Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross thanks Ryan for participating in their 2009 season. Click on the image to see the letter and Certificate of Merit.

Ryan Smith joins the O'NEAL racing family! Click on the image to see his Bio Page.

Daytona Beach, FL, Bike Week 2009 – Supercross under the lights at Daytona Speedway saw Axton, Virginia’s Ryan Smith trying to make the Big Show for the second week in a row. Ryan was able to make the evening program by turning a time of 1:14.44, putting him 26th out of the 40 racers that make up the night race.

When the green flag dropped for the first race under the lights, Ryan was right in the middle of things and trying to battle his way to the front. A little wheel rubbing slowed him just enough that it kept him out of the top nine that go directly to the main event, so it was off to the LCQ. The LCQ saw Ryan get just a fair start, but because it is only a 4-lap race, he needed to improve on the lap times he turned during the heat race if he was to advance. He bettered his time by more than a full second, but his 7th place finish signaled an end to his racing day, as only the top two riders advance from the LCQ to the main event.

Ryan was grateful for the many supporters he had on hand at Daytona, where family and friends cheered him on from the grandstands.

Next up for Ryan: the New Orleans Supercross, March 14.

Making the most of his first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium, the newly minted civic jewel in downtown Indianapolis, Ryan Smith raced his way into the main event at last weekend’s stop on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites Series, an FIM World Championship. It was his first time in the main event of the Supercross Lites Series.

After a slow start in early practice, Smith began to hit his stride in the second practice session, where he gathered himself and raced into a spot in the evening program and a shot at the main event. Smith wasn’t going to be denied his first major main event, and raced well enough in his evening heat to transfer straight into the main event.

Working his way through the field in front of a near-capacity crowd in the world class stadium, Smith got as high as 12th place before a phantom mechanical issue sent him over the handlebars. He remounted to finish 14th out of more than 60 riders that had started the day’s event.

Next up: Daytona!

With all the months of training, this is what it is all about. Our 1st SX Lites @ the Atlanta Dome. With family & friends coming, Ryan, Mechanic Mike & Mom headed down early to get all set up, we parked & took the bike through all the Tech/Sound tests. Professor Gary Bailey was on hand to coach & work thru the kinks of the 1st race. Gary, Mike & Ryan walked the track to get a feel for what areas he needs to work on. Practice’s 1 & 2 went really well and Ryan made the board being top 5, & then 2nd fastest of that practice, he ended up being the 23rd fastest of the day. Although not where he wanted to be, it’s a start to move up from. During the 1st Heat Ryan got a great gate pick, then headed out with a 5th place start, only to slip in a sweeper turn, drop back to 12th and then run back up to 10th , but they only took Top 9… so close. Off to the LCQ with them holding the gate due to an AMA official not paying attention, then they started & had to Red flag it. Once that was done, Ryan & Nico Izzi drag raced to the holeshot line and then battled to the 2nd set of whoops & Ryan tried to head to the inside & the front end tucked, amazingly he got right back into 4th & was right on the heels of 2nd & 3rd place. With this being Ryan’s 1st official SX race – pressure played a roll this past weekend but that’s how we gain experience.

See everyone at the next round @ Indianapolis SX Round 3.

Red Bull-Sponsored Cooper Web and Privateer Ryan Smith shined in the Travis Pastrana MX Challenge held in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico........

To read the article click here

This weekend was the FMF INDOOR MX WINTER SERIES FINALE at the Smoky Mountain Expo Arena at White Pine/Morristown, Tenn. Friday’s RACING saw Jacob Saylor win both PRO classes. In the 250 class he came through the pack and won over Chris Osborne, Matthew Bell, Paul Justus, & Chris Fisher. In the 450 PRO Saylor again came from 6th on the start to win over Shane Obanion, Ryan Smith, Bell, & Osborne. In the ATV Expert class it was Drew Spence, Daniel Worley, Lucas Lamons, Silas Lamons, & Aaron McCarter. Saturday’s RACING saw Robbie Horton dominate the pro racing. In the 250 PRO class it was Horton, Saylor, Smith, Obanion, & Osborne. In the 450 Pro class it was Horton, Obanion, Austin Albers, Osborne, & Saylor. Lucas Lamons won the ATV Expert class over Silas Lamons, McCarter, Spence, & Worley..

The Nitro Circus Show on MTV is about to blast off beginning February 8. Believe me when I say this is a show you’re going to want to watch and TiVo/DVR on your system. For a look at the trailer of Travis Pastrana and his crazy friends, check here.

Travis Pastrana and all his crazy friends, but not his crazy dad.

Also, the Nitro Circus will be airing a sneak peak this Sunday evening, February 1, just after the Super Bowl at 10 p.m. EST , on the MTV network.

Privateer Devin Watson signed up for the Travis Pastrana MX Challenge that took place in Puerto Rico last weekend, so we asked him to send us a report of what went down:

Travis won the war, but an up-and-coming rookie won the final battle!

The Travis Pastrana SX Challange in Vega Baja Puerto Rico took place this past weekend January 23-24. This was the first year of this event but it was a very big success. The overall was decided by the finishes in each night’s main events. Friday night’s main event saw Travis Pastrana jump out to an early lead while being chased down my Las Vegas’ Kyle Partridge. Kyle charged hard through the entire 20-lap main event but could not get an edge on Pastrana anywhere on the track. Both riders were tripling into a rhythm section that no one else was doing and this allowed them to gain a fairly good lead by lap 10. In the end it was Pastrana, Partridge, and Ryan Smith standing on the podium.

Saturday started off with a good track once again. Partridge, Smith, and Pastrana were once again setting the fast laps in afternoon practice. As the sun set on Saturday it got incredibly humid, bringing some moisture up from Thursday’s heavy rains. The track was incredibly slick in the main but was still good for racing. Off the line in Saturday’s main it was Matt (last name unknown, sorry) with the holeshot followed by Devin Watson and Travis Pastrana. Coming out of turn one Matt went down taking Watson with him and allowing Pastrana and Ryan Smith to sneak by into the early lead. Kyle Partridge was buried in the pack after the first-turn pile up. With Partride trying to work his way through the pack, this allowed TP and Smith to pull a great lead while battling bar to bar. Pastrana put several aggressive passes on Smith but Smith was on a roll and past him back every time. Further back in the pack Ohio’s Carl Schacht (#384) was putting on an excellent ride as well as Kenny Day and some of Puerto Rico’s riders. Day had a huge get off mid way through the race that caused him to end his night on a not so good note. As the laps wound down on the final night of racing it was Travis Pastrana with the overall.

Overall Top 3

1. Travis Pastrana (1-2)
2. Ryan Smith (3-1)
3. Kyle Partridge (2-3)

Other American riders were up there but I don’t remember everyone’s names, and I never got to see the final official results. I know Carl Schlacht was in the top five. Shawn Bailey finished great as well as Scott Darling. I finished Saturday night with a ninth as well as Taylor (last name unkown) and several other Americans in the top 10. Great job to all that raced!

The recipient of the Houston Racer X Gas Card was Alaska’s Ben Lamay. And here’s a shout-out to Roger Bradford and Dean Bauer, the sponsors of this weekend’s Racer X Gas Card in San Francisco.

After competing in only a handful of rally events, BMX legend Dave Mirra has won his first rally race, the 2009 Team O’Neil Rally, in New Hampshire, winning by over fifty seconds. Mirra’s rally program will expand in 2009 with increased support from Subaru of America, Inc. and Monster Energy that will see him join Subaru Rally Team USA drivers Ken Block and Travis Pastrana at all nine rounds of the 2009 Rally America National Championship as well as X Games 15.

Speaking of Pastrana, he definitely has some high regards for Ryan Smith, who joined Travis down at his race in Puerto Rico last weekend:

”Ryan rode the entire 20 lap main event without making a mistake which really surprised me because we were jumping through lappers by lap 3 and the track was super slick. Even though it was 1 lined he found a way to get back around in the next turn every time I passed him. He had way to much trust in me though :) I was elbows down, tired and swapping everywhere the last five laps and he never hesitated to be less than an inch away and on the outside going into a turn. It’s great to see riders with confidence. He seemed to think his way through the race, even when everyone came flying into the first turn and piled up on the outside, but he gave up the holeshot to tuck behind the masses and stick to the inside. He had the lead by turn two. He enjoyed the race when he got third and enjoyed the race he won. Maybe not your typical “winning is everything” rider outlook, but someone who seems to love the sport and who signed autographs every chance he got so he would be invited back. He gives it everything he’s got to continue make a living doing what he loves.”

On Track Congratulates Ryan Smith Student Of The Week

Name: Ryan Smith
Home: Danville, VA
Age: 17
Riding #: 831
Class: Supercross Lites
Sponsors: Arai Helmets, Gary Bailey Motocross School, Liquid Performance, Full Travel Innovation, Leech & Hicks Insurance

On Track is proud to feature one of our many outstanding students, Ryan Smith. With over 120 students nationally in grades K-12, On Track welcomes the opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication that our students demonstrate in order to achieve their goals.

Among the menu of curriculum options available, On Track offers a High School Equivalency Program that is perfect for students such as Ryan that have moved into the Pro ranks of Supercross. It is at this point that finishing school becomes quite the challenge. When traditional school is no longer an option for serious racers, On Track is there to help students achieve their goal of receiving a cutting edge education.

Ryan: "On Track is an all around good program that can help you take care of your schooling with the appropriate training that will also help you to be able to ride and train on your motocross career."

Andrea: "Thanks to Debbie Schultz, our On Track Learning Coach leading the High School Equivalency Program, Ryan was able to get through the program at record speed. Ryan passed all of his exams within less than two weeks. The fact that Ryan was motivated and had the direction he needed to get the job done was key to his success."

Congratulations Ryan!

Note from Matt Hicks

Wanted to Congrat Ryan Smith for a complete ass whooping he put on the rest of the pros. He won the lites by 41 seconds unreal kid.

09/21 LST Axton, VA GCS / D13 Lites - A 1st , MX A - 3rd and College boy 1st

Back on the Track

What a great start to the off season. Ryan headed back to his home track Lake Sugartree to join friends & family for the Grand Championship Series that our local District 13 runs throughout VA. He had just been back on his bike for a couple weeks and felt good enough to show the home town crowd the Ryan Show of the Smith Clinic on how to roll around LST - Oh! along with him showing some of his other Pro friends how to whip it - he took a couple detours with a first turn oversight that almost took him fishin with his bike in the catch pond - then at the back side his bike wanted to show him how close it could toss him cause it didn't want to go fishing. haha - He got back up & made a grand comeback to 3rd. He won 5 out of 6 motos this weekend. It's a good thing for Pros to come home once in a while to remind themselves where they came from and of course have some fun whooping butt at their local track!

See you all at Birch Creek for VA State Championship in Danville,VA

Healing Slowly

Hey what’s up guys!!! I got my stitches out on Friday and It looks wonderful! There is a little bit of a scar but it should fade away!!! I'm going to start off bike training again but will not be back on the bike probably for another 3 weeks at least. Everything is good and healing fine. The problem is not the cuts it’s the cartilage in the tip of my nose is very tender and it will take a long time for it to heal and get back to normal. I don’t want to risk getting roosted or hit with a rock on my nose and busting it back to where we started last Saturday. I will be at Budds to cheer and support everyone! If you need someone to take you to the gate, I’ll do it!!! See you guys there!

Ryan

Hey whats up!!

Well, Millville didn't go as planned for me. I'm sitting here typing you this message with about 100 stitches in my face and a fractured cheek bone. Everything was going as planned until the second practice. I was laying down some good laps, came around the finish line turn and somehow I went over the berm and face first into the finish line stand. It crushed my helmet completely. I nearly ripped off my nose and top lip!!! It took three plastic surgeons three hours to sew me back up as much as possible. I would like to take this time to thank Dr. Weber and the gang at the hospital for their time, they did an awesome job on my face. Thanks guys! Well, I'm off the bike for a few weeks recovering and taking it easy so feel free to email me and see how things are going. Thanks for the support

Ryan

On July 20th Ryan took a hard spill at Unadilla Valley Sports in NY. With the help of his physician and trainer he is taking every precaution to get back to a healthy racing state. Ryan has been going to the gym riding the bike each day gradually enabling him to reach a state where he does not feel light headed, get blurry vision or a headache any more. As of July 28th he was able to ride at the gym for 15 minutes with no light headedness or blurry vision. Along with riding the bike, he is doing his stretches and a light weight program.

With a green light from his physician & trainer, he headed to Charlotte to go check out his practice bike. With Ryan’s time off, the crew had a chance to work out some of the mechanical bugs he had been experiencing. He has gotten back to training each day to keep his speed up and momentum moving forward. Ryan is highly motivated and expects to be ready for the Millville, MN race in a couple weeks.

While racing at Unadilla on (7/20), Ryan was trying to pass Will Browning, he went over a jump that had a pot hole on the other side which caught his front end. He tried to recover but it slammed him to the ground head first. He was checked out by Asterik, monitored then released. Since he was not feeling up to par by thursday Ryan headed off to get another check up. He was diagnosed with a stage 2 concussion. He has been informed of what he can and can not do.

After much thought Ryan decided to take the next 3 weeks before Milleville off to regroup. His crew was there in Washington waiting for him but he would rather be 100% on a race track than possibly endangering himself or others. He would like to let everyone know he is thankful for their thoughts & prayers. See ya at Milleville,MN

Notes posted for Ryan on motonews.com

Went to Budds this week and had a great time but felt real bad for Ryan. He fell over in 1st lap of the 1st moto and was almost a half a lap back to come back to a very hard earned 23rd. 2nd moto was 15th after 1st lap and then 14th after 2nd lap he then made a pass for 13th and was on the gas when his motor let go. Great ride Ryan you deserved much better keep ya head up buddy.

I must say that Ryan put on one hell of a show for his hometown fans. Im extremely proud of him. Like Hickey said he fell on the first lap and was in 39th place.t. He powered his was back to 23rd i think. It was impressive!! Then in the second moto he got probably his best start of the year and he was in the hunt boy let me tell you. In the top 15 and was strokin. Then the motor blows. DANG !!!!!
I guess shit happens. He will get'em @ Unidilla.

What's up guys. Lots of you may have been there. Some may have not. First moto I didn't jump off to such a good start. I had some bike issues before the parade lap and missed the parade lap. I got a horrible start once again and then crashed in a slick section on the first lap. I got up and finally got the bike running. I was 39th after the first lap and pulled through to 23rd in the moto. Between moto's I wasn't feeling to well. I overheated myself in the first moto but managed to make it to the gate for the second one. I got off to a good start and was pulling through the pack well. I made it to 13th right behind mike brown and then the motor let loose. It was a pretty big disappointment but I now know with a start like that I can run with them. It happens to everyone. Nothing I can do but do my best. Thanks for all the support guys.

Ryan

I had the 4th fastest in consolation. In the 1st session of practice I had bike problems . We improved upon them in the 2nd session but the track had slowed down too much for me to make it. I had a decent start in the consi and worked up to 5th then the lines I were taking were not the best for visibility reasons. I yard sailed off the track and went back to 12th. I came back to 5th and on the last lap Trevor Monks bike blew up right in front of me. I plowed into him and launched off the track. That was it for me. It's ok. this is a learning year for me. I will see you at Red bud.

Ryan

Today I got my best results so far this season. Even though it was not a great day, I felt really good in practice. I set one good lap and then the day started going downhill. I got dirt in my left eye and pulled off the track to find out it wasn’t dirt. I went to the mobile medical unit and they gave me some eye flush. That did not help. I got into a first turn pile up in the first moto and muscled my way back to 25th. My eye was terrible, getting worse. I went back to the medical unit and he turned my eye lid inside out and pulled something out of it, put some numbing antibiotic in it to get me through the 2nd moto and I was trying to hit it hard, but it was now to the point where I was seeing blurry, double vision in my left eye. The parade lap was rough…I came back to the gate and my bike stalled out. It wouldn’t refire so we tried to bump start it 4 times and it still wouldn’t start. They dropped the gate without me. My bike finally started and I was way behind them... and I was having a hard time seeing and picking the ruts going down straight aways and on jump faces but I came back to 24th anyway… until I crashed in a corner, down the hill I sliiiiid! haha. I got up and crashed once more in the whoops. I ended up getting back to 24th anyway... It was a lousy weekend but I'm healthy, ready and rarin’ to go!!

Thanks for the support.

Ryan

Hey Guys,

This weekend has been one I would rather forget. I flew my uncle, Gary Bailey out and walked the track with him, when I came back I felt good, got some good lines for practice and was ready to lay down the hammer! I went out on the first lap of the first practice and my bike would not run. It was seizing, sputtering and bogging, whatever you want to call it haha. I pulled into the pits and took er' back to the truck. We pulled a motor swap, out of the back up bike. I went and tested it in the pits and it seemed fine. I went out in the 2nd practice session and…it would not run yet again. So I tried to ride it the way it was, blowing oil out of the back up motor. Now it’s time to get to the consi. We swapped out carburetors, but I didn’t have a spare ignition to switch so I went out in the consi and it still was running bad, but got a little better. I had a terrible start due to the sputtering and came thru half the pack before wadding it up on the first lap. I then picked it up and started hauling the mail! I came from 32nd on the first lap, back to 13th with the sputtering…but as far as I’m concerned it still is far from what I wanted to do. To all my sponsors who read this…I will be back at high point stronger than before!!!!

Ryan

Hey Guys,

Well this weekend was my first ever race at Hangtown and it went pretty good. I struggled a little in practice and was 14th fastest and top 12 get in, so off to the consi I go. I got a 6th place start in consi and moved my way to 2nd and they took the top 6. In the first moto I got in a little pileup and had to work my way up. I ended up 25th but I was pleased with my fitness level. My lap times stayed consistent the whole moto. The second moto didn't turn out so well. On the first lap old Betsy started giving me some issues and I knew she was sick and not going to make it. Well she finally decided after several laps that my weekend was over. My piston had cracked in half, but she's ready to go again thanks to my great mechanics. I ended up 33rd overall with a 25-35th, but I had a good time. I really want to thank my sponsors, friends, and family for all the support they give me all week long. I couldn't do this without all of you. I realize I have a long ways to go but I am committed to the sport that I love so I am willing to give this my all. Well thanks for checking in, I am going to train and get ready for Dallas.

Thank you,

Ryan Smith #831

Hey what’s up guys!!!

Glen Helen is over and I am sorta safe! The weekend started out rough in the first practice when a guy was riding slow and I jumped a step down and he decided to roll it and come across the track into my line. I landed directly on top of him and banged us both up pretty bad. I came out of it with just some tore muscles in my forearm and he was knocked for a loop. I couldn’t hang on to the bike that well in the second practice so it put me into the consi on Sunday. The consi started bad with a bad start and I came back up into 6th and they took top 9. Then I came around and they had red flagged it. So we had to start all over again. But that wasn’t bad because I got the holeshot and lead it for almost a lap and Phil Nicoletti passed me and I was in second until a lap in half to go and Tyler bowers got around me but I hung in there for 3rd which got me into the moto's. Moto 1 was rough due to some crashes and Moto 2 was better, I finished 29th. But the Best thing about it is, I'm safe and recovering to get them in Hangtown this weekend.

Thank you,

Ryan Smith #831

Hey guys!

What’s going on?

I just wanted to let you guys know, what I was up too.

I've been out here in California for a month now training as hard as I can to get myself ready for Glen Helen this upcoming weekend!!

My first Outdoor National of my long fulfilled career. I am not putting allot of pressure on myself this upcoming outdoor season. I'm 16 and this time last year I was in B class trying for Loretta Lynn's. I am just out here for experience and to represent my sponsors at my highest possible capability. I have been testing at Glen Helen twice in the last 2 weeks. The track is difficult and hard to dial in the suspension. We the team are going to learn from this weekend and move on. I am shooting to be in the Top 20 cause that will be SWEEETT! My main thing is to pull out of that gate on Sunday healthy to be ready for Hangtown. I appreciate everyone’s support during my Amateur Year’s, I look forward to seeing you at the Pro Races.. I have realized it’s not about only how your on track attitude is, it’s off track attitude also. I have made plenty of mistakes, no one is perfect. I just want to thank each and every one of you guys that have stuck with me and cheered me on. I look forward to seeing you guys soon at the races.

See my schedule here @ tazracing.com

Thank you,

Ryan Smith #831

April 01, 2008
Bad Boy Ryan Smith Takes Holeshot in Main Event
	Team Bad Boy rider Ryan Smith # 831, nephew of legendary rider David Bailey, had an impressive debut in the SX Lites division in the AMA Supercross series on March 29th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. After finishing last in his heat, Smith came alive in the LCQ grabbing the holeshot and then winning the 4-lap qualifier for a spot in the main event. When the gates dropped in the SX Lites main, Smith had another incredible start, getting his second holeshot of the night. After the race, Ryan received the Progressive Holeshot Award on the podium, along with a check for $1000.00. "Ryan showed everyone that he’s got what it takes to compete in the big time”, said Team Bad Boy manager Rick Ware. “To come in last in your heat, and then pull it all together and win the LCQ to make the main takes an enormous amount of drive, determination and skill. Then for Ryan to grab the holeshot in the main was
just incredible! Toronto was a great debut for Ryan and for Team Bad Boy in the SX Lites division. I’m really proud of the awesome work done by Cal Northrop on our in-house motor and suspension program. Can’t wait to see what happens in Dallas."

After his impressive debut performance in Toronto in the SX Lites division, Bad Boy Ryan Smith will be all pumped up for the next round of the AMA Supercross series at Texas Stadium in Dallas on April 5th. Team Bad Boy riders Jake Marsack # 66, Jeff Alessi # 801 and Tyler Bright # 709 will compete in the Supercross class in Dallas.

For more info on Team Bad Boy contact: Rick Ware Team Bad Boy 336-476-4448 rware@badboydrinks.com For more info on Bad Boy Power Drink contact: Mike Healy Bad Boy Power Drinks, LLC o- 916-988-5343, c- 916-878-7024 mhealy@badboydrinks.com For more info on Bad Boy, go to www.badboydrinks.com.

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