When Ivan Tedesco joined Honda Red Bull Racing in 2008, he said he was riding with “the best of the best.” Certainly there is no more fitting place for someone who has Tedesco’s passion for racing motorcycles.
Growing up in Albuquerque gave Tedesco ample opportunity to ride in the desert. His was a gradual transition into the world of professional racing—one that included working his way from an amateur all the way to the top.
When he went pro in 2000, he turned a lot of heads, eventually winning back-to-back AMA Supercross West titles in 2004 and 2005, plus the 2005 125 National Motocross Championship. In 2005 and 2006, Tedesco was one of the Team USA champs at the Motocross of Nations. He carded fifth overall in the 2007 AMA/FIM Supercross Series, but injury hampered him in the outdoor series.
Riding with Red Bull Honda Racing in 2008, Tedesco healed and was ready to go. But early in the season, he sustained a broken hand and a torn ankle ligament that sidelined him for much of the indoor and outdoor series.
“I ended up getting hurt at the fifth round at Anaheim, and that snowballed my season the wrong way,” said Tedesco. “With the injuries I had received come mid-season, I was playing catch-up the whole time when everyone else was out there healthy, racing every weekend.”
But Tedesco worked hard to come back. Not only did he return to ride the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in October, he crossed the finish line in second place on the all-new Honda CRF®450R, a solid podium finish that put to rest any lingering notion that this rider was anything less than a serious contender.
“It was really important to me. I put in a lot of work, as well as the team, after the outdoor season. I’m going to carry this momentum into the Supercross season.”
Tedesco has been a fan of the new CRF450R since day one, and even participated in its development.
“I was one of the first guys to ride the bike and give my initial feedback to what things needed to be made better. It’s an all-new bike, so the motor is good, it has fuel injection [EFI], there’s a lot more you can do with the motor, too. As far as testing, every rider is different, but the 2009 bike really suits my riding style. The EFI smoothes out the power characteristics of the motor and the chassis works great. I think the sky is the limit with this new bike.”
With the 2009 season upon him, Tedesco’s enthusiasm is as obvious as it is contagious. “My goal is to go out there and win some races, to be at the front, to be consistent and stay healthy. I know I have what it takes to win.”