Pro AMA ATV Racing Invades Southern Michigan

Dustin Wimmer Readies to Clinch 2008 Title

 

BUCHANAN, Mich. (July 23, 2008) -- Dustin Wimmer may be ready to put the lock on his dream as the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited visits RedBud MX this weekend. The RedBud National represents Round 10 of the National Pro Racing Tour and Round 9 of the Amateur Tour and is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27.

 

During the 2008 tour, Wimmer's consistency has been the story of the season. With five victories and three additional podiums, the Center Valley, Pa. rider needs only to finish second or better in the first of two Pro Motos here to clinch the title.

 

By race's end, Wimmer may just walk away with the most coveted honor in ATV racing: The AMA National Championship and the AMA No. 1 Number Plate.

 

Team Suzuki, as well, may clinch the Manufacturers' Cup here. Suzuki quads have won six of the 10 races this season and have finished on the podium at every event.

 

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.

 

This weekend's event is the third base of the $5,000 ITP Tires Grand Slam Presented by QUAD Magazine. The championship within a championship, being held at four of this year's Showcase Events, is offering monetary awards in the Pro Class, as well as special bronze, silver and gold medals in the Amateur Classes.

 

This weekend's Showcase will feature the popular RiderCourse ATV training program, as well as demo rides of the newest ATVs from Can-Am and Yamaha. The Showcase will also include other outdoor-themed displays and other entertainment opportunities for fans.

 

In addition, the event will feature a Charity Industry Race on Sunday, where mechanics, media members, sponsors and Series staff will compete head to head. All entry fees will be donated to the ATV Mobile Medical Unit.

 

KTM will unveil its new sport quad during the weekend.

 

The race will be telecast on Versus Network on Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m.

 

Though Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) has all but taken the title, the battle behind him will certainly be fierce. Leading that charge is two-time and defending AMA Champion Joe Byrd. Byrd (No. 7 American Honda/Joe Byrd Racing School Honda) sits second in points, but is just eight markers ahead of veteran Doug Gust.

 

Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) is coming off of his second win of the season and has proved to be the "King of the Rain" this season, winning two events in damp conditions.

 

Josh Creamer has carried the banner well for Team Kawasaki, and is itching for his first victory of 2008. Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy Kawasaki) has come close, netting three podiums, including a runner-up finish in the last race.

 

Jeremy Lawson (No. 16 Team Epic Can-Am) has come on strong of late with two runner-up finishes. The defending RedBud winner could well be the dark horse here this weekend.

 

Hometown rider Harold Goodman has also seen glimmers of greatness this season on his No. 708 American Honda/Houser Racing Honda. Goodman, who lives just outside Detroit in Romulus, Mich., will certainly be one to watch.

 

John Natalie (No. 13 Warnert Racing 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 ”“ RedBud National -- July 26-27, 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 26-27, 2008

 

Where: RedBud MX.

 

Directions: Located just north of South Bend, Ind., RedBud MX is located five miles north of US 12 on Redbud Trail in Buchanan, Michigan.

 

RedBud MX

13638 N. Redbud Trail

Buchanan, MI 49017

 

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

Pro AMA ATV Points

Pos	Name	#	Brand	Hometown	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8	#9	Pts
1	Dustin Wimmer	191	Suzuki	Center Valley, Pa.	1	1	3	2	1	5	1	1	3	367
2	Joe Byrd	7	Honda	Union City, Tenn.	8	2	18	1	7	1	3	2	7	288
3	Doug Gust	55	Suzuki	Salem, Wis.	5	3	1	4	4	6	20	4	1	280
4	Josh Creamer	9	Kawasaki	N. Stonington, Conn.	3	20	4	10	17	3	5	14	2	242
5	Jeremy Lawson	16	Can-Am	Battletown, Ky.	15	7	19	5	11	2	2	8	4	233
6	John Natalie	13	Can-Am	Houtzdale, Pa.	4	10	6	8	2	19	4	10	14	214
7	Harold Goodman	708	Honda	Brownstown, Mich.	6	6	13	7	9	7	12	3	16	209
8	Josh Upperman	20	Honda	Louisville, Ohio		4	17	6	8	4	6	15	11	182
9	Chad Wienen	44	Suzuki	Galena, Ill.	2	9	11	7	13	8		5	12	174
10	Rocco Arno, Jr.	101	Honda	Bridgeton, N.J.	17	15	5	11	6	9	17	11	10	164

 

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