Behind the Scenes - 2009 Blackfoot Photo Shoot

Story and Photos by James Lissimore

With the 2009 Monster Energy CMRC Nationals fast aproaching we're well into Photo Shoot season for the major teams. The Toyota/Yamaha/Red Bull/Blackfoot/Fox Racing Team(there's a mouthfull!) chose to have their Poster Shoot down at the Georgia Practice Facility in Cairo, Georgia for the second straight year. It makes sense for the team to have the shoot in Georgia - They avoid the sometimes unpredictable weather that occurs at home this time of year and two of their riders, Colton Facciotti and Kyle Beaton had already spent the winter training at the Facility with their Coach, Jean-Sebastien Roy so travel arangements only had to be made for the other two team riders - Dusty Klatt and Aron Harvey, who were conveniently living and training together in Southern California.

Here's a few shots from the week in Georgia....

Blackfoot is a team known for having number 1 plates on their bikes. Here, Colton Facciotti's shiny new digit makes it's debut.

Three time champion Dusty Klatt is back on the team for 2009. Blackfoot bikes are so fast they're even hard to control on the stand.

The entire team are running these "7c Inspiration" stickers on their helmets this year in honor of their fallen teammate, Blair Morgan. Don't worry folks, Blair will still be around the team to cheer on his boys!

Kyle Beaton demonstrates the new riding techniques he has picked up while training with Jean-Sebastien Roy this winter in Georgia. Look out MX2 class.

You know you can't grow facial hair when you shave in the shop with no shaving cream. Colton gets ready for his glamour shots.

It's great to see DK back on a Blackfoot bike. He's looking more and more like the 2006 Dusty every day.

The King himself, Jean-Sebastien Roy, made a few laps for the camera and showed he hasn't lost a step at all in his retirement. He looked as fast as ever as he flew around the GPF track. Even though Roy earned a top 100 number last season with his one race appearance at Walton he has elected to run the 111 for any appearances he may make in 2009.

Aron Harvey felt like taking a mud bath on Wednesday so he took a slight detour. In all reality he got a little out of shape on a double into a fast sweeper and went off the track and right into the irrigation pond. Luckily for him he stopped dead with the bike upright and only had to endure the heckling from his teammates as punishment.

Harvey redeemed himself with a couple solid whips. The kid has great style on a bike.

The Beets is loving his new Blackfoot ride. Here he throws it sideways for the camera.

Colt gets to take his new number one ride for it's maiden voyage. Though there's definitely some heavy competition this season he still has to be considered the favorite to pull off the repeat in 09.

This one is self explanitory

With the new rules for sidepanels that the CMRC has enacted this season, Blackfoot has elected to run Blackfoot Direct.com and the old school "Wheel and Feather" Blackfoot logo on the sidepanels. The changes look great.

Colt styles it up with his grandpa's sunglasses while JSR and Harvey make finger puppets.