Story Written by:  David Pingree

Publication:  www.RACERXILL.com

Original Publication 6/5/2008 by Racer X.

Some people remember the name Adam Chatfield from a one-off race in Arizona years ago that turned into a global debacle. But the 20-year-old from Devizes, England, is one of the nicest guys at the track, and that whole thing is way behind him. As a member of the Richardson’s RV Center Suzuki support team this year, Chatfield has had good backing up to this point. But as the team parks its transporter for the summer, Adam is hitting the road with his truck, his bikes, and the help of a good mechanic to compete in the remaining ten rounds of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship. We caught up with him today for this week's Sponsorhouse.com Privateer Profile.

Racer X: How has 2008 been to you so far?
Adam Chatfield: Supercross went all right. I had a few problems but it came together okay at the end. I got twelfth at Seattle right at the end, so that was good. Then getting ready for outdoors I have just been trying to get better and better. I moved up to the 450 and my goal has been to get points every weekend.

And you’ve done that so far, correct?
Yeah, I’ve scored points in every moto except the first moto at Hangtown. I ran into a guy that had crashed and it tore my brake line open. I had to pull in when that happened. But it’s been going pretty well other than that.

Your team was never planning on doing all the nationals. What was their agreement with you guys at the beginning of the year?
They are helping us through five rounds of the outdoors. The rig went to the first two and then they were going to do Texas, Colorado, and Washougal. But we had our team manager quit on us and it messed things up a bit, I suppose. Now they’re going to help us with expenses, and they gave us a smaller trailer to use and my mechanic and I are heading out on the road to do them all. Marc Hauser at Richardson’s has been a really big help. He is giving us expense money for each round and also letting us use his trailer. It should be good.

Have you raced all the venues on the national series?
I did most of them last year until I got hurt. I had my shoulder worked on towards the end of summer. I’m looking forward to doing the whole series.

You blew up one of your bikes last weekend. Did you get that fixed already?
Yeah, we have been running around all week trying to get ready. I just got a new head for it and I was going to ride it this week, but I’ve been so busy getting ready that I just haven’t had time. I’ve been packing and picking things up to get ready all week. I haven’t ridden or trained at all this week.

That’s the life of a true privateer, right?
Oh, yeah, it’s tough. My mechanic, Dave, has been working so hard that I had to help him out. My only training has been loading heavy boxes in and out of the trailer.

Where are you staying on the road?
I have a few friends in Texas and in New York, so I will stay with them when I’m in that area. Then the trailer we have has two beds in it and a bathroom so we can stay in that when we have to. It’s a pretty good setup. I’m pulling the trailer right now and I’m getting eight miles to the gallon. Can you believe that?

Nice! How much do you think you’ll spend in diesel this summer?
I don’t even want to know, to be honest. Richardson’s are helping out a lot but I’m going to have to put some in too. Hopefully I don’t have to miss any rounds because of it.

Is your teammate, Michael LaPaglia, joining you for any of the tour?
No, he is going to stay home and get healthy. He might try to do the last couple of rounds.

Just out of curiosity, who is the best team manager you’ve ever had?
We had one last week that was actually pretty good. I quite liked him. I think his name is David Pingree or something; he used to race [laughs].

Who are the good people helping you out this summer?
Marc Hauser and Richardson’s RV Center, Suzuki, Jayco Trailers, my mechanic, Dave, No Fear, Dunlop, Spy, Shoei, and all the team sponsors that have helped us out.

Professional Motocross Rider Adam Chatfield and 24-Time Amateur Title Holder Michael Lapaglia Kick Off The Jayco/Suzuki Racing 2008 Season on Jan. 5, 2008

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. – Jayco® RVs is teaming up with Suzuki as lead sponsors for the 2008 Richardson’s Racing Team that features two up-and-coming professional motocross riders: British-born, Menifee, Calif.-based Adam Chatfield and Murietta, Calif.-based 24-time amateur title winner Michael LaPaglia.

The season kicks off Jan. 5, 2008 in Anaheim, Calif. and continues through May 2008 in several states, including California, Arizona, Texas, Washington and Nevada. The Jayco/Suzuki Racing 2008 Motorsports Season is made up of several racing series, including the 2008 Monster Energy West Coast Supercross Series, the 2008 AMA Toyota Outdoor Nationals and the WMA Women’s MX Series.

“Jayco builds an extensive line of toy haulers designed for people who need to transport large toys like motorcycles and ATVs,” said Sid Johnson, director of marketing at Jayco.

“Richardson’s Racing and Suzuki are great partners for us because our demographics match up very well with their target audiences. Additionally, we’re pleased to have Adam Chatfield and Michael LaPaglia on board as members of our team. They represent the best and brightest in the current ranks of up and coming young riders.”

At 20 years old, Chatfield already has three years of professional motocross experience under his belt. In addition to being a team member of the Jayco Suzuki Racing Team, Chatfield was recently selected as a Wonder Warthog Team rider. His impressive accomplishments include top ten finishes at Glen Helen (2006 MX) 2006 and San Francisco (2007 SX Lites), as well as an 11th place finish at Southwick (2007 MX) and 15th overall at High Point (2007 MX).

18-year-old Michael LaPaglia has been riding for 15 years and has won 24 amateur titles, including Texas, World Mini, Mammoth and Ponca City. Since turning professional, LaPaglia has finished 11th overall in the 2007 West Coast races including a 7th place finish in Seattle and a 9th place finish in San Diego.

For more information and event schedules for the 2008 Motorsports Season and the Jayco Suzuki Racing Team, visit www.richardsonsracing.com.

About Jayco, Inc.
Jayco is the largest privately held manufacturer of recreation vehicles in the world. The company manufactures and markets RVs under the Jay Series, Select, Baja, Jay Feather, Jay Flight, Eagle, Designer, Octane ZX, Recon ZX, Greyhawk, Melbourne and Seneca brand names.

For more information on any Jayco products, call 1-800-RV-JAYCO, visit www.jayco.com, or write to Jayco, Inc., 903 S. Main, Middlebury, Ind., 46540.

The 2008 Supercross season is right around the corner and Richardson’s Racing has finalized the last major component of their team by adding the #1 name in all of motorcross gear and apparel, No Fear.  Michael Lapaglia and Adam Chatfield will be competing in No Fear gear for the West Coast rounds of Supercross, along with selected “outdoor” motocross races during the ’08 campaign. The team is preparing to be a major factor in the series all year, so make sure and come by the new Jayco/ Richardson’s Racing semi in the pits and check us out !!! 

Richardson’s Racing would like to thank the remaining sponsors for 2008:
Jayco / Suzuki / Escondido Cycle Center / Bank of the West / Throwdown / Sunline/ No Fear / Torco / Pro-Tec / FLU Designs  / Enzo / Yoshimura / Dunlop / Alpinestar / Hinson / Etnies / Applied / RK Excel / AC Racing / Garage Graffix / Pivot Works / Pole Position / CP Pistons / CV4 / Cometic / SPY/ Mechanix Wear / Ready Racing / Braking / Rims Plus / Boyesen / F&L Fuels / Brown Motorsports / Richardson’s RV Centers

www.nofear.com

www.richardsonsracing.com