Twenty-one year old Salinas Expert Single and Expert Twin pro racer Stevie Bonsey, riding a Honda CRF450 is heading to DuQuoin, Illinois for Round 3 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Racing Series. The race is being held at the Southern Illinois Center, in DuQuoin on April 16th. Last year, Stevie Bonsey put his name on the map of the who's-who in the racing industry when he won his first Grand National win at the Calistoga Fairgrounds Half Mile on July 31st, 2010 riding his #80 Dodge Brothers/ Johnny Goad backed Harley-Davidson. Bonsey came on strong, with a consistent ride, taking the lead on the seventeenth lap and holding the national win from pro racers Sammy Halbert (2nd), Jake Johnson (3rd), Chris Carr (4th), and Jared Mees (5th).
Bonsey's diverse riding skills have given him the opportunity to ride everything from Flat Track to Motocross, to the intense speeds of road racing at last July's MotoGP World Champion races at Mazda Raceway riding a Harley XR750. He's had his taste of the fast and furious, and high jumps of motocross, but Bonsey is grounded, knowing what it takes to rides his way to the top by proving himself at this years AMA Pro Flat Track racing season which we all got to experience at the first inaugural AMA Pro Grand National Championship race that was held in Salinas on April 23rd and 24th, 2011.
TM: HOW DID IT FEEL TAKING A WIN LAST YEAR AT THE CALISTOGA HALF-MILE:
Bonsey: It was insane! I couldn't believe I had won to some of the racers that I've looked up too.
TM: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WINNING TO NATIONAL CHAMPION VETERAN RACER CHRIS CARR:
Bonsey: Oh man, Chris Carr is one of my all time favorite riders. I wasn't stoked!
TM: YOU'VE ROAD ALL OVER THE NATION FROM HOLLAND TO SPAIN AND RAN THE CIRCUIT IN THE STATES, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO RIDE:
Bonsey: I really like riding around my home town of Salinas to have my local fans be able to see me.
MIKEY AVILA #33~
Madera, California's seventeen year old pro racer Mikey Avila is one of the hottest riders on the flat track circuit today. He holds his first professional win at round one of the Motorcycle Superstore AMA Pro Singles Championship in Daytona on March 10th, 2011.
Avila is currently tied in the standings at 43 points with Gerit Callies and will be riding in the upcoming race in DuQuoin, Illinois in the AMA Pro Single division in hopes of having another win and securing first in the standings in his division. Avila has been riding since the ripe age of three and is living his dream now that he has a professional win under his belt.
Hall of Fame, four time Grand National Champion rider Ricky Graham is Avila's role model. As anyone knows who follows flat track racing, Graham is widely considered as one of the most talented dirt track racers of all times. "He was a great rider, says Avila. Continuing "He had great form and held a long and successful career."
TM: I HEARD YOU RODE YOUR DAD AROUND THE TRACK AFTER YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN OUT IN DAYTONA?
Avila: Yeah, I couldn't believe it. My Dad's always been their for me and I wouldn't have been here without him. I just wanted him to be a part of it.
TM: HOW WAS IT WINNING YOUR SECOND PROFESSIONAL WIN OUT IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA?
Avila: It was amazing! I was having some problems with my bike at first, but once we got that fixed it was all over. I knew I was going to take it."
TM: WHAT ARE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR?
Avila: Win the AMA Pro Singles Championship
TM: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS and ARE YOU LOOKING TO CONVERT OVER TO A ROAD RACER?
Avila: Most definitely! I'm hoping only a year. If I had the opportunity I would have already been road racing. Just haven't had the right opportunity.
