MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted October 18, 2004 01:10 PM
BIG NEWS!! Rickey Gadson is no longer with Team Green
RICKEY GADSON NO LONGER WEARING GREEN
Press release 10/18/04
For immediate release:
After a run of 7 successful years, 5 championships, 12 national records, and 102 round wins; the time has come, as it always does for all good things to come to an end.
Except in my case, it is just the beginning.
With the past help of Kawasaki Motors Corp. and its yearly media training courses, this sharply trained PR (Public relations) savvy racer is looking forward to a broader band of opportunities, which lie ahead.
Be it racing or motivational speaking, or commentating in front or behind the camera, I am ready for whatever is thrown my way.
I would first like to thank KMC for the opportunities they have given me over the past 7 years, and all the doors that have been opened.
I was transformed from a young, African American street racer from Philadelphia, to a seasoned professional racer who has being proclaimed by AMA Prostar, the title of being the winningest professional racer in drag racing history.
That is the highest honor, that a rider can be crowned, especially when compared to the greatest legends of drag racing such as Dave Schultz, John Meyers, and Elmer trett, and Larry (Spider Man) McBride.
Being a Factory rider allowed me a wide range of opportunities from visiting pediatric hospitals and schools, to doing stand up comedy in Vegas with Bill Cosby.
I also got a call from Hollywood about doing work in the movie, Biker Boyz, where I got to work with numerous celebrities, like Laurence Fishburne, and Orlando Jones, and the whole cast.
I have been afforded the luxury of doing commercials, print ads, infomercials, testing and even writing for various main stream motorcycle magazines, such as, Cycle World, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, and currently2 wheel tuner magazine.
Through my high visibility as a successful Kawasaki factory rider I have been fortunate to be able to meet and befriend such Motorcycle racing celebs, as Doug Chandler, Ricky Carmicheal, Jeff Emig, James (Bubba Stewart) Jason Pridmore, Kevin ShwantzMiguel Duhamel, Eric and Ben Bostrom, Tommy, and Nicky Hayden, Keith Code, and Al Ludington.
Racing has gotten me some unrelated opportunities as well, such as the Macyâs Passport Fashion fest, a major 2 city fashion show tour which took us from San Francisco, to Los Angeles, where, for the second time in recent months, I got to walk the Red Carpet, with celebrities like, Gabriel Union,Majic Johnson, Liz Taylor, Marion Jones, Mark Ecko,and Jada Pinkett Smith.
I have even got to host Television shows like speedvision, where they trailed me around Daytona allowing me to do Dave Despainâs job as he could not make it but told them he had the confidence that I could do the job well.
I canât thank KMC enough for the training, grooming, visibility, and certainly for the trust, respect, and confidence that they have shown in me by allowing me to be myself and prove that I could do a good job at representing such a major corp., in a positive manner.
You see I understand that racing is only 30% of what they paid me to do, the other 70% was to represent and promote their product, and since I really believed in the product it was easy for me to wake up everyday and do my job to the fullest.
The 2004 Diamond Powersports World Finals held in Gainesville, Fla November 5,6,7 will be my last race wearing Green, as I go for my 8th national championship.
To everybody at Kawasaki I say goodbye:
To the world of opportunities ahead:
I say Welcome!
Although I am not sure which way I am going to point my career, I do know that there are plenty of new opportunities out there for a racer who understands how to give a company the most ROI (return on investment) per dollar spent, so I plan on exploring my options as they come, and I surely welcome new challenges.
Rickey Gadson
Fouru2race@aol.com
www.rickeygadson.com
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
   
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted October 18, 2004 01:13 PM
That leaves more contract dollars on the overhead for Kawi to offer to Rossi....whooohooooo
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted October 18, 2004 01:14 PM
Dont be a Dick Beans!
Rickey deserves more respect then that.
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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dwb
Expert Class
Posts: 344
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posted October 18, 2004 01:35 PM
Rickey is the definition of a class act and a bad mofo on a dragstrip.
Best of luck to you Rickey.
... f*ck Rossi
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canadians put DOOTIE on everything...
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted October 18, 2004 01:59 PM
Good luck to rickey! I will miss seeing him race.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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deathpulse
Pro
Posts: 1688
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posted October 18, 2004 02:04 PM
I'm betting we will see more of Rickey  . He's too talented to just go away. Good luck Rickey!!!
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osti33
Needs a job
Posts: 2973
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posted October 18, 2004 02:56 PM
Best of luck Rickey!!
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rubber pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted October 18, 2004 03:31 PM
Lets try him on the Kawasaki GP bike! He would at least put the Kaw in 1st place for a few seconds anyway! 
Ya never know he could suprise the whole world and be a hero!!!!!
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"Ya Gotta Have Big Ones!"
speeddemons.com
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted October 18, 2004 05:43 PM
quote:
Dont be a Dick Beans!
Rickey deserves more respect then that.
Your right man...I know that came off sounding real bad.
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DaveInDaytona
Pro
Posts: 1696
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posted October 18, 2004 07:07 PM
This is the end of one era, and the begining of a new one. Best of luck to Rickey.
I'll see you in Gainesville !
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DaytonaSportbikes Forum
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zx12r4play
Novice Class
Dirty South
Posts: 79
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posted October 18, 2004 09:01 PM
I wonder if he will be selling any of his bikes at the end of the season???
He will be missed
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kawachan
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted October 19, 2004 02:08 AM
Man o Man...Rickey IS a class act and will be missed on the Team Green Team!!
I still have that piece of black tape he put on my 12's tach at the TXSO a couple of years ago......:-)
GOOD LUCk RICKEY!!
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RED NINJAS RULE!!
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted October 19, 2004 07:10 AM
I wonder what happened??
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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Ra12r
Zone Head
Posts: 919
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posted October 19, 2004 12:04 PM
 Edited By: Ra12r on 19 Oct 2004 13:05
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rubber pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted October 19, 2004 12:46 PM
Did he retire to go into something completely different or is he going to dag race for Apprilla?
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"Ya Gotta Have Big Ones!"
speeddemons.com
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted October 19, 2004 01:34 PM
I am even hearing that maybe the "Real" problem is that SBS may not be around next year? Someone really in this said to me that they "Hope to set the Record (at Gainesville) and well the record will be retired"?
This sounds like a Class change to me?? Maybe Kawasaki is now Opting out for that reason?
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted October 19, 2004 02:08 PM
Kawasaki, is OUT of Dragracing in 05... they are shutting down their dragrace program. this is directly from Ryan Schnitz.
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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bigju
Expert Class
Posts: 238
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posted October 19, 2004 02:41 PM
Great racer, and a better person I wish him the best in the future
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zx12r4play
Novice Class
Dirty South
Posts: 79
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posted October 19, 2004 08:28 PM
If Muzzys is shutting down their dragrace program then I am gonna by a Busa.!!
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted October 19, 2004 08:38 PM
Not Muzzys, Kawasaki.
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted October 19, 2004 08:51 PM
If Kwasaki goes, will Muzzys follow?
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rubber pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted October 19, 2004 08:57 PM
WOW! That's weird.
Why? Anyone know?
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"Ya Gotta Have Big Ones!"
speeddemons.com
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted October 21, 2004 09:59 AM
Clarifications-
Kawasaki has decided not to sponsor a drag racing program in 2005. No hidden agendas, no specific reason other than the usual cyclical budget BS. Those of us that have been around professional racing for a long time are quite familiar with the process. It's never fun, but is a fact of (racing) life. Since Rickey "works for" Kawasaki, his contract is not being renewed. Ryan still works for Muzzys and this relationship remains in place. We are considering several options and are formulating our plans for next year.
Doug
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osti33
Needs a job
Posts: 2973
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posted October 21, 2004 10:35 AM
Thanks for helping clear that up Doug.
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted October 21, 2004 11:07 AM
Thanks Doug!
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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