Michael Willard Makes the 2009 Daytona Supercross by Honda Night Show
Willard Just Misses Racing in Main Event
Greensboro, North Carolina (March 11, 2009) – Michael Willard rode his Foremost Insurance sponsored Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki at the Daytona Supercross by Honda in the night show but did not qualify to race in the main event. Willard showed his potential during the day with practice qualifying times that placed him 25th out of 62 riders with a best time of 1:13.771. His fastest lap time in the night races was a 1:12.696.
In his first heat race, Willard got a bad start and had to work his way through the pack. By the end of the race he was in 11th place, two places out of qualifying position, (only the top nine in the heat race advance to the main event). He had similar problems in the last chance qualifier (LCQ), where he finished in 4th place, however only two riders advance from the LCQ race to the main event.
“I appreciate the support from Foremost Insurance which helped me to participate in the Daytona event. I felt good in practice and thought that I would be in the top ten in the main event. I was not able to make that happen this time, but plan to get better results in some of the other supercross races this season,” stated Michael Willard.
The next Arenacross races for the Foremost Arenacross team will be on March 13th and 14th. The team will race a doubleheader weekend in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania at the Wachovia Arena.
About Michael Willard
Michael Willard is a professional motocross racer competing in the AMA Arenacross Series and Monster Energy Supercross Series. He has been racing for 17 years and won the 2005 and 2007 Canadian National Championships. His sponsors include: Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki, Pirelli, Moose Racing, One Industries, FMF, Von Zipper, Eleven10 Mods, Renthal, Mosites Powersports, Fox Shox, Cycra, PG Graphics, Twin Air and Boyesen.
About the Foremost Insurance Jim Neese Racing Team
The Foremost Insurance Jim Neese Racing Team is a professional motocross race team based in North Carolina. The team races in the Arenacross Series, the Supercross Series and the Victory Sports MEGA and ULTRA Series. Team sponsors include: Foremost Insurance, Kenda Tires, Moose Racing, Kawasaki Suzuki of Durham, Total Control, Scorpion Helmets, LeoVince Exhausts, TiLUBE, ProWheel, Boyesen, Extremeion Carbon Raptor, Revolution Decal, MGX Unlimited Graphics, Twin Air, Crower Power, Smith Optics, Wiseco, Liquid Performance, Renthal, CV4 Products, UFO Plastics.
Racing for the team are Jim Neese, Mike McDade and Josh Thomas, three national caliber riders. In addition to racing and running the team, Jim Neese also owns Jim Neese Rider Development System, a school for motocross racers looking to tap their potential (www.jimneese.com).
About Foremost Insurance
Foremost Insurance Group is a single source for property, casualty and commercial small business insurance. A member of the Farmers Insurance Group®, Foremost has been a leader in the insurance industry since 1952. Through Foremost or an affiliated company, programs for auto, home, umbrella, manufactured home, motor home, travel trailer, luxury motor coach, specialty homeowner, vacant property, seasonal property, landlord and rental properties, motorcycle, off-road vehicle, snowmobile, boat, personal watercraft, and collectible auto are offered. Through Farmers' relationship with Zurich Small Business, Foremost also offers commercial small business programs for retail, wholesale, office, service, industrial, restaurant and habitational businesses. Foremost is headquartered in Caledonia, Michigan. To learn more, visit www.Foremost.com.