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American supercross stars Jason Thomas, Kelly Smith, Keith Johnson and Andy Harrington plan to \"kick some booty\" in kiwiland when they arrive for the Hamilton City sponsored International indoor Supercross starting on November 24. 21 year old Jason \"Iron Man\" Thomas racked up 82 points for 18th place in the AMA Chevy trucks US MX championships despite not completing the full series. Thomas scored a number 2 podium finish in his last ride at Olympic Stadium in Montreal Canada on October 30th. Te Puke\'s Central Bay Motorcycles will front new Husquvanas for the american\'s first ride in New Zealand supercross.
KTM rider Kelly Smith turned pro in 1997 and has had a factory ride for the last 2 years. This year he blasted the competition to win the Mt Morris Outdoor 125cc championships. The affable 20 year old Michigan rider has his sights set on the US 125 supercross title and is already looking over the horizon at the 250 title.
Californian 23 year old \"Bad Andy \" Harrington has just completed a Disney movie shoot called Twelfth Lap and had organisers worried about his confirmation until there was a break in the shooting schedule. The pro motocrosser will ride Kawasaki at the New Zealand event and is no slug when it comes to mixing it up on the track finishing 15th at the Binghampton event this year and is inside the top hundred listed AMA riders.
1999 US Open 4 stroke champion \"KJ\" (Keith) Johnson fills the team quota on Blackwood Yamaha supplied machines. The Motor World of El Cajon rider finished 52nd this year in the AMA and rides both 125 and 250 classes. At 5\'11 the New Mexican will be able to eyeball the Kiwi Kings without too much trouble.
The American team is expected to be tough competition and despite their \"kick some booty\" bravado Kiwi team member Darryll King is in no doubt about the ability of the Kiwi riders to foot it with the yanks.
\"There are no slow runners in there, it\'ll be a fight, but we\'ll have the firepower of the home town crowd behind us. The team that settles first and gets there tactics together will hold the high ground. Shayne rode Des Nations in Paris this year so he knows team tactics, and Damien and Darryl Hurley will add the punch. This won\'t be a one on one battle this will be down to riding hard and winning as a team\" said King.
With the three King brothers riding shoulder to shoulder and hot shot kiwi Daryl Hurley expected to join them , just who kicks who\'s \" booty \" remains to be seen.
Mystery Creek Marketing and Sales Manager Vince Stockdale says its been the hard yards that made getting the riders possible.
\"we are absolutely rapt with the support from the dealers who have really come to the party with bikes for the guys. The yanks are coming, the Aussies are on their way-and we\'re ready. You could say this is our own heavyweight title fight\"
The Mystery Creek Supercoss is scheduled over two weekends commencing on Friday November 24. Tickets are in hot demand and are available by phoning 0800-00-44-44 or by visiting www.supercross.co.nz.
