Also injured is MDK KTM rider Billy Laninovich, who is still recovering from a herniated disc in his lower back. “I am slowly recovering and looking forward to the outdoor season where I will be joining Nick Wey on the MDK KTM Factory Motocross Team,” reported Laninovich. The decision to move Laninovich to the KTM 450SX-F full-time for the outdoors was decided last week.

“Steve (Lamson) and I feel that Billy is better-suited for the 450. He looks more comfortable aboard the larger machine and has stated his preference to race in the Motocross class for outdoors,” stated MDK KTM Lites Team Manager Danny Paladino. “Plus, it’s always great to have another KTM 450SX-F out on the track.”

Contending for the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout title will be MDK KTM Lites Team riders Ryan Sipes, Justin Brayton and Matt Goerke. All three riders are in great shape and ready to give it their best in Las Vegas.

Monster Energy® Kawasaki is geared up for the final supercross race of the season in Las Vegas. Timmy Ferry is coming into the event fresh off of a top-five result in Seattle, that saw him narrowly miss the holeshot award. Even though he missed three races due to injury, the veteran rider is looking to move up to the fifth spot in the final points standings.

“Las Vegas is always a difficult weekend,” said Ferry. “It is the last supercross race of the season, so you want to do well and carry that confidence to the outdoor season. The track is also tough, so I know it is going to be a hard race. I know I can get a good result because I have been riding well this year.”

Travis Preston is also looking for a good result in Las Vegas. With James Stewart scheduled to return for the motocross season, Preston is looking at his last race for the Monster Energy® Kawasaki team.

“This has been a great opportunity,” said Preston. “I hope I can get on the podium this weekend for the team. The guys have been great. It was a tough start for me. I had only been on a bike for a week before I was racing, so it took a while to get my endurance up. You know, everything has been coming together so hopefully we can get on the box.”

The unique format for the Supercross Lites class in Las Vegas means all four riders on the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team will be on the track competing in the East/West shootout. All four riders placed in the top five in the final season standings, so each one is a threat for the win.

“I’m really looking forward to this race,” said Austin Stroupe, who finished third on the West Coast. “We’ve had a good season and racing against everyone will be fun. I ride with Ryan (Villopoto) and Branden (Jesseman) at the Kawasaki track and now we’ll be able to really race each other.”

Ryan Villopoto, who just missed earning the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class title is also ready to race in Las Vegas.

“We struggled last year in Vegas,” said Villopoto. “But this year I think we will be good. Everyone on the team pushes everyone else so hopefully we can all stand on the podium together. It’s going to be my last AMA Supercross Lites race and I want to go out with a win.”

This weekend’s AMA Supercross race at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium marks the final race in the premier AMA Supercross class and the end-of-season shootout for the AMA Supercross Lites class. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s David Vuillemin will participate in the former, while his AMA Supercross Lites for both West and East Coasts, Ryan Dungey and Nico Izzi, will participate in the latter.

Vuillemin goes into the final AMA Supercross round, having secured a string of top-10 finishes. His outlook for the weekend’s Las Vegas race is optimistic.