Blackfoot Honda pulls out of '03 US Supercross.

Blackfoot Racing Inc., which enjoyed groundbreaking success in the AMA 250cc US Supercross Championship in 2001/02, have announced that they are reluctantly taking a year out and will thus not compete in the 2003 series.

Despite promising negotiations with a number of corporate associates, Blackfoot was unable to secure the budget needed to put together the kind of top-notch effort that earned them the 2002 Clear Channel/AMA Supercross Team of the Year Award.

"We are, of course, very disappointed that we will not be taking part in the American Supercross series next year," said Blackfoot racing co-owner/Team Manager Jason Mitchell. "However, we're looking forward to rejoining the series in '04 and are continuing with our plans to open a U.S.-based Blackfoot Racing Division."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been working closely with our team, for all of their efforts to date and look forward to continuing our relationships," added Mitchell. "I am sure we are only one of many teams in the infrastructure of the U.S. Supercross and Motocross Series that finds it somewhat difficult to secure strong corporate sponsorship for their team. We regret any inconvenience we may have caused any persons along the way by the decision not to campaign the '03 championship."

The signed riders for 2003, Travis Elloitt, Damon Huffman and Jason Thomas are free to go to another team. Elliott has already signed for Team TRE, to race the 125cc West Coast Series on a YZ250F four-stroke.