IN
THE
WIND
P36
PARTRIDGE TO CYCLETRADER.COM/ROCK RIVER YAMAHA
I
t looks like that Kyle Partridge
has caught the eye of one of the
major motocross teams for 2016.
The Californian recently
picked up a new Yamaha
YZ450F and began testing and
practicing in preparation for the
Red Bull Straight Rhythm and
the upcoming Monster Energy
Cup. His speed at the local test
tracks caught the attention of
CycleTrader.com/Rock River
Yamaha team manager Christina
Denney, and they are giving
Partridge an opportunity to be
the team's only 450cc racer in
2016, indoors and outdoors.
"They've told me they want
me to be a part of the program,"
Partridge said. "As of right now
they have everything
covered for me but
flights. It's Super-
cross and outdoors,
so it'll be exciting
for me to get back
into the outdoors. I
haven't done them
for like four years. And the bike
is great. I don't mean to talk bad,
but at the same time, I went from
the bare minimum last year to
now getting factory engines and
these people have an answer for
every question I have. It's really,
really, really good. Scott Rabon
is the crew chief and Christina
Denney is the team manager
and, man, she goes above and
beyond for me. It's nice. I'll be
the only 450 guy.
"There's an opportunity for
me to bring my own gear spon-
sor, helmet sponsor, goggles,
everything, which for me is good
because it gives me a little bit
more money in my pocket to pay
for my flights."
Steve Cox
IT'S ONLY A NUMBER
T
LD/KTM's Jessy Nelson will wear the number 13
in 2016. The last rider in recently memory to wear
the "unlucky" number in motocross
was Heath Voss, but a few other big-
name riders have chosen to where the
number, including Sebastien Tortelli,
but he did so against the wishes of his
trainer/coach Rick Johnson, who also
wore the number at one point of his career.
Johnson, however, became convinced that 13 was indeed unlucky. Tortelli didn't listen, but after a
couple of injuries, he switched his number to 103 at RJ's urging.
Nelson says he's totally fine with running the number 13. "I think they're just superstitious, honestly,"
Nelson said. "A number's a number. It doesn't matter what's on my bike, I'm still going to go out there and
do the same thing I do every weekend. Whether it's 69 or 13, it's just how it is. I don't have any supersti-
tions with it. I'm completely comfortable running it."
Steve Cox
Kyle Partridge has
joined the CycleTrader.
com/Rock River
Yamaha Team for 2016.
Jessy Nelson
says he's not
superstitious
and will wear
the number 13
in 2016.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
STEVE
COX
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
STEVE
COX
