Motocross and Supercross

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Opening Round of 2008 AMA
Toyota Motocross Championship

Makes Triumphant Return to Southern California

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 7, 2008) – After a four-year hiatus, the opening round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF returns to the heart of the motocross industry in Southern California for the 13^th Annual Giant RV AMA Motocross National presented by Yamaha at Glen Helen Raceway Park, on Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25.

Since becoming a part of the schedule in 1996, Glen Helen has established itself as one of the most unique, fastest and action-packed circuits on the circuit. In 1998, it became the series’ opening round event, quickly becoming a Mother’s Day tradition before moving to the last race of the season in 2004. Thanks to a schedule overhaul that features logistical changes and a more compact season, Glen Helen returns as the lead-off event, with a later starting date than ever before, giving riders and teams more preparation time and much needed rest.

In an effort to create a more exciting experience for fans and riders alike, track designer Jody Weisel and his crew have brought a more technical course that will challenge the world’s best, slow down the overall speed and bring the action closer to the fans. As the field blasts through the infamous “ Talladega ” turn out of the starting gates, it will be presented with a myriad of challenges, including a new canyon section featuring saddle back twin peaks, a much longer sand section and the legendary Yamaha Hill ran in reverse. Additionally, fan viewing has been increased by 20% as a result of the alterations, with a larger shoreline for motocross diehards to witness the on-track action.

Located just miles from a numerous race shops, test tracks and riders’ homes, the local atmosphere adds an extra element of excitement to the weekend, bringing out legends and hall of famers alike. An autograph session featuring past and present stars of the sport on Saturday, May 24, is just one of the many highlights the weekend has to offer.

Adding to the weekend festivities is the inclusion of three invitational events on Saturday morning. Scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m., with the ITP Tires/Yamaha Quad Pro Invitational moto for $1,500, the pre-AMA events will also include a $2,000 moto with the L.A. Sleeve/Pro X 2-Stroke Pro Race, and conclude with the Legends Invitational, featuring past champions Jeremy McGrath, Greg Albertyn, Jeff Emig, Jeff Stanton, Steve Lamson and Jeff Ward along with freestyle icons Mike Metzger and Brian Deegan.

Notably, Team Kawasaki’s James Stewart is also expected to make his return from a knee injury that forced him to miss the tail end of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship and the majority of this season's Monster Energy AMA Supercross. If healthy, Stewart figures to make a strong run at earning his first AMA Motocross title.

Tickets to the opening round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF are now on sale.

General Admission for Wednesday-Sunday

Adults $45

Juniors (6-12 years) $30

Children 5 and under FREE

Sunday Only Tickets

Adults $30

Juniors (6-12 years) $20

Children 5 and under FREE

For more information about the weekend festivities, log onto www.glenhelen.com or call the track’s 24-hour information line at 909-880-3090. Also, check out The Riverside Press-Enterprise’s Wheels, Off Road, and Waves section online for further promotion of Glen Helen events at www.pe.com/wow.

Reed Wins Monster Energy® Supercross Championship

Dungey Wins Second Consecutive Dave Coombs Sr.
East/West Shootout

LAS VEGAS (May 3, 2008) – Team San Manuel Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., won Monster Energy® Supercross, an FIM World Championship before 39,227 fans at a sold-out Sam Boyd Stadium. Reed, who won the 2004 AMA Supercross class championship, also won the main event. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event.

Red Bull Honda Racing’s Davi Millsaps opened the AMA Supercross class main event by winning the Progressive Holeshot Award, and Windham trailed in second. Reed started in seventh place. On lap three Windham passed Millsaps and secured the lead. Reed worked his way through the pack and passed Windham for the lead on lap 13 to claim the ninth win of the season. Red Bull Honda Racing’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, finished third.

“I worked my butt of this year,” said Reed. “I had a new bike this year, and that made my job a lot easier. It has been a great season for me this year. This is very special. It was unfortunate that James Stewart, the defending champion, got hurt, but this was a great year for us.”

Reed’s mechanic, Oscar Wirdeman, was awarded a 2008 Toyota Tundra truck as the season’s top mechanic.

In the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout, Dungey followed Progressive Holeshot Award winner Ryan Villopoto’s Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. It quickly became a two-horse race as Villopoto and Dungey pulled away from the field. Villopoto led the first 14 laps while Dungey inched in Villopoto’s lead. On the last lap, Dungey, who won last year’s Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout, passed Villopoto and rode to victory. Dungey was awarded a brand new 2008 Toyota Tundra truck for winning the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout. Geico Honda’s Trey Canard, of Elk City, Okla., finished third.

“To win this race two years in a row is huge for me,” said Dungey. “It was a very special win for me because I came from behind and rode smart. I lost some time in the beginning of the race, and I was able to find my grove as the race progressed.”

“That was one of the fastest starts I have ever raced on at a supercross race,” said Villopoto. “The lappers played a big part in the race, but Ryan (Dungey) was riding great. I made some mistakes, and he capitalized on them.”

Atomic Racing’s Paul Carpenter, of Ithaca, N.Y., won the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Pro Privateer Challenge (USSTC) and was awarded $25,000.

The AMA Supercross class will be broadcast in HD on SPEED on Sunday, May 4, at 6:00 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross Lites class will air on SPEED in HD Saturday May 10, at 2:00 p.m. EST. CBS Sports will air a season-end recap show Sunday, May 4 at Noon EST.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Las Vegas