When Amber ““Rae” Vann started riding four-wheelers at the age of three, she never dreamed that one day, she would capture the 2007 ATVA Women Championship.

 

This year, Amber went beyond her wildest dreams.

 

““I actually achieved beyond my expectations, because I planned on finishing in the top three,” she said. ““It is a great feeling to hold such a title that I never dreamed of achieving.”

 

The Vann family resides in St. Martinville, Louisiana, a city just to the west of New Orleans, which Amber described as an average small town with a population of about 12,000 people.

 

A typical day for Amber starts early. ““For me, waking up in the morning and going to school and then going to meet my dad at the track to practice,” she said. ““I ride on Tuesday and Thursday nights and on Saturday and Sunday. When I have time, I go to the gym.”

 

This year, Amber handled three wins on her YFZ 450 Yamaha, in addition to three second place finishes in the Women’s class. ““I love the Yamaha,” she said. ““My Big Boy Racing motor has gave me no trouble throughout the whole season.”

 

Growing up, Amber looked to Angela Butler and Heather Byrd as female role models and champions of ATVA motocross.

 

” It is a male dominated sport and I like proving that women can ride just as good,” Amber said.

 

The more competition the better for Amber, who remembered some of her finest finishes this year to come from a packed gate.

 

““My best finish that I remember the most was at Muddy Creek in Blountville, Tennessee, where they allowed us to take off out the gate with the Pro-Am Women,” she said.

 

She revealed her family as her biggest fans, which includes Eric in Veteran 30+ A and Philip Vann who finished third this season in the Senior 40+ class.

 

““They give me a lot of suggestions and tips on riding,” she said.

 

One habit she’s had to break is, ““learning big jumps on practice days and not in the middle of the race,” she said.

 

Still, Amber wants to go even bigger, setting her sights on the 2008 ATVANMX Series.

““I am planning to move up in the Women’s class and possibly run one of the Production classes and podium as much as possible,” she said.

 

Look for this outgoing teenage girl at the ATVA banquet on November 10 to be surrounded by her family and friends.

 

Amber’s sponsors include Big Boy Racing and Down South MX.

About the ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series

Presented by Parts Unlimited:

The AMA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited is the nation’s premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, and is hosted by many of America ’s premier motocross facilities. The 12-round series includes stops all over the nation, drawing the top racers, teams and sponsors in the sport, and making it America ’s largest and longest running ATV National Motocross series. After over twenty years of growth, the ATVA series gained AMA Pro recognition in 2007, crowning Joe Byrd as the first-ever AMA Pro ATV Champion. The series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while keeping close to the grass-roots fun that makes people love to go to the races.

 

Series sponsors include title sponsors ITP Tires and Moose, and presenting sponsor Parts Unlimited.  Premiere and Feature sponsors include ATV Sport, Moto Tees, Scott USA, Maxxis Tires, Elka Suspension and H-Bomb Films/Division Four.  Associate sponsors include Weekend Warrior Trailers, Denton Racing, and Hinson Racing.  Media partners include ATV Insider, ATV Rider and ATVRiders.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 260,000 active members. For more information about professional 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 division 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 hundreds of 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.

 

 

 

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