ATV Motocross

Honda's Cale Downen In For AMA Pro ATV Open!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | 12:00 AM
MORGANTOWN, WV ”“ The AMA PRO ATV Series Manager Harv Whipple is proud to announce that Junction, Illinois' Cale Downen will race the first-ever AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational. This unique event will bring the fastest AMA Pro ATV riders in front of the national caliber crowd in Delmont, PA for the first time in history. Twenty handpicked entries will compete in a special one-moto format, following the lead of prestigious invitational supercross events like the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open in Las Vegas. The winner will take home $5,000 of the $10,000 purse, along with bragging rights that come with the AMA Pro ATV Open Championship No. 1 plate.

"When I contacted Cale to ask if he would be willing to participate in the AMA Pro ATV Open due to Jeremy's absence, his response was, 'That's a stupid question; of course!'" Harv Whipple said of Cale Downen.

"Cale was the first alternate on the list and is a Honda rider as well, so it will work out perfect," Whipple continued. "He was traveling with fellow Honda rider Sage Baker on the way to Canada to film a video, and showing typical signs of camaraderie between racers, Cale said, 'What about Sage?'"

"Sage is currently the first alternate, [and] due to the popularity of the event, we plan to contact the promoter to see if it is possible to add an extra loop in the gate to accommodate 21 riders," Whipple said. "The final decision will not be made until AMA Pro Racing determines if the first turn will allow 21 rider's safely. Obviously the most important factor when adding additional racers is safety, so we have to assure ourselves that we can make this happen in the best interest of everybody involved."

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Click here for the AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational Flier

Steel City has hosted a round of the AMA Motocross Championship since 1988, and hosted a round of the ITP/Moose Racing ATVA MX Nationals for the first time last year. The track features plenty of elevation changes and jumps, all laid out in a valley which provides some of the best spectator viewing in the sport. Amateur racing takes place on Friday. The Main Gate (#1) opens at 4pm on Thursday, and overnight camping is available starting Thursday evening. There are no electric or water hook-ups. Due to the large amount of guests and the size of the rigs, we cannot permit campfires of any kind. Adult gate admission is $50 on Thursday and Friday, $40 on Saturday, and $30 on Sunday. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets are available at the gate, with all complimentary passes arranged in advance.

WHAT: AMA Pro ATV Open, an inaugural pro invitational race held in conjunction with Round 10 of the 12-round AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF

WHERE: Steel City Raceway, Delmont, PA
Located 20 miles east of Pittsburgh off Route 66

WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 2007

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY
2:00pm- 3:00pm ATV Pro Parking
4:00pm - 6:00pm ATV Registration; Tech Inspection

SATURDAY:
Pro Lites and Motocross
8:00am - 9:00am Semi Truck Parking
8:00am - Paddock Open To Credential Holders
8:30am - 12:30pm Registration At Track For Pro's
9:00am - 12:30pm Tech Open / Sound Testing
9:30am - 2:00pm Will Call

ATV Pro
9:00am - ATV Riders Meeting; Gate Draw
10:00am - 10:20am ATV Open Practice
11:30am - 11:45am ATV Staging & Opening Ceremonies
11:45am - 12:10pm ATV Open Main (20 Min + 1 lap)
12:10pm - 12:25pm ATV Podium
12:10pm - 1:00pm Track Maintenance

Lites and Motocross
12:15pm - 12:30pm Riders Meeting Mandatory
1:00pm - 1:20pm Lites Non-Seeded Timed Qualifying
1:25pm - 1:45pm Top 40 Lites Timed Qualifying
1:50pm - 2:10pm Top 40 Motocross Timed Qualifying
2:15pm - 2:35pm Motocross Non-Seeded Timed Qualifying
2:40pm - 2:55pm Track Maintenance
3:00pm - 3:20pm Lites Non-Seeded Timed Qualifying
3:25pm - 3:45pm Top 40 Lites Timed Qualifying
3:50pm - 4:10pm Top 40 Motocross Timed Qualifying
4:15pm - 4:35pm Motocross Non-SeededTimed Qualifying
4:45pm - 5:15pm 41 to 80 Lites Consulation Race 20 min + 2 laps
5:15pm-6:35pm WMA Open Practice

SUNDAY
8:00am - 1:00pm Will Call
8:30am - Riders Meeting Mandatory
8:45am - Chapel Service
8:30am - 9:00am WMA Hot Lap, Moto 1 (20 Min + 1 Lap)
9:00am - 9:20am Fast 40 Lites Timed for Gate Pick
9:25am - 9:45am Fast 40 Motocross Timed for Gate Pick
9:45am - 10:00am Track Maintance
10:05am - 10:25am Fast 40 Lites Timed for Gate Pick
10:30am - 10:50am Fast 40 Motocross Timed for Gate Pick
11:00am - 11:40am 41 to 80 Motocross Consulation Race 20 Min + 2 Laps
12:30pm Opening Ceremonies
1:00pm Moto 1 125 National 30Mins + 2Laps
2:00pm Moto 1 250 National 30Mins + 2 Laps
2:45pm - 3:15pm WMA Moto 2 (20 Min + 1 Lap)
3:15pm - 3:25pm WMA Podium
3:30pm Moto 2 125 National 30 Mins + 2 Laps
4:10pm 125 Victory Circle
4:30pm Moto 2 250 National 30Mins + 2 Laps
5:20pm Victory Circle

COURSE: 1 mile (approx), loamy top soil with sawdust additive

WHO: AMA Pro Racing has extended invitations to Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki & Yamaha to allow them each to enter 4 branded riders.

PURSE: $10,000, with $5,000 to win
Winner will be awarded AMA Pro ATV Open #1 plate

FEES: $100 Race Entry Fee
AMA Pro ATV License required

For more information on the inaugural AMA Pro ATV Open contact Racer Productions at 304.284.0084 or visit www.atvmotocross.com. For information about the Monster Energy/Kawasaki National Motocross at Steel City, visit the website at www.steelcitymx.com.

About Racer Productions:

About Racer Productions:
A West Virginia based motorcycle and ATV event production company, Racer Productions has been a leader in the off-road racing industry for over 30 years. It’s repertoire of events includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, since 1973; The Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point National in Mount Morris, PA, since 1977; The ATV Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN, since 1985; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National in Delmont, PA, since 1988; The ATV Stampede ATVA National Motocross at High Point Raceway, since 1994; The Wrangler ATVA National Motocross at Oak Hill Raceway in Decatur, TX, since 2006; as well as numerous amateur motocross events, and a World Motocross Gran Prix in 1987. In addition, the Racer Productions staff is the same crew that brings you the prestigious Air Nautique/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, since 1982.

For more information about Racer Productions and the events they produce, visit www.racerproductions.com. For High Point National Motocross information, visit www.highpointmx.com. For Steel City National Motocross information, visit www.steelcitymx.com. For GNCC Racing information, visit www.gnccracing.com.

About AMA Racing:
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members.

For more information about professional ATV racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.

About the ATVA:
The ATV Association (““ATVA” ) is the official sanctioning body of the amateur divisions of the ATVA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited. The 9,000 member ATVA is the sister organization of the 260,000 member American Motorcyclist Association (““AMA” ). ATV racing has experienced phenomenal growth at the rate of 25% in the past two years alone, and continues to gain momentum and support, outselling off-road motorcycles annually. Each round attracts 600-700 racers who compete for bragging rights to one of 31 amateur national titles. For more information about ATVA, visit www.atvaonline.com.

About the ATVPG:
The ATVPG is comprised of the 12 individual promoters that host the AMA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championships, presented by Parts Unlimited. The goal of the ATVPG is to raise awareness of ATV motocross through the production of professional and amateur championship racing events. For more information on the ATVPG and the ATV National events they produce, go to www.atvmotocross.com.