Meanwhile, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne will be on-site at the Atlanta race, since the Georgia Dome is the home track for the displaced Australian. While stateside, Byrne makes his home in Newnan, Georgia, which is where he’s been recovering from ACL/NCL/meniscus repair on his left leg.

“Obviously I’d rather be racing at the Georgia Dome,” said Byrne, who injured his leg last December. “I think the Atlanta event is an awesome race because the house is always packed. I think we had 70,000 people last year. It’s great just because of the crowd and the atmosphere.”

Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi is still recovering from breaking his right collarbone in San Diego and will not race at Atlanta. He hopes to be back in time for the Dallas Supercross in April.

MDK KTM AMA Supercross Lites riders Matt Goerke and Ryan Sipes are eager for the first race of the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship to take place in Atlanta.

Both riders have adapted extremely well to their new KTM 250 SX-F machines in the past few months and are excited to test the waters in their first AMA Supercross Lites race aboard the orange bikes. “I love the power and the way the bike handles. The bikes are so fast, and I felt comfortable since day one,” remarked Goerke on his new factory ride. His teammate Sipes agrees that the power the KTM puts out is truly its most remarkable quality.

In addition, both riders also share similar goals for the season. Sipes intends to get out front early in order to stay up front through the end. “Atlanta was good to me last year. I held third right up to the end when a last minute crash set me back. But I know I can run up front and that is where I plan to be,” commented the Kentucky native. Goerke, whose training was halted a few weeks back due to a sprained ankle, says he will be 100% for the opener. “I’ve been training hard and aim to stay consistent within the top three throughout the season. I feel my speed is there and I’d like to win.”

Furthermore, both MDK KTM Lites riders will be joined by MDK KTM Factory rider Martin Davalos. The veteran of the KTM teams, Davalos expects nothing short of a win. “I have been training all winter long for this season and feel I am at the top of my game.” He continued, “I feel it is time to put a KTM on the top of the podium, and I would like to be the one to do that.”

Although the Lites race looks to be action-packed, MDK KTM Factory rider Nick Wey also hopes to make a splash on the scene by shooting for his fifth-consecutive top 10 finish of the season in the AMA Supercross class.

“I have remained consistent the past few races and intend to remain well inside the top 10 as we head to Atlanta and the remainder of the races on the east coast.” Wey has been busy training out on the west coast but looks forward to returning to the east, where he still resides part time. “I can’t wait for the second half of the season where my family and hometown friends can come out and support me and the rest of the KTM team.”