Photo Report: Glen Helen AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 26, 2008)
This past Sunday, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF dropped the gates on the 2008 season at the 13th Annual Giant RV AMA Motocross National presented by Yamaha at Glen Helen Raceway Park.
In front of the heart of the motocross industry and thousands of Southern California fans, Monster Energy-backed Kawasaki riders James Stewart and Austin Stroupe got out the gate in fine fashion, putting a “green touch” to the top spot of the podium.
James Stewart – Credit Brendan Lutes
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Stewart, made a triumphant return from ACL knee surgery with a convincing AMA Toyota Motocross debut, sweeping the day and taking home his fifth career AMA Motocross class overall victory. The two-time 125cc AMA Motocross champ looked healthy and flawless and carries a six-point lead heading into Sacramento next weekend. Teammate Timmy Ferry’s fourth overall finish (4-4) gave the Monster Energy Kawasaki squad quite a fine day.
Austin Stroupe – Credit Brendan Lutes
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Stroupe capitalized on two consistent motos (2-3) to earn his first career professional AMA Motocross Lites victory. Stroupe, who ran the last two AMA Toyota Motocross race last season, ran up front in both motos and actually led the first few laps of moto two before making an inspired comeback to nab the third position to earn the overall victory.
Mike Alessi – Credit Brendan Lutes
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi picked up right where he left off last season with an inspired 2-2 moto finish, good for second overall. Alessi, who finished second in the season-ending points last season, showed that the AMA Motocross class championship may not be a one-man race, and later stated in the post-race press conference, “I feel like this season is my year to win this championship.”
Davi Millsaps – Credit Brendan Lutes
Davi Millsaps led the charge for the talented Red Bull Honda squad, turning in a 3-3 performance to earn the final podium spot. Millsaps engaged in heated battles with Ferry in both motos, but walked away with third overall. Millsap’s teammate Ivan Tedesco made a successful return to racing after missing most of the season with a broken hand. He finished fifth overall (7-5), as teammates Andrew Short (5-36) and Ben Townley (6-32) had good first moto finishes before mechanical problems in moto two dropped them to 13th and 14th overall, respectively.
Jason Lawrence – Credit Brendan Lutes
Boost Mobile Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence took the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award, and the accompanying check for $500, in the first moto of AMA Motocross Lites and held on for an amazing wire-to-wire victory. He followed with a fifth in moto two, overcoming the mid-race challenges of Geico Motorsports Honda’s Trey Canard to finish fifth, earning third-place overall.
Ryan Villopoto – Credit Brendan Lutes
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s defending AMA Motocross Lites Champion Ryan Villopoto used a on moto two victory to place second overall in a very competitive day of racing at Glen Helen. Villopoto got a bad start in the first moto and could only manage a fifth-place finish. His start in the final moto was much better, as he found himself in third place after the opening lap, trailing Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, who got the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award, and his teammate Stroupe. Stroupe and Villopoto got by Dungey, and then after a crash by Stroupe at the bottom of Mt. St. Helen, Villopoto charged to the lead and never looked back. Only four points separate first through fifth in the point standings, with Stroupe (42) leading Villopoto (41), Lawrence (41), Dungey (40) and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe (38).
AMA/NPG Mechanic’s Area – Credit Brendan Lutes
The AMA and NPG coordinated a new working area for the mechanic’s at Glen Helen, which provided shade and live timing and scoring. Scheduled to be erected at each of the 12-stops on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF, the mechanic’s area was hit with the team, the mechanics and the riders.
AMA/NPG Media Center – Credit Brendan Lutes
More than 175 media credentials were issued for the opening round event at Glen Helen, including all of the motocross magazines and newspaper journalists reporting for the LA Times, Orange County Register, San Bernardino Sun, Riverside Press Enterprise, Inland Valley Bulletin and San Gabriel Valley Times. A new AMA/NPG Media Center was stationed in the pit area, which provided the media with a quiet and professional working environment, including high-speed internet, working stations, live timing and scoring and food and beverage. Pre- and post-race press conferences were held in the AMA/NPG Media Center throughout the weekend.
Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.
For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.
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