Team Solitaire Launches Website
8/26/2003

Team Solitaire is proud to announce the launch of TeamSolitaire.com, a site built by California based design firm Angry Associates. The new website will serve as a means to inform, educate and entertain fans and motorcycle enthusiasts about the goings on of Team Solitaire and its riders, along with various other privateers traveling the Supercross and Outdoor National circuit. Stop by www.teamsolitaire.com today and become enlightened.

Millville, MN
8/17/2003

Straight from the mouths (or keyboards, rather) of the riders, here is the much waited Millville race report. It marked the best outdoor showing for the Team Solitaire squad thus far in 2003. This would not be possible without the outstanding sponsors and fans of the team. Thank you very much for all of your support and we look forward to putting the Team Solitaire Yamaha's even further up in the standings next weekend at Binghamton.

Michael Blose - #482 - 125cc Division
"Coming off the two week break I was feeling good and excited to be coming back east to some real tracks. Saturday was good because I didn't have to do any qualifiers, so I was automatically into Sunday which was nice. Sunday's qualifying went well I ended up 9th and was ready for the main. Moto one didn't go as well as I ended up in a crash breaking my front break off so I could not continue. Moto two went alright, I got collected in a first turn crash. I got out of that and worked my way up to 16th where I finished. I am very excited going into the next round and can't wait to get more points."

Erick Vallejo - #179 - 125cc Division
"Hello everyone. This weekend was a good one, and let me tell you why! It all started Saturday with practice where I felt really good on the track. With luck on my side there were no Saturday qualifiers, so we finished the day early and I knew I was good for Sunday. My Sunday qualifier went great, I almost pulled a holeshot but managed to get a top ten start and I worked my way up to a six place finish. That gave me some confidence for the motos; despite the fact that my knee hurts every time I ride, I was still happy to be there that particular weekend! Back to racing, first moto I crashed and the second moto when I ran into the back of Tyson Hadsell. They over watered the start and the next straightaway, so many riders where crashing. I got up and worked my way up to 18th...which was not bad after a crash but not what I really wanted. So after the first moto I knew I had the speed for a top 15 finish and all I needed was a start. The second moto comes around and I had a decent start and by the end of the second lap I was in 14th. When I was about to round the start/finish line corner, there was a rider down but I saw no yellow flags so I hit his bike went over the bars and 20 other guys piled on top of my bike...still no yellow flags!!! Well I finally got up I was working my way up and I crashed for the second time in the whoop section. I was frustrated after that so I just finished the race for 21st place! I finished 23rd overall which is not good but I was happy because I know I tried hard and I was happy to be back into racing with my teammates!!! Well that's my side of the story for this past weekend and I want to thank all of you for your support and a big thanks to Aaron Johnson my mechanic!
Thanks again and I hope you all have a great week."

Ryan Clark - #37 - 250cc Division
"Millville has long been one of my favorite tracks of the Outdoor National Series. With two weekends off leading into the race, I was especially excited when I pulled out for practice on Saturday morning. The track was sandier than normal, and they had more than doubled the whoop section back by the sand wash. My bike was running great, partly due to acquisition of my new mechanic Chad Sanner, and also because of my new engine set-up that Swedetech had built for me. It was shaping up to be a great weekend.

Sunday morning rolled around much too early, as it always seems to. I am not a morning person at all, but I have faced resistance when trying to change the schedule to accommodate my sleep requirements. The morning practice sessions continued much the way Saturday's had ended, and I easily qualified for the show via an eighth place finish in my heat. The stage was set for the national moto's; off I went to take my mid-day nap.

The temperature continued to rise as the day wore on, and by the falling of the gate on the first 250cc moto, it was well into the 90's and the humidity was as thick as New York City rush hour traffic. I began with a start inside the top twenty, and immediately passed further up in the field. I was making a move to pass Heath Voss for 13th at about the halfway mark when I noticed that something was wrong. The adjustment bolt that allows for me to move my footpegs up and down for comfort had broken off. My peg, though still attached, had dropped down at nearly a 45 degree angle, making it impossible to maintain my current pace. As the race wore on I held on to every position I could, and even passed Larry Ward near the end of the moto. I managed to chalk up a 15th place finish, despite the minor setback.

My second moto start was not as strong. I did my usual first lap charge through the pack, and managed to pass into 17th by the end of lap one. The field was spreading out quickly, but I kept the riders in front of me in sight. I was passed by Ramsey and Ward, but got by Jason Thomas and Heath Voss. I was closing back in on Ramsey as the white flag came out, but just didn't have anything left to mount a last lap charge. I crossed the finish line in 16th position, giving me a 16th overall finish on the day.

The weekend was successful for me, and I will try to keep improving for next weekend's race in Binghamton, NY. Thank you to all of our wonderful team sponsors and fans for their continued support. A special thanks to all three of team mechanics (Aaron, Kevin and Chad) for making my life so much easier at the races and during the week. It could not happen without you guys!"

Best Regards,

Ryan Clark
Team Solitaire
ryan@teamsolitaire.com