Laninovich Takes Podium in Opener
Rookie Wiemer finishes fourth

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Toronto, Ontario ~ The winter race season usually revolves around snow and ice in Toronto, but it also means the start of the World Supercross Series.  The series, which is held in conjunction with the AMA Supercross Series, gives the world’s top supercross riders a chance to get a look at the indoor tracks before the AMA series begins in January.  In 2004, Team AMSOIL/Factory Connection rider Mike LaRocco headed north for some seat time and came away with a second place finish.  This time around, however, there would be no LaRocco. He was still testing in California for first AMA race in Anaheim.  His high-profile teammate, Kevin Windham, was also a no-show.  He is still recovering from hernia surgery following the Motocross des Nations race in late September.

With three-fifths of the 125cc, or Supercross Lites as they are now referred to, on the injury list, that left only two riders in the Sobe/Samsung/AMSOIL stable in Toronto.  The team’s rookie, Jake Wiemer, joined Billy Laninovich, who was looking to shake off the rust after missing most of the outdoor season because of injury.

A little bit of luck and the ability to keep the bikes riding were the key for Laninovich and Wiemer last weekend.  In his heat race, Laninovich got a great start and battled with Andrew Short for the holeshot.  “Lano” was able to keep in front of the rest of the field, finishing second to Short.

Wiemer, meanwhile, used the weekend to get accustomed to the large supercross tracks that are not seen in his home state of Idaho.  In his qualifying heat, he showed his toughness and ability by battling with veteran Davi Milsaps for third place. Milsaps was able to keep the pressure on Wiemer and eventually increased his lead on the youngster.  Wiemer finished fourth and advanced to the main.

In the final, both Laninovich and Wiemer were looking for better starts.  Wiemer got his Honda CRF 250 into fourth after the first turn, with Laninovich in seventh.  Wiemer would again battle Milsaps for third during the first few laps, but wasn’t able to hold pace.  Laninovich used his experience to move into a fifth and battled Wiemer for the fourth spot for the next few turns.  Both riders received some help when Nathan Ramsey crashed, sending his KTM to the pits.  The news got better three laps later as race leader Short pulled off with mechanical problems.  That moved Laninovich into third and Wiemer into fourth, the same positions they would finish the race in.

“You know, I just came here to get warmed up for Anaheim 1,” said Laninovich.  “I’m happy to get third place, but the track didn’t really suit me that well.  But I made it happen, I guess.”

Laninovich and Wiemer will both be in action this weekend at the World Supercross race in Vancouver, British Columbia.  The Toronto race will air this Saturday at 6 p.m. EST on the SPEED Channel.  Saturday’s Vancouver race will air on Sunday, December 11 at 6 p.m. on the SPEED Channel.  The AMA Supercross series begins January 7, 2006 in Anaheim, Calif.

New Sled, New Season

Beausejour, Manitoba ~ The AMSOIL/Wanderscheid Racing team hit the ice this past weekend in Manitoba.  The 2005 USSA Champ 440 and Pro 600 champion were looking to get some ice time on their two new sleds.

Saturday’s races were dedicated to the 600 Open class.  P.J. Wanderscheid took second in the first heat behind Terry Wahl and followed that up with a two wins in the next two heats.  In the final, Wanderscheid and Wahl were locked in a battle for first way out in front of the rest of the field.  Seven laps into the race, Wanderscheid came out of corner three when his sled hit something on the track, knocking the sled upside down and into the hay bales.  The foreign object took out two inches of carbide on the ski. Wanderscheid was done for the day.

On Sunday, Wanderscheid turned his focus to winning the Champ 440 class.  The crew used the three-round qualifiers to test the new sled.  Wanderscheid finished with third, sixth and fourth place finishes. After having to start in the back row, Wanderscheid was able to meet the leaders in the first turn.  He moved into seventh, where he would stay when the checkered flag dropped.

Wanderscheid will be back on the Arctic Cats for the New Year’s race in Hayward, Wis.  The December 31 – January 1 race marks the opener for the USSA schedule.

TV Coverage
AMSOIL is once again gaining great coverage of its teams on television.  CBS, SPEED, ESPN2 and OLN are just some of the channels that you can catch TEAM AMSOIL.  For a complete list of show times Click Here.

Changing Seasons

As the race season changes from summer and motocross to winter and snocross, most of the corporately sponsored teams are on standby.  If you are an AMSOIL Dealer and are looking to sponsor a local racer through the AMSOIL Co-op Race Program, please fill out the  Co-op Racing Form (G-2074) and send it to the AMSOIL Racing Department.  Teams who were sponsored last year will need to fill out the form once again.