Michael Battista #88
Michael Battista #88
-Started riding at 13 years old on a 1978 Yamaha DT125. At age 14 or 15 he stepped up to a 1990 KDX200. Mostly riding trails at this point. At age 16 he entered his first race along side Gary Onofrio and Bill Glossa. It was a NETRA Jr Enduro. It was the first race for all 3 friends. After a few more Jr Enduros that year…we put our sights on other forms of racing.
-In 2005 he bought a 1990 Yamaha YZ250, (1st motocross bike). After a few trips to Rocky Hill (CT MOTOCROSS) with Gary and Bill, it was time to enter into the Arenacross world. In November of 2005 Mike and Gary both entered the Worcester, MA Arenacross race. Mike Enter 250 Beginner. Ironically on his first ever Arenacross race, he missed practice and had to go into the first heat blind. Never the less, when that gate dropped. Mike pulled into 3rd for a lap or 2 then got a little too much air and whipped out and hurt his ankle, which ended up in a ER visit. Not bad for the first time.
-January 2006 was the next Arenacross race in Bridgeport, CT. This time Mike, Gary and Bill entered. Mike entered 250 Beginner once again. This time with better results. In the heat he took 1st place. (the first ever moto win). When the main came around, he took a fell falls and ended up getting 6th. Little did anyone of us know back then was top 10 got awards. As you can imagine, being the rookies, we just left empty handed.
Between then and now, Mike is now riding a 2001 Yamaha YZ250F
-In 2006 the well known Mototown came to existence. So this is when Allstar Motocross got some taste of Supercross. Did some races there between the 06-07 winter. No good stories to tell though. Lets move on to 2007.
Now Riding a 2007 RMZ250
-2007 was a huge year for Mike and the rest of AMX. There was the 07-08 Mototown Winter Series and 3 Arenacross Races on the calender. Well to sum of the Mototown series, this is where skills began to be honed. This is where we went from mere beginners to top novice. It was a big step. Mike finished the season 2nd place overall in Open C. Collected 7 top 5 finishes out of 10 races.
-In February of 2007 Mike raced in Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The event was the US Open of Arenacross run by Bookoo. The class was Open Beginner (given Arenacross we did not earn Novice as of yet) Mike finished 3rd overall and was awarded his first ever trophy. You can find video of this in the sites video section. The next race this year was Wilkes-Barre, PA for another Arenacross. Now since this is AMA Racing, Mike is still a beginner since this completion of racing is much much harder. But after another 1st place heat, he fished in 6th overall again, but did collect the award for top 10, not forgetting like Bridgeport. The last Arenacross race of the year came in Novermeber in Albany, NY
Spring 2008 was ended with Injuired- broken sternum, 5 broken ribs, punctured lung and a broken foot.
Returned to racing Fall 2008 at Milford Riders Motorycle Club winning a few races in 450C and finishing strong in 250C and Open C.
In the spring of 2009, returned to racing a full series at Milford Riders, taking 1st Place in 450C, and Top 5 in 250C and Open C.
