For a rider who just turned pro for 2007, Kyle Cunningham has experienced many sides of professional motocross and Supercross racing. The young rider out of Texas has ridden under one of the most powerful satellite teams in the industry, and has worked on his own as a privateer.

In Cunningham’s first year as a pro, a stellar amateur career was enough to reward him with a ride with Yamaha of Troy. Although he views his first year as a learning year, Cunningham rode to several top tens in the Lites class.

In 2008, Cunningham found himself under the Butler Brothers racing team awning, one of the largest privateer efforts on the circuit. He improved tremendously in the Supercross series, finishing insided the top ten in the overall points chase. However, during the outdoor nationals, Cunningham was dropped from the Butler Brothers team, and was forced to ride as a privateer for most of the season. Despite his new privateer status, he forged on with a fifth overall at the Budds Creek round. For the last two rounds of the series, Cunningham was invited to ride for the Motosport/Xtreme Team Green Kawasaski squad, where he will remain for 2009.

Amateur Career

Kyle Cunningham certainly had a successful amateur career. He won several motos at the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships, but fell just short of earning any titles. However, his results at the World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas are a different story. In his last year at the race, Cunningham won ten out of twelve motos, with ten out of twelve moto holeshots as well. The Texas native also won championships in amateur races throughout the state.

Although costly falls held him back from any Loretta Lynn’s titles, Cunningham did well enough to catch the attention of Yamaha of Troy, and was picked up by the Yamaha satellite team for his rookie year. Riding for good teams was no new experience, though, as he spent the majority of his amateur career with Team Green, and then with Powerhouse Yamaha.

Personal

L2007-Presentike many other racers, Kyle Cunningham spends much of his free time training. He enjoys riding road bikes to get into shape as well. However, possibly his favorite activity outside of motocross is golfing with his father. He has officially shot below one hundred, but has yet to get into the seventies, which is his goal.

Born in Texas, Cunningham lives there with his mother in Fort Worth, but recently bought a place in the southern California locale of Menifee. John Leonard

Contributors: Alissa Gilligan , Bad Billy