Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Some of the most-talented American Motorcyclist Association members in the country aspire to the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. But before they can line up at the National on July 28 through Aug. 4, these riders must first compete at one of 12 highly competitive AMA Regional Championships, featuring the best motocross racers from each region.

“It’s such an accomplishment to qualify through the AMA Area Qualifiers and earn a spot at the starting gate at the AMA Regional Championships,” said AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “The AMA Regional Championships draw the country’s best amateur motocross racers, competing for the opportunity to race in the world’s premier amateur motocross event.”

The AMA amateur national program includes 50 Area Qualifiers and 12 Regional Championships. Several thousand riders compete for the roughly 1,500 qualifying spots up for grabs. These riders then advance to the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil to race for AMA national No. 1 plates in 36 classes. The best riders will compete for the coveted AMA Motocross Horizon Award, presented to the amateur racer poised for success in the pro ranks.

“The AMA Regional Championships are among the largest amateur motocross races in the country, with as many as 900 competitors at any one race,” said MX Sports Director Tim Cotter.

MX Sports is the AMA’s promoting partner for the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil. The partnership dates to 1982, when MX Sports began managing the series and moved the championship finale to its current location in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

“The AMA is dedicated to providing the best tracks, the best facilities and the best organizers to the AMA Regional Championship schedule for our members, and 2013 is no exception,” Bigelow added. “We look forward to working with the MX Sports staff and the Regional Championship organizers to provide an unforgettable experience and the opportunity to race in August at the greatest amateur motocross race in existence.”

The AMA Regional Championships kick off this coming weekend with the Southwest and Mideast AMA Regional Championships, May 25-26. All regional titles will be decided as June comes to a close.

The Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil is one of the most diverse national championships in America. It includes classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus on motorcycles ranging from 50cc minibikes to state-of-the-art highly modified 450cc motocross machines.

The success of the national championship has produced a long list of AMA Supercross and motocross superstars. Riders who have progressed through the program include Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, Travis Pastrana, James Stewart, Kevin Windham, Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto and many more. Nearly every professional racer competing in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship earned his way to the pro ranks through the AMA amateur program.

The AMA launched the amateur national motocross championship program in 1975. That year, a series of regional races qualified 135 riders in three classes — 125cc, 250cc and open — for the championship round in Baldwin, Kan. The program evolved rapidly over the next few years to include skill and youth divisions, with championship finales run in varying locations across the country. In 1982, the event moved to its current location at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., where it continues to crown the country’s top amateur motocross racers every summer.

For more information on the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch, see www.mxsports.com. For more information on AMA-sanctioned motocross competition, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing.

AMA Regional Amateur Motocross Championships

Northeast Regional
June 1-2: Unadilla (Youth), New Berlin, N.Y. (607) 965-8450
June 29-30: Budds Creek (Amateur), Mechanicsville, Md. (304) 284-0084

Southeast Regional
June 8-9: Muddy Creek Raceway (Amateur), Blountville, Tenn. (423) 323-5497
June 22-23: Gatorback (Youth), Gainesville, Fla. (407) 453-2056

Mideast Regional
May 25-26: Sunday Creek MX (Youth), Millfield, Ohio (304) 284-0084
June 22-23: Baja Acres (Amateur), Millington, Mich. (989) 871-3356

North Central Regional
June 15-16: Spring Creek MX (Amateur), Millville, Minn. (507) 753-2779
June 29-30: Byron Motosports Park (Youth), Byron, Ill. (815) 234-2271

South Central Regional
June 1-2: Freestone (Amateur), Wortham, Texas (713) 962-3386
June 15-16: Golden Pine (Youth), Prentiss, Miss. (601) 506-8669

Northwest Regional
June 8-9: Washougal (Youth & Amateur), Washougal, Wash. (360) 601-5347

Southwest Regional
June 25-26: The Ranch (Youth & Amateur), Anza, Calif. (949) 276-5153

Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil
July 28-Aug. 3: Loretta Lynn Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tenn. (304) 284-0101

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

The Only Racer of Any Age to Earn Titles with the Sports’ Premier Sanctioning Bodies

Dane Morales

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (May 21, 2013) — Dane Morales, a 7-year-old boy from Aliso Viejo, California, is the only racer of any age to currently hold national championships with the premier U.S. sanctioning bodies in BMX and motocross. He’s also a 2012 International Cycling Union (UCI) World BMX Champion and holds 13 national BMX titles.

Morales, a second-grader became the USA-BMX National Age Group (N.A.G.) Champion in November, 2012. Earlier this month, he took the first step to accomplishing his dual-sport championship goal by winning the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) age 4-6 50cc Arenacross title at the Amsoil Amateur Arenacross Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada on a Cobra minicycle.

“I want to be the first kid to get national BMX, motocross and Supercross championships. Oh yeah, and also the first BMX Olympic Gold Medalist,” said the lifelong athlete, who started swimming and gymnastics lesson at 10 months old, began riding bicycles at two-and-a-half and minibikes at age three.

This would model the career arc of Jeremy McGrath, the king of Supercross, who scored a record 72 stadium wins in the premier class. McGrath was also a BMX racer before moving up to motorized two-wheelers. “I don’t really know much about Jeremy,” said the long-haired, 4′2″ racer with more than 20,000 “likes” on his Facebook page, “but he’s cool. I know that Christian Craig was also a BMX champion and is now a motocross pro. That’s really cool.”

Morales will begin campaigning to defend his USA-BMX national title on May 31 at the Music City Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee, look to win another UCI world championship and continue racing minibikes.

Dane Morales’ Racing Accomplishments
2011 to May, 2013

2013 California State Qualifier, Lucerne Valley: 1st 7X & 7 Cruiser

2013 California State Qualifier, Bakersfield: 1st 7 Cruiser

2013 California State Qualifier, Palm Springs: 1st 7X & 7 Cruiser

2012 UCI World BMX Champion: 6 Class

2012 USA-BMX National Age Group (NAG): #1, 6X

2012 USA Cycling USA BMX Champion: 6 Class

2012 USA-BMX Race of Champions (ROC): #1 6X

2012 USA-BMX Redline Cup BMX Champion: 6X

2012 USA-BMX Redline Cup BMX Champion: 6 Open

2012 USA-BMX Western Divisional BMX Champion: 6X

2011 ABA Grand National BMX Champion: 5I

2011 Redline Cup BMX Champion: 5I

2011 California State Finals Winner: 5I

Dane Morales’ BMX Sponsors
Box Components, Shimano, Auburn Cycles, Oakley, ProMax, Troy Lee Designs, ASV Inventions, ODI Grips, Maxxis Tires, Profile Hubs, Speedline Cranks, K&N Air Filters, EVS Protection, OGIO, Tangent Sprockets, Bike Alley and Garage Graphics

(NEWS RELEASE)

45th Running of Hangtown Motocross Classic Draws Record Crowd

The 450 Class boasted one of the most stacked fields of racing in recent series history. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

SACRAMENTO (May 18, 2013) – With a record event attendance of nearly 25,000 fans, the 45th running of the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic proved to be one for the history books as the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicked off in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday. After missing an entire season in 2012 due to injury, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto made a valiant return, sweeping both 450 Class motos atop one of the most stacked fields in the series’ recent history. Additionally, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen claimed his first career 250 Class overall victory at Hangtown.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, who missed most of the second half of the 2012 season, made a comeback of his own by grabbing the Motorcycle-Superstore.com holeshot in Moto 1, garnering one point toward the overall championship holeshot bonus of $25,000 in the 450 Class. However, keeping the lead wasn’t an easy task as three other former 450 Class Champions and several returning contenders chased the 2008 champ early on.

Villopoto took over the lead on the opening lap with Stewart and defending champion Ryan Dungey close in tow. The trio diced it out in the first half of Moto 1 but it was ultimately Villopoto who locked in the moto win, with Dungey in second and Stewart in third.

Dungey, Villopoto, Stewart, Grant and Alessi battled all day at Hangtown. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard returned to the Hangtown Motocross Classic for the first time since his 250 Class championship-winning season in 2010. Canard made a statement early on as he jumped in behind the lead battle and even closed in on Stewart near the end of Moto 1. Just behind was the epic battle for fifth place between Canard’s teammate Barcia, BTO Sports/KTM’s Andrew Short, Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Malcolm Stewart, Smartop/MotoConcepts Mike Alessi and 450 Class rookie Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson. Malcolm Stewart, Alessi and Wilson experienced issues that dropped all three in the running order, while Canard and Barcia prevailed, rounding out the top five, with Short sixth.

James Stewart began Moto 2 in similar fashion to the first, grabbing the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot once again and taking over the points lead in the season-long chase for the end-of-the-year cash prize. From there, Stewart engaged in a battle for the lead with Dungey, while Villopoto followed close behind. Near the halfway mark, Villopoto made his move to the front, leaving Dungey and Stewart to fight for the second place position. Dungey bested Stewart for the second place spot in Moto 2, giving the Minnesota native second overall for the day with a pair of second place finishes. Stewart, the 2012 Hangtown winner, scored (3-3) for third place overall. Villopoto went on to secure the first overall win of the 2013 season with a score of (1-1).

450 Class podium: (left) Dungey, (center) Villopoto, (right) Stewart. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

“Hangtown has always been a rough place for me so for the bike to feel like it did today was amazing,” Villopoto said. “I’m obviously happy with that and happy with how I rode. I feel like we’re in a really good place and it’s only going to get better from here.”

The 250 Class was set to be a showcase with a full lineup of returning contenders, including defending 250 Class Champion Blake Baggett. Fresh off a wrist injury, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider had no reservations about getting to the front early on as he grabbed the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot in Moto 1. However, the Red Bull KTM duo of Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen quickly gained control of the lead. Musquin led three laps before his teammate commanded the lead for the remainder of Moto 1.

GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac began the first moto just outside of the top five but made his way into podium contention early on. Tomac first set his sights on Musquin and then made his way around Baggett to eventually secure second place in Moto 1. Baggett finished third, while Musquin took fourth and MyPlash Star RacingYamaha/Metal Mulisha’s Cooper Webb rounded out the top five in his Pro class debut.

Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen claimed a career first overall victory in the 250 Class. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

In Moto 2, GEICO Honda’s Zach Bell grabbed the Motorcycle-Superstore holeshot but it was once again Roczen who jumped out front on the opening lap. Roczen set the pace early on and Baggett remained close in tow throughout the first half of the race. Roczen eventually put a gap on the defending champion in the final laps of Moto 2, going on to secure his first career victory in the 250 Class.

“Coming here, I didn’t really know what to expect because I sort of took some time to have fun during the week off [between supercross and motocross],” Roczen said. “It’s important to me to keep things fun but next week it’s time to put in some work and make my performance even better.”

Baggett’s score of (3-2) was enough to give him second overall for the day, while Tomac went (2-3) for third overall. Musquin captured a pair of fourth places to claim fourth overall, while GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne rounded out the top five overall with a (9-5) score.

250 Class podium: (left) Tomac, (center) Roczen, (right) Baggett. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan took the opening round of the Women’s Motocross (WMX) Triple Crown by storm, sweeping both motos of the day in her WMX debut. Duncan bested Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Sayaka Kaneshiro, who finished second overall with a (2-3) score and Texas native Taylor Higgins rounded out the overall podium. Six-time WMX champion Jessica Patterson finished second in Moto 2 but bad luck in the first moto gave her 10th overall for the day.

The WMX Triple Crown returns to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship June 8 for the GEICO Hangtown National in Mt. Morris, Pa. Round 2 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to Lakewood, Colo. for the Rockwell Watches Thunder Valley National next weekend, May 25.

For tickets and additional information, please visit AlliSports.com/motocross and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

New Zealand's Courtney Duncan swept both motos of the WMX Class. Courtesy: Simon Cudby

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic
Prairie City OHV Park – Sacramento
May 18, 2013
Round 1 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-2)
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (3-3)
4. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda (4-4)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (5-5)
6. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki (8-7)

7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (6-10)
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (12-6)
9. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (9-9)
10. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (13-8)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki, 50
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM,44
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki,40
4. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda,36
5. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 32
6. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki, 27

7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 26
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 24
9. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki, 24
10. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 21

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (1-1)
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (3-2)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (2-3)

4. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (4-4)
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda (9-5)
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (8-7)
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (12-6)

8. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (7-13)
9. Joseph Savatgy, Cairo, Ga. KTM (10-11)
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (13-9)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 50
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 42

3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 42

4. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM, 36
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda, 28
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 27
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 24

8. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 22
9. Joseph Savatgy, Cairo, Ga. KTM, 21
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 20

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

1. Courtney Duncan, New Zealand, Yamaha (1-1)

2. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Japan, Honda (2-3)

3. Taylor Higgins, Mesquite, Texas, Honda (4-4)

4. Mackenzie Tricker, Australia, Yamaha (3-6)

5. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM (6-5)

6. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (5-8)

7. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki (7-7)

8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (8-9)
9. Hailey Larson, Mill Valley, Calif., Honda (9-10)
10. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (30-2)

WMX Triple Crown Points

1. Courtney Duncan, New Zealand, Yamaha 50

2. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Japan, Honda 42

3. Taylor Higgins, Mesquite, Texas, Honda 36

4. Mackenzie Tricker, Australia, Yamaha 35

5. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM 31

6. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM 29

7. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki 28

8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM 25
9. Hailey Larson, Mill Valley, Calif., Honda 23
10. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha 22

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious professional motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli Sports
Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series, GoPro World of Adventure Sports and Octane Academy; Alli Media, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners and distributes content through a variety of channels; and Alli enterprises consisting of E-commerce, event merchandise and branded licensed product. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form the NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, 11 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and all of their respective digital properties. The NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

45th Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic Kicks off 2013 Series

The 45th Running of the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic Kicks off 2013 This Weekend. (Courtesy: Simon Cudby)

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (May 15, 2013) – Following months of anticipation, the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicks off this Saturday, May 18, at the Prairie City OHV Park in Sacramento, Calif. for the 45th running of the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic. This weekend’s opener sets the stage for an epic season of racing in both the 450 Class and 250 Class, as the champions of each division-Ryan Dungey and Blake Baggett, respectively-return to defend their titles against one of the most competitive fields in the sport’s history. In addition, Hangtown will host Round 1 of the inaugural Women’s Pro Motocross Triple Crown, featuring the fastest WMX racers in the country.

As the longest-running event on the championship calendar, the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic actually precedes what is now known as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and boasts a devoted local following. The iconic Hangtown track, constructed by the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club, features a vast array of elevation changes and highly-technical obstacles, set in a natural amphitheater which provides race fans with spectacular viewing from almost any vantage point.

Hangtown also kicks off an unprecedented telecast and online streaming coverage for Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, featuring 63 hours of competition from all over the nation. NBC, NBC Sports Network and FUEL TV will combine to showcase live coverage from all 12 rounds this summer. In addition, more Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship races will be live streamed than ever before. Coverage of this weekend’s Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic begins this Saturday at 4 p.m. ET with the opening 450 and 250 motos on FUEL TV, with second motos to air on NBC Sports on Monday at 12:30 a.m. ET.

For more information about dates and times of these broadcasts, contact local satellite or cable providers.

450 Class
After a highly successful season in 2012, during which he claimed 10 of the 12 national victories and his second 450 Class Championship, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey returns this season to defend his title. Dungey’s nearly flawless performance proved to be a breakthrough season for KTM, securing the Austrian brand’s first-ever championship in the 450 Class. However, this season presents an all-new set of challenges for Dungey, who hails from Belle Plains, Minn., as a deep field of superstars will line up next to him.

Dungey Leads the 450 Class Into 2013, While a Deep Field of Superstars Join the Chase. (Courtesy: Simon Cudby)

Returning to Hangtown is the 2011 Series Champion, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who was forced to sit out last season due to a knee injury. Since then, Villopoto scored his third consecutive AMA Supercross Championship, giving him a boost of confidence heading into the summer.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart also returns to the mix after missing most of last season due to injury. However, a healthy Stewart could pose a threat to the rest of the field this weekend as the Floridian swept both motos at last year’s Hangtown opener to defeat Dungey. Coincidentally, Stewart and Villopoto have never faced off against each other in motocross while racing in the same class, which shows the unprecedented depth of competition featured in this season’s 450 field.

Another rider returning from injury this season is 2009 Series Champion Chad Reed. A knee injury forced the veteran Reed to the sidelines last summer, but the TwoTwo Motorsports Honda rider is back in action and ready to challenge for another championship. And then there’s Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard, who has been plagued with injuries over the course of his career but still continues to demonstrate great resilience in both recovery and race results. Canard will line up at Hangtown this weekend for the first time since his 250 Class championship-winning season in 2010.

Familiar contenders from last season’s championship will also be in the hunt, including 2012 series runner-up Mike Alessi of the MotoConcepts Smartop Racing Team, as well as Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha’s Justin Brayton and Josh Grant.

In addition to the return of several 450 Class veterans and past champions, a couple of familiar faces will also be joining the 450 Class title chase this season. Team Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson will both make the jump from the 250 Class to compete against the nation’s most elite 450 motocross racers. Barcia proved his merit amongst the talented field by finishing inside the top five in the 2013 supercross season, and was also a threat to win during guest appearances on a 450 in previous seasons. And Wilson, the 2011 250 Class Champion who is a native of Scotland, will enter the 450 Class for the first time this summer, alongside his teammate Tyla Rattray, a former World Motocross Champion who hails from South Africa.

Other riders to watch this season include Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, BTO Sports KTM’s Andrew Short and Michael Byrne, and RCH Racing’s Broc Tickle, and many others.

250 Class
This season’s 250 Class Championship should boast one of the most exciting championship battles in series history, as Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett returns to defend the #1 plate he earned in a hard-fought summer of 2012. Baggett is a past winner of Hangtown, who many consider to be the fastest 250 Class racer on the planet, though he has struggled to stay healthy since earning his first professional title last season. The Californian will face the same onslaught of competitors that made for a memorable 250 chase last season.

The 250 Class is Stacked With New and Returning Competition This Season. (Courtesy: Simon Cudby)

Red Bull KTM teammates Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin are fresh off a successful supercross season, with Roczen taking his first-ever 250SX Western Regional Supercross title, and Musquin finishing a close second in the East Region. Both Roczen, who hails from Germany, and Musquin, a French athlete, are former World Motocross Champions hoping to show their mettle here on the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, who finished third in the 250 Class in 2012, also returns this summer with a championship on his mind. He will be joined by younger teammates Justin Bogle, who hails from Oklahoma, and the quick-starting Zach Bell, a resident of Cairo, Georgia. And then there’s Zach Osborne, a veteran racer from Virginia who spent much of the last five seasons on the Grand Prix tour in Europe.

There’s no counting out veteran riders like Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton and Nico Izzi, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos, or Lucas Oil Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Cole Seely, as all four racers have proven to be serious contenders in the past. Even rising stars like Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson and Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Jessy Nelson must be counted in the mix in this talent-packed division.

And then there is the next generation of future stars that will add even more excitement to the competition. The recent confirmation of amateur motocross sensation Adam Cianciarulo to line up at this weekend’s Hangtown Motocross Classic for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki has garnered much attention already, while Cianciarulo’s longtime amateur rival Cooper Webb also debuts his Pro Motocross career this weekend with the MyPlash Star Racing Yamaha team. Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Justin Hill both showed great promise during the supercross tour and are expected to be top-five challengers. And yet another rookie contesting the Nationals for the first time ever is FMF/Orange Brigade/KTM racer Joey Savatgy. All of these young athletes have enjoyed great success in the amateur ranks and will look to make an immediate impact at the Red Bull Hangtown Classic.

WMX
The Women’s Pro Motocross Triple Crown will make its debut this weekend at the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic. The WMX Triple Crown consists of three stops along the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross tour, with Round 2 taking place in Mt. Morris, Pa. for the High Point National and the final stop at Moto-X 338 in Southwick, Mass. Six-time WMX champion Jessica Patterson leads the way in a stacked class of WMX competition aboard an N-Fab/TiLube Yamaha. Also returning for Round 1 is Brazil’s Mariana Balbi and KTM backed Alexah Pearson, as well as Japanese rider Sayaka Kaneshiro, who grabbed her first career podium finish at the High Point National in 2012.

Racing at the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic begins at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18, with competition in the 250 Class and 450 Class, as well as Round 1 of the WMX Triple Crown.

For tickets and additional information, please visit AlliSports.com/motocross and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious professional motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli Sports
Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series, GoPro World of Adventure Sports and Octane Academy; Alli Media, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners and distributes content through a variety of channels; and Alli enterprises consisting of E-commerce, event merchandise and branded licensed product. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form the NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, 11 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and all of their respective digital properties. The NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.

FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports as well as high energy entertainment programming. This includes UFC®, motocross, surfing, BMX and more. With more hours of UFC® coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the ultimate destination for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and postfight coverage, results and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

(NEWS RELEASE)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 14, 2013) -MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Sports, a division of NBC Sports Group, have announced the telecast schedule for the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Featuring a total of 63 hours of competition from the Nationals, NBC, NBC Sports Network and FUEL TV will combine to showcase live coverage from all 12 rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship this season. In addition, more Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship races will be live streamed than ever before. Coverage begins on Saturday, May 18, at 4 p.m. ET on FUEL TV with the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

In addition to its coverage of each round of the 2013 Nationals, NBC Sports Network will present exclusive programming beyond the motos, including weekly highlight shows following each round, a mid-season recap and a post-season review of both the 250 and 450 Class. NBC will also present live coverage of three rounds, including the Red Bull Budds Creek National, Red Bull RedBud National and the Red Bull Spring Creek National.”We are excited for the upcoming season of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and our partnership with MX Sports,” said Eric Grilly, President of Alli Sports. “This year’s distribution platform continues to bring motocross to consumers across multiple channels, building on past success with increasing support from Alli and the NBC Sports Group.”

Becoming an integral partner of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in 2011, FUEL TV will once again return to the Nationals this season. For 2013, FUEL TV brings live coverage of all 12 rounds, bringing eight rounds of Moto 1 coverage and four rounds of Moto 2 coverage to motocross enthusiasts unable to make it to the Nationals in person.

“We are very proud of the broadcast and digital package we’ve put together for this season, both for the television audience and online viewers,” said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs. “Motocross is not an easy sport to broadcast, given the duration of each event and the fact that each championship division races two motos, so we are fortunate that we have the ability to spread the programming in order to have comprehensive coverage of every moto from all 12 rounds. And with our ability to also show all of the races simultaneously online, our fans have more options than ever before to watch Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.”

DIGITAL

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Races airing on:

* NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sport Live Extra;

* NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets

through NBCSports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable,

satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an

authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

INTERNATIONAL

The Nationals will also be simulcast to 104 countries across the globe. The international telecasts will be hosted on eight different networks across the world – ESPN Brasil, ESPN Central and Latin America and Caribbean, Extreme Sports Channel, Fox Sports Australia, Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, Sport 1 in Germany, SuperSport and Duke Marketing. This will bring the most prestigious championship on the planet to over 40 million homes across those continents.

Returning to the booth this season is the longtime duo of veteran announcer Jason Weigandt and three-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Jeff Emig, who will once again team up to bring event play-by-play and analysis to the viewers at home. Weigandt’s vast knowledge of the sport meshes seamlessly with the years of competitive experience Emig possesses to make them one of the most well-rounded broadcast partnerships in all of motorsports. On the track, Kelli Stavast and Erin Coscerelli will provide the latest breaking news from the pits and the starting gate, while also interviewing riders before and after they hit the track.

For tickets and additional information, please visit AlliSports.com/motocross and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green™ rider Adam Cianciarulo will be on the gate for the entire 2013 AMA Pro Motocross season with today’s announcement that the 16-year-old rider will make his professional debut on May18th at Hangtown.

Irvine, Calif. – (May 9, 2013) – Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green™ rider Adam Cianciarulo will be on the gate for the entire 2013 AMA Pro Motocross season with today’s announcement that the 16-year-old rider will make his professional debut on May18th at Hangtown. Cianciarulo will race for one of the most decorated teams in AMA motocross history as he joins the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki stable riding the No. 292 Kawasaki KX™250F.

“I can’t wait for the season to start,” said Cianciarulo. “This is something I’ve been dreaming about since I saw my first ever supercross race when I was 4 years old. To be able to race for Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is an honor. I am looking to learn a lot this year because everyone knows how good this team is and I know my job is to put more number one plates on the door of the truck.”

Cianciarulo is following in the footsteps of some of the greatest riders in the history of the sport as he makes the transition from Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green to race professionally. While an amateur, the Port Orange, Fla. native became the winningest mini-bike rider in the history of the AMA Amateur Motocross National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s with 11 championships. After winning four titles at Loretta’s in the last two years, Cianciarulo put his name in the record books ahead of superstars like Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto.

“Adam is a testament to Kawasaki’s Team Green amateur racing program,” said Senior Manager of Kawasaki Racing Reid Nordin. “Like many supercross and motocross champions, Adam has grown up on green and I am excited to see how he continues to mature as a professional.”

Cianciarulo last raced his KX250F at the Monster Energy Cup in October in the Amateur All Star class where he finished second overall after finishing fifth in the first race and winning the second race. Following the Monster Energy Cup, Cianciarulo was injured and did not return to riding until February of this year. Since then he has been training to achieve his goal of lining up at the 2013 AMA Pro Motocross opener at Hangtown.

“Obviously we have been watching Adam for a long time,” said Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Mitch Payton. “He is a special kid who will bring a lot to the team this summer. I know he has been working hard all spring to get ready to race and we are going to provide him with the best equipment on the track. It will also help him to have veteran teammates like Blake (Baggett), Martin (Davalos), Dean (Wilson) and Tyla (Rattray) who can help him as he makes the jump to professional racing.”

Cianciarulo will line up on the gate for his professional racing debut on Saturday, May 18 at The Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Tickets Available Through Nonprofit Veteran Tickets Foundation

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 9, 2013) – Thanks to an initiative with the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), active and retired military veterans will once again have the opportunity to attend any round of the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, at no cost.

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross event promoters have donated 50 General Admission tickets for each of the 12 rounds of the Nationals to Vet Tix, which will be available to all military veterans through VetTix.org.

“We are thrilled that for the second year in a row veterans will be able to experience the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship,” said CEO and Founder of Vet Tix Michael Focareto. “We’re also incredibly grateful that organizations like this are thinking of Vet Tix first when it comes to philanthropic opportunities.”

Major sports franchises from Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League have also partnered with Vet Tix, as have World Wrestling Entertainment and Professional Bull Riders. Lucas Oil Pro Motocross is one of the first prominent motorsports in the country to offer this one-of-a-kind service to all veterans of the armed services.

Vet Tix is a national nonprofit organization based in Phoenix that provides free tickets to veterans and active-duty members of the military and their families. The concept of Vet Tix was developed in 2008 by U.S. Navy veteran Michael Focareto. Since then, the organization has given away more than 300,000 tickets to veterans nationwide. More information about Vet Tix can be found at VetTix.org.

The 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicks off next Saturday, May 18, with the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif. The world’s best riders will compete over the course of 12 rounds on the most renowned motocross tracks in the country.

Tickets for all rounds of the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship can be purchased at www.allisports.com.

For additional information, please visit AlliSports.com/motocross and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious professional motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli Sports
Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series and Octane Academy; Alli Media, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners and distributes content through a variety of channels; and Alli enterprises consisting of E-commerce, event merchandise and branded licensed product. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form the NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, 11 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and all of their respective digital properties. The NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Mark Blackwell, a pioneering racer in American motocross, a six-time AMA championship race team manager and a well-respected executive in the motorcycle industry, will be recognized as an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend on Friday, Oct. 18, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Blackwell, an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer inducted in 2000, will be honored alongside the class of 2013 as part of the AMA Legends Weekend, hosted by the American Motorcyclist Association, on Oct. 18-19, at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino.

“Not only did Mark Blackwell rise to the top to become the 1971 American 500cc motocross champion, but he also raced internationally at a time when the Europeans dominated the sport,” said Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame. “His grit, a win in Switzerland, and a podium finish in Germany earned him fans worldwide.

“In addition, Blackwell is probably best known for his major contributions to American motorcycling through his work at Husqvarna, Suzuki and Victory,’ Heininger said. “He helped return Husqvarna to profitability in the United States, helped turn the motorcycle and ATV division around at Suzuki, and served as general manager of Polaris Industries’ fledgling Victory Motorcycle business during a critical growth period.”

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends are existing members of the Hall of Fame whose lifetime accomplishments are spotlighted as part of the annual induction ceremony of new Hall of Famers. Blackwell joins Torsten Hallman, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, as a 2013 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend. Hallman was instrumental in introducing the sport of motocross to America and founded the Thor brand.

Blackwell was born in southern California in 1953. By the late 1960s, motocross was about to arrive in America and Blackwell would become one of this country’s earliest stars. Blackwell rode Yamahas, then CZs, then in 1970 Blackwell earned a ride with Swedish maker Husqvarna at the age of 17. He won the American 500cc motocross champion in 1971 and started off the 1972 season with a win at the Daytona motocross. He then went to race in Europe, where he suffered a serious eye injury at the final Grand Prix of the 1972 season.

After his racing career, Blackwell taught at a popular motocross training school for Suzuki, managed the Suzuki Race Team to six AMA championships, did product development for a number of MX-related companies, and then went on to work in management for Suzuki, Husqvarna and Victory.

“This is an incredible honor for me for which I am very grateful,” Blackwell said. “To be recognized alongside the iconic Torsten Hallman makes it even more special. Torsten was the first European motocross racer I ever saw as the sport was coming to America, and his professionalism, education and business accomplishments had a huge impact on the sport, as well as my life and career.”

The AMA Legends Weekend kicks off with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night, Oct. 18, in a star-studded gala event that honors the motorcycling world’s fast and famous. The next morning features the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception, where the class of 2013, the 2013 Legends and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers from previous years will be honored and interviewed on-stage in a relaxed setting that allows fans and friends to get up close and personal with motorcycling’s greatest.

Tickets are on sale now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Price is $140 for Friday night’s induction ceremony, and $20 for Saturday’s reception, which includes a continental breakfast. Additionally, rooms at the Green Valley Ranch can be reserved now for a special rate at https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=19471407 or by calling (866) 782-9487 and using the code GCIAMHF

The AMA Legends Weekend is a fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio and overseen by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation. The mission of the AMHF is to celebrate, elucidate and preserve the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. For more information, please visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum’s three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. More information can be found at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Huge Line Up Of Past Unadilla Legends

New Berlin, New York (May 7, 2013)- Fifteen former racing legends, with countless International and National Motocross Championships to their names, have once again committed to attend and participate at MX Rewind at Unadilla, which is taking place June 14-16, 2013.

Returning to Unadilla will be a familiar voice who called all the races in the 1970s and 1980s —- Larry Maiers. Maiers voice will once again be heard at Unadilla as he calls the races of the legends and lends his hand as Master of Ceremonies at the various bench racing sessions. Back on the bike, the racing legends will be led by “Bad Brad” Lackey, the first American to win a World Championship, Danny “The Door” LaPorte, who became the second American World Champion, and Trampas Parker, the third American to win a World Championship and the only one to do it twice. The list of legends is both long and distinguished and reads like a whose-who of Motocross.

Joining the three American World Champions will be Gary “The Professor” Bailey, John “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” DeSoto, New Jersey’s own Mickey Kessler, Warren Reid, Gary Semics, and New York’s own Jimmy “The Jammer” Weinert (1974 and 1975 500cc National Champion).

From the more recent era of the 1980s and 1990s, we have Guy Cooper (1990 125cc National Champion), Ryan “Ryno” Hughes (1st place overall in the 125cc National at Unadilla in 1994 and 1995), Shaun Kalos, “The Dogger” Ron Lechien (a member of the winning U.S. team at the 1985 and 1988 MX des Nations and 1985 125cc National Champion, as well as winner of the 1984 USGP at Unadilla), Nate Ramsey, and Jeff Stanton (a member of the winning U.S. MX des Nations teams in 1989,1990, and 1991, 250cc National Champion in 1989, 1990, and 1992, and winner of the Unadilla 250cc USGP in 1990,1991, and 1992).

“We are once again very excited and amazed at the response of the legends to this event. To have this impressive and formidable list of former racers joining us for the second annual MX Rewind weekend is unbelievable’, states Unadilla’s Greg Robinson. “For those of us who grew up going to the track to watch these heroes back in the day, this is yet again a dream come true. The MX Rewind legends represent four decades of motocross racing history. To have America’s three World Champions here together, and three members of winning American MX des Nations teams is simply unheard of. Last year the legends blew everyone away with their stories and willingness to autograph and bench race. This year will be no different. We can’t wait to hear more racing stories. It is a wonderful opportunity for motocross fans young and old to hear from and celebrate this great sport of ours.”

All of the legends will be in attendance from Friday through Sunday taking part in a variety of meet and greet opportunities, a Saturday and Sunday vintage and post vintage champions race, autograph sessions, and a Saturday night Dinner of Champions.

Advance sale tickets, camping passes, racing pre-entries, and event information can be found at www.mxrewind.com.

About MX Rewind:
MX Rewind at Unadilla is the premier vintage off road event in North America. The event takes place June 14-16, 2013 in New Berlin, New York and at the world famous Unadilla Motocross track. MX Rewind celebrates over four decades of motocross history as well as every aspect of off-roading.

Fans and racers from every generation will enjoy a fun weekend that includes vintage bike racing, the famed “Unadilla Marquis” Bike Show, a massive parts and memorabilia swap meet, educational seminars with some of the biggest names in the sport, autographs with over 15 of the biggest legends of Unadilla, interviews, nightly entertainment, and of course plenty of bench racing and tall tales.

MX Rewind is about having fun with your friends and family and spending a weekend at Unadilla celebrating the good times we have had riding motorcycles.

About Unadilla MX:
Unadilla MX began promoting Motocross races at its current facility in New Berlin, NY in 1969. Run by the Robinson Family since its inception, Unadilla hosted the Inter Am, Trans Am, Trans USA, and began hosting the 250cc U.S. Grand Prix in 1978. It was the first track in the U.S. to host the prestigious MX des Nations in 1987, and has been a stop on the American Pro National MX circuit since 1992. All historically significant MX riders in the world have strapped on the leather and kicked the lever at Unadilla.

Steve Bruhn (aka The Factory Spectator) holding his camera and the NPG’s John Ayers at Red Bud in 2005. (Larry Lawrence photo)

I’ve heard some bad news. My buddy and fellow racing photographer Steve Bruhn has passed away. It was reported that he suffered a heart attack a few days ago and had been in the hospital in bad condition since. Steve was known by many of his racing friends as TFS, which stood for “The Factory Spectator”. Steve was a big, gregarious guy with who you couldn’t help but make fast friends.  

TFS was one of the first photographers to use digital cameras. The funny thing was he came into it by shooting non-pro digicams at Supercross and motocross races. How he ever got any keepers shooting indoors with those really slow early digicams is anyone’s guess.

Steve got his foot in the door was by supplying digital photos to the growing assemblage of motorcycle websites in the late 1990s and early 2000s while everyone else was still shooting film and couldn’t get photos to web sites for at least a day after the races.

Steve was ahead of his time. He helped start one of the first motocross discussion boards. He had a little cartoon icon made of his likeness and made stickers that he handed out at the races. Steve was one of the only photographers I knew who motocross fans would get excited seeing. We’d be walking out to shoot the start of the race and trackside fans would be yelling “Hey TFS!” Steve would wave back or walk over and give them some stickers.

In those days at the motocross nationals there was little-to-no connectivity. A slow phone connection was about the best you could expect. Steve traveled by motorhome and had a satellite dish with fairly high-speed internet capability. I had to send stories and photos to AP after the races and Steve generously gave me an open invitation to use his satellite connection if ever I needed it. He was also quick to share a photo if he caught some action on the track that I missed.

I hadn’t seen Steve for quite a few years, so I was happy when I received a Facebook friend request from him maybe a year or so ago and we caught up sending a few messages back and forth.

We’ve lost one of the good guys in the sport. Rest in peace my friend. — Larry Lawrence