Born To Ride News

Cobra riders race well at Gatorback MX Park’s Mini Os

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Dec. 1, 2009) – In an impressive show of talent, speed and American-made ingenuity, Cobra Motorcycle racers swept every 50cc class title – six in all – in a perfect weekend of mini bike racing at the 2009 season’s last big amateur MX national, the 38th annual Thor Winter National Olympics – aka the Mini Os – at Gainesville’s Gatorback MX Park.

Leading the way for Cobra was one of the company’s all-time winningest riders, local Floridian Jordan Bailey. Piloting the 2009 Cobra King 50, Bailey dominated the 7-8 Senior 50cc class, winning both the SX and MX competitions at the legendary track in northern Florida. And joining Bailey on their Cobra King 50s on the Senior class podiums were Georgia’s Tristan Lewis, 2nd in SX and Pennsylvania’s Logan Leitzel in 2nd in MX, followed by Lewis in 3rd.

Also noteworthy was the fact that Cobra donated Bailey’s factory King 50 practice bike from last year to the Justin Weeks Benefit Auction at the Mini Os and it brought in a solid $2,000 for the injured MX rider!

With as big of a weekend as anybody at the Mini Os, Cobra’s Gauge Keith really stepped things up in the 4-6 Junior classes, sweeping titles in both the SX and MX divisions while also winning the MX title in the newly-formed 4-6 Oil Injection (OI) class. Three titles in four tries for Maryland’s top young motocross prospect! Other Cobra riders making the podium in the 4-6 classes include: Landon Rapp, Illinois, 2nd Jr. SX, Justin Cokinos, Massachusetts, 3rd JR MX, Larry Reyes Jr., Texas, 1st 4-6 Stock OI SX, Gage Linville, Georgia, 2nd 4-6 Stock OI SX, Keith, 3rd 4-6 OI SX, Linville, 2nd OI MX, Reyes 3rd OI MX.

The 65cc class was highlighted by Cobra’s Austin Forkner (Missouri) who pulled some monster holeshots in the motos he contested on his 2010 CX65. Forkner put everything together in the 65 10-11 Modified MX class, scoring factory Cobra’s first 65cc class podium finish at the Mini Os with a 3rd. “Making this even more impressive is the fact that other than a pipe, Austin did this with a stock 2010 CX65,” added Cobra Chief Engineer Phil McDowell.

“Going six-for-six against some excellent 50cc competition at the Mini Os was another great victory for the American-made Cobra Motorcycles,” said Sean Hilbert, President of Cobra. “Congrats to all of our 2009 Mini Os champions, podium placers and racers and families that work hard throughout the year. Cobra’s very proud to be such an integral part of high-level youth motocross racing both here in the States and around the world. And we owe a lot to the young men that represent Cobra both on and off the track.

“Now it’s time to put just as much effort into your schoolwork as you do on the MX track and enjoy the same successes. Everyone at Cobra will look forward to seeing you in March for the 2010 MX national openers in Texas.”

To read up more on the 2009 Mini Os at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Fla., visit their website at: http://www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra’s mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.