2010
Kevin Windham, Trey Canard and Justin Barcia
In 2010 the GEICO Honda Factory Connection team actually took wins in the premier class and both regional classes. Windham won in Seattle and Salt Lake City (the final two supercross wins of his career), Canard took top honors in Anaheim and San Francisco and Barcia won in St. Louis. Yes, we know what you’re thinking, so before you start burning holes in your keyboard for the comments section below this story, we’re going to beat you to the punch by saying the Factory Connection team does indeed receive help from Honda, and the 250 effort is considered Honda’s official factory team in that class. Rockstar Energy Racing doesn’t get that level of support. However, we’re still talking about direct factory teams verses satellites, and even those with factory support have had scant success in both classes in the same year. Objection overruled!
With his win in Houston, Blake Wharton helped Rockstar Energy Racing join an elite club.
Simon Cudby photo
2008
Kevin Windham, Jake Weimer and Trey Canard
The Factory Connection team does it again with Windham taking wins in Houston, Daytona, St. Louis, and Seattle, Weimer in Phoenix and Canard in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Daytona, and St. Louis.
2005
Kevin Windham and Billy Laninovich
A double dose of Factory Connection with Windham winning a muddy opener in Anaheim and Billy Laninovich taking the first and last win of his career a few weeks later in San Francisco.
2002
Mike LaRocco and Travis Preston
This is beginning to sound like a broken record with Factory Connection coming through once again. LaRocco pulled off the win in Anaheim and Preston took the checkers in Anaheim and Dallas. Preston also won the 2002 125 West Championship. LaRocco? He got an introduction to the Nitro Circus when Travis Pastrana landed on his arm, breaking it and his 250 title chances.
The Factory Connection team had three different riders, in two classes, win races in 2008. Including Trey Canard's (above) win in Daytona.
Simon Cudby photo
Honorable Mention
In 2004, even though they didn’t win any 125 races, the Factory Connection squad did manage to take wins in the premier class with two different riders. Windham won in Phoenix, Anaheim, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas, while LaRocco took what would be the final win of his career in front of his hometown fans in Indianapolis.
If you go back into the 1990s, satellite teams were just beginning to get traction in the industry, and the traditional factory teams dominated most classes, especially the big-bike division, each weekend. Credit to teams like Pro Circuit and Honda of Troy for their success in the small bores, and Chaparral Yamaha for grabbing 250 supercross wins and titles with Jeremy McGrath. But success in both divisions? Rare for anything but a factory team, and remember, Factory Connection indeed has a factory connection. Rockstar Energy Racing is changing the game, and in many ways, in a league of its own.