Two-time AMA Supercross Lites champ Damon Huffman charged to go electric w/ Quantya USA

Huffman flies into
Vegas on Friday morning and gets his first look at the bike – outside
“seeing it on the Internet” – Friday afternoon

ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 5, 2010) – Electric bike manufacturer Quantya
USA has reached out to former AMA Supercross Lites champion Damon Huffman
and asked him if he’d be interested in running one of their bikes at the
inaugural ECX (Energy Crisiscross) – the first-ever
electric vs. gas-powered indoor motocross race – part of this
Friday’s (May 7^th) GEICO MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster
Energy, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Huffman
said he thought for a minute, then fired back – via text – with a
couple questions of Quantya USA. Once things were agreed upon, Huffman figured
he’d have at least a week to shake this most unique bike down before
gating for his first-ever GEICO MMSX.

Boy
did he figure wrong.

“I
just actually looked at it (Quantya USA’s dirt bike) on the Internet for
the first time today,” said Huffman. “I’ll ride it for the
first time Friday, burn through a couple batteries in the Orleans’
parking lot I guess.”

Huffman’s
a two-time SX Lites champion from the 1990s and, more recently, GEICO
EnduroCross overall podium placer the last three straight years (2^nd
in 2007-’08, 3^rd in ’09). Well-known in motocross
circles for his spot-on deadpan humor, he’s admittedly not a mini bike
racer (“I’ve kind of always been anti-mini bikes … I’m
6’-1” and not into bent ankles and scraped knees.”). However,
with the 16” front rim on the Quantya USA EVO 1 Track model, Huffman
likes his chances.

“Just
like Tiger Woods, Damon Huffman doesn’t put himself in any event unless
he’s prepared to win,” said Huffman. “Let me say that again
… ”

Noting
that Quantya USA will outfit his electric race bike with a rear pedal brake so,
as Huffman puts it, “I wouldn’t be going for the clutch and
grabbing a bunch of rear brake all the time,” the SoCal native also had
an interesting way of training for his first electric bike adventure. “I
let my kids (two boys) go crazy, scream their heads off while I read some very
small print.”

Of
course alluding to the sound – or lack of with an electric MX bike
– Huffman’s well aware of the importance of the new eco-friendly
electric MX bike movement. “You can ride them up in the hills and be
totally quiet, no emissions … there’s definitely a pretty big
future for these bikes.”

And
that might come sooner than later for the former Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider
who’s running private motocross lessons these days, much like one-on-one
golf lessons with a pro, and contemplating what he’s going to do for the
upcoming GEICO EnduroCross season.

“It
could be a pretty cool connection – electric bikes and
EnduroCross,” he says. “We run 250Fs around in first and second
gear, so you don’t rely on a great deal of power in EnduroCross, more
balance, patience and timing. So we’re definitely in an arena where an
electric bike could possibly cross over.”

Until
then Huffman will get his first competition run at one this Friday, provided he
wires the thing in the parking lot first.

Note:
You can still buy a ticket to witness MX history! A consistent sellout since its
inception in 2004, GEICO MMSX fans and those in town for the finals of Monster
Energy Supercross are urged to get their ticket in advance as seats for this
historic event are filling up rapidly. For more information, including a view
of the track map, link to www.minimotosx.com

The
annual GEICO MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster Energy, is the largest indoor
motorsports competition of its kind. With more than 600 registered riders in 2009 the event literally allows for mini
bike enthusiasts to become part of the show. As one racer put it: “At
GEICO MiniMotoSX you don’t just show up and watch racing in Vegas –
you boot up and get on the track yourself to race in front of a packed house at
the Orleans.” Featuring numerous classes at all age and ability levels,
GEICO MiniMotoSX delivers an unforgettable day of racing action for both fans
and racers alike, along with an affordable ‘Vegas experience’ given
the hotel and ticket package at the Orleans Hotel and Arena. Registration for
the event is open right now on www.minimotosx.com

Tickets On-Sale NOW
at the Orleans Arena, 888-234-2334; or online at www.OrleansArena.com

For
rules and race information visit www.EnduroCross.com or email endurocross@sourceinterlink.com.