Motourage

Celtic Racing has announced that it has signed 2011 AMA Pro Racing SuperSport champion James Rispoli and has entered into new partnership with Orient Express Racing, a New York based performance aftermarket motorcycle parts supplier. The team, named Celtic-Orient Express Racing will participate in the 2012 AMA SuperSport class.

James “The Rocket” Rispoli captured two titles in 2011 – the AMA Pro SuperSport overall title and the SuperSport East Division championship – and earned the Young Gun Award for the best 16-21 year old road racer in America. Rispoli celebrated two wins, at Barber Motorsports Park and New Jersey Motorsports Park, and he earned six podium finishes, finishing off the rostrum only once.

“I am really excited to be working with Barry Gilsenan and the Celtic Racing team,” said Rispoli. “They’re known for working with young talent and helping to bring out the best in them. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and will be an awesome learning year for me. I now have the experienced crew and backing I need to excel and really put everything I have into each ride. I want to thank Barry and all the sponsors for this incredible opportunity; I can’t wait for the first test.”

“James put on an impressive display winning the championship in 2011, and I am very happy to have signed him for this year,” said team owner Barry Gilsenan. “He is young, talented and has a bright future in the sport. We look forward to working with James to defend his championship. I am also delighted to announce our continued association with Orient Express, who has been a loyal supporter of our team for many years. This year Orient Express has stepped up their support to become a co-title sponsor and I thank them for that. With the signing of Corey Alexander and the National Guard Fairhills Group program, Celtic has the strongest team it has ever had.”

Skip Dowling of Orient Express stated, “We are pleased to again be working with Celtic Racing and especially excited to support two talented, up-and-coming young racers for 2012. These riders impressed us with their professionalism and success both on and off the track. We’re glad to be able to support the team with some of the best components on the planet. Being associated with the Army National Guard is an honor we will not take lightly and will strive to be worthy representatives.”

To the road racing crowd, James Rispoli may be one of the newer faces, but the 20 year old has been putting in his time since long before he took to the asphalt under the AMA banner. The accomplished flat tracker and land speed racer knows what he’s doing behind a set of handlebars, but he has also been a very successful marketer. James “the Rocket” Rispoli – as a Brand – should be an example to other racers, at any level. The Rispolis and their marketing team have demonstrated time and again that there’s more to racing than what goes on at the track. They use positive, effective marketing to reach fans as well as potential sponsors. A note to other riders and teams: Pay attention; this is how it’s done.

The Rocket marketing machine is at it again. This time with partner Maverick Moto Media, the Philadelphia-based social media, marketing and advertising shop run by Lance Lau. They’re in the process of launching a social media platform to connect fans, riders and sponsors; a connection that has been seriously lacking in American pro racing.

From a Maverick Moto Media/James Rispoli press release:

AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport rider James “the Rocket” Rispoli announces the release of a new social media program in coordination with social media partner Maverick Moto Media. The ANT Racing Motorsports sponsored rider envisioned a multi-platform media center that encourages conversation and engagement by attracting the market demographic that supports action sports and everything the motorcycle life-style has to offer.

“This is the start of a new chapter in my program that I am very excited about” stated James. We have all used multi-media for a long time to get our message out to the market, but in today’s fast pace world we have to innovate and keep moving forward.”

Information exchange and collaboration makes using social media for marketing not only the future it will become the life-style in which we communicate worldwide before we know it.

“I’m really pumped about the program and want to learn, partner and embrace all the technology has to offer. I want to accelerate building my brand and the brands I represent in the sport.  I can easily see that now more than ever my efforts both on and off the track will benefit my sponsors and fans when working together.  I’m excited to ride, race and measure our success by winning in social media just as I win on the track.  The future promises to be so much FUN.”

“I am excited to be working with James and the ANT Racing team.” said Lance Lau, owner of Maverick Moto Media.  “I’ve followed James since he began road racing and he has an incredible combination of talent, focus and sportsmanship. James’ youthful excitement for the sport makes him an excellent ambassador for motorcycle market.  I believe we can do a lot together to connect and engage with fans and raise the profile of his brand, team, as well as their sponsors.”

About James “the Rocket” Rispoli:
James is a 20 year old Action Sports Athlete that races motorcycles in AMA Pro Road Race, AMA Pro Flattrack and AMA Landspeed record breaking. James also provides sales and marketing representation for sponsor companies that support him and his team. Please follow James at www.jamesrispoli.com, www.facebook/JamesRispoliRacing.com andwww.twitter/jamesrispoli.com.

About Maverick Moto Media:
Maverick Moto Media is a full service firm providing social media marketing solutions to the powersports industry, led by Lance Lau. With an obsessive, laser-focus on the motorcycle industry and social media, Maverick Moto Media is uniquely situated to help Motorcycle-related manufacturers, retailers, service providers and racers, connect with their customers and fans, strengthen their brands and grow their business.

Maverick Moto Media provides social media marketing services via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & LinkedIn. Additionally MMM provides Image Building & Branding, Website Consultation, SEO, Targeted List Building Strategies, Business and Marketing Coaching, Press Relations & Releases, Editorial Content Generation & Product Photography & Video services. Follow Maverick Moto Media at http://facebook.com/MaverickMotoMedia & http://twitter.com/maverickmmedia

AllAboutBikes Magazine supports AMA racer James Rispoli for the 2011 season

AllAboutBikes magazine has signed on as a media sponsor of Supersport rider James “the Rocket” Rispoli for the 2011 AMA Pro Racing season. Rispoli, a professional AMA Road Racing and Flat Track rider, has two first place finishes and 14 podiums since joining the Pro Class in 2009.

As AMA amateur Dirt Track racer in 2007, Rispoli earned 18 national titles, 22 national podiums, two grand championships, and two AMA short track titles. In 2008 he took four first place titles. James currently rides for Ant Racing Motorsports in the Supersport class, piloting a late model GSXR600. His season will kick off in Daytona on March 10, 2011.

“We’re very excited for this opportunity to sponsor James,” said Rodney Burrell, Executive Editor of AllAboutBikes. “We know that he is going to do great things next season, and we are happy to be involved.”

Owner and fabricator Charlie Benton has set out to chase a couple of 40-year-old land speed records with the help of 2009 650 twin record holder James Rispoli. Benton, who is a veteran tuner, relies on his experience and knowledge that dates back to the glory days of NASCAR.  Benton continues to use the same competitive spirit when working in his own Southport, NC race facility.

In 2007, Benton built and tuned the race bikes for the Pair of Nines Moto-ST race team of Hall of Famers Gary Nixon, Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Filice. On March 2, 2008 Benton’s team of Rispoli and Cobb took home first place gold at the legendary Daytona speedway winning the Daytona 300 Moto/ST. In 2009, his first time on the Salt Flats, Benton and rider James Rispoli set a new AMA Land speed record in the 650 twin class. In 2010’ Benton has set his sights the 750 twin land speed record that have been standing since 1969 and 1974 in the open bike classes and the streamliner class respectively. To attack the records Benton has again chosen pro road racer and flat tracker James Rispoli.

“I am so excited to be going back to Bonneville after some records that have been standing for better than 40 years,” said Benton. “We spent time in the wind tunnel after last years record breaking and learned a lot.  I built a new 750 cc class twin on a modified chassis and we think we have a great shot a new record. I’m confident James will do his job and now with some experience under the team’s belt, we are better prepared than ever.”

Rispoli said, “To have this opportunity again with Charlie this year is even more special than last years Bonneville run.  Charlie has built a crazy fast 750 motor and I can’t wait to ease it down the measured mile in hopes of capturing a world record.  Last year was incredible, but this year should be the best.  My mechanic Dustin will join me in support of our efforts and it will be a great experience for all of us again.”

Cycle Dynamics will be on the salt August 30th – September 1st.

Flattrack, Road Racing and Land Speed records, oh my!
by James “the Rocket” Rispoli

Most 18 year olds would be content riding and racing one discipline just for fun let alone at the pro-level in three very different and diverse ones! Not me!

Hi, my name is James Rispoli and they have been calling me “the Rocket” since I was on a Suzuki JR 50cc motorcycle and 6 years old. I’m now 18 years old and a multi-discipline racer who loves Flattrack, Road Racing and now Land-Speed record chasing. I have been fortunate to have had an opportunity to sample so many types of racing at such a young age and in 2009 finally moved up to the AMA pro ranks and challenged the best in the nation and in some cases the world in some of those disciplines.  This year was really unique for me, especially during such a turbulent financial crisis in the world and more importantly what the motorcycle business was going through.  It was tough on sponsors and even tougher on racers especially us new up and coming ones.  But I had great support of my family, friends and long time sponsors that followed me all through my amateur career and we were able to get by and do more with less than ever before.  It was pretty cool and I was blessed to have all that support to say the least.

The 2009 season was awesome as I rode the AMA GNC pro-singles Flattrack class and finished second overall in the championship.  I also sampled three AMA Supersport class races and in my debut race at road America I finished 4^th overall against 26 of the fastest 16-21 year olds in the nation.  That performance got me a one time ride on the Roadracingworld.com/M4 Suzuki at Laguna Seca, the same weekend the MotoGP was in town. This time I challenged all race for the last spot on the podium only to make a mistake and ended up 4^th again, less than one second off the box. It was awesome.  But the most awesome thing that happened was that I was given a call from a long time sponsor Charlie Benton of North Carolina.  Charlie is a master craftsman who builds super fast and meticulous motors and motorcycles.  When I was 16 years old he invited me to be a race driver on his MotoGT team driving one of his Kawasaki twins at the Daytona 300. We went out and won that race against veteran flattrackers and road racers Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Felice who won it the year before.  It was too cool.  Now, Charlie called me up because he wanted to modify one of the Kawasaki 650 twins and go after a land speed record and he wanted me to pilot the vehicle into the record books.

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James “the Rocket” Rispoli gears up for the season finale of the inaugural AMA Pro Singles Championship at the Fairplex at Pomona, CA. James has already solidified an outstanding second place finish overall out of 68 pro riders in the championship while riding his Weirbach Racing team bikes. For this weekend’s final race of the season, James will be riding a bike provided by Sammy Sweet Racing as part of a one-off race sponsorship package.

James, a multi-discipline rider, came from a significant 19 point deficit after the second race of the season to catch and pass the points leader only to give way to a mediocre 5^th place finish at the Indy Mile. With a 10-point deficit to make up and three races to go, there was still a great chance with the Springfield Mile, Springfield short track and Pomona half-mile races left. Then the odds started to pile up. With the Springfield mile called for darkness and races winding down to only two, James laid it all on the line in the last-chance Springfield short track that was rescheduled for Monday after a rain out there during the Saturday evening program. Qualifying fourth, the Rocket got the hole shot, led all but the last lap and set fastest lap time in the race.  In a brave last-ditch effort move to take the win, James went for a small opening going into turn three only to have the door closed causing an unplanned high side exiting turn four, falling short of the finish line. That 16^th place race gave the championship away but solidified his place in the history books.

“I am really blessed to have such great people who believe in me as I move forward in my career as a professional motorcycle racer,” said James.  “Everyone around me gave 110% and we charged back from some mistakes, mis-queues, injuries and set-up problems.  It was a shame so many races were rained out or cancelled because I know what I can do both on and off the track, and the championship was mine to win. Meanwhile, I learned a bunch from everyone and I can’t thank Dick Weirbach and his crew enough for a great season.  I also wanted to say big thanks to Sammy Sweet and my friends Dave and Ryan Wells.  Sammy came up with a frame, stout motor and the labor while the Wells family provided the suspension and wheels.  Between them they came up with the parts needed to put a bike together for me to race at Pomona. And, a huge thanks to the team of Chris Carr and Kenny Tolbert for bringing the bike out to the west coast.  I sincerely look forward to riding hard, smart and fast for my team and to put on a great season finale show for all the fans that will come out to watch the pro-singles race.  I know it’s going to be a heck of an east vs. west coast show down so stay tuned.”

You can follow the action on James’ web site www.jamestherocket.com

Hi everyone;

What a crazy weekend it was at Springfield. I arrived at the Springfield short track and mile after capturing a AMA National Land Speed record a the Bonneville Salt Flats. My dad and I flew into St. Louis from Utah where we were picked up and made our way to the track about an hour and a half away. When I arrived I immediately went to the track to see the amateur race so I could see the layout of the track and the conditions of the dirt. Things looked in order and I was getting excited about racing there the next night.

On Saturday, the skies were threatening with rain but we still made our way into the pit area for set up. There was a huge crowd and with the combined expert and pro classes there were record amounts of races and team participating. It made for a long trek into the pit area for set up which started at 7AM in the morning. We had our practice sessions on time and then the skis started to spray a little water on the track. Initially it wasn’t too bad and AMA Pro and the IMDA worked hard to rush us through our qualifying. We managed to qualify both classes and then played games with the weather and the track prep from 8PM to after midnight before they cancelled the race. It was the most frustrating and tiring day I had in a long time. The main reason was I needed to compete in both races that weekend if I was to have any chance of closing in on the 10 point gap I had with Baker for the championship. Missing another race because of rain like we did in Sturgis was really going to hurt my chances since time was running out. The only saving grace was that we had a rain date for Monday so my chances were still alive.

James "The Rocket" Rispoli

With the short track behind us for the time being we woke up to headed down to the mile track to see what we could do there. Unfortunately the rain caused the mile track to be too wet to even cross with the big rigs so we were all on hold for a good portion of the day waiting for the old mother nature to do its thing and dry the track out naturally for a while. It was well after 1PM in the afternoon before they put a truck on the track and with the mile track without lights, it was clearly going to be a challenge getting the race in if they could even get the track to come around. I guess it was around 2:30PM or so when they started to let us in to set up but it was really getting late. The decision was made to set up and run the expert program all the way through and then if there was time run the our pro class. I was already starting to get bummed because I couldn’t afford to have both races cancelled with only one race on the schedule left to gain points.

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