AJ Catanzaro?

MX Dad #27
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 6:14pm
When did he turn 16? And when did he go from Kawasaki's next big thing to Honda? Who does he ride for?
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flarider
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flarider 2/13/2011 2:08pm
2/13/2011 2:08pm Edited Date/Time 2/13/2011 2:12pm
Total private effort, except he did get some support from MXTraders.net who gave him a bike
I give him product and helped with his deal in Germany
Good kid, tries hard
jndmx
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jndmx 2/13/2011 2:11pm
2/13/2011 2:11pm
AJ is actually now 18 I believe.

And Dave is correct.
He has been practicing around here in NE riding Kawi's as that was the bike he had.
The folks at MXTrader.net hooked him up with the Honda for the East Series just last week I think.

We have watched him since the Polini days, lotta heart.
GuyB
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GuyB 2/13/2011 2:26pm
2/13/2011 2:26pm
Someone told me that other than suspension, the bike ismpretty much stock.
jndmx
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jndmx 2/13/2011 2:29pm
2/13/2011 2:29pm
GuyB wrote:
Someone told me that other than suspension, the bike ismpretty much stock.
Yup.

AJ only rode the bike a few times and then they went racing.
Fast lap in the first Lites C group practice was a good indicator he had gotten used to the bike quick.

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hellion
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hellion 2/14/2011 5:24am
2/14/2011 5:24am
I am so psyched for AJ. His first attempt at qualifying for an SX, on a showroom stock bike and he puts it in the night show. I have high hopes for AJ. I've tried to help him in some small way for many years now. He is the nicest kid, and he is so appreciative of any help he can get, which often isn't much. He has come up the hard way, and he has the heart he needs to succeed. I can't wait to see him someday on one of Ziggy's or Mitch's bikes.

Congratulations AJ!!!
JPT
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JPT 2/14/2011 5:26am
2/14/2011 5:26am
Where's he from?
seth505
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seth505 2/14/2011 5:27am
2/14/2011 5:27am
GuyB wrote:
Someone told me that other than suspension, the bike ismpretty much stock.
jndmx wrote:
Yup. AJ only rode the bike a few times and then they went racing. Fast lap in the first Lites C group practice was a good...
Yup.

AJ only rode the bike a few times and then they went racing.
Fast lap in the first Lites C group practice was a good indicator he had gotten used to the bike quick.
I remember him writing on facebook something like "practicing on kawi 450 and racing Honda 250 in lites east, should be interesting" haha
seth505
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seth505 2/14/2011 5:28am
2/14/2011 5:28am
JPT wrote:
Where's he from?
CT
MX455
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MX455 2/14/2011 5:33am
2/14/2011 5:33am Edited Date/Time 2/14/2011 6:13am
I'm not surprised to see him make the switch to the Honda. I saw him try one at Winchester this last summer and he look good right away. Good luck to him from what I know about him, he truely deserves it.
jndmx
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jndmx 2/14/2011 7:26am
2/14/2011 7:26am
MX455 wrote:
I'm not surprised to see him make the switch to the Honda. I saw him try one at Winchester this last summer and he look good...
I'm not surprised to see him make the switch to the Honda. I saw him try one at Winchester this last summer and he look good right away. Good luck to him from what I know about him, he truely deserves it.
Yeah he had some time on that crf250 this summer.
The kid just works so damn hard he can pretty much ride anything.

Hellion has been putting some great lids on AJ for a long time now.
Just one of many smaller folks that have backed this kid for a long time.

Great kid, smart and works hard. Family is 1000% behind him.
hellion
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hellion 2/14/2011 11:25am
2/14/2011 11:25am
Hopefully someone is paying attention. Look at Jimmy Decotis and how he is doing now with his chance on great machinery. AJ has a really smooth, technical supercross type style and it will be cool to see how fast he becomes on some really fast equipment. Jimmy and AJ could become the next Henry and Dowd if they both make good use of the chances they are given.

Thanks for the compliment J&D!
tiddlermx23 2/14/2011 12:20pm
2/14/2011 12:20pm
Heres a video ive had saved in my favorites for a while of him at highpoint!
I saw his name on the screen the other night and knew i heard that name somewhere before!
Sonny
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Sonny 2/14/2011 12:27pm
2/14/2011 12:27pm
AJ ran real well in his heat race. I wonder what happened during the main. He was running well at first,but something went wrong. Hes a real mature kid, I wish the best for him.
wownd out
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wownd out 2/14/2011 12:54pm
2/14/2011 12:54pm
Didn't AJ run the whole Arenacross series last year?
jndmx
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jndmx 2/14/2011 1:08pm
2/14/2011 1:08pm Edited Date/Time 2/14/2011 1:08pm
wownd out wrote:
Didn't AJ run the whole Arenacross series last year?
Yep.
He was the West Coast AX Lite champ last year.

Sonny; AJ said he had a little tipover fall in the main nothing major but it cost him spots.
FLmxer
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FLmxer 2/14/2011 1:33pm
2/14/2011 1:33pm
Yea we always enjoyed talking to him here in Florida when he was racing here in the ams. Seemed like a real good kid. I am surprised he is not on PC 250.
Karma
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Karma 2/14/2011 1:38pm
2/14/2011 1:38pm Edited Date/Time 2/14/2011 1:38pm
FLmxer wrote:
Yea we always enjoyed talking to him here in Florida when he was racing here in the ams. Seemed like a real good kid. I am...
Yea we always enjoyed talking to him here in Florida when he was racing here in the ams. Seemed like a real good kid. I am surprised he is not on PC 250.
If he keeps riding like that he will be soon enough...He has to with a name like that...Go-Go Cantanzaroooooo!!

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DrSweden
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DrSweden 2/15/2011 1:52pm
2/15/2011 1:52pm
New England has some talent despite the crappy weather conditions. Good for the kid, will for sure have my eyes on him in the future. Coolt about the stock bike thing. Seems he even used the stock triple clamp on the scooter as well. I thought it was so damn important to have super material in the 250F class? Either this kid is super talented or the bike isn't as important as we previously though?
Fast Orange
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Fast Orange 2/15/2011 2:20pm
2/15/2011 2:20pm
DrSweden wrote:
New England has some talent despite the crappy weather conditions. Good for the kid, will for sure have my eyes on him in the future. Coolt...
New England has some talent despite the crappy weather conditions. Good for the kid, will for sure have my eyes on him in the future. Coolt about the stock bike thing. Seems he even used the stock triple clamp on the scooter as well. I thought it was so damn important to have super material in the 250F class? Either this kid is super talented or the bike isn't as important as we previously though?
Yes the kid IS super talented, and if you're super talented & super motivated like he is, the bike doesn't matter much. But I will say this, he's been on Kawasaki forever, & when he rode the new Honda, he said the bike was the fastest 250 he rode.

I guess he likes the bike!

Now, if he had a bike like Barcia's, that would be fun to watch!
jndmx
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jndmx 2/15/2011 2:35pm
2/15/2011 2:35pm
Doc I think the key with AJ is that he is one of those kids that takes what he has and makes it work.
Never saw the kid complain about what he has or doesn't have, just get on the track and get it done.

AJ was thrilled when the folks at MXTrader.net stepped up with the bike, stock or not.....lol

He has never been one of those kids with an RV the size of your house with 6 bikes.
Practice bike, race bike an old conversion van to sleep in and a snomobile trailer to haul the bikes......grass roots.
lukaitis9
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lukaitis9 2/15/2011 5:24pm
2/15/2011 5:24pm
My buddy Rudy from www.mxtrader.net bought him a bike to use. It is a stock 2010 with suspension work. Stock bars, motor and in fact I think the tires were right off the showroom floor as well. Show Rudy some support and let him know we appreciate his efforts.

Got a chance to talk to AJ and he is a real down to earth kid. He'll do real well. Good luck for the rest of the season.
Wicked roost 2/15/2011 5:31pm
2/15/2011 5:31pm
I thought AJ Catanzaro was this super talented mini racer and up and coming rider, why does he not have a satellite team ride?
jleews6
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jleews6 2/15/2011 7:06pm
2/15/2011 7:06pm
I like to see a kid like AJ do well. He is the type of kid I would help if I had the money.

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