team mvr-d taking Route77 to glory
By TMX Archives on 18th Feb 11
AMERICA may have its very own mythology surrounding the transcontinental highway Route 66, but MVR-D, one of only three teams in the 2011 world series, is poised to upstage the Yanks this summer as it takes on the world aboard Honda machinery with new title sponsor Route77 Energy. MVR-D principal Mark Chamberlain explained: "Suzuki advised us at the end of last season that it would be diverting its support elsewhere this year.
"I called Havier Beltran and Neil Tuxworth at Honda UK and within 15-minutes we had a deal.
"I must thank both of them personally for their enthusiasm in putting together this last minute opportunity.
"We have also spoken to Roger Harvey of Honda Europe and he said he will try and keep us in the loop if any technical information comes available.
"There is no official Honda MX2 squad, so it could be a real opportunity for us to show what we are capable of at world level.” Mark also admitted that new sponsor Route77 Energy had been the key to the team staying in the GPs: "The intention was for Matiss Karro to ride MX1 in the UK, but now Neville Bradshaw is hurt we have switched Matiss back to MX2 as this is the main class for us in a business sense with MVR-D.
"It was a very last minute decision and the clincher was the help from Route77 Energy which made all our minds up to go World MX2 Championship racing. The team will be officially known as "Route77 Energy MVR-D Honda.”
Route 77 Energy is a new energy drink being introduced to the market by the London-based food company Lithanica, run by Lithuanian Roland Sakauskas and specialising in the distribution of East European products.
"Roland sponsored Team Lithuania at the Nations last year and is a real enthusiast,” explained Mark. "He was really keen to come on board as title sponsor to promote the new drink, and we of course were delighted to welcome him.”
Another new sponsor will be OneWorld MX, a brand new company specialising in Motocross Vacations.
"OneWorld MX has a lot of good ideas and I'm looking forward to its programme being launched in the coming months.”
In addition to Latvian Karro and South African Bradshaw, the team has three further riders from around the globe to give the team a multi-cultural look.
Sean Mitchell from Zimbabwe will enter his first full GP term with MVR-D after joining the series midway through last year, while Erki Kahro, a 17-year-old Estonian, and promising young Brit Lewis Tombs complete the squad. Both will contest the European MX2 series.
Team leader Karro is already on his way to France where he will contest both the Valence and Lacapelle Marival internationals in his preparation for the Maxxis opener at Little Silver.