Work Begins on Daytona Supercross by Honda Course

Courtesy Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – While Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 DeWalt Ford Roush Fenway Racing team are still celebrating their 2009 Daytona 500 win, work has already begun to transform “The World Center of Racing” into a dirt-biker’s paradise.

Construction has already begun in the legendary tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona Supercross By Honda course, which is designed by five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion Ricky Carmichael for the second consecutive year and is being built by Mark Barnett, a former Supercross Champion and three-time National Champion.

The 2009 Daytona Supercross By Honda is scheduled on a new day – Saturday, March 7 – and will feature the best riders in the world including defending race champion Kevin Windham, 2007 Daytona Supercross By Honda winner James Stewart and two-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion Chad Reed.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers behind the construction of this year’s Daytona Supercross By Honda course, which is traditionally one of the toughest and most challenging layouts of the season:


4 - Number of people working on the construction of the dirt track

3 - Number of tractors working to spread the dirt (1 loader, 1 crawler, 1 skid steers)

40 - Number of jumps on the track (including at least 2 triples)

174 - Number of truck loads of dirt to build the course on the tri-oval grass

350 - Number of man-hours needed to complete the construction of the course

450 - Number of 2 x 9 Styrofoam blocks that will be used for safety along the course

2,970 Mileage (in feet) of the Supercross course from start to finish

6,000 Tons of dirt needed to build the Supercross track


For more information and tickets for the Daytona Supercross By Honda as well as the rest of
Daytona 200 Week By Honda events, visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP



Image of the Ricky Carmichael designed Daytona Supercross by Honda race track

Supplemental Rules and Classes Announced for the 2009 Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn Ranch

PRESS RELEASE:
Supplemental Rules and Classes Announced for the 2009 Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn Ranch

Morgantown, WV-- MX Sports, producer of the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, has announced the Class Structure and Supplemental Rules for the 2009 National Championship event.

Highlights of the new class structure include the return of the Master's (50+) class for 2009. The class will run alongside the Senior (45+) class with a staggered start. In order to fit both classes, the Senior (45+) class will be restricted to 30 riders at the National, and the Masters (50+) will be held to 20 riders.

"We added the Master's class after much discussion with that demographic, as well as analyzing the historical data in the Senior class over the last several seasons," said Director of MX Sports Tim Cotter. "We would like to welcome the Master's riders back into the program."

Another change comes in the age and displacement requirements in Class 32, Girls. The class changes from Girls 65-105 (9-13) into Girls 85-105 (11-15). The Women's class also sees an age change, from Women's (12+) to Women's (14+).

"That change came after much discussion with class constituents, OEMs, and analyzing the data," said Cotter. "Any changes to our class structure or supplemental rules comes only after several months of careful research and analysis, all based around the foundation of this event, which is to create a fair, fun and safe National Championship chase for everyone involved."

Click here to view the 2009 Supplemental Rules

Click here to view the 2009 National Classes

About the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships:
The MX Sports produced event is the world's largest amateur motocross race. Hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, the event is the premier amateur motocross race in the world. In 2007, over 25,000 entries attempted to qualify in 33 classes for the 1386 available gates at the national. The 2009 National event, christened the World's Greatest Motocross Vacation, will be held August 3rd through August 8th. As proof of the significance of winning an AMA Amateur National Championship Title, most of today's top motocross and supercross stars, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto, won championships at Loretta Lynn's before turning pro. Sponsors include Air Nautiques, Amsoil, Cobra, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha, Gatorade, Parts Unlimited, Red Bull, Thor, Toyota, AGV, Alpinestars, Boyesen, CTi, DC Shoes, DeCal Works, FMF, Kicker, Moto Tees, Ogio, Renthal, Scott, Twin Air, Wiseco, and Racer X Illustrated. For more information visitwww.mxsports.com.

About MX Sports:
MX Sports is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based motocross production company. The group coordinates the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 49 Area Qualifying races held annually from February through May and 12 Regional Championship races conducted during the month of June at select motocross facilities across the country. Less than five percent of the Area Qualifier entries actually qualify for the National Championship event, held during the first week of August at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.mxsports.com.

2nd annual MX for Children Photo Auction is up and running on eBay

Image via Wikipedia
2nd annual MX for Children Photo Auction is up and running on eBay.

Top Motocross photographers from around the world have once again donated great and unique images this year.

Images of Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and others are available.

Also included is an ultra rare leather bound anthology of the magazine Inside Motocross. This gift is the ultimate for the diehard Motocross fan.

The auction runs until Dec. 10th, 2008 and can be accessed HERE.

2009 Amateur National Motocross Championship Regional Schedule

Morgantown, WV (November 5, 2008) -- MX Sports, producer of the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, has finalized the schedule for the 2009 Air Nautiques/AMA Regional Championships.

The 12 Regional Championships coincide with the 7 different regions across the country and provide the second and final stage of the qualification process. The Regional Championships consist of a three moto format and longer motos in an effort to prepare the participants for the three twenty-minute motos at the National.

“Thousands of riders attempt to qualify for the AMA Amateur National at Loretta Lynn's, yet many will only make it as far as their Regional Championship. Therefore, we want to insure that our members are treated to the most fair and professional event possible,” says the American Motorcyclist Association's Kevin Crowther. “The AMA and MX Sports worked together to create this year's schedule, and we're pleased with this year's AMA Amateur Regional Championship line-up.”

“When selecting the tracks we have to be mindful of their location within the region, the size of the facility and the ability of the organizer,” says MX Sports Director Tim Cotter. “We are confident that the 2009 selections meet these high standards.”

OEM manufacturers provide technical support at every event and offer substantial contingency programs for the participants. The amateur team members often view the Regional Championships as the second biggest race of the year for their individual programs.

Kawasaki Team Green Motocross Supervisor Ryan Holliday remarks, “The Regional qualifier events are important to Kawasaki for several reasons. One is that this is final step for our riders to qualify for the AMA Amateur National Championship. Second, it provides a great opportunity to have our Kawasaki support vehicles on the road attending regional level events where they can provide technical assistance and service to all Kawasaki riders in attendance. We recognize the importance of supporting racers at all levels across the country and the regional qualifiers enable us to reach thousands of our customers in just a few weeks and hopefully welcome some new customers to the Kawasaki family along the way.”

Additions to the schedule for the 2009 season include a South Central Youth Regional in Lake Whitney, Texas. “It is an honor to have Lake Whitney run as a part of the most prestigious motocross program in the country,” says Alan McWilliams, operator of the Lake Whitney track. “We can't wait to get our race started.”

Also, the famous Budds Creek MX Park in Maryland, host of the 2007 FIM Motocross of Nations, joins the Regional Schedule for the first time in over a decade. “It has been a long time since we have hosted a regional at our facility,” says Jonathan Beasley. “We are excited about the opportunity to showcase Budds Creek to the Youth riders in the Northeast.”


2009 AMA Amateur National Championship Regional Schedule

Northeast
Youth June 6 & 7 Budds Creek MX Budds Creek, MD
Amateur June 21 & 22 High Point Raceway Mt Morris, PA

Southeast
Youth May 23 & 24 Lazy River Chatsworth, GA
Amateur May 30 & 31 Mill Creek MX Pell City, AL

Mid East
Youth May 30 & 31 Sunday Creek Jacksonville, OH
Amateur June 6 & 7 Red Bud Buchanan, MI

North Central
Youth June 21 & 22 Sunset Ridge MX Walnut, IL
Amateur May 30 & 31 Spring Creek MX Millville, MN

South Central
Youth June 21 & 22 Lake Whitney MX Whitney, TX
Amateur June 13 & 14 Freestone MX Wortham, TX

Northwest
Youth / Am June 13 & 14 Washougal MX Washougal, WA

Southwest
Youth / Am June 6 & 7 Glen Helen Raceway San Bernardino, CA

About the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships:
The MX Sports produced event is the world's largest amateur motocross race. Hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, the event is the premier amateur motocross race in the world. In 2007, over 25,000 entries attempted to qualify in 33 classes for the 1386 available gates at the national. In 2008 the National event, christened the world's greatest motocross vacation, will be held July 27th - August 3rd. As proof of the significance of winning an AMA Amateur National Championship Title, most of today's top motocross and supercross stars, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto, won championships at Loretta Lynn's before turning pro. Sponsors include Air Nautiques, Amsoil, Cobra, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha, Gatorade, Parts Unlimited, Red Bull, Thor, Toyota, AGV, Alpinestars, Boyesen, Cti, DC Shoes, DeCal Works, FMF, Kicker, Moto Tees, Ogio, Renthal, Scott, Twin Air, Wiseco, and Racer X Illustrated. For more information visit www.mxsports.com.

About MX Sports:
MX Sports is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based motocross production company. The group coordinates the Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 49 Area Qualifying races held annually from February through May and 12 Regional Championship races conducted during the month of June at select motocross facilities across the country. Less than five percent of the Area Qualifier entries actually qualify for the National Championship event, held during the first week of August at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.mxsports.com.