CARLSBAD, Calif.—SPY Optic™ today announced a sponsorship deal with freestyle motocross sensation Andrè Villa. Villa will be endorsing SPY® goggles and sunglasses on and off the track through 2011 and for an undisclosed term thereon.
“Andrè is a monster on the FMX scene, we’ve been working with him casually for some time, and SPY is really stoked to have him on board officially as part of the team,” says Kyle Krause, SPY motocross segment manager. “With what he did in Dubai, Brazil and Italy already, he’s definitely going to have some eyeballs on him as he chases down the X-Fighters Championship title, and we’re looking forward to sharing that exciting ride with him.”
Villa finished first runner-up in the 2010 Red Bull X-Fighter World Tour. He is currently sitting in the No. 2 spot on this year’s Tour with three podium finishes under his belt in as many stops. Next-up for the Norwegian-born rider is the Red Bull X-Fighters stop in Madrid, Spain, July 15, and he is confirmed for X Games 17 this summer at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, July 29.
“Andrè spends a lot of time at his place down here in Southern California, so we have a great opportunity to connect locally, which bridges our international program to our local market interests,” says Victor Sheldon, SPY motocross marketing manager. “That’s rare and makes this relationship really healthy with great potential for our retail partners and moto fans.”
Villa joins a family of SPY motocross luminaries including AMA Supercross legends Jeremy McGrath, Kevin Windham, Kyle Regal and Ricky Dietrich; amateur MX’rs Tyler Bereman, Chris Plouffe and Blake Green; MX1 Champion Antonio Cairoli; and the Babbitt Monster Kawasaki Energy Team.
“SPY was one of the first brands to support me in my FMX career and I am glad to be flashing the most stylish goggles in the industry,” says Villa. “Jeremy and Kevin have been huge influences on me and I have always thought of SPY as one of the best names in moto. The chance to work with my idols, to be able to ride with them, to be on the same team as Antonio (Cairoli) and to represent SPY is very cool.”
SPY’s Jeremy McGrath and fifty-one of his riding friends, including SPY’s own Motorsports Marketing Manager Victor Sheldon, took a trip south across the border. Racer X asked the King of Supercross to keep a journal along the way.
Jeremy McGrath, Brian Cassaro from DC Shoes and SPY’s Victor Sheldon along with many other happy trail riders.
Oakley’s Anthony Paggio and SPY’s Victor Sheldon sharing some Mexican cuisine.
MC flying high in Mexico.
For the full article and photos check out the June 2011 issue of Racer X.
This Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22, Rounds 5&6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series heads to Stronghold Motorsports’ home track at Glen Helen Raceway.
SPY’s Jeremy McGrath and Rob Naughton have established themselves among the front-runners for the Pro 2 Unlimited season crown. Naughton took the Round 2 win at Firebird Raceway in Arizona while MC has battled his way to the podium in two of the first four rounds.
After this Saturdays race, Stronghold Motorsports and Lucas Oil are presenting a concert featuring the bands Assuming We Survive, Hyla Brook, and Atreyu’s Brandon Saller with the Black Cloud Collective. The concert is included with admission.
Make sure to stop by the SPY RV this Sunday at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Glen Helen Raceway!
Kevin Windham, Kyle Regal and Tyler Bowers Ready for SX Vegas Finals
SPY’s Kevin Windham currently sits in seventh in the overall points standings going into this weekend’s Supercross Vegas finals at Sam Boyd Stadium, Nevada. He pulled through this season’s up and down year with some crashes earlier, but nevertheless knows how to finish strong on the field. He grabbed an impressive second place at the Seattle Supercross…you never know with Windham, look for #14 on Saturday wearing his signature Klutch moto goggle. Fellow SPY team mates Kyle Regal #30 and Tyler Bowers #911 will also be in the lineup for Saturday’s Supercross finale.
Don’t forget to get your party on with SPY and DC Shoes presenting the official kickoff Supercross party at Jet Night Club, Mirage on Friday night May 6 with the legendary Jeremy McGrath and snowboarder Louie Vito. You’ll definitely want to soak up some more sun after Saturday’s race with the official after party with SPY and DC Shoes on Sunday, May 8 at the Bare Pool Lounge, Mirage. Get your SPY pool shades ready!
After Saturday’s SX Finals at Sam Boyd Stadium get ready to kick back and relax again with SPY and DC Shoes at Bare Pool Lounge, Mirage. MC and Louie Vito will be on site to share their pool floats with you. It’s going to be all time!
SPY High Flying 4/20 Ride Day @ Pala Raceway in Concert with Jeremy McGrath, DC Shoes, Deft Gloves, Kawasaki, KTM, Transworld Motocross and Wahoo’s Fish Taco
SPY brought one of the largest crowds on record to Pala Raceway yesterday, as it celebrated the completion of the “SPY Shady Spot” portable lounge at this renowned moto venue with a different kind of ride day.
Hundreds of motocross riders, fans and industry folk showed-up to witness the first “Dethrone the King Holeshot Race” featuring Jeremy McGrath as the reigning king. Dozens of Average Joes (some less average than others) lined-up for a shot at the crown, and two Pros in Joes clothing wound-up toppling the The King from his throne! (Not that that King needs any excuses, but he got stuck good in the middle of some serious chaos off the line, with a sea of speed freaks bumping shoulders and grabbing throttles en route to the holeshot… What happened to “safety first”?!)
It was an all-SPY podium at the awards ceremony. Congrats go to SPY endorser and KTM’s own Mike Sleeter and SPY athlete Grant Langston. Sleeter was presented the Holeshot Winner’s trophy by none other than MC himself and the ever-creepy Matt “Smelly” Chong.
After grabbing some lunch from Wahoo’s Fish Taco it was time to dive into the industry-stacked SPY Mini Bike Relay. Team Deft Gloves took top honors, just nudging out the SPY team who took second, followed by The Easter Bunnies and Team Kawasaki in third and fourth place.
Special thanks to Jeremy McGrath, DC Shoes, Deft Gloves, Kawasaki, KTM, Transworld Motocross and Wing and the crew at Wahoo’s Fish Taco.
3 MC's fly over...Photo by Brett Hillyard
SPY Shady Spot at Pala
SPY's legendary MC, surfers Mike Losness and Parker Coffin
SPY's wakeboarder Melissa Marquardt, Alliance Wakeboard's Bill McCaffray and son
Winners of the mini bike race Logan Darien, SPY's "Smelly" Chong and Brian Foster
The DC crew strategizing the holeshot race
The calm before the storm. Who will dethrone the champ?
We can’t take ALL the credit … but its nice to brag anyways.
This Spring, SPY+ athletes have taken things to the next level by snagging THREE Transworld covers.
Jeremy McGrath on the April cover of TransWorld Moto which includes an 11 page feature story, “Rare Air”, a behind the scenes look at SPY’s latest photo shoot on MC’s ranch. Hitting the shelves on March 22nd.
Shane Bonifay on the April cover of Transworld Wake, giving you just a taste of ”A Fly on the Gunnel Wall,” following a month in the life of Parks Bonifay’s MasterCraft X-Star. In stores March 15th.
John Florence on the cover of the 2011 Gear Guide as he steals the limelight in the issues’ “Pro Spotlight.” On sale March 15th.
