Blountville, TN (4/11/2014) - Wow what a weekend! The team took 5 overall finishes and the weather was almost perfect and we had extra support for the team.

Arriving at the track on Thursday the weather was awesome. What made it even better was the fact that most of us are from the mid-west and there was a winter storm rolling in. While home was getting thumped again by 4 – 6 inches of snow, we were setting up the Root River Racing compound in sunny and near 80 degree weather. Even though a cold front moved thru Thursday night and brought some rain on Friday, it definitely didn’t dampen the spirits of anyone in our pits or the rest of the pits for that matter.

Practice on Friday was short due to the rain, but every one of our riders got one good dry practice in before the rain. Once the skies cleared and the track started to dry up, it was the decision of Rod, Dee and myself not to let the riders go back out and save the machines for racing. The pits were filled with a party atmosphere and even the race staff was feeling pretty relaxed and upbeat.

Saturday started off with some awe inspiring riding by our riders. Sammy Rowe in his first moto of Open A got a great holeshot and came around the track in first to a 120 foot uphill triple jump and hits it with ease. Standing with other spectators, it was awesome to listen to people talk about how incredible it was to see someone do that huge jump since no one had tried it yet. No more than 3 motos later, Noah Mickelson who also grabbed the great holeshot came around to the monster uphill triple on his JB Racing 300 Modified and also makes it with ease. Noah’s completion of the jump put an even bigger smile on my face and made me chuckle a bit, because he did it while the AMA Pro riders meeting was going on and they happened to be talking about the jump and about how it was a very difficult jump. With Noah making that jump on his 300 with the Pros watching, it put a lot of pressure on the Pros to nut up and do it no matter how difficult or intimidating it may have been.

Noah Mickelson earned the win in both Super Mini & the Schoolboy Jr Open Classes

Saturday’s motos went well, but Sunday’s moto were something to be seen. Our team of riders really shined. I don’t even know how many holeshot they were awarded but I do know it was a lot. Dylan Tremellen was the team’s superstar this weekend. Dylan lead from the time the gate dropped, all the way to the checked flag in all four of his motos in Production A and 450 A - He was on fire!

Megan Manshack continued to dominate the Women's Class by going 1-1 to win the overall at Muddy Cree Motocross

Megan Manshack, Alex Gillette and Noah Mickelson also took home overall wins in Women, 450 B and Supermini respectively.

Alex Gillette was victorious in the 450B Class extending his points lead

Helping us cheer on and motivate our riders, we had additional friends and family that were in attendance this past weekend. Alex Gillette’s cousin and my niece Erika Gillette showed up with a friend. Sean Taylor’s family, extend family and potential future in-laws came out in support of Sean. It is always nice to see the additional support.

Sean Taylor earned at top five finish at Mtn Dew ATV Motocross Round 2

Well, we are off for the next month and while I have this break I am taking my wife on a much needed vacation. The pressure on me and the race team’s staff can be over welling. The staff and myself have been on an “All Go, No Quit” pace since the fall, and a truly hardcore pace since Christmas. This will be a much needed break for all of us. Unfortunately for the riders, they aren’t allowed to take a break. They are all pumped up to train even harder and travel to tracks each weekend to fine tuning their skills.

See you all at High Point in Mount Morris, PA on May 17th & 18th. Follow us in the meantime on Facebook or on our website www.RootRiverRacing.com.

Sincerely,

Rich Gillette

About the Mtn. Dew AMA ATV Motocross Championship
The Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA, is the nation's premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, hosted at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 10-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America's largest and longest-running ATV national motocross program. Since 1985, the series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while premiering the professional class.  For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.

www.atvmotocross.com