Washington, UT (10/10/2008)
- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
is proud to announce that it will sanction the
World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) for
2009. In addition, the AMA and WORCS will also
partner on several rounds of the AMA Western
Hare Scrambles Series, which will lay the groundwork
for future cooperative endeavors.
"Off-road racing is a unique area of motorcycle
competition where both the country's top athletes
and recreational amateur racers frequently compete
in their respective classes at the same events,"
said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Thousands
of our members are die-hard off-road racing
enthusiasts, and the AMA remains steadfastly
committed to this form of competition on all
levels. As one of the premier series for off-road
racers in this country, WORCS represents an
excellent additional partner for the Association
as we continue to grow and improve this area
of competition."
With the addition of WORCS events, the AMA
adds another of the country's top off-road series
to its fold, which also includes the AMA FMF
Racing National Enduro Series, the AMA FMF Racing
National Hare & Hound Series, the Can-Am
AMA Grand National Cross Country Series, the
AMA/MAXXIS National Endurocross Series, the
AMA/NATC National Observed Trials Series and
the AMA Eastern and Western Hare Scrambles Series.
AMA Off-Road Director Chuck Weir added that
the benefits of sanctioning WORCS will go beyond
that series alone.
"The AMA is thrilled with the opportunity
to sanction this world-class championship, and
honor the WORCS champions with AMA recognition,"
Weir said. "In addition, by working with
WORCS on the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Series,
both programs will be elevated and better racing
will result for the competitors and fans. This
is a win/win relationship that will start paying
dividends immediately."
Sean Reddish, CEO and founder of WORCS, said
that he has long wanted to affiliate WORCS with
the AMA, the world's largest motorsports sanctioning
body and the leading advocate for motorcyclists'
rights in the United States.
"WORCS has looked at partnering with the
AMA for the last three years and now the time
is just right," Reddish said. "With
the growth of the WORCS series and the new direction
AMA has taken in sanctioning, we knew that 2009
was the year to make it happen. Many positive
things can be said of the AMA, and the one that
I and WORCS consider the most important is the
protection of our right to ride and race."
Reddish added that WORCS hopes to co-sanction
three to four races with the Western National
Hare Scrambles program in 2009.
"This will bring all the talent west of
the Mississippi together to make for some of
the best racing anywhere," Reddish said.
"As WORCS grows into new areas of off-road
racing, we will lean on the experience of the
AMA. The future of Western off-road racing just
took one big step forward, and I am proud to
be part of that."
Including a mix of off-road and motocross,
WORCS races feature some of the fastest, most
intense racing in the country, with competitors
riding full-tilt for well over two hours. Some
of the world's best off-road riders compete
in WORCS, including many of the AMA riders who
contested this year's International Six Days
Enduro on the U.S. Trophy Team.