National ATV Motocrossers Ready for Keystone State Showdown;

AMA Racing Hits Johnstown's Pleasure Valley this Weekend

 

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (July 7, 2008) -- The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited will make its inaugural visit to Pleasure Valley Raceway this weekend for the American Suzuki Summer National. The event represents Round 9 of the National Pro Racing tour and Round 8 of the Amateur tour.

 

The ATV Motocross Series features the top professional and amateur ATV riders in the country, competing at preeminent motocross facilities across the nation. ATV motocross racing is run on a closed course, which comprises technical "whoops" sections, as well as big-air jumps, tight turns and all-out straightaways. The machines are race-bred 450cc machines from top manufacturers such as Can-Am, Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris, Honda, KTM, and Kawasaki. Riders easily make six-figure incomes from the large purses, and contingency bonuses posted by manufacturers, as well as other Series sponsors and suppliers.

 

The riders will be vying for the most coveted honor in ATV racing: The AMA National Championship and the AMA No. 1 Number Plate.

 

This weekend's event is being sponsored by American Suzuki and will also host a PAMX American Suzuki ATV Regional Championship event. Organized in 2007, the new regional series has gained instant momentum, and is now the second most prestigious ATV championship in the east.

 

The race will be telecast on Versus Network on Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m.

 

With just three rounds left on the 2008 docket, Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) seems poised to continue his dominant run toward the Championship. Wimmer, from Center Valley, Pa., is hoping his home state advantage will pay off as he attempts to add to his tally of five victories and two additional podium finishes this season.

 

However, it's never wise to count out a veteran, and Joe Byrd is just that. Byrd (No. 7 American Honda/Joe Byrd Racing School Honda) is the two-time and defending AMA Champion, and he sits 67 points back. With 50 points available this weekend, Byrd will attempt to gain ground in an attempt to net his third consecutive AMA title.

 

A veteran of veterans, Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki), has been the model of consistency this season, winning a race, and finishing in the top five in all but two events. Gust sits third in the title chase.

 

The hometown crowd will certainly be in force this weekend and the words "Iron Man" will be seen throughout the Pleasure Valley facility as John Natalie will race his No. 13 Warnert Racing Can-Am just a few minutes from his Houtzdale, Pa. home. Natalie is riding the all-new Can-Am DS450 and he's been stellar in his development of the new ride. With a podium finish and several other top fives, Natalie, with his take-no-prisoners riding style, will certainly be one to watch this weekend. Natalie sits fourth in points.

 

Josh Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy Kawasaki) sits fifth in points and has showcased just how competitive Kawasaki Green is in ATV Motocross competition. With two podiums this season, Creamer completes the top five in points.

 

Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda/Houser Racing Honda), Jeremy Lawson (No. 16 Team Epic/Can-Am), Josh Upperman (No. 20 American Honda/Baldwin Motorsports Honda), Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) and privateer Rocco Arno, Jr. (No. 101 Honda) round out the top ten in the championship.

 

Fast Facts -- American Suzuki Summer National -- July 12-13, 2008

 

What: ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Championship Series, America's premier ATV racing series. ATV motocross racing is run on a closed course, which comprises technical "whoops" sections, as well as big-air jumps, tight turns and all-out straightaways. The machines are race-bred 450cc machines from top manufacturers such as Can-Am, Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris, Honda, KTM, and Kawasaki. Riders easily make six-figure incomes from the large purses, and contingency bonuses posted by manufacturers, as well as other Series sponsors and suppliers.

 

When: July 12-13, 2008

 

Where: Pleasure Valley Raceway.

 

Directions: From Pittsburgh, take RT 22 East to the Johnstown RT 403 Exit (this is the second Johnstown Exit). Turn right quarter of a mile. The track is on the right in Armagh.

 

From Harrisburg or the east, take PA Turnpike to the Bedford Exit. I-99 North to Exit 28 (RT 22 west/Ebensburg /Johnstown). Take RT 22 East approximately 40 miles to the Johnstown RT 403 Exit (this is the third Johnstown Exit on RT 22 West). Turn right onto 403 South quarter of a mile. The track is on the right.

 

From Downtown Johnstown, RT 403 North 12 miles, the track is on the left.

 

Pleasure Valley Raceway

Corner of Rt. 22 and Rt. 403

North of Johnstown, PA 15906

 

Who: Top Pro racers, including Pennsylvania natives John Natalie and Dustin Wimmer, as well as Doug Gust, Chad Wienen, Josh Creamer, Keith Little, Jeremy Lawson, Pat Brown, Harold Goodman and many others. The Series also features the top Pro Am, Amateur, Women, and Youth riders in the country.

 

Pro Championship Points

Pos	Name	#	Brand	Hometown	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8	Pts
1	Dustin Wimmer	191	Suzuki	Center Valley, Pa.	1	1	3	2	1	5	1	1	329
2	Joe Byrd	7	Honda	Union City, Tenn.	8	2	18	1	7	1	3	2	262
3	Doug Gust	55	Suzuki	Salem, Wis.	5	3	1	4	4	6	20	4	233
4	John Natalie	13	Can-Am	Houtzdale, Pa.	4	10	6	8	2	19	4	10	200
5	Josh Creamer	9	Kawasaki	N. Stonington, Conn.	3	20	4	10	17	3	5	14	197
6	Harold Goodman	708	Honda	Brownstown, Mich.	6	6	13	7	9	7	12	3	196
7	Jeremy Lawson	16	Can-Am	Battletown, Ky.	15	7	19	5	11	2	2	8	196
8	Josh Upperman	20	Honda	Lousville, Ohio		4	17	6	8	4	6	15	164
9	Chad Wienen	44	Suzuki	Galena, Ill.	2	9	11	7	13	8		5	126
10	Rocco Arno, Jr.	101	Honda	Bridgeton, N.J.	17	15	5	11	6	9	17	11	127

 

 

About the ITP/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Series

Presented by Parts Unlimited

The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited is the nation’s premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, and competes at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 11-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America’s largest and longest-running ATV National Motocross series with more than 20 years of competition. The series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while keeping close to the grassroots fun that makes people love to go to the races.

 

Series sponsors include title sponsors ITP Tires and Moose Racing, and presenting sponsor Parts Unlimited.  Premiere and Feature sponsors include Can Am, Amsoil, ATV Sport Magazine, Quad Magazine, Moto Tees, Maxxis Tires, and FMF.  Associate sponsors include Fox Shox, Gatorade, Hinson Racing, Custom Axis, and H-Bomb.  Media partners include ATV Insider and ATVRiders.com.  For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.

 

About the ATV Association (ATVA)

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

 

About the ATV Promoters Group (ATVPG)

The ATVPG is composed of the individual promoters that host the AMA ITP/Moose Racing 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, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.

 

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