Hart and Huntington Houston Supercross News

DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON NEWS

·   Dodge and Hart & Huntington will field two Dodge/Sycaun Casino/Hart & Huntington/Bell-Ray Racing Kawasaki 450s in Houston-                           Kyle Regal and Josh Hill

·   Kyle Partridge, Josh Hansen and Ivan Tedesco remain sidelined due to injuries.

·   Josh Hill returns to the bike after sustaining a lower leg injury in the season opener at Anaheim.

·   Josh Hansen continues undergo rehab on his left ankle.  Hansen has been out since injuring his foot at Daytona.

·   A date for Ivan Tedesco’s return has not been determined.

FAST FACTS

· Due to injuries, Hart and Huntington team has entered five different riders in the first 12 races on the AMA Monster Energy Supercross Series schedule this season.  The season opener (Anaheim) is the only race that all four original riders competed at the same event.  Only Josh Hansen and Ivan Tedesco advanced to that Main Event.

RIDER QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Well, the injuries that I got this year in Anaheim are like a Charlie horse compared to my injuries from two years ago.  I’m not really stressed about the injuries that I got this year.  I’m just going to go out, have a solid race and just try and stay on two wheels.  The key is to come back after Sunday’s race healthy so that I can keep building and building to get better.”

– Josh Hill, No. 75 Hart and Huntington Kawasaki

Josh Hill                                                                                    

No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing

Birthdate: 07/30/1989                                 

Hometown: Portland, Ore.                          Mechanic: Shawn Bell

Highlights

·   Sidelined since breaking left tibia in season opener at Anaheim

·   Earned his first win at Minneapolis in 2008

·   In addition to a win, he has 15 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes in 46 starts

·   Finished fifth in 2008 Supercross standings

Kyle Regal                                                                                

No. 36 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing

Birthdate: 5/14/91                                       

Hometown: Howell, Mich.                          Mechanic: Sean Trihey

Highlights

·   First Supercross start was at Cowboys Stadium in 2010. 

·   Career best finish of seventh came at Qwest Field in 2011. 

·   Has three top-10 finishes in 16 450-class starts.

KYLE REGAL (No. 36 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing Kawasaki)

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HEADING INTO HOUSTON THIS WEEKEND?  “I’m excited to get on the bike and ride in my home state.  I have some family and friends that are going to be there which is cool.  It’s a hometown race for me since I didn’t race Dallas this year.  I’m just hoping for some solid practice time and hopefully a fast Heat race.  I feel great on the bike.  I just need to keep it on two wheels and off the dirt.  Our bikes are fast.  I’m really pumped to get to Houston.”

ARE YOU BEGINNING TO GET MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE KAWASAKI? “For sure.  We’re working one some things with the front of the bike trying to get me more comfortable in the turns; body position and stuff like that.  It’s still work in progress, but I definitely feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago.”

YOU’RE HEADING TO YOUR HOME STATE THIS WEEKEND? IS THERE ANY MORE PRESSURE/EXPECTATIONS YOU PUT ON YOURSELF?  "Not really.  I kind of block that stuff out of my mind when I’m on the bike.  You have to be so focused; letting anything interfere with your ride can cost you a lot.”

JOSH HILL (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing Kawasaki)

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON GETTING BACK INTO ACTION THIS WEEKEND? “I’m really excited to get back on the bike.  I’m happy to be back racing.  It’s been a rough season for me, but I can’t wait to get back on the bike and get some start time again.  I’m not too nervous.  Riding is what we do, so I ‘m stoked to get to Houston and ride again.”

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU BEEN BACK ON THE BIKE WHILE REHABILITATING YOUR LEG? “Not a whole lot.  We were pretty sure that I was going to come back soon after the crash, but when I tried to ride I kept getting this pain in my foot.  I went to the doctors and they found that I had a broken heel on my left-foot from the crash as well.  That set me back a bit.  I got about five or six days of riding on the bike heading into the weekend.  I’m definitely underprepared heading into Houston.  I feel good on the bike.  It’s going to be cool to race again.”

HOW DO YOU MENTALLY BLOCK OUT RECENT YOUR INJURIES AND STILL ATTACK THE DIRT?  “Well, the injuries that I got this year in Anaheim are like a Charlie horse compared to my other injuries from two years ago.  I’m not really stressed about the injuries that I got this year.  I’m just going to go out, have a solid race and try and stay on two wheels.  The key is to come back after Sunday’s race healthy so that I can keep building and building to get better.”