Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green headed to Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Fla., to kick-off the 2011-2012 amateur race season at the 40th Annual Thor Winter National Olympics (Mini O’s) presented by Pro Circuit. The weather in Florida was hot and humid as usual, even with a day of rain that saturated the supercross track the night before the finals. The first half of the week racers competed on the supercross track and spent the second half of the week competing on the motocross track. In the supercross events, Team Green riders earned 11 championships, 13 runner-up spots, and 16 third-place finishes. On the motocross track, Team Green riders secured 9 championships, 12 runner-up spots, and 10 third-place finishes.

Shakedown
Every season the Mini-O’s marks the beginning of the amateur motocross race season. The event provides a proving ground for riders who have changed classes, bike sizes, or both. Team Green’s talented group of riders came to the event with brand new 2012 KX™ bikes looking to take over the podium. After a week of challenging racing on hardpacked Florida clay, Kawasaki riders emerged with 20 championships and a total of 71 overall podium finishes.
“I’m happy with the overall result and feel everyone rode well,” said Team Green Supervisor Ryan Holliday. “Most of our guys found the podium and consistently placed within the top-five of their respective classes, which I felt was a good start to the season. Unfortunately a few of our guys also got injured, but should be back in action for the Spring Classic. Since this was a transition race for many of our racers, it was a good shakedown for the upcoming 2012 race season. It’s good to see where everyone stands and what they need to work on. This event also provided a proving ground for Kawasaki’s 2012 model KX bikes. We won championships on every new KX model, from the KX™65 up to the KX™450F. Kawasaki also swept several podiums in the Vet classes and one Supermini class. Overall it was a good event and I feel our team did a good job.”

Flawless Victory
Adam Cianciarulo came to Mini-O’s and dominated every moto he raced. On the supercross track, he piloted his KX™100 to wins in both Supermini classes, finishing first in all four motos. On the motocross track, Cianciarulo repeated the amazing performance, grabbing two more championships in both Supermini classes. He wrapped up a flawless week of racing with four championships in four classes and a total of eight moto wins.

Stacking Trophies
Tanner Stack was the second most winning Team Green amateur rider at the Mini-O’s aboard his KX™85. He started off the week on the supercross track going 2-1 in the 85 (9-11) Stock class to win the championship. Stack secured his second championship in the 85 (9-11) Modified class with a 1-1 moto result. On the motocross track, Stack earned the title in the 85 (9-11) Stock class after going undefeated with a 1-1 result. He also grabbed third in the 85 (9-11) Modified class after finishing 3-2.

Young Gun
Lance Kobusch is one of the fastest up-and-coming young riders in the nation. Aboard his KX65, Kobusch started off the week strong on the supercross track going 1-1 in the 65 (7-9) Modified class to win the championship. He took second overall in the 65 (7-9) Stock class after finishing 1-2 as well. On the motocross track, Kobusch went 2-2 in the 65 (7-9) Stock class to secure the runner-up spot on the podium.

Warp Speed
Coming from his recent win at the inaugural Monster Energy Cup, Justin Hill arrived in Florida prepared for battle. He came out swinging on the supercross track, earning runner-up spots in both the 250 A/Pro Stock and Open A/Pro Stock classes aboard his KX™250F and KX450F, respectively. Hill also grabbed a third-place finish in the Open A/Pro Modified class. On the motocross track, Hill pushed his KX450F to warp speed and won the undisputed title in the Open A/Pro Modified class with a perfect 1-1 moto result.

Comeback Kid
After sitting out most of 2011 with an injury, Colt Nichols came to Florida on a mission. He got to work quickly on the supercross track, and piloted his KX250F to the top of the podium in the Schoolboy (13-16) class after finishing 3-1. Aboard his KX450F, Nichols finished on the podium in the Open B/Stock class, taking third place with a 1-3 moto result.
Podium Specialist

Keith Johnson was the most winning vet rider at the event, piloting his KX450F to the podium a total of six times. On the supercross track, Johnson earned the Plus 30 and Plus 40 class championships with a perfect score of four moto wins. He also grabbed runner-up in the Plus 35 class to secure his third supercross podium of the event. On the motocross track, Johnson went 1-1 in the Plus 40 class to win the overall title and took third in the Plus 25 and Plus 35 classes.

Sweeping Up
In the Vet classes, the KX450F proved the most dominant bike at the event scoring podium sweeps in five classes. On the supercross track, KX450F riders swept the Plus 25, Plus 30, and Plus 25 classes. Out of six classes on the supercross track, Kawasaki riders won five championships, with Team Green’s Johnson scoring two of the wins. On the motocross track, KX450F pilots swept the Plus 25 and Plus 35 classes. Out of six classes on the motocross course, Kawasaki riders earned four championships with Scott Sheak leading the charge with two championships. Throughout the course of the event, Kawasaki vet-riders scooped up an impressive 75 percent of all available championships.

Results
40th Annual Winter National Olympics (Mini-O’s)
Gatorback Cycle Park – Gainesville, Florida
November 21-26, 2011

Supercross Class Results
Championships
Lance Kobusch – 65 (7-9) Modified
Tanner Stack – 85 (9-11) Stock
Tanner Stack – 85 (9-11) Modified
Adam Cianciarulo – Supermini (12-15)
Adam Cianciarulo – Supermini (13-16)
Colt Nichols – Schoolboy (13-16)
Augie Lieber – Plus 25
Keith Johnson – Plus 30
Keith Johnson – Plus 40
John Grewe – Plus 35
Thomas Dretzka – Plus 50

Second-Place Finishes
Lance Kobusch – 65 (7-9) Stock
Adrian Aguero – 85 (9-11) Stock
Austin Forkner – 85 (12-15) Stock
Austin Forkner – 85 (12-15) Modified
Blake Green – Supermini (12-15)
Justin Hill -250 A/Pro Stock
Justin Hill – Open A/Pro Stock
Dylan Rouse – 250 C Stock
Jake Baumert – Open B Stock
James Evans – Plus 25
James Evans – Plus 30
Keith Johnson – Plus 35
John Grewe – Plus 45

Third-Place Finishes
Lance Kobusch – 85 (9-11) Stock
Mitchell Harrison – Supermini (12-15)
Blake Green – Supermini (13-16)
Brice Klippel – 250 C Stock
Justin Hill – Open A/Pro Modified
Colt Nichols – Open B Stock
Dylan Rouse – Open C Stock
Dylan Rouse – Open C Modified
Jim Neese – Plus 25
Jim Neese – Plus 30
Scott Sheak – Plus 35
John Grewe – Plus 40
Earl May – Plus 45
James White – Plus 50
Jordan Jarvis – Girls (9-11)
Theodore Pauli – Four Stroke

Motocross Class Results
Championships
Tanner Stack – 85 (9-11) Stock
Adam Cianciarulo – Supermini (12-15)
Adam Cianciarulo – Supermini (13-16)
Justin Hill – Open A/Modified
Augie Lieber – Plus 25
Scott Sheak – Plus 30
Scott Sheak – Plus 35
Keith Johnson – Plus 40
Leah Cantrell – Women (12+)

Second-Place Finishes
Lance Kobusch – 65 (7-9) Stock
Carter Halpain – 85 (9-11) Modified
Austin Forkner – 85 (12-15) Modified
Dillan Epstein – 250 A/Pro Stock
Brice Klippel – 250 C Stock
Dillan Epstein – Open A/Modified
Matt Beers – Open C Stock
James Evans – Plus 25
James Evans – Plus 35
Jim Neese – Plus 30
John Grewe – Plus 45
Jordan Jarvis – Girls (9-11)

Third-Place Finishes
Stilez Robertson – 65 (7-9) Stock
Devin Kusmider – 65 (10-11) Modified
Tanner Stack – 85 (9-11) Modified
Tommy Maxey – 85 (12-13) Stock
Austin Forkner – 85 (12-13) Modified
Keith Johnson – Plus 25
Keith Johnson – Plus 35
John Grewe – Plus 40
Earl May – Plus 45