by Chase Stallo
Leib Released by CLS
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 | 1:40 PM
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PrintAs first reported by Steve Matthes on ProMotoTalk.com, Michael Leib has indeed been released from his contract with CLS Kawasaki. Leib, who returned to Europe in 2012 to fill-in for an injured Zach Osborne on Bike-It Yamaha after returning to compete in Monster Energy Supercross West Region Lites Class, had spent two years with Factory Husqvarna in Europe prior to this season and was contracted to ride for CLS in the FIM World Motocross Championship in 2013. The late decision for the team to pull out of the deal leaves Leib with very few options as the calendar approaches a new year.
“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do yet,” Leib told us earlier today. “I’m not sure if I will be here [United States] or over there [Europe], which is hard because it is so late in the season.”Leib finished second overall in his first race back in Europe at the Grand Prix in Italy. But the honeymoon wouldn’t last long. Leib soon became ill afterwards and struggled through a few rounds before finally pulling out of the series. Doctors cleared Leib to ride a week before the Grand Prix of Great Britain, but the long layoff was too much to overcome.
Leib is now searching for a ride after being released by CLS Kawasaki.
Carlos Aguirre photo
“The thing that hindered me from going out there and doing well was that I was on the couch for three months and wasn’t able to train much before,” Leib said. “But regarding the matter of me being sick and everything is false.”
The concern over Leib’s health was considered a big factor in the decision to release him of his duties. But Leib assured us earlier today that he is 100 percent healthy and has been cleared to continue all activities.
“I’m fully cleared and at full training,” Leib said.
Although the future is uncertain for Leib, he is still in talks with another team about returning to Europe.
“I am talking to a team out in Europe that is an interesting deal. But at the same time I just don’t know. This has happened all so quick.”
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Chad Reed and JS7 should go and race the GP's. This way we can have AMA guys winning on both turfs. Plus JS7 and Reedy are close to retiring. I bet 2013 is the final yr for both. The young guns are healthier with few injuries and ready to go. Our sport has no mercy and I can bet when JS retires he will feel like a 60 yr old dude from all the crashes.
Reed would ride well and win some..........Stewart would just crash out, since all the tracks tend to be pretty rough.
To bad ! What is the future of this sport if riders can't get rides and when they do they can be released beefore racing starts? Again to the AMA put more money into you riders and not your pockets, make it possible to have riders without rides race without costing them a billion dollars! Its a top heavy system for sure.
dgizzy - You don't have a freaking clue what you're talking about. Chad Reed is the fastest he's ever been in his career, which is going to translate to a lot of wins in 2013 (both indoor and out). He will be racing beyond 2013. As for JS7 - He could retire tomorrow and save himself more excuses and future embarrassment. 2013 will be a great year for SX. Add in D. Wilson and J. Barcia and the return of T. Canard, this we be the most hyped year yet.
Pro motocross is a tough sport, no matter where you figure in the rankings. Hope ML can somehow land on his feet. My only question to the 3rd place on back finishers at Loretta's is "why do you want it so bad?" Sell all but one of the bikes and head to college, then wage all the war your degree will finance with losers like us on the weekend... The dream has a lead lining, and we all know that lead is toxic when consumed.
I am not in the know about Michael Leib. So i guess not a fan. But I don't dislike him either. However this right here is bullshit! Ya know it can cost him his career, not just one year. I wish there was some way we could show support and Boycott CLS and their Sponsors. Or something. There is simply no line in this sport.
It is like Geico pulling the pin on Osborne right now. "oh your GP season wasn't what we expected, Bye". Its not right.
323mx I appreciate your open mind and you are correct, there are usually three sides to every dispute but...... in this case CLS stated in a written letter that it was because of the illness. Bottom line is they wanted Tonus who had a contractually committed to Dixon. CLS found what they thought was a way to get Tonus out of his contract with Dixon and is using Michael's virus, which is gone, as an excuse. It did take Michael a while to shake it which is sometimes the case with athletes and Epstein Barr as we learned. These kids start to fatigue and think they need to train harder. This is what happened to Michael. It was determined that he was feeling the effects of the virus at Fermo and explains how he could blow a 27 second lead with 6 minutes to go in the final moto. In the end people will come to their own conclusions but this is complete BS. Michael does have an agent and they are handling it.