Wortham: Kawasaki Racing preview

Jesseman and Dietrich Set to Ride for Monster Energy Kawasaki at Freestone

Irvine, Calif, -- Branden Jesseman and Ricky Dietrich will compete this weekend for Monster Energy Kawasaki at the third round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Racing Motocross Championship. Both riders have a strong Kawasaki pedigree with Jesseman having raced for the Canidae/Motosport/Kawasaki team earlier this year and Dietrich coming over from the Monster Energy Kawasaki Off-Road program.

Jesseman will be making his 450 class debut this week at Freestone County Raceway. During the supercross season, the Pennsylvania native rode for the Canidae/Motosport/Kawasaki team in the AMA Supercross Lites Class Eastern Region. Jesseman brings a championship pedigree with him after he won the 2003 East Coast supercross lites title.

"We are happy to keep Branden on a Kawasaki," said Mike Fisher, Monster Energy Kawasaki team manager. "We have worked together over the last two years and I know Branden will do a good job for us."

Dietrich also brings a champion's touch to the team. In 2008 Dietrich claimed the AMA EnduroCross title and in 2006 he earned the WORCS series championship. The Washington native finished in the top-10 in the first moto, and 18th overall during the motocross season opener at Glen Helen. He will run a limited schedule with the motocross team while his main focus will continue to be winning this year's WORCS title. At the midway point of the WORCSseason, Dietrich is just one point back in the championship chase.

"Ricky will be a great addition to our team," said Fisher. "He rode really well at Glen Helen and he has already shown his speed on the Kawasaki KXT450F in both the motocross and off road series."

-credit: kawasaki