GEICO Powersports Honda

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1 GEICO Powersports Honda

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3 Table of Contents GEICO Powersports Honda 9 The Sport, Inside and Out 13 Honda CRF 450R: The Best Just Got Better 16 Honda CRF250R: All New for Kevin Windham 28 Trey Canard 36 Brett Metcalfe 44 Blake Wharton 52 Justin Barcia 60 The Team Behind the Team Team Sponsors GEICO Powersports Honda Image Guide INCLUDED ON THE DVD: Extended Rider Statistics, The Team Behind the Team, Sponsors, GEICO Powersports Honda & Industry Facts, Sport Facts, The Winningest Team in History, Q & A with Riders, MX and SX Schedules and GEICO Powersports Team Video 2 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 3

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5 2010 GEICO Powersports Honda The GEICO Powersports Honda motocross team approaches the 2010 season confident in the team s depth of talent, which includes emerging young stars as well as seasoned pros. Started by Factory Connection Racing partners Rick Zielfelder and Jeffrey Majkrzak, the team has grown to become one of the premier racing organizations in AMA Supercross and Motocross. The GEICO Powersports- and Honda-sponsored team is fielding a talent-laden five-rider squad in One of the big changes for 2010 is the appointment of legendary racer and original team rider Mike LaRocco as Team Manager. LaRocco s knowledge and experience will lend a whole new perspective to the team, and help provide the young guns with valuable mentoring that s sure to steepen their learning curves. Kevin Windham a 16-year veteran pro racer is back in 2010 and will also apply his unique race-craft perspective to the nurturing of young team riders. Windham, who has shown year after year he has what it takes to run up front (he finished second in the Supercross series in 2008), leads the high-powered squad in Supercross competition aboard Honda s mighty CRF450R. GEICO Powersports Honda 5

6 2008 Supercross Lites champ Trey Canard leads a strong four-man Lites assault in the 250 class, where all riders will compete aboard Honda s all-new CRF250R. Brett Metcalfe, who finished third overall in the 2009 AMA Motocross Lites Series, returns for his second season with the team. After an exciting first season of pro Supercross and Motocross Lites racing, Blake Wharton returns as a more seasoned and confident racer thanks to his impressive St. Louis Supercross Lites win. Also returning is last year s Motocross Lites rookie sensation Justin Barcia, who made his professional Motocross debut for the team at Glen Helen and went on to pick up nine top-10 finishes in the series, including an overall race win at Southwick. Rarely does a factory-supported satellite team ever assemble a more exciting combination of fresh, emerging talent pooled with an all-new race machine the 2010 Honda CRF250R and such seasoned professionals as LaRocco and Windham. Be on the lookout for impressive results from the GEICO Powersports Honda team all year long. 6 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 7

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8 The Sport, Inside and Out The AMA s premier racing season is comprised of two different series: Supercross and Motocross. Most riders compete in both series, and for that reason the Supercross season dovetails into the Motocross season. The 17-round AMA Supercross series, an FIM World Championship, starts in January and ends in early May, followed immediately by the 12- round AMA Motocross Championship, which runs through early September. Supercross is characterized by indoor man-made racecourses built on baseball/footballstadium floors. The tracks are designed with big jumps, whoops, tabletops and other obstacles, and they place an emphasis on acrobatic skill, timing and all-out courage. Motocross, the original embodiment of this style of competition, is conducted on outdoor tracks of approximately one mile or more in length. The courses utilize the natural topography of the land, but with built-up jumps and obstacles added, and winning here requires a staggering level of fitness and blazing outright speed. GEICO Powersports Honda 9

9 Supercross features two classes and displacement ranges. In Supercross Lites, racers may run a two-stroke engine displacing no more than 125cc or a four-stroke engine no larger than 250cc in displacement. The Supercross class allows two-stroke engines up to 250cc and four-stroke engines no larger than 450cc. Motocross also has two classes; the 250 class and the 450 class. As in years past, the Supercross Lites season is divided into two regional series, East and West. At the series finale held in Las Vegas, Lites competitors from both regions face off in a Supercross Lites East/West Shootout. There are no regional competitions in Motocross; both classes run the entire 12- round series, with each round consisting of two motos per class to produce an overall score. 10 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 11

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11 Honda CRF450R: The Best Just Got Better Over the years, the reputation of Honda s CRF450R has grown to near-legendary proportions and for good reason. This production-based machine has a history of racing success at the top pro levels that speaks volumes about the inherent soundness of the design. At the same time, no other big-bore MXer has proven as popular and successful as a production bike. Introduced as an all-new and lighter bike with fuel injection in 2009, the CRF450R earned overwhelming praise, winning in AMA racing and also winning a host of comparison tests and best-in-class/mx bike-of-the-year awards. For 2010, enhancements to the automatic decompression system and EFI electronic control module make the CRF450R easier to start and also give it better throttle response than ever before, and suspension changes sharpen handling, especially in corners. The CRF450R contains an unprecedented level of design synergy; the engine was developed concurrently with the rolling chassis in symbiotic fashion to deliver 450-class-leading power along with CRF250R-like handling. The Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system meters fuel with remarkable precision, producing amazing drive right off the bottom while delivering a super-strong mid-range punch and an even stronger rush of top-end power. Because fuel consumption is reduced with PGM-FI, the fuel tank is made shorter, smaller and slimmer. The lighter fuel load decreases the bike s wet weight and lowers the overall GEICO Powersports Honda 13

12 center of gravity (cg), and the seat is shaped to allow the rider a greater range of movement on the bike. It s another case of cascading benefits paying dividends over and over again in true Honda fashion. The smaller and lighter engine, in turn, begat a lighter and narrower twin-spar aluminum frame with a forged-aluminum steering head. Brawny frame downtubes return excellent frontend feel, and steering response and overall handling were also improved by moving the steering-head pipe back and giving the frame a slightly steeper caster angle. The front wheel was positioned farther back and closer to the crankshaft to enhance handling, and the swingarm was lengthened for improved traction. Aided by Honda Progressive Steering Damper (HPSD) which permits more aggressive steering geometry and plusher suspension front and rear, the CRF450R rails through turns, tames whoops and maintains superb high-speed stability in a fashion that leaves the other marks behind literally speaking. All in all, it s easy to see why the CRF450R has been and also now remains at the head of the class. 14 GEICO Powersports Honda

13 Honda CRF250R: All New for 2010 Since its release, Honda s CRF250R has proved itself to be a winner. It debuted in 2004 and took its first-ever AMA Supercross win early in the season. Two years later, Honda Red Bull Racing s Davi Millsaps rode it to the 2006 Supercross Lites East Championship. In 2008, GEICO Powersports Honda rookie Trey Canard likewise earned a Supercross Lites East Championship, and in 2009 Ashley Fiolek notched her second consecutive AMA/WMA Women s Motocross Championship aboard a CRF250R. Completely new for 2010, the CRF250R boasts a redesigned, more compact, fuel-injected Unicam engine that uses similar space- and weight-saving technologies similar to those that debuted on the 2009 CRF450R. For example, the switch to Honda s unique Programmed Fuel Injection yields better fuel economy, which permitted a lighter fuel load, which in turn permitted a smaller fuel tank and better mass centralization. This newest CRF250R Unicam engine also incorporates a longer engine stroke than before, overall engine height is lower, and the crankshaft is now 10mm lower as well, further lowering the bike s center of gravity. This new model also features a single muffler that is both lighter and more compact than the dual system used in 2009, and it tucks in closer to the engine to 16 GEICO Powersports Honda

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15 improve mass centralization and lower the bike s center of gravity for quicker handling and lighter steering. In addition, the entirely new chassis centers on a twin-spar aluminum frame with Honda s Progressive Steering Damper (HPSD), a forged-aluminum steering head, stronger downtubes and a simplified removable rear subframe. Together, the CRF250R and CRF450R represent a winning combination that will propel Honda riders, amateurs and professionals alike, to new heights in GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 19

16 K E V I N WINDHAM 20 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 21

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18 Kevin Windham Many knowledgeable race watchers consider Kevin Windham to be one of the most naturally talented riders the sport has ever seen. Now a veteran at age 32, the GEICO Powersports Honda racer s textbook riding style has blended with all his experience to carry him to the forefront of title contention. Windham remains at the top of his game, finishing second in the 2008 Supercross series and fifth in Despite battling stiff competition from younger competitors, he continues to defy all odds in this young man s sport, running up front race after race much to the delight of the stadium crowds. As long as I m still enjoying myself out on the racetrack and I m still competitive up front, I ll continue to race, says Windham. I was successful in finishing on a number of Supercross podiums last season and only twice missed finishing in the top 10 I m happy with those results. I had some ups and downs, but I was able to stay fairly consistent. In 2010, the Mississippi native again tackles the Supercross Championship aboard his Honda CRF450R, but he will opt out of the outdoor season this year as he did in Many Windham fans wonder why he has chosen to opt out of Motocross, especially considering the abundant success he s enjoyed outdoors in past years he was the series runner-up for six years between 1999 and GEICO Powersports Honda 23

19 I love Motocross racing, but there comes a point in every racer s career where you have to pull back and reduce your schedule in order to increase your longevity and be able to stick around for a few more years, he explains. I did race a few outdoor races last year mainly for the enjoyment of racing Motocross, and that was a lot of fun. But my focus will remain on the Supercross series in As a veteran leader of the GEICO Powersports Honda team, it is only fitting that his younger, less experienced teammates look up to him and draw from his wealth of racing knowledge. It s great to have some of the younger guys around, especially on the Lites program, says Windham. I enjoy helping them out when I can. Their willingness to learn brings a youthful essence to the team, which I enjoy. I learn from them, they learn from me, and it works well. I m also looking forward to having Mike LaRocco overseeing things this year. He is definitely going to be a big help to the younger riders. Off the track, Windham remains dedicated to his wife Dottie and his four children. Being a family man has changed the way he views racing and his life. I m very lucky to have a supportive family that encourages me to keep on racing. Knowing they are proud of my achievements both on and off the track, and always having them here for me after each race, is important. When I am done riding at the end of the day, they come out and go for a ride with me on the bike, and that makes me proud. I wouldn t want my life any other way. 24 GEICO Powersports Honda

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21 Statistics Supercross th AMA/FIM Supercross Series nd AMA/FIM Supercross Series rd AMA 250 Supercross Series nd AMA 250 Supercross Series st AMA 125 West Supercross Series Motocross 1999, 2001, nd AMA Motocross Series nd AMA 125 Motocross Series AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year Profile Born: Feb. 28, 1978, Baton Rouge, LA Residence: Centerville, MS National #: 14 Began riding: 1981, age 3 First race: 1981, age 3 Training: Weight training, running, bicycling Hobbies: Flying, family Height/weight: 6 1 /185 pounds Marital status: Married, wife Dottie, daughters Madelyn, Annabelle and Elizabeth, son Kevin Jr. Current racebike: Honda CRF450R Technician: Brian Calma 26 GEICO Powersports Honda

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23 T R E Y CANARD 28 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 29

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25 Trey Canard GEICO Powersports Honda s Trey Canard added his name to one of racing s most elite groups in 2008 when he jumped into the pro ranks at the age of 17 and promptly clinched the Supercross Lites East title in his rookie year an achievement precious few other riders can claim. Heading into 2010, Canard has matured into an even greater force to be reckoned with. When I look back on winning that championship, I still get excited by my accomplishment, says Canard. No matter how successful I am as a racer, winning a title right off the bat will always hold a special place in my career. Continuing his work with GEICO Powersports Honda aboard his CRF250R in 2010, the Oklahoma native wants nothing more than to deliver even greater results for the team that s played a key role in his success throughout his amateur days and his professional career. It was a tough year in 2009 injury-wise, but I m ready to tackle the 2010 competition. I ve won races and titles with the GEICO team for a number of years now, and with the added bonus of having an all-new racebike plus the experience Mike LaRocco brings to guiding the team this year I m confident I will be back on that podium. GEICO Powersports Honda 31

26 It may seem strange that Canard qualifies as an experienced Lites racer at only 19 years of age, but it s a notable status he s worked hard to achieve. He is joined by teammates Justin Barcia and Blake Wharton racers he battled for years in the amateur ranks plus Brett Metcalfe, and he enjoys being able to share his pro Lites racing experiences with them. It s great that we are all on the same team, and it helps that we all get along well. Don t get me wrong; we re all racers and each of us wants to win, but there s a mutual respect for each other s accomplishments, which is great. Family has always played a key role in Canard s racing career, both on and off the track. My family is behind me more than anyone my brothers, my mom, everyone who has helped me out. Plus the whole GEICO Powersports Honda team; we really are kind of a family, too. It works out so well with those guys, and I can t thank them enough. They have been behind me from day one. I could not ask for a better family. It doesn t take much to figure out Canard s goal this season: I m in it to win it. It s that simple. 32 GEICO Powersports Honda

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28 Statistics Supercross th AMA Supercross Lites West Series st AMA/FIM Supercross Lites East Series Motocross th AMA Motocross Lites Series (shortened season due to injury) th AMA Motocross Lites Series (shortened season due to injury) th AMA Motocross Lites (began racing at round 9 of 12) Amateur Eight amateur titles in AMA Horizon Award Profile Born: Sept. 17, 1990, Elk City, OK Residence: Shawnee, OK National #: 38 Began riding: 1993, age 3 First race: 1993, age 3 Training: Weight lifting, cardio, motocross Hobbies: Snowboarding, bicycling Height/weight: 5 7 /145 pounds Marital status: Single Current racebike: Honda CRF250R Technician: Brent Presnell 34 GEICO Powersports Honda

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30 B R E T T METCALFE 36 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 37

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32 Brett Metcalfe GEICO Powersports Honda s Brett Metcalfe could easily be described as a quiet achiever. In contrast to the many brash young competitors who populate the sport, the Australian s laid-back approach is often misinterpreted as complacency. But don t be fooled. The minute he pulls up to the start line and prepares for the gate to drop, he is anything but complacent. I love to battle when I race, says Metcalfe. There is no better feeling than banging bars with a rider who is racing up close alongside you and is equally committed to winning. That s when the best duels are on show. In 2002, at the age of 18, the young Aussie packed his bags and headed for Europe to compete in the World Motocross GP Series MX2, leaving his native country far behind. A year later, he headed stateside to begin his U.S. racing career. Racing in both East and West Supercross support class championships, Metcalfe eventually went on to win the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in I ve learned a lot from my experiences racing around the world and it s definitely something I wouldn t want to change. I enjoyed racing in Europe, but deep down I knew I wanted to race in the U.S. Winning Vegas was the biggest highlight of my American racing career, as far as Supercross goes. GEICO Powersports Honda 39

33 In 2009, Metcalfe raced his first season with GEICO Powersports Honda and bounced back from an injury he sustained early on in the Supercross series to finish third overall in the Motocross Championship standings. After racing on and against top teams from around the world, Metcalfe feels right at home with the GEICO Powersports Honda team and his Honda CRF250R. The team has been around for 13 years now, and has established itself as one of the top teams on the circuit. We have a good balance of rider and technical knowledge, which is great for developing the all-new CRF250R racebike. I love how easy it starts, and it has great acceleration out of turns. I m confident 2010 will be a good year. One thing s for sure: We re going to be fast! With years of Supercross and Motocross Lites experience, the Aussie racer has earned his place in the big-bike class and is racing Honda s CRF450R in the Motocross competition. I will start 2010 racing my CRF250R in the Supercross Lites competition and then step up to ride the CRF450R in the Motocross series I m really excited about that. The biggest challenge for me will be getting familiar with the new bike: its engine capacity, power and torque and the way it reacts with the suspension. I have the experience, and I m ready to step up to the big-bike class for outdoors." 40 GEICO Powersports Honda

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35 Statistics Supercross st AMA Supercross Lites East Series (shortened season due to injury) th AMA Supercross Lites West Series th AMA 125 West Supercross Series Motocross rd AMA Motocross Lites Series th AMA Motocross Lites Series Profile Born: May 6, 1984, Mannum, Australia Residence: Lake Elsinore, CA National #: 24 Began riding: 1988, age 4 First race: 1989, age 5 Training: Gym, weights, cardio, riding Hobbies: Drums, guitar Height/weight: 5 9 /160 pounds Marital status: Married, wife Sheena Current racebike: Honda CRF250R & CRF450R Technician: Brian Kranz 42 GEICO Powersports Honda

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37 B L A K E WHARTON 44 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 45

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39 BlakeWharton Meet Blake Wharton for the first time, and you re likely to think, What an easygoing guy. But don t let his cool, calm manner fool you. It takes nothing more than strapping on a helmet and firing up a CRF250R motocrosser for him to make the transformation into a flint-hard competitor who simply will not quit until the other guy drops or loses. This remarkably talented 18-year-old raced his first full professional season in 2009 and regularly finished among the top 10. Racing the Supercross Lites East, Wharton achieved several podium finishes, but his breakthrough moment arrived at the St. Louis Supercross when he nailed down his first career pro win. Winning in St. Louis was just amazing, he says. Once I got out front I just put my head down and went for it. I knew from the first round in the series that I had the speed; it was just a matter of me staying positive and racing a polished race. Standing on the top step of the podium after the race, I really didn t know what to feel. I was so happy, but I don t think what I had just achieved really set in until I was back home in Texas the following day. It was definitely an experience I could get used to. GEICO Powersports Honda 47

40 But racing Supercross is a very different beast compared to Motocross, as Wharton soon found out. After scoring a win and finishing the Supercross Championship fourth in the standings, the Texan s confidence was high heading to the outdoor series. I finished the 2009 Motocross Lites series eighth in the points chase, which I was fairly happy with. Most rounds I was among the top 10 finishers, but I unfortunately had a couple of DNFs, which ultimately affected my overall standings. I did finish on four moto podiums though, which I m pumped with. I also had the chance to race a few outdoor national events in 2008, and I did pretty well considering I was just 16 years old and racing against more experienced professionals. Now in his second full season with GEICO Powersports Honda, Wharton is tapping into the valuable experience he has gained from working closely with a professional team, and he is very aware of the advantages of being a member of the GEICO team and riding a Honda CRF250R. I ve learned so much about my CRF250R racebike in the last year because I get to work so closely with everyone on the team. This year Honda has an all-new CRF250R bike, and I love all the changes that have been made. I feel really comfortable riding it. For me, the new bike is a winner and I know that confidence will show in my race results each week. 48 GEICO Powersports Honda

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42 Statistics Supercross th AMA Supercross Lites East Series Motocross th AMA Motocross Lites Series Amateur Three amateur titles in AMA Amateur Rider of the Year Profile Born: July 31, 1991, Houston, TX Residence: Pilot Point, TX National #: 21 Began riding: 1998, age 7 First race: 1998, age 7 Training: Gym, weights, running, bicycle, biometrics, riding Hobbies: Guitar, drums, music Height/weight: 5 9 /150 pounds Marital status: Single Current racebike: Honda CRF250R Technician: Glenn Hobson 50 GEICO Powersports Honda

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44 J U S T I N BARCIA 52 GEICO Powersports Honda GEICO Powersports Honda 53

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46 Justin Barcia Justin Barcia is redefining the phrase serious contender. The 17-year-old rider burst onto the professional Motocross scene in 2009 following a hugely successful and dominant amateur racing career by taking the overall win at the Moto-X 338 National and scoring nine podium finishes in his professional Motocross racing debut. He may be a new kid on the block with the GEICO Powersports Honda team, but he is anything but a newcomer to racing or to Hondas. I ve had a solid amateur racing career and won a lot of titles over the years on my Honda CRF250R, which I m really proud of, says Barcia. When I turned pro at the outdoor nationals in 2009 and lined up on the start line, I was next to guys I have looked up to my entire life it was a little daunting. But each week I got stronger and worked out how to compete with the top guys at their own race and eventually beat them all to get my first overall round win. I put everything I had into the season and scored some great results. After a successful 2009 Motocross series debut, the lightning-fast racer is shifting his focus toward racing professional Supercross for the first time and doing it in front of tens of thousands of people. GEICO Powersports Honda 55

47 I m pumped to race Supercross this year. I won a few Supercross events as an amateur, but the professional tracks are a whole different beast to battle. The Lites class is stacked with fast, talented, young racers, so I ll be laying it all on the line each week. Learning to race in front of thousands of screaming fans will be different though. In 2010, Barcia s talents couldn t be in better hands as former Motocross champion and longtime Factory Connection racing icon Mike LaRocco joins GEICO Powersports Honda as Team Manager. To have Mike LaRocco as Team Manager is just awesome. For a good 10 to 15 years, Mike was among the top competitors in the sport and his relationship with the team goes way back. He understands what we as racers need to perform at our best, and it s awesome to be able to go to him and get advice. When we are at the test track riding and I m trying to explain something about the bike, Mike has on occasion ridden my bike. It s great to have someone so knowledgeable overseeing what we do, but it also means I have to be at the top of my game or he will call me out. The easygoing Barcia has a reputation for being blistering-fast on the track, but he believes much of that reputation is owed to his success racing a bike he feels good on. I ve been riding and winning on Hondas for years because they just feel so good to ride. The new CRF250R is amazing! I thought my racebike last year was great, but when I rode the new bike for the first time I was blown away. I love the fuel injection and am really excited to see what I can do in competition next season. 56 GEICO Powersports Honda

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49 Statistics Motocross th AMA Motocross Lites Series Amateur Five amateur titles in 2007 Two amateur titles in 2006 Three amateur titles in 2005 Profile Born: March 25, 1992, Monroe, NY Residence: Ochlocknee, GA National #: 17 Began riding: 1997, age 5 First race: 1999, age 7 Training: Weight training, road cycling, motocross Hobbies: Fishing Height/weight: 5 8 /145 pounds Marital status: Single Current racebike: Honda CRF250R Technician: Mike Tomlin 58 GEICO Powersports Honda

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51 The Team Behind the Team Rick Zielfelder Team Co-Owner Jeffrey Majkrzak Team Co-Owner Mike LaRocco Team Manager Darren Borcherding Operations Manager Brian Calma Technician for Kevin Windham Brian Kranz Technician for Brett Metcalfe Glenn Hobson Technician for Blake Wharton Mike Tomlin Technician for Justin Barcia Kristian Kibby Technical Coordinator Mick Fallins Engine Lead Technician Peter Page Suspension Lead Technician Matt Taylor Amateur Coordinator Josh Wisenor Parts Coordinator Shannon Harjes Transport Coordinator Brent Presnell Technician for Trey Canard Additional detail for this section can be found on the press kit DVD 60 GEICO Powersports Honda

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54 2010 Team Sponsors In addition to these title and associate sponsors, the GEICO Powersports Honda team relies on a host of supporting sponsors, including: Clothing Sponsors: Lites Team Fox and DVS Clothing Sponsors: Windham #14 MSR, Shoei, Gaerne, Spy and DVS Technical Sponsors Pro Circuit, Dunlop, DVS, Renthal, One Industries, TAG Sprockets, Cycra, Hinson, EK Chains, Vortex Ignitions, D.I.D Rims, Renegade Fuels, Light Speed, ARC Perches, HRC GEICO Powersports Honda 63