MX Sports Acquires WMA

“This is huge news for the sport of women’s motocross here in the U.S.,” said 2008 Champion Ashley Fiolek. “We all know that Miki Keller has worked tirelessly to improve the environment for women in this sport and for the WMA to make another step forward with MX Sports is awesome."

MX Sports announced today that it has acquired the Women’s Motocross Association (WMA) National Championship. As a result, the Women’s Motocross Championship will be fully integrated into the AMA Pro Motocross Championship beginning with the 2009 season.

MX Sports acquired the rights to the WMA from its founder Miki Keller. Based out of Oregon, Keller founded the company in 2004 and dedicated herself to the growth of women’s motocross, building a legitimate women’s championship that draws top racers from around the world as competitors.

Keller will remain an integral part of the women’s program, consulting for MX Sports and working as the Women’s Director on a contractual basis. She will continue to work independently on other projects including with ESPN on Women’s Moto X at the X Games.

“I am thrilled with this latest development for the WMA and women’s professional motocross,” said Keller. “This validates my original belief that women racers are worthy of competing in their own series and young riders deserve to have a top level championship to aspire to.”

MX Sports Vice President Davey Coombs added, “Miki has done an outstanding job developing and nurturing women’s motocross and leading the sport into the spotlight and mainstream acceptance. With the new role of MX Sports as operators of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, we are finally in a position to provide the women racers the treatment they have earned in the series. Additionally, we look forward to working with Miki on the transition and into the 2009 season.”

Plans are already underway to continue improvements to the women’s program. The 2009 schedule will feature eight rounds of women’s racing with both motos on Saturday in the new one-day national format.

“This is huge news for the sport of women’s motocross here in the U.S.,” said 2008 Champion Ashley Fiolek. “We all know that Miki Keller has worked tirelessly to improve the environment for women in this sport and for the WMA to make another step forward with MX Sports is awesome. I look forward to defending my WMA Championship in 2009 and working with Miki and the MX Sports team to further improve the series.”

Operationally, the 2009 Women’s Class technical regulations will be the same as the men’s 250 Class (formerly AMA Motocross Lites) and the women will be required to go through the same tech inspection while also attending the riders meetings at each event.

On the marketing side, the Women’s Class will be included in the MX Sports television package and will be featured in the live webcast at each round where they compete. The women will also be promoted in pre-event media initiatives along with the post-event press conferences.

“This commitment to the women’s pro class by MX Sports is a milestone for women’s motocross and women athletes as a whole,” added Keller. “It creates more career opportunities for the current women riders and offers aspiring women racers a shot at a career in professional motocross. I could not be more proud.”

2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Women’s Class Schedule
May 23 Glen Helen Raceway San Bernardino, Calif.
May 30 Hangtown Motocross Classic Sacramento, Calif.
June 6 Freestone Raceway Wortham, Texas
June 13 High Point Raceway Mt. Morris, Calif.
June 27 Thunder Valley Motocross Lakewood, Col.
July 25 Washougal MX Park Washougal, Wash.
August 29 Moto-X 338 Southwick, Mass.
Sept. 5 Steel City Raceway Delmont, Pa.

2008 WMA National Championship Top-10
1 Ashley Fiolek
2 Jessica Patterson
3 Sarah Whitmore
4 Tarah Gieger
5 Sherri Cruse
6 Mariana Balbi
7 Elizabeth Bash
8 Tatum Sik
9 Ayla Cabus
10 Alisa Nix

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.

MX Sports and the AMA Motocross Championship Establish Partnership with Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

MORGANTOWN, WV - MX Sports has announced a promotional partnership with Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, to help produce the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF, beginning with the 2009 season. Alli, which is owned and operated by NBC and MTV, is a global business that joins the former Action Sports Tour properties (AST) with Maloof Money Cup and the King of Wake series.

Alli will partner with MX Sports in growing the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, which was founded in 1972, on a worldwide level through unique opportunities in television programming, global media content distribution, online coverage, sponsorship sales, marketing and promotion. The companies will work in harmony to develop an even stronger connection with the youth demographic by increasing the exposure of American motocross, while at the same time maintaining the sport's tradition and heritage.

"The key to this partnership is that it gives us the ability to grow our sport significantly," explained MX Sports Vice President Davey Coombs. "Together MX Sports and Alli can transform what's already a prestigious championship series and expand it for everyone - the athletes, the race teams, the motorcycle industry, and of course our loyal fans.

"We have the unique opportunity to make the necessary changes motocross needs to grow as an action sport, while also protecting its rich heritage," added Coombs. "This newfound relationship with Alli is a significant step forward for motocross, and we are proud to join the Alliance of Action Sports."

"The AMA Motocross Championships is the premiere outdoor series in motocross," said Wade Martin, President of Alli. "We are thrilled to be working with the team at MX Sports to bring the AMA Motocross Championships to an even wider audience and help grow this terrific sport and property."

MX Sports and Alli will team up to push the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship in front of a much wider audience. A revamped 12-race tour, featuring Saturday afternoon and evening races and live television, headlines the 2009 season and serves as the template for the new partnership.

The 2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF kicks off on Memorial Day weekend, May 23, from Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California; the tour will conclude Labor Day Weekend at Steel City Raceway near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

About MX Sports

MX Sports, LLC, owns, manages and produces the two most prestigious and world leading Motocross championships - the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship and the Air Nautiques AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.

MX Sports is a second generation family-owned business that has been in operation for well over 25 years and is an industry leader in the segment of off-road/action sports race promotion in the United States.

Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information on MX Sports, please visit www.mxsports.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, AMA Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Free Flow Tour; Alli Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 2009 MX Nationals Schedule
• Alliance of Action Sports

LL Area Qualifier Schedule Announced

2009 AIR NAUTIQUES/AMA AREA QUALIFIER EVENT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

---

Morgantown, W. Va. (November 14, 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 Area Qualifier Events.

---

The schedule includes 50 total races in 33 different states, beginning in February
and ending in May. The events will qualify the field down for the 12 Regional
Championships, which take place in May and June.

---

"We're excited that our Area Qualifiers are going to America's premier motocross
facilities," said Tim Cotter. "The Area organizers are among the best AMA promoters
in the country. "

---

2009 AMA Air Nautiques Area Qualifier & Regional Schedule

---

Northeast

March 7 & 8 Elizabeth City Elizabeth City, NC
March 28 & 29 Doublin Gap Shippensburg, PA
April 4 & 5 Broome Tioga Sports Ctr Binghampton, NY
April 18 & 19 MX 338 Southwick, MA
April 18 & 19 Tomahawk Hedgesville, WV
April 25 & 26 Englishtown Englishtown, NJ
May 16 & 17 Actiontown Dillwyn, VA
TBA Unadilla Valley Sport Ctr New Berlin, NY

---

Youth Regional
June 6 & 7 Budds Creek Budds Creek, MD

---

Amateur Regional
June 20 & 21 High Point Mt Morris, PA

---

Southeast

Feb 28, Mar 1 Motocross of Marion County Reddick, FL
March 14 & 15 Iron City MX Iron City, SC
March 21 & 22 Lake Sugar Tree Axton, VA
March 28 & 29 Aonia Pass Washington, GA
April 4 & 5 Seminole Tribe MX Clewiston, FL
April 18 & 19 Muddy Creek Blountville, TN
May 2 & 3 Rolling Hills Reidsville, NC
May 9 & 10 Bremen Race Park Breman, GA

---

Southeast Youth Regional
May 24 & 25 Lazy River Chatsworth, GA

---

Southeast Amateur Regional
May 30 & 31 Mill Creek MX Pell City, AL

---

Mid East

March 21 & 22 Wild Cat Creek MX Rossville, IN
March 28 & 29 Ballance MX Bowling Green, KY
April 4 & 5 Hangtime MX Akron, IN
April 18 & 19 Fast Traxx Motoplex Millfield, OH
April 25 & 26 Thunder Valley Livingston, TN
May 2 & 3 Baja MX Millington, MI
May 9 & 10 Log Road MX Bronson, MI
May 16 & 17 Crow Canyon Uhrichsville, OH

---

Mid East Youth Regional
May 30 & 31 Sunday Creek Jacksonville, OH

Mid East Amateur Regional
June 6 & 7 Red Bud Buchanan, MI

---

North Central

March 7 & 8 Hidden Valley Burlison, TN
March 14 & 15 Paradise MX Duquoin, IL
April 4 & 5 HLR Motorsports Moberly, MO
April 18 & 19 Cross Roads MX Mason, IL
April 25 & 26 The Farm MX Indianola, IA
May 2 & 3 Byron MX Byron, IL
May 9 & 10 Fantasy Moto Appleton, WI
May 16 & 17 Little Falls MX Little Falls, MN

---

North Central Amateur Regional
May 30 & 31 Spring Creek MX Millville, MN

---

North Central Youth Regional
June 20 & 21 Sunset Ridge MX Walnut, IL

---

South Central

Feb 28, Mar 1 Cooperland Stillwater, OK
March 7 & 8 Gravity Alley Breaux Bridge, LA
March 28 & 29 Cycle Ranch San Antonio, TX
April 4 & 5 Golden Pine MX Prentiss, MS
April 18 & 19 Desoto Motorsports Shreveport, LA
May 2 & 3 Oak Hill MX Alvrod, TX
May 9 & 10 Thunder Valley Lakewood, CO
May 16 & 17 Tony Wynn MX Little rock, AR

---

South Central Amateur Regional
June 13 & 14 Freestone MX Wortham, TX

---

South Central Youth Regional
June 20 & 21 Lake Whitney Whitney, TX

---

Northwest

March 28 & 29 Pleasant Valley Cycle Park Boise, ID
April 4 & 5 Honey Lake Milford, CA
May 2 & 3 Washougal MX Washougal, WA
May 9 & 10 Utah State Parks Salt Lake City, UT
TBA Extreme MX Airway Heights, WA

---

Northwest Youth & Amateur Regional
June 13 & 14 Washougal Washougal, WA

---

Southwest

March 7 & 8 Perris Raceway Perris, CA
March 21 & 22 Arizona Cycle Park Litchfield Park, AZ
March 28 & 29 Competitive Edge Hesperia, CA
April 4 & 5 Honey Lake Milford, CA
May 9 & 10 Thunder Valley Lakewood, CO
TBA New Mexico Comp Club Moriarty, NM

---

Southwest Youth & Amateur Regional
June 6 & 7 Glen Helen 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 2009 the 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 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.

Nick McCabe interview at MXA.com

MXA Nick McCabe interview

Nick is a former Raceway Park regular. Check out his new job.

2009 MX Nationals Schedule

New era of American Motocross begins with 2009 schedule

LAS VEGAS – MX Sports, now in charge of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, announced today the 2009 U.S. championship racing schedule.

The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, which began in 1972, will commence on Memorial Day Weekend with the Glen Helen National event in San Bernardino, Calif., on May 23, 2009. The 12-round championship schedule will run throughout the summer, culminating with the Steel City National near Pittsburgh, Pa. on September 5, as part of the Labor Day weekend holiday.

The most significant change to the 2009 schedule is the move to Saturday afternoon races. After introducing the format this past summer at the Thunder Valley and Steel City events, the overwhelmingly positive response prompted MX Sports to make the transition to Saturday events. In addition, the race schedule will change to single-day competitions. Four weekends of rest are also built into the schedule in order to give riders and teams the opportunity to maximize their performance. Also, in order to help offset travel expenses, MX Sports has rearranged the events for a more cohesive and efficient travel schedule.

2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship

May 23
Glen Helen Raceway
San Bernardino, CA

May 30
Hangtown Motocross Classic
Sacramento, CA

June 6
Freestone Raceway
Wortham, TX

June 20
High Point Raceway
Mt. Morris, PA

June 27
Thunder Valley Motocross
Lakewood, CO

July 4
Red Bud
Buchanan, MI

July 18
Spring Creek Motocross
Millville, MN

July 25
Washougal MX Park
Washougal, WA

August 15
Unadilla
New Berlin, NY

August 22
Budds Creek Motocross
Budds Creek, MD

August 29
Moto-X 338
Southwick, MA

Sept. 5
Steel City Raceway
Delmont, PA

*schedule is subject to change

For more information, please contact AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by telephone at (951) 203-2605.

NJ Riders make the "Big Show"

Dateline Hurricane Mills TN. NJ racers to compete for national championships.

The 27^thannual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships takes place at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills TN the week of July 28th. Several NJ riders made it through the rigorous qualifying procedure where a field of more than 20,000 racers is narrowed down to 1386 qualifying positions. For many of these riders this event could be the next step to a lucrative motocross career.

Here is a little on each NJ rider making the trip:

Grant Desiderio (Washington, NJ) is the younger brother of Suzuki Support rider Nick Desiderio. Nick will be competing in the Schoolboy 12-16 class. Their dad Steve used to compete on the national circuit in the 80's and his riding skills have rubbed off on the young KTM rider. Grant made the cut in the (4-6) Stock Shaft Drive class.

Bryton Carroll (Vineland, NJ) is also the son of a former National series competitor. If fact his dad Brian was a Loretta Lynn's champion in 2001. Bryton qualified in the 51 (4-6) AMA 1 Stock class.

Brandon Hartranft (Brick, NJ) and his brother Jacob are the other brother duo from NJ taking the trip to Loretta Lynn's. Brandon qualified in both the 65 (7-11) Modified and 65 (7-9) Stock classes.

Jacob Hartranft (Brick, NJ) qualified in both the 85 (9-11) Stock and Modified classes.

Suzuki rider Damian Robinson (Little Falls, NJ) will join Hartranft in both the 85 (9-11) Stock and Modified classes as well.

The last mini rider from NJ making the show is Luke Renzland (Hewitt, NJ). Luke qualified in both the Super Mini (12-15) and 85 (12-13) Modified class.

The Schoolboy class has the most NJ riders. Frankie Lettieri (Brick,NJ) quakified in both the Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C and Schoolboy 2 (14-16) classes.

Also racing in the Schoolboy 1 and 2 classes at Loretta Lynn's is Charles Sherby (Woodbine, NJ) and joining Lettieri and Sherby in the Schoolboy 2 class is Nick Desiderio (Washington, NJ) (No Photo)

Chris Duymich (Millstone Twp, NJ) is taking his first trip to the ranch in 2008. Chris qualified in the MX Lites "C" Modified class.

Nicholas Myers (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ) qualified in both the Motocross "B" Stock class and MX Lites "B" Modified class and is joined in the Lites class by Tyler Wozney (North Haledon, NJ)(No Photo)

In "A" class racing three NJ riders have qualified. Dakota Kessler (Farmingdale, NJ) qualified in in the Motocross "A" and MX Lites "A" classes

Anthony Roth (West Creek, NJ) qualified in the Motocross A and Motocross A Pro-Sport classes

And Brian Mulcahy (Hewitt, NJ) qualified in the MX Lites "A" class.

And rounding out the NJ group making the race is Darren Edsall ( Lafayete, NJ). Darren is the lone vet rider from NJ. He qualified in both the 25+ and 35+ classes.

Good luck to all from racing. You can learn more about the Amatuer National Championship at MX Sports website. http://www.mxsports.com/

Check your Pulse

The latest from MX Sport's Andy Bowyer can be found HERE