With downtown Long Beach in the background, riders navigate their way through the dirt section of the Queen Mary course. Supermoto rules require that 30% of the course be dirt.
 fter floundering for years as a “not quite ready for prime time” segment of the American motorcycle racing scene, Supermoto finally broke through at the season finale held for the first time ever alongside the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Not only was the location new, the promotion of the event was now for the first time in the hands of Troy Lee Designs and their involvement was easily noticed.
The announced crowd of 24,000, reportedly the largest in Supermoto history, was entertained by the season conclusion of all three classes in the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. Additionally, the race weekend included NASMOTO amateur events and Extreme Sportbike demonstrations by Jason Britton.
“All things considered, we are extremely pleased with how our event turned out,” said Troy Lee Designs General Manager Bob Weber. “This race was a perfect example of how Supermoto racing can take place anywhere there’s a decent stretch of asphalt and a creative promotions team to put it all together.”
The “Brain Trust” of the Troy Lee Designs promotion team (from left) Troy Lee, Gavin Trippe (creator of the original Superbikers event in 1979) and Bob Weber with Blair Cohn of Long Beach of Special Events and Filming.
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The Troy Lee Design Supermoto racing effort has been one of the largest and most successful teams since Supermoto racing came back to America. When the “Dual At The Docks”weekend concluded, the team took home AMA #1 plates in two classes.
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The Queen Mary location at the Long Beach harbor was very fan-friendly with the course including some unique features such as a tunnel that was used for the first time in Supermoto competition, as well as the Parts Unlimited Urbancross jumps.
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Icon and Parts Unlimited-sponsored Jason Britton entertained the crowds at the intermissions with some amazing Extreme Sportbike tricks. “Don’t try this…”you know the warning!
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KTM-mounted David Pingree (101) and Graves Yamaha rider Brandon Currie (2) had a great battle in the Supermoto Lites race with Pingree nosing out Currie by less than half a second in their 14-lap final.
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Cassidy Anderson of Provo, Utah finished 4th in the Lites class at Long Beach, enough to take the season championship for the Troy Lee Designs Team.
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This is the moment most good racers picture for themselves at the start of the season. When the final race was over, it was Cassidy Anderson who was holding the coveted AMA #1 plate in the Supermoto Lites class.
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KTM’s veteran Supermoto rider Kurt Nicoll led the Supermoto Unlimited final in the early going, but he would later yield to fellow KTM riders Micky Dymond (1), the eventual race winner, and runner-up Ben Carlson (45) who took the class championship over Dymond by 18 points.
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The Supermoto class ran in two point-scoring legs to finish the season. Troy Lee Designs rider Chris Fillmore (11) leads into turn one at the start of the second leg, but he was soon passed by eventual winner Jeff Ward and runner-up Doug Henry (19). Fillmore held on for a 3rd place finish.
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Motocross legend and current Supermoto star Doug Henry ended the 2006 season with a 3-2 finish in the two-leg “Dual At The Docks” and 2nd overall in the point standings. His Graves Motorsports Yamaha teammate Mark Burkhart (6) won race one at Long Beach, but dropped out of race two. He ended up 4th in the season points.
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Jeff Ward won the last leg of the Dual At The Docks to claim another championship in his legendary motorsports racing career.
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Make room in the trophy case, Wardy adds another #1 plate to his collection.
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