Kawasaki Team Green Scores Nine National Titles At the Winter Olympics
Foothill Ranch, CA (November 26, 2018) – Monster Energy® Kawasaki Team Green™ kicked off the 2018 Amateur Motocross Winter Olympics serving up trackside support for their 37th year at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida during Thanksgiving week. Team Green took home five supercross championships and four motocross championships aboard Kawasaki KX™ motorcycles, as well as 18 other podium finishes.
Nick Romano was hands down the star of the week in the youth classes for Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green as he rode both his KX™85 and KX™100 motocross bikes impeccably in both of the supercross and motocross series. Romano took home the supercross championship in the Mini Sr. (12-15) class and the Mini Sr. (12-15) Limited class. He also found the podium in two other classes. He continued his winning ways with three trips to the podium in motocross where he took home the Supermini 1 (12-15) class.
Kawasaki Team Green's newest recruit Drew Adams made his debut on Kawasaki as well as jumped up to the 85cc class to race for the first time. Looking to gain experience racing on the bigger bike and with older riders, Adams was able to do just that finishing fourth in the 85cc (9-11) in supercross and fifth in the 85cc (9-11) Limited in the motocross racing portion, while exciting the team with the way he rode in his debut. Teammate Chance Hymas fought back from starting outside the top 20 and worked his way forward through the pack on each occasion.
"I felt good all week," said Romano. "I am stoked with how I rode, but can always work on a few things. I wanted a couple more championships, but I am happy to be leaving here healthy and excited to see what 2019 has in store. I'm so grateful for alI of the support from my family, my team, and everyone who helps me out.”
In the big bike classes, unfortunately on the first day of supercross practice, the team lost amateur all-star Seth Hammaker to a shoulder injury that would sideline him for the week. With Hammaker out Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green's Stilez Robertson would have to carry the workload for the team throughout the week. Mini O's marked Robertson's return to racing after missing most of 2018 aboard his KX™250F. Robertson was able to win several motos in both the supercross and motocross races and found the podium in multiple classes. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green's veteran Hannah Hodges had her work cut out for her all week long as she raced in the A classes as well as the Women's classes. The crafty Hodges was able to capture a title in the Women's 12+ class for supercross and scored second overall in the same class for motocross.
"Mini O's is in the books," said Robertson. "I still have a lot to learn, but I'm enjoying the process of riding the new bike. It's been a long road back to being healthy and I am looking forward to putting in the work to make 2019 as successful as possible."
The ageless wonder of John Grewe made the trip down to Mini O's to continue his winning ways on both supercross and motocross. Grewe never finished off the podium in any of his classes and was able to capture an impressive five overall championships with two in supercross, Senior 40+ and Senior 45+, and three in motocross Senior 40+, Senior 45+, and Masters 50+ class.
"It’s been a Team Green tradition to attend the Mini O's for all of these years," said Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green Manager, Ryan Holliday. "It's a great event for the riders and their families as we all come together over Thanksgiving. I enjoyed watching our riders compete and get better throughout the week. It was also great to have our Team Green trackside support crew on hand to offer top-notch service to all Kawasaki riders throughout the week and help them get back out on the track."
First Place Finishes
Nick Romano – Mini Sr (12-15)
Nick Romano – Mini Sr (12-15) Limited
Hannah Hodges – Women's 12+
John Grewe – Senior 40+
John Grewe – Senior 45+
Second Place Finishes
Stilez Robertson – 250 B
John Grewe – Masters 50+
Third Place Finishes
Nick Romano – 85cc (12-13)
Nick Romano – Supermini 1 (12-15)
Adam Cranford – College Boy (16-24)
DJ Weber – 450 C
Earl May – Senior 45+
Kawasaki rider championships and podium finishes from 2018 Winter Olympics Motocross Results:
First Place Finishes
Nick Romano – Supermini 1 (12-15)
John Grewe – Masters 40+
John Grewe – Masters 45+
John Grewe – Masters 50+
Second Place Finishes
Nick Romano – 85cc (12-13)
Hannah Hodges – Women's 12+
Stilez Robertson – 250 B
Gregory Pamart – Vet 35+
Sam Allen – Masters 55+
Third Place Finishes
Stilez Robertson – Schoolboy 2 (13-17) B/C
Nick Romano – Supermini 2 (13-16)
John Grewe – Vet 35+
Jeremy Parsons – Masters 40+
Gregory Pamart – Masters 45+
Mark Thomas – Masters 55+
