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.

Yamaha Announces 2009 Motocross Race Teams

Cypress, CA – After a very successful 2008 season, which saw a YZ450F take home the prestigious 2008 AMA Supercross title and a YZ250F win the 2008 West Coast AMA Lites Supercross title, Yamaha Motor Corporation is proud to announce our complete Supercross/Motocross race teams for the 2009 season.Image via Wikipedia

The Factory Yamaha Supercross/Motocross team will consist of Broc Hepler, Josh Hill and Grant Langston. Both Josh and Broc are eager to begin the new season on their YZ450Fs, each with stronger race credentials with Josh taking a very emotional win at the Minneapolis Supercross and Broc making a very successful return from injuries to score a podium at the final AMA National round at Steel City. Due to an unfortunate vision problem Grant was forced to sit out the majority of the season but looks forward to mentoring the young riders as a team advisor in 2009 until his vision improves.

Team L&M/San Manuel Band of Mission Indians made one of the biggest moves of the off season signing James Stewart to ride under their tent. Hot off a perfect outdoor season, US Open victory and dominating Bercy Supercross performance, James enters the 2009 AMA Supercross season with a ton of confidence in himself and his 2009 YZ450F. Fellow Floridian Kyle Chisholm moves up to the 450 Class as the team’s second rider.

After a solid freshman effort the Joe Gibbs’ Racing/Spike Energy/Toyota team has signed Josh Grant and New Zealander Cody Cooper to lead their 2009 charge. After a prolific career on 250Fs, Josh is really looking forward to making the jump into the premier class on a YZ450F. Cooper initially got his feet wet in the US in 2007, but mounted a full scale attack on the AMA Motocross series in 2008, earning a few podiums and finishing up fifth overall. The 2009 season will see him stay in the States full time, racing both the Supercross and Motocross series.

For the 2009 season Star Racing will be Yamaha’s official 250F team. Having worked together since 2005, Star Racing has proven itself a legitimate competitor and a great ambassador for the Yamaha brand. The team will consist of Matt Lemoine, Broc Tickle, Darryn Durham and Michael Hall. Which coast each rider will compete on is yet to be decided.

Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty had this to say about the upcoming year, “It’s very comforting knowing that we’ve aligned ourselves with some of the best teams and riders in the industry and we look forward to a very successful 2009 Race Season”.

Stewart Answers the Bell

To couple his recent signing with Answer Racewear 2008 AMA National Champion
James Stewart has signed with Bell Helmets. Check out the press release below:



James Stewart Signs with Bell Helmets
9/17/2008
Courtesy of Bell Helmets

Bell Powersports has signed 2008 AMA Motocross National Champion James Stewart to compete and train in the Bell Moto-8 starting in 2009. Stewart is widely regarded as the biggest star in motocross and has won seven major titles since turning professional in 2002. He also holds numerous national titles and championships from his amateur days.

The 22-year-old Stewart joins a storied roster of champions and legends who've competed in Bell over the years.

"Getting James on board is huge for Bell," said Bell Vice President Tom Larter. "Working with athletes who are at the pinnacle of their sports to help develop product is what made Bell great and is part of our DNA. We see James as a big part of what's next for Bell motocross."

Stewart joins an already-strong roster of Bell Riders that includes the likes of Nick Wey, Michael Byrne, Nico Izzi, Jason Lawrence and Grant Langston, as well as the Yamaha of Troy and KTM MDK factory teams.

"At this point in my career safety comes first, so I chose to go with one of the sport's best," said Stewart. "The other riders have also been telling me how comfortable and ventilated the Moto-8 is, so I'm really stoked to be starting with Bell next year. I'm also really proud to have my name added to the list of great Bell Riders that goes back to the origins of the sport."

As Stewart alluded to, one of the reasons so many top riders are drawn to the Moto-8 is its comfort factor. At the heart of the Moto-8 is Bell's exclusive Velocity Flow Ventilation system that uses a sophisticated set of vents, ducts, exhaust ports and flow management features to create a natural turbulence engine which literally pulls air through the helmet. This coupled with its lightweight TriMatrix Composite shell, easy-to-adjust Flying Bridge Visor and quick drying comfort liner, provides a hassle- and fatigue-free experience while keeping the rider cool and dry.

The Moto-8 was designed, engineered, tested and prototyped from the ground up at Bell's Santa Cruz, Calif. facility over a period of three years. Bell engineers have continued to tweak the design since its introduction, bringing an already excellent design even closer to perfection.

Rider: James Stewart
DOB: December 21, 1985
Residence: Haines City, Fla.
2008 AMA Motocross National Champion
2007 AMA Supercross Champion
2006 FIM WSXGP Supercross Champion
2004 AMA 125 East Supercross Champion

AMA announces Motocross of Nations Team

July 19, 2008

AMA/NPG news


The American Motorcyclist Association announced today members of AMA Team USA for the 2008 Motocross of Nations. This years event is being held at the Donington Park Circuit in England on September 27-28.

Leading the way will be MX1 entrant James Stewart. The 2007 AMA Supercross Champion and current AMA Motocross Championship points leader will return to Team USA after missing the 2007 event with a knee injury. "I'm excited to be a part of Team USA," said Stewart. "My main goal this season was to win the motocross championship and I knew if I could do that I would have a good chance of representing the USA at the Motocross of Nations." Stewart has recorded perfect scores during the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship and recently positioned himself 4th on the all-time AMA wins list behind Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath and Bob Hannah.

After his dominating performance at last years Budds Creek Motocross of Nations, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto will make his third consecutive appearance as AMA Team USA's MX2 rider. Villopoto has been the overall MX2 champion at the event in both of his appearances and is looking to wrap up his third straight AMA Motocross Lites Championship before closing out his stellar Lites class career at the Motocross of Nations. "Riding for Team USA is a great experience" said Villopoto. "This will be my last race on a Kawasaki KX250F and I really want to end my lites career with another great run against the world's best."

Veteran Tim Ferry will return to AMA Team USA as the Open class rider, marking his third appearance at the famous event. Ferry was a member of the 2003 team in Zolder, Belgium where the team finished second overall. His most recent run came with the victorious 2007 effort in which Ferry was the overall Open class champion. "It is an honor to be a part of this team," said Ferry. "Being on the team with James and Ryan is awesome and I know we are going to do our best to win it all again."