager. Tongue

At least Regal is riding. He will do well.

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Adam43
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Adam43 5/5/2010 1:33pm
5/5/2010 1:33pm
I think Regal is going to kill it. If his bike is anywhere close to his liking, those factory guys need to watch out. This guy has serious speed.
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Rizzo 5/5/2010 2:11pm
5/5/2010 2:11pm
jbomx363 wrote:
Team Bookoo Part 2? Steve Matthes is the brand manager? Haven't heard 2 cents about mergeracing from him. Should of hired DV12 as team manager. :P...
Team Bookoo Part 2?

Steve Matthes is the brand manager? Haven't heard 2 cents about mergeracing from him.

Should of hired DV12 as team manager. Tongue

At least Regal is riding. He will do well.
Matthes the brand mgr, you sure about that? That gig was long ago, same with your BooKoo drink
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ErN*P 5/5/2010 2:19pm
5/5/2010 2:19pm
CamP wrote:
It's not like Regal stepped away from a Factory Yamaha ride...even if there was such a thing. If bike sales don't improve, everyone is going to...
It's not like Regal stepped away from a Factory Yamaha ride...even if there was such a thing. If bike sales don't improve, everyone is going to be looking for a ride like Regal's.
Wasn't he offered several Factory fill-in's last summer?
jbomx363
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jbomx363 5/5/2010 2:21pm
5/5/2010 2:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:38pm
jbomx363 wrote:
Team Bookoo Part 2? Steve Matthes is the brand manager? Haven't heard 2 cents about mergeracing from him. Should of hired DV12 as team manager. :P...
Team Bookoo Part 2?

Steve Matthes is the brand manager? Haven't heard 2 cents about mergeracing from him.

Should of hired DV12 as team manager. Tongue

At least Regal is riding. He will do well.
Rizzo wrote:
Matthes the brand mgr, you sure about that? That gig was long ago, same with your BooKoo drink
Team BooKoo is a joke..er.. was a joke too come to think of it.


Just reading the info on merge's site. Didn't know that much income came from 5 products to have a team.


Steve Matthes was a professional mechanic on the AMA Supercross and Motocross Series for 11 years. During that time he wrenched for Factory KTM, Factory Yamaha and others. Riders he worked with include Timmy Ferry, Kelly Smith and Nick Wey.


Steve transitioned from being a mechanic to the media side of the business by writing a weekly column for Racer X (Observations), and doing podcasts and webcasts at each race. Steve became the Brand Manager for Merge Racing Technologies in January 2008.
motokiwi 5/5/2010 3:25pm
5/5/2010 3:25pm
jbomx363 wrote:
Team BooKoo is a joke..er.. was a joke too come to think of it. Just reading the info on merge's site. Didn't know that much income...
Team BooKoo is a joke..er.. was a joke too come to think of it.


Just reading the info on merge's site. Didn't know that much income came from 5 products to have a team.


Steve Matthes was a professional mechanic on the AMA Supercross and Motocross Series for 11 years. During that time he wrenched for Factory KTM, Factory Yamaha and others. Riders he worked with include Timmy Ferry, Kelly Smith and Nick Wey.


Steve transitioned from being a mechanic to the media side of the business by writing a weekly column for Racer X (Observations), and doing podcasts and webcasts at each race. Steve became the Brand Manager for Merge Racing Technologies in January 2008.
Dont be to harsh on BooKoo, its good to see a well-off businessman willing to invest in moto..
Michael Holigan (Team Owner):
http://www.michaelholigan.com/departments/tvshow/michaelholigan.asp
pb465
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pb465 5/5/2010 4:12pm
5/5/2010 4:12pm
CamP wrote:
You don't have a clue about what's going on here. All Regal has to worry about this summer is racing his best.
Riesenberg448 wrote:
You are correct on that one, but it wouldn't be Vital without someone like me speaking my opinion about something i don't know about. What I...
You are correct on that one, but it wouldn't be Vital without someone like me speaking my opinion about something i don't know about.

What I do know about is the past track record of privateer vs. factory (and top tier satellite teams). So my opinions are based off of that. I welcome Regal to prove me wrong; I have nothing against him and don't wish him to do bad. I'm all about a new face stepping up to the top, but if he says he's going to be there at the front, he better be there or expect people to call him out on it.

If you understood the position he was in before leaving Valli, I'm sure you would be on the other side of the fence with your opinion...
SH_105
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SH_105 5/5/2010 4:14pm
5/5/2010 4:14pm
pb465 wrote:
If you understood the position he was in before leaving Valli, I'm sure you would be on the other side of the fence with your opinion...
(Raised Hand in the back of class) I know I know!!! Woohoo I think Kyle is a cool kid and no matter what he will be riding just fine come Hangtown


105
txrider44
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txrider44 5/5/2010 4:22pm
5/5/2010 4:22pm
Cunningham seems to be doing ok on that team.
Ozzy
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Ozzy 5/5/2010 4:28pm
5/5/2010 4:28pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:38pm
"WELCOME BACK MICHAEL HOLIGAN & Co."
Glad to see it.
Dave O.Wink
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Farva 5/5/2010 4:50pm
5/5/2010 4:50pm
I remember a BOOKOO Arenacross series....
Riesenberg448 5/5/2010 7:22pm
5/5/2010 7:22pm
pb465 wrote:
If you understood the position he was in before leaving Valli, I'm sure you would be on the other side of the fence with your opinion...
I'll take your word for it.

Seems there are 2 sides to every story, but isn't the first time I've seen fingers pointed at Valli. Figured with the all star crew they lined up that there wouldn't be so many issues. I'm glad Cunningham seems to fit in there, and obviously excited my favorite guy Tedesco seems at home there.

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