New Berlin, NY (6/4/2008) -
The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National
Motocross Championship Presented by Parts
Unlimited heads to Central New York this
weekend for the Can-Am Northeastern ATV
National Presented by Renegade. The event,
Round 7 of the National Pro Racing tour
and Round 6 of the Amateur tour, is being
held at Unadilla MX. The Nation's premier
national ATV racing series features America's
best Pro riders, as well as Amateur, Pro-Am
and Junior racers.
The ATV Motocross Series features the top
professional and amateur ATV riders in the
country, competing at preeminent motocross
facilities across the nation. ATV motocross
racing is run on a closed course, which
comprises technical "whoops" sections,
as well as big-air jumps, tight turns and
all-out straightaways. The machines are
race-bred 450cc machines from top manufacturers
such as Can-Am, Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris,
Honda, KTM, and Kawasaki. Riders easily
make six-figure incomes from the large purses,
and contingency bonuses posted by manufacturers,
as well as other Series sponsors and suppliers.
The riders will be vying for the most coveted
honor in ATV racing: The AMA National Championship
and the AMA No. 1 Number Plate.
This weekend's event is the second base
of the $5,000 ITP Tires Grand Slam Presented
by QUAD Magazine. The championship within
a championship, being held at four of this
year's Showcase Events, is offering monetary
awards in the Pro Class, as well as special
bronze, silver and gold medals in the Amateur
Classes.
This weekend's Showcase will feature the
popular RiderCourse ATV training program,
as well as demo rides of Can-Am's newest
ATVs. The Showcase will also include other
outdoor-themed displays and other entertainment
opportunities for fans.
The race will be telecast on Versus Network
on Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m.
With Round 7 looming, the points championship
is still very much up for grabs. Dustin
Wimmer (No. 191 MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro
Taper Suzuki) has a commanding 41-point
lead in the chase, earned on the merit of
three victories and two additional podiums.
In addition, the Center Valley. Pa rider
is the defending winner here.
However, a group of veteran riders are
charging hard behind Wimmer.
Leading that charge is Wimmer's teammate
Doug Gust. "Digger" Doug (No.
55 Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro
Taper Suzuki) has been consistent all season,
earning a single victory, and four additional
top-five finishes. Gust sits second in points.
Meanwhile, defending and two-time AMA National
Champion Joe Byrd has been on a tear during
the last three races. With two victories,
as well as a runner-up finish, Byrd (No.
7 American Honda/Joe Byrd Riding School
Honda) has quietly elevated himself to third
in points, and he may just be in the catbird
seat when it counts.
Connecticut native Josh Creamer too has
displayed courage and veteran experience
this season on his No. 9 Team Monster Energy
Kawasaki. Creamer, who earned his second
podium this season at the most recent round,
now sits fourth in points.
Just behind Creamer is fan favorite John
Natalie. Natalie (No. 13 Team Can-Am Racing
Can-Am), riding the all-new Can-Am DS450,
has shown just how quickly a development
program can come up to speed. Natalie netted
Can-Am's first moto victory this season,
and handed the Canadian company its first
ever podium in ATVA competition. Natalie
sits fifth in points.
Team Yamaha, too, has shown glimmers of
greatness this season, as Pat Brown (No.
199 Factory Team Yamaha) has a podium to
his credit. Brown is always in contention,
but has been dogged by bad luck this season.
Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda/Houser
Racing Honda), Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team
Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper
Suzuki), Josh Upperman (No. 20 American
Honda/Baldwin Motorsports Honda), and Rocco
Arno, Jr. (No. 101 Honda), as well as many
others are also expected to compete here.
About the ITP/Moose
Racing ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited:
The AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National
Motocross Championship Series Presented
by Parts Unlimited is the nation's premier
amateur and professional ATV motocross series,
and competes at top motocross facilities
nationwide. The 11-round series features
the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors,
and is America's largest and longest-running
ATV National Motocross series with more
than 20 years of competition. The series
continues to expand and produce top talent
from the amateur ranks, while keeping close
to the grassroots fun that makes people
love to go to the races.
Series sponsors include title sponsors ITP
Tires and Moose Racing, and presenting sponsor
Parts Unlimited. Premiere and Feature sponsors
include Can Am, Amsoil, ATV Sport Magazine,
Quad Magazine, Moto Tees, Maxxis Tires,
and FMF. Associate sponsors include Fox
Shox, Gatorade, Hinson Racing, Custom Axis,
and H-Bomb. Media partners include ATV Insider
and ATVRiders.com. For more information,
please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
About the ATV Association (ATVA):
The ATV Association ("ATVA")
is the official sanctioning body of the
amateur division of the ATVA ITP/Moose Racing
ATV National Motocross Championship Series
Presented by Parts Unlimited. The 9,000-member
ATVA is a sister organization of the 260,000
member American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA). ATV racing has experienced phenomenal
growth in recent years, and continues to
gain momentum and support, outselling off-road
motorcycles annually. Each ATVA round attracts
hundreds of racers who compete for bragging
rights to one of 31 amateur national titles.
For more information, please visit www.atvaonline.com.
About the ATV Promoters Group (ATVPG):
The ATVPG is composed of the individual
promoters that host the AMA ITP/Moose Racing
ATV National Motocross Championships, presented
by Parts Unlimited. The goal of the ATVPG
is to raise awareness of ATV motocross through
the production of professional and amateur
championship racing events. For more information
on the ATVPG and the ATV National events
they produce, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
