nxtagency-blog

The SoCal SuperTrucks Open House/ LOORRS Pre-Party!

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:17:33 +0100

Ricky James Pilots the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite to Victory in Utah

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:16:51 +0100

June 28, 2010 (San Bernardino, CA)—SoCal SuperTrucks and Ricky James finished off an event-filled weekend by winning the SuperLite class during Round 8 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series this past weekend at Miller Motorsports Park outside Salt Lake City, UT.

The team’s race weekend kicked off on Friday, where the SuperLite class competed in a $6,000-purse, exhibition race for 2,000+ Miller Motorsports Park VIP’s. Ricky had an intense battle with Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg throughout the race, taking the overall lead at the halfway point of the race. With 3 laps to go, James began to experience severe arm pump in his left arm, which controls the trucks gas, brakes, clutch and shifting. Ricky slowly faded back, saving his cramping arm for the weekend’s more-important point’s rounds.

Going in to Saturday, the first focus was to determine how to address the arm pump issues Ricky was experiencing. The use of a Compex muscle stimulator assisted in warming up James arm before practice and clearing the arm of lactic acid immediately after practice. James chose a new strategy by going easy until the mandatory caution, but couldn’t find a rhythm through the track’s most technical sections leaving him with a 5th place finish for the day. The crew immediately began diagnosing the trucks handling issues and quickly determined the suspension needed to be dramatically adjusted. With the help of Fox Racing Shox, a new set-up was installed late Saturday Night to compensate for Sunday’s inevitable rough track conditions.

James entered Sunday’s race day with a renewed confidence in himself and the truck, a combination that has eluded him so far this season. Ricky used qualifying to get comfortable with the new suspension settings and by race time was feeling unbeatable. James drove the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite to total domination, pulling away from the field before and after the mandatory caution, taking a well-deserved and overdue victory.

“I’ve had an 800-pound gorilla on my back and, this weekend, I knocked him out,” said Ricky James. “I can’t thank the SoCal SuperTrucks crew enough for the hard work and faith they have in me to work so hard. I want to express my thanks to all my sponsors like Rockwell, Bully Dog, BFGoodrich and Forgiven Energy for their support, as well as a special ‘thank you” to John Marking at Fox Racing Shox and Johnny Greaves for their help in dialing in my suspension. I am pumped for the rest of the season and can’t wait to get back out there.”

The SoCal SuperTrucks team would like to thank Rockwell Time for their gracious hospitality added support this weekend along with other current 2010 team sponsors, which include Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich, Forgiven Energy, Walker Evans, K&N Filters, Alpinestars, Fox Suspension, EPIC Action Video Cams and AOKNick.org.

About SoCal SuperTrucks
Located in the heart of Southern California, SoCal SuperTrucks has positioned itself as one of the premier automotive and UTV aftermarket retail/ fabrication shops in the Country. With a deep heritage in the world of Off-Road Racing, Action Sports and Motocross, SoCal SuperTrucks has worked with some of the sport’s biggest entities.

SoCal SuperTrucks carries the finest, race-proven products for your vehicle, including such premier brands as Bully Dog Performance Parts, BFGoodrich All Terrain/ Mud Terrain Tires, Walker Evans Wheels and Fox Racing Shox. Other brands carried include CST Performance Suspension, Total Chaos, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Toyo, K&N and KMC Wheels. Whether it’s a complete suspension build up for your pre-runner truck, modifications to your UTV, wheels & tires for your ride, or merely advice on what tire might work best for your driving style, the team at SoCal SuperTrucks has the knowledge and expertise to satisfy all your custom truck, UTV and auto needs.

For more info, please check out:
http://www.socalsupertrucks.com or visit us at:
SoCal SuperTrucks - 774 South E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408
You can also follow the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite at www.facebook.com/socalsupertrucks

For media and sponsorship inquiries, please contact
Todd Ballard- NXTagency
TBallard@NXTagency.com
(760) 828-3822

Team Geronimo Announces Partnership with EPIC Action Video Cam

Tue, 25 May 2010 22:10:12 +0100

Team Geronimo Announces Partnership with EPIC Action Video Cam

Team Geronimo / Banshee Bikes is pleased to announce a new partnership with EPIC Action Video Cam. EPIC Action Video Cam’s are mini digital video cameras that can quickly mount to any athlete’s equipment, including helmets, bicycles, cars/ trucks, motorcycles, kayaks and more, for point-of-view video and photo capturing. The EPIC comes with a variety of mounting options and Energizer AAA Lithium batteries, giving users the ability to shoot their favorite activities. The EPIC line of cameras includes their standard camera, the 168 degree Wide Angle camera and their HD camera.
Team Geronimo intends to bring race coverage to the public with POV style EPIC HD footage of current conditions and course features from many Professional Gravity Tour, Mountain States Cup, and World Cup events. Pro riders will provide EPIC with product feedback to assist with future product updates and improvements.

The Team also helps young riders achieve great results through its world class Junior Development Program. Pros will use their EPIC practice footage to aid their Junior Development riders with race preparation, line choice and course visualization.

Pro racer Graeme Pitts offered his opinion about these relatively new video cams: "They're simple, easy to use and aerodynamic, so racers are more likely to use them during race runs. The HD footage is great quality and on par with competitive brands", said Pitts after testing his camera out alongside teammates Michael and Brian Buell at the Plattekill round of the Pro GRT series.

Doug Mann, EPIC’s VP of Marketing and Product Development, added “We look forward to working with Team Geronimo this season. The enthusiasm and creativity they bring to the sport make them a great marketing platform for our brand.

Geronimo's Australian Pro, Cody Eichhorn, recently touched down in the USA. Look for footage of Eichhorn in the coming week from the US Open at Diablo Freeride Park as the team welcomes him to the US race season.

About EPIC Action Video Cam
Founded in 2000, EPIC offers specialty digital cameras, along with a variety of accessories to enhance outdoor pursuits. For more information, contact: EPIC Action Video Cam 3923 Oceanic Drive, Suite 200
Oceanside, CA 92056, Phone: 760-450-1006, www.epicactioncam.com
Be sure to check out EPIC Action Video Cam at various events, races and competitions throughout the country in 2010. EPIC Action Video Cam is also a proud sponsor of the Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda MX Race Team, GT Bicycles Factory MTB and BMX programs, Topeak- Ergon Racing Team, Team Geronimo- Banshee Factory Race Team, Hentges Racing National Guard/ Polaris Snowmobile Team, US Cup MTB Series, 2010 Mammoth Motocross and premier athletes across the globe.

About Team Geronimo
Team Geronimo is a collection of five Professional-level mountain bike racers and a select group of Junior Development racers specializing in downhill and mountain cross events. For more information about Team Geronimo, please visit http://www.geronimoracing.com

Important Weekend Ahead for Ricky James and the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite as They Head Back ...

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:36:34 +0100

Forgiven Energy Steps Up to Help Team for Vegas Race Weekend

May 19, 2010 (San Bernardino, CA)—SoCal SuperTrucks and Ricky James have their sights set on putting themselves back into Championship contention this weekend, May 22nd and 23rd , during rounds 5 and 6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Coming into the 2010 season, James and the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite have been viewed as the “team to beat” by both competitors and race fans alike. Although Ricky has consistently posted the fastest lap times at each round and earned a 2nd place finish at Round 3 in AZ, the team has been plagued with misfortune resulting in multiple DNF’s due to mechanical issues and a crash that resulted in a hospital visit for Ricky. The SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite currently sits 6th in points and the entire crews knows how important this weekend will be to have a shot at the Overall 2010 Championship.

The team is also excited to announce that Forgiven Energy (http://www.ForgivenEnergy.com) has stepped up and come on board as a team sponsor for this weekend’s races.

Ricky was paralyzed from the chest down in a motocross racing accident in March of 2005. SoCal SuperTrucks outfitted the Super Lite race truck with hand controls that allow him to control the throttle, brake, clutch and shifting with his left hand while leaving his right hand free to steer. In 2009, Ricky made his rookie and race debut in the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite, capturing 5 out of 6 wins.

“We obviously are not where we had hoped to be at this point in the Season,” said Ricky James. “If we can keep the wheels on the dirt and the truck running smooth, we are the team to beat. I really want to thank the guys over at Forgiven Energy for stepping up this weekend and I’d love to give them a win for the added support they will be providing us.”

The team would like to thank current 2010 team sponsors, which include Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich, Walker Evans, Rockwell Time, K&N Filters, Alpinestars and AOKNick.org, as well Forgiven Energy.

For media and sponsorship inquiries, please contact
Todd Ballard- NXTagency
TBallard@NXTagency.com
(760) 828-3822

NXTagency Adds Top MTB Downhill Pro, Mick Hannah, for Athlete Representation

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:07:43 +0100

San Marcos, CA (April 26, 2010) – NXTagency, a boutique marketing agency based in Southern California, is excited to announce it has added Champion MTB Downhill racer, Mick Hannah, to its family of select athletes being represented and managed.

26 year-old Australian, “Sik Mik” Hannah is respected as one of the world’s premier gravity riders. The Factory GT Bicycles rider has been attached to a bicycle for over two decades, winning three Australian National BMX titles and a runner-up in the World BMX Championships before making the transition to mountain bikes. In the last decade, Hannah has earned a multitude of MTB-related accolades, podiums and wins at the sports most prestigious events. After a brief hiatus from racing in 2008, Mick returned in ‘09 with a vengeance capturing a 3rd place finish in the DH World Championships, 4 podiums at World Cup races and finished the season ranked 5th in World.

Over the past 7 years, NXTagency has worked with a host of premier brands, teams, events, media and athletes on a variety of initiatives….including licensing, athlete management, marketing, public relations, sponsorship acquisition and management, viral marketing/ social networking, event activation and more.

For 2010, Mick will be a top contender in the World Cup MTB Downhill Series, as well as select one-off events including the Red Bull Rampage, Lisboa Downtown, US Open and more. Hannah has already secured a win at this year’s first race, the Sea Otter Classic, taking top honors in the Dual Slalom where he has now won three years in a row.

About NXTagency
NXTagency is a boutique marketing entity that prides itself in its strong relationships and resources within Powersports, Action Sports, Motorsports and Active Sports. NXTagency has strong working relationships with the premier manufacturers, athletes, teams, media and events...providing clients with direct access to the core of these markets.

Current and past clients include Yamaha Factory Racing, Kevin Harvick Inc, Ronnie Renner, Troy Lee Designs, Ricky James, Terrible Herbst Motorsports, X Games, Daniel Blair, EPIC Action Video Cam, DaimlerChrysler, SoCal SuperTrucks and Jagermeister.
http://www.NXTagency.com

NXTagency's Ronnie Renner Signs with Airwalk

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:18:29 +0100

Collective Licensing International (CLI) has added Ronnie Renner, professional Freestyle Motocross (FMX) athlete, to the Airwalk pro team.

Under the agreement, Renner will endorse Airwalk footwear as the first Freestyle Motocross athlete on the roster. As one of the hardest working athletes in FMX, Renner has the skills and attitude to be the perfect ambassador to introduce Airwalk to the Moto world.

"Ronnie is one of the most respected athletes in motocross with a long future ahead of him; we're proud to support him and make him a part of the Airwalk team," said Bruce Pettet, President and CEO of Collective Licensing International.

An 11-year FMX veteran, Renner brings a full resume of achievements, as well as a competitive spirit to Airwalk. Last year the 32-year-old took home the gold in the X Games Step-Up and has been a consistent top performer in prior competitions. In 2008, Renner set a World Record for the highest Motorcycle jump on a quarter pipe at a staggering 59 feet 2 inches on California's Santa Monica pier only to break it one year later at 63 feet 5 inches.

Renner has appeared on MTV's Nitro Circus and Fuel TV's The Great Ride Open and has earned podium positions in X Games, Red Bull X-Fighters and many others. Renner is also working on his own "Freeride Tour," a venture that allows budding FMX riders to spend a week at a time at riding locations across the country.

"I am thrilled to be part of the Airwalk team, I have been a fan of the brand since I was a teenager," said Renner. "It's exciting to have Airwalk recognize Moto, I'm looking forward to a great year ahead."

Renner joins world-class athletes on the Airwalk roster including skateboarders Andy Macdonald and Tulio de Oliveira, surfers Anastasia Ashley and Warren Metcalfe, and Snowboarders Lindsey Jacobellis and Erich Dummer. For more information about Airwalk products and the Airwalk team, visit the official web site at www.airwalk.com

NXTagency's Phil Nicoletti to Fill in for Tommy Searle Under KTM Factory Tent

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:15:01 +0100

Murrieta, CA – Top performing West Lites Supercross privateer Phil Nicoletti will temporarily fill in for FMF/KTM Factory rider Tommy Searle at the remaining three Supercross rounds

After injuring his shoulder at the beginning of the year, Searle has sat out most of the Supercross season. Once healed during the break in the Lites Series, he began training for the outdoor nationals. “Now that Tommy is on the outdoor bike and after nearly two months training outdoors we decided it would be best to let him make a clean return at the outdoors and give Phil a chance to ride a Factory bike,” reported FMF/KTM Team Manager Casey Lytle. “Phil’s results on his own KTM bike have been quite impressive this season and we would really like to see if we can help him break into the top five.”

If this story sounds familiar, you would be right. The FMF/KTM Factory Team also gave the same opportunity to PJ Larsen at the beginning of the SX season when Searle was originally hurt. Larsen performed well and ended up with a 5th place performance on the bike after only two weeks before heading down under to contest the Australian Motocross National Championship.

Like Larsen, Nicoletti was left without a ride at the beginning of the year and is grateful for the opportunity to ride the remainder of the season on the FMF/KTM Factory bike. “It is amazing to get recognized by a factory team and be given a chance to ride and perform on the best equipment out there. I am looking forward to the last three rounds and will do my best to represent the FMF/KTM team,” commented Nicoletti. “I would love to give a shot out to my sponsors that have helped me get to where I am now, St. Lawrence Radiology, Alessi Racing, Moose, Scott, Twin Air, Renthal, Belray, Varner Motorsports, Dr. Maresca, FMF, MGX Unlimited, Dunlop and Hot Hedz Design.”

KTM fans can cheer on the #175 bike of Nicoletti at his first race as a FMF/KTM Factory rider this weekend at the Seattle Supercross event.

SOCAL SUPERTRUCKS SUPERLITE RACE REPORT: A Roller Coaster Weekend for Ricky James

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:50:43 +0100

San Bernardino, CA (April 19, 2010) – Ricky James and the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite experienced a rollercoaster weekend at Rounds 3 and 4 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series at Speedworld Motorsports Park in Surprise, AZ.

Despite turning the fastest lap times of the weekend, the team came home with an exciting 2nd place finish on Saturday, followed by a heartbreaking DNF on Sunday.

Ricky was paralyzed from the chest down in a motocross racing accident in March of 2005. SoCal SuperTrucks outfitted the Super Lite race truck with hand controls that allow him to control the throttle, brake, clutch and shifting with his left hand while leaving his right hand free to steer, pull tear-off’s and push the button necessary to communicate with race crew members. In 2009, Ricky made his rookie and race debut in the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite, capturing 5 out of 6 wins.

Friday’s qualifying set the tone for the weekend’s craziness as Ricky “conservatively” qualified for Saturday’s race with the 2nd fastest lap time before flipping the truck in an off-camber turn. The crew quickly went to work, getting the vehicle back in race condition for Saturday’s race.

Saturday morning started on a positive note as Ricky finished the morning’s practice with the fastest lap time. When the green flag waived, Ricky went to work, making his way through the field. After fighting his way into the lead, the truck began experiencing shifting problems which opened the door for Chad George to pass. Ricky was still able to miraculously hold on to finish in 2nd place for the day.

Sunday’s race was set to be one of total domination as Ricky piloted the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite to the fastest qualifying time by well-over a full second. After the inversion, James started the race on the outside of the 3rd row but quickly picked off the competition as he closed in on the race leader. Just before the halfway point of the race, Ricky lost full functionality of his clutch, taking him out of the race with a DNF.

“Although we didn’t come home with a win, I think we made a ton of progress as a team”, said Ricky James. “The crew worked amazingly well together and the puzzle pieces are all there. There’s still a lot of racing left this year and the goal is still to take home the overall Championship.”

The team’s next race is May 22nd and 23rd at Rounds 5 and 6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The team would like to thank current 2010 team sponsors, which include Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich, Walker Evans, Rockwell Time, K&N Filters, Alpinestars and AOKNick.org.

Daniel Blair Back for Last Two Rounds of Supercross

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:02:07 +0100

San Marcos, CA (April 20, 2010) – Monster Energy Supercross rider #125, Daniel Blair, has announced he will come back from injuries sustained earlier this season to race the final two rounds of the SX series (Salt Lake City and Las Vegas) aboard a Honda CRF450R.

Blair injured both knees while racing the early rounds of the 450 Class in preparation for the East Coast Lites division earlier this season. After the second stop at Anaheim, he decided to undergo surgery on both knees and has endured a rigorous rehabilitation program to get back on the bike.

“It was a really tough decision to go under the knife, knowing I was in a position to have the best season of my career”, says Blair. “I have only been back on the bike for a little over a week, but feel the best way to get back to where I was is to race. My knees feel amazing and I’m excited to see my fans and represent my sponsors who have stood behind me.”

Although he missed a majority of the race season, Blair has had a busy few months as his wife gave birth to their first child earlier this Month. Daniel has also joined NXTagency to assist with rider representation where he can share his lifelong racing experiences with up-and-coming talent and has been working on a full-length album with his brother, Vincent, and their band, “The Main Event”.

Daniel would like to thank all those brands that have supported him in 2010 including Bully Dog Technologies, O’Neal, Gaerne, Jardine, Scott, EVS, Renthal, Dunlop, Motorex, UFO Plastics, Works Connection, No Toil, Factory Backing, EvoMX, Airide Suspension, C4MX, TCCI and NXTagency.

Be sure to follow Daniel Blair at http://www.Blair125.com, http://www.Twitter.com/Blair_125 and on http://www.facebook.com/DanielBlair125 to see his upcoming race schedule, weekly training/ race reports and new sponsor announcements.

Ricky James and the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite Look to Defend Their Success This Weekend in ...

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:49:04 +0100

April 13, 2010 (San Bernardino, CA)—SoCal SuperTrucks and Ricky James are prepared and ready to race this weekend, April 17th and 18th, as they look to defend the success they experienced in 2009 at Speedworld in Surprise, AZ where they came away with a 1st and 2nd place finish during rounds 9 and 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series.

James and the team have recovered from the tough race weekend they experienced in Las Vegas this past March, and look to start a Championship run at the first points-awarded race this weekend.

Ricky was paralyzed from the chest down in a motocross racing accident in March of 2005. SoCal SuperTrucks outfitted the Super Lite race truck with hand controls that allow him to control the throttle, brake, clutch and shifting with his left hand while leaving his right hand free to steer, pull tear-off’s and push the button necessary to communicate with race crew members. In 2009, Ricky made his rookie and race debut in the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite, capturing 5 out of 6 wins.

“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel again this weekend,” said Ricky James. “We’ve had more time to prepare since Las Vegas so I’m pretty confident we’ll get the job done.”

The team would like to thank current 2010 team sponsors, which include Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich, Walker Evans, Rockwell Time, K&N Filters, Alpinestars and AOKNick.org.

SoCal SuperTrucks carries the finest, race-proven products for your vehicle, including such premier brands as Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich All Terrain/ Mud Terrain Tires, Walker Evans Wheels and Fox Racing Shox. Other brands carried include CST Performance Suspension, Total Chaos, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Toyo, K&N and KMC Wheels. Whether it’s a complete suspension build up for your pre-runner truck, modifications to your UTV, wheels & tires for your ride, or merely advice on what tire might work best for your driving style, the team at SoCal SuperTrucks has the knowledge and expertise to satisfy all your custom truck, UTV and auto needs.

For media and sponsorship inquiries, please contact
Todd Ballard- NXTagency
TBallard@NXTagency.com
(760) 828-3822