Sit Down with Chad Lanza of Valli Motorsports

Industry Insider

Chad Lanza of Valli Motorsports

Megan Blackburn

If you know your satellite teams in the industry you know that Valli Motorsports of one of the most successful newcomers to not only the Outdoor Nationals but to the WORCS racing series as well. Chad Lanza, owner of Valli Construction, decided to follow his dream of owning his own race team on a professional level in the sport. The Valli headquarters in northern California has quite the set-up with a rider training facility, race shop and fancy cars. This week we were able to snag Mr. Lanza for some one on one!

Hey Chad, glad you could be with us today! You are not only owner of successful privateer team Valli Motorsports, in fact your primary business ownership is Valli Contruction (based out of San Jose, California), in which you conduct business all over the country. So tell us, what initiated your desire to host and invest in a race team of your own?

CL- First off, the sport of motocross is a great sport! Growing up I loved racing motocross and once I came into a position to be able participate and host my own team on a professional level, I began taking the proper steps. Being that Valli Motorsports was successful in the auto industry I felt that we had a great chance to be highly competitive in the motocross industry as well. In the business aspect, I knew Valli Construction and Valli Motorsports could welcome some really great partnerships.

Being an avid rider yourself, you competed in motocross and were in fact an extremely successful BMX racer. As we all know once you fall in love with the sport of motocross, you’re hooked for life! How did you get started in moto and give us some history of your riding experiences?

CL- When I was very young I raced BMX very competitively, and at about the age of 16 I made the transition into motocross. I began racing the District 36 races here in northern California, but eventually it began to take away from my progressions in work and my career so I decided to walk away from the full time racing aspect of the industry and move towards helping professional riders in their own careers. For 5 years I helped my friend Eric who raced GNCC, ISDE and other off-road series, doing everything I could. At the time it was a great way for me to stay involved and keep my career thriving.

With so much on your plate, it’s quite impressive the way you can juggle work and play. We always see you at races and very consistently involved with your team. How does an entrepreneur like yourself come about developing his own race team and would you consider Valli Motorsports a business venture or hobby of yours?

CL- Valli Motorsports is 100% a business venture. The main team sponsor is Valli Construction and I feel that having Valli Construction collaborate with Valli Motorsports is great for the for both business clientele. It’s a great way to open this world to them and have them go to races and meet the people of the motocross industry. Valli Motorsports is a major player in the auto industry. With the positive relationships that have been made, Valli Construction has substantially benefitted from the situation, picking up new projects and business relationships.

You have a keen eye for choosing riders with immaculate talent! This year you signed with Kyle Summers, WORCS Champion Bobby Bonds and Bobby Garisson to collaborate a team for the 2009 World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) and Western Hare Scrambles, as well as Jimmy Albertson, Kyle Regal and Sean Hamblin for the 2009 Outdoor Nationals. Talk about some serious talent diversity. You put the WORCS guys on Hondas and the National fellas on Yamahas and although all racers have been on the roster in the Outdoor series, they all represented the same team. How did the conversion to Yamaha come about and did you intend for the off-road riders to attend the nationals?

CL- I purchased the Honda bikes at Hollister Honda, therefore the Valli Motorsports team is not under a bike manufacturer contract. Yamaha came through with the motocross program. I offered both Jimmy Albertson and Sean Hamblin contracts for the 2009 Outdoor season and both had requested to ride Yamahas for their familiarity and history. The decision was made and both Outdoor riders were set up with Yamahas. My original intention was to have 2 teams, one for off-road and one for motocross. Unfortunately, Hamblin got hurt and our off-road riders were first choice for his replacement. Bobby Bonds rode in place of Hamblin at Hangtown this year and after racing on the Outdoor Yamaha bike he expressed that he felt really comfortable. With just a week before the 6^th round of the WORCS series he made the switch to Yamaha and won the race. When we had Kyle Summers race at Lakewood, we put him on the Yamaha about 20-30 minutes before the national and he finished in 9^th place. Kyle told us he also shared the same comfortable feeling on the bike and felt he would be an even more successful competitor on the YZ. This previous weekend at the Western Hare Scramble in Monticello, UT, Kyle made the switch and won his race as well. End result- The clarity that riding a Yamaha for both Bobby Bonds and Kyle Summers is undeniably a perfect fit. Our 3^rd off road rider Bobby Garisson has the option for the remaining round of the WORCS series of course, but is still undecided.

A little blunder occurred in Honey Lake for round 5 of the WORCS racing series over skeptics of cheating and true or not, the final decision resulted in a loss of points for all Valli Motorsports riders, a ban of attendance for team manager and the choice to no longer bring the pretty black and red rig to represent Valli Motorsports. In your own words, tell us about the mishap, what really happened and whether or not we can look forward to seeing you at WORCS for 2010?

CL- Charles Halcomb (team manager), was in a non-spectator area during the race with a radio. WORCS regulations are that radios are not allowed in a non-spectator area. Unintentionally the rules were broken and each Valli rider was penalized 5 points (which can really hurt a rider for a potential championship) and Charles was confined to the pits and parking lot only for the remainder of the season. I currently have not committed to the WORCS series for 2010 due to budget review. Our priority for 2010 is the West Coast Lites Supercross program and the MX Sports 450 Outdoor Nationals. The reason being? There is a very large upside for corporate sponsors, attendance and TV coverage. By no means get me wrong, the WORCS series is absolutely amazing, I mean Sean Reddish runs that series like I’ve never seen before. Sean is a very talented promoter, not to mention great guy and I really enjoyed working with him this year. I look forward to working with him again and you haven’t seen the last of Valli Motorsports in the WORCS series.

The Outdoor Nationals are quite prestigious and cater to some of the fastest racers in the world. Full of factory bikes, semis, big money, pretty girls and fans, it is a very competitive venue in the industry and as a privateer team you jumped right in and stole the spotlight. What made you decide to pursue this venue of racing and from your own perspective is it everything you thought it would be?

CL- To be honest I really wasn’t sure about the Outdoor Nationals at first. I just knew that their rider attendance, competition and TV package had appealed to me enough to want to bring the team in to compete. I am very pleased with the way series is run and they are very professional, I also enjoy the program itself. I’m really excited for next year!

2010 is anticipated to be a big year for the Valli Motorsports team and we’re anxious to know what your plans are as far as bike brand, what series’ the team will be attending and whose names we will see on the Valli graphics. And will we see Kyle Regal as a Valli Motorsports rider for the 2010 Supercross seaon? Just between the ORC readers and yourself, what can you tell us?

CL- Currently, we are in negotiations with Kyle Regal and Kimmy Albertson so nothing is set in stone. In 2010 the plan is to run the YZ250fs in the West Coast Lites Supercross series and the YZ450 for the Outdoor Nationals with the same riders. I would really like to work with WORCS again, though unfortunately it is quite costly as a sponsor. Right now my main focus and priority is Supercross and the Outdoor Nationals.

Congratulations on an outstanding year with a brilliant team! You are very talented in all you do and we look forward to seeing Valli Motorsports for the 2010 racing season, thank you for your time!

CL- Thank you! See you at Glen Helen.