Johnstown, Pa (7/8/2008)
- The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National
Motocross Championship Presented by Parts
Unlimited will make its inaugural visit
to Pleasure Valley Raceway this weekend
for the American Suzuki Summer National.
The event represents Round 9 of the National
Pro Racing tour and Round 8 of the Amateur
tour.
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 being sponsored
by American Suzuki and will also host a
PAMX American Suzuki ATV Regional Championship
event. Organized in 2007, the new regional
series has gained instant momentum, and
is now the second most prestigious ATV championship
in the east.
The race will be telecast on Versus Network
on Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
With just three rounds left on the 2008
docket, Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro
Taper Suzuki) seems poised to continue his
dominant run toward the Championship. Wimmer,
from Center Valley, Pa., is hoping his home
state advantage will pay off as he attempts
to add to his tally of five victories and
two additional podium finishes this season.
However, it's never wise to count out a
veteran, and Joe Byrd is just that. Byrd
(No. 7 American Honda/Joe Byrd Racing School
Honda) is the two-time and defending AMA
Champion, and he sits 67 points back. With
50 points available this weekend, Byrd will
attempt to gain ground in an attempt to
net his third consecutive AMA title.
A veteran of veterans, Doug Gust (No. 55
Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper
Suzuki), has been the model of consistency
this season, winning a race, and finishing
in the top five in all but two events. Gust
sits third in the title chase.
The hometown crowd will certainly be in
force this weekend and the words "Iron
Man" will be seen throughout the Pleasure
Valley facility as John Natalie will race
his No. 13 Warnert Racing Can-Am just a
few minutes from his Houtzdale, Pa. home.
Natalie is riding the all-new Can-Am DS450
and he's been stellar in his development
of the new ride. With a podium finish and
several other top fives, Natalie, with his
take-no-prisoners riding style, will certainly
be one to watch this weekend. Natalie sits
fourth in points.
Josh Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy
Kawasaki) sits fifth in points and has showcased
just how competitive Kawasaki Green is in
ATV Motocross competition. With two podiums
this season, Creamer completes the top five
in points.
Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda/Houser
Racing Honda), Jeremy Lawson (No. 16 Team
Epic/Can-Am), Josh Upperman (No. 20 American
Honda/Baldwin Motorsports Honda), Chad Wienen
(No. 44 Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro
Taper Suzuki) and privateer Rocco Arno,
Jr. (No. 101 Honda) round out the top ten
in the championship.
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.
