Cody Mackie to Fill in For Josh Grant
Thursday, January 26, 2012 | 6:10 PM
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PrintMurrieta, CA (Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012) With DNA Energy Drink / Jeff Ward racing’s Josh Grant on the sidelines rehabbing a shoulder injury sustained at Los Angeles SX round 3, Australia’s Cody Mackie is poised to step up for the opportunity of his lifetime. Mackie has been in the U.S. since Anaheim 1 contesting in the 450cc class of the AMA Supercross as a privateer aboard a stock bike coming close to qualifying on several occasions but will now get his big break at Oakland on a DNA Energy Drink / Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki KX450.
“My partner Lucas (Mirtl) has been telling me about Cody (Mackie) from Australia who has been over here on his own dime, sleeping on couches, trying to make it and after watching him ride the last couple days on our bike I feel like this is a prime opportunity to give someone like Mackie a chance,” said Jeff Ward, co-owner of Jeff Ward Racing. “It’s unfortunate to have Grant on the sidelines right now but we want to make sure we don’t rush him back too soon and that he gets the proper treatment so he can come back strong.”
And in an ironic twist of fate, Mackie’s number in Australia is No. 33, which mirrors that of Grant’s. At Oakland, however, Mackie will be racing the DNA Energy Drink / Jeff Ward Racing / Kawasaki No. 333.
About Jeff Ward Racing:
Jeff Ward, seven-time AMA champion and two-time X Games Gold Medalist, along with Kevin Conway, 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year, and Lucas Mirtl, founder of LM Action Sports Management have joined two-time AMA Supercross Champion team owner Mike Kranyak to form Jeff Ward Racing. With support from Kawasaki and DNA Energy Drink, them team is poised to contend for the 2012 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships. The rider line-up for Jeff Ward Racing in 2012 consists of Josh Grant and Kyle Chisholm.
About DNA BRANDS:
DNA BRANDS Inc. (DNAX), make DNA Energy Drink(R), the award-winning, best-tasting energy drink at the 2010 World Beverage Competition, and DNA Beef Jerky(TM) and DNA Shred Stix(TM). DNA Energy Drink(R) is a proprietary blend of quality ingredients in four flavors Citrus, Lemon Lime, Sugar Free Citrus and Sugar Free Cranrazberry. DNA is a proud sponsor of many action sport teams consisting of top athletes from Motorcross, Surf, Wakeboard and Skateboard has received tremendous TV and media coverage. Independent retailers throughout the United States sell the DNA Brand products as well as the national retailers Walgreens, CVS, Race Trac and Circle K.
True to its sports roots, DNA BRANDS, INC., has earned national recognition through its primary sponsorship of the DNA Energy Drink/Jeff Ward Racing team where it competes on a world-class level in Supercross and Motocross, as well as Kevin Conway, 2010 NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year, reaching millions of fans. DNA Energy Drink(R) can also be found in other action sports such as Surfing, BMX, Wakeboarding and Skateboarding and its athletes are recognized stars in their own right.
For more information about DNA Energy Drink, its athletes and sponsorships, please visit www.facebook.com/DNAbrands, www.dnaenergydrink.com; www.dnabrandsusa.com.
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aww man i wanna ride!
Who is this guy?
Well, according to the article, he is Cody Mackie from Australia.
for some reason im getting the vibe that the jeff ward racing team isnt getting off to a very good start. Josh grant used to be a top give guy easy and could win at times but he is married and has a kid now and it seems like he doesnt have the heart or speed anymore. This could be the beginning of the end for grant.
Good luck young man! Enjoy every minute of it, and take every advantage this has. Hard work and dedication will always pay off in the long run.
@mxpunker Ya ever heard of Google.... Kook
Shoulda' asked Pourcel if he wanted to ride. I miss that guy.
So with Grant, Blose, Hahn, Canard, and Morais out for Oakland, that means that only 19 of the 24 riders who have already made a main this year will be racing this weekend. Making this the golden opportunity for guys like Mackie, Thomas, LaMay, and Stroupe (if he's racing) to get in their first main of the year.
Yeah go the mack attack...from Byford sx to the big time...
In a interview 2 weeks after Ward had signed Grant he said he was sure Grant would be on the podium every weekend. That me think that he must not have seen a race in the last few years. If you think about the money that Grant has been paid since turning pro and what his average finish is for the 29 races each year, he has to be the worst investment in history. Really who is surprised he is on the couch?
Josh Grant is washed up...he ain't worth a sh.. anymore. Jeff Ward can't do any worse with the new guy. Sorry Jeff, but bad signing in Grant... You would have gotten better results with Brad Ripple or Travis Sewell, and disrespect to those two riders who rightfully have earned a spot, but have never gotten a chance.
I told you ...I dont see why hire those 2 downhilling riders instead of promising young guns like KYLE REGAL dammit!!!!Waste of resources I difficult times.
By the way f**k CBS and their poor transmissions
Yeah, why is no one taking Kyle Regal to fill in. I thought he was pretty solid last year.
Brad Ripple? He was pretty solid on a 250, but to pick a guy who has never made a 450 main, that would be a huge risk. As for Sewell, he's already stated that he doesn't intend to race Supercross, since there weren't any places that he could train at. Given that this JWR's first year, I think it was smart to play it safe and pick guys who've proven that they're capable delivering, although I do think Grant was a bust. Btw, is RIpple even racing anymore?
You people are sad...do you have any idea how difficult it is to come back from an ACL reconstruction in a short time frame, yet alone mutliple ACL reconstructions on both knees? Most professional atheletes take at least one full year for just one knee...even if they play during that year, they are generally not even close to what they were until a full year goes by. Grant has had two ACL surgeries back to back and hardly meaningful time on the bike fully recovered....give the guy a break.
@slim473 i agree , it takes athletes a bit to get back to 100% after ACL reconstrcutions, and if you were JG33 , would you go balls to the wall at the beginning of the season ? he got injured the last 2 beginning of the seasons, hes trying to last a whole year .
This kid has been near the top of the lap times in the B practice each week in the SX class. I didn't know who he was but he has been catching my latley. Thats cool of Wardy to give him a shot.
@darren29 - Grant is taking it easy? Hardly, he's been squirrely as all hell.
Cody Mackie's career number here in Australia in 33, coincidentally. He's been running 333 in the 250's. He's never consistently been a front runner down here so don't expect too much from him. But i wish him all the best. Shame Ben Townley didn't get the ride!
I hear ya on the acl injury.That's not enough time to be ready to be 100%. but they are in referance to a shoulder injury that has sidelined him.
Jeff needs to go after someone like Tickle for next year... Solid rider... new to the class and has alot of improvment room.
Jeff needs to go after someone like Tickle for next year... Solid rider... new to the class and has alot of improvment room.
What this guy said!
i don't care about how long it takes his shoulder to heal... he's been injured for what? 2 years? some guys just can't come back from injury's and i think he's one of them.
GO GET TICKLE!
I dont think Grant has ever finished the year yet. Third race and he is out ,,sounds about right for him.
If Grant was still hurt, why would he be signing any contract if he needed more time for his ACL? The dude is just lookin for a paycheck. Kids like Grant need to be in a performance only contract. Alessi's dog woulda gotten better recognition wearing a Jeff Ward Racing t-shirt in the pits than Grant did on the bike.
i agree that grant has been awarded with some awesome contracts since he has turned pro. but gets injured every season and never shows the results. i dont get it.
i agree with alot of these guys josh grant was a complete waste of time and money. you could see it in his face out there he was riding scared an was out of his leage. but alot of guys that were sucsessful in the lites arnt able to make that transition to the 450 class. i commend jeff ward for beleaving and giving josh one last chance to prove him self out there but i think he answered everyones question. its a new day and age of racers. if your not at the top top of your game in supercross you might as well watch from the stands.
@dpoe322: no, I have never heard of google! Dork!
I was being flippant, dork!