(2006 Season Recap and a Look ahead) By Randy Toy:
    So the Supercross Season ended With Carmichael on top of the US SX Title and Stewart on top of the World SX Title. Then it was the out doors, we all new this was going to be interesting as Stewart is Finally on a bike that can compete, riding the KX450F stewart was in contention to win it all, but we all knew his competition probably the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All time) and we know that Ricky Carmichael hates to loose. It looked like the season was going to go as we all expected, but typical Bubba Stewart had his usual problems and it kept him from dethroning the Champ Ricky Carmichael. So wrapping that up we head in to the US Des Nations and it was not looking like Ricky was going to compete, as a back up Ivan Tedesco was to be the alternate. As it turned out Carmichael was unable to compete due to his Shoulder injury at the Motocross season final at Glen Hellen. It was James "Bubba" Stewart, Ivan Tedesco and Ryan Villopodo, so the finalize an exciting season with history in the making, the USA team took us to the top of the podium clenching the World title.
So now here we are, the "Rock Star Energy Drink" US Open of Supercross is over Stewart as champion and The Jeremy McGrath invitational is over with Kevin Windham crowned the champion. Then to top it off the season finals for local races here in the Midwest is over as well. So where does that leave us. Well for some it's time to relax for a few months take some time off of the bike and save up some money to buy the new plastic and sticker kit for the next season. Others go on to California or Florida and find a series and race the the rest of the year in the warmer climate. Well around here it is much closer to go race Arenacross.
Some may think of Omaha Nebraska as being in the middle of nowhere with nothing but Corn fields and crops. So what else does Omaha have if all we have is Corn. Well I might start with Mutual of Omaha, Hmmmm that is a big company and they are known world wide, and Chip Davis of Mannheim Steam Roller, oh and lets not forget the Godfather himself Willy Thesin founder of Godfathers Pizza now founder of the Famous Daves Restaurants, and who could forget one of the richest men in the WORLD Warren Buffet! And someone that you may not know of or herd of, but if you watch the TV series "LOST" actor Jorge Garcia who plays the Role: Hugo "Hurley" Reyes was the first actor cast for the TV series and he is From Omaha.
    Well the list goes on so how does Omaha Nebraska Sound now, well it gets even better than the names just listed. They may not have as much impact on the entire world as the people I just mentioned but they are none the less superstars in our world, the world of Off-road Motorcycle Racing. Starting with a Longtime Mechanic and Arenacross Team Manager not to mention one awesome racer himself, Chris Hunter. It is not all that often the men behind the scenes show their faces, as they are the reason their racers finish every weekend. For the Racer it takes allot of practice, allot of time on the bike and allot of time in the gym. What you may not know is that for every minute the racer spends in the Gym or riding the bike, his mechanic spends 5 more working on the bike. So if you add that up it's 5 Hours of maintenance for ever 1 hour of Riding. That sounds like allot of work, well it is. It takes a good leader and team to be able to compete at that level every week. Motocross, Arenacorss, Supercross and pretty much every other kind of off-road racing is considered a team sport especially at the professional level. So when you have a team like you do in football you have a captain or team leader, who often is the Quarterback, the quarterback is being rushed by several 300lb + size guys that can hit like a brick wall and the reason he is the quarterback in Professional Football is because he has the ability to read the offense and counter the Offensive blitz with a quick but calculated decision, well in the world of Arenacross that's Chris Hunter TUF Racing's team manager. Chris Hunter is a class A Guy will always have my respect. I don't think he has ever really been given the recognition he deserves, and believe me he has been there and done that and never asked for the limelight. But he gives 150% every second he spends with the team he is apart of. Well he is the kind of guy that somewhere inside may wants that recognition, but believes it's his job to be a leader, and for him, being a leader is giving those around him every chance to succeed and shine in the spotlight, while he smiles in the background with the confidence of knowing that he took part in something bigger than himself, and for that reason he deserves to have the title this season of Arenacross. Those of us not making the journey to race in California, Florida or Arizona will be sitting at home on the weekends watching TV rooting for their Favorite racers. Lets remember the guys that help get that racer you are cheering for to the top and root for them as well.
So who else could there be that has a place called home in the great city of Omaha Nebraska? Well none other than the former Supercross Lites Class Champion Denny Stephenson, who was the Supercross TV Anouncer last year for ESPN2. Denny is from Omaha as well and still lives here. As Nebraska is home to some of the worlds most influential people both in the world of motorcycle racing and more.
     So to Start off the 2007 Season Arenacross is having the Season Opener in Des Moins, Iowa on November 3rd-5th 2006. Many featured riders here at www.racertoy.com will be attending the pro event. Chase McGrath, Adam Daniels, Jared Robey, Travis Hodges, and more. We will be rooting for our home town boys as well as for the Mechanics.
See you in Des Moins