FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Brandon Short
Media@MXNationals.com
(951) 203-2605

Kawasaki Rider’s Stewart and Villopoto Set Fastest Lap Times
For Opening Day at Glen Helen

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 25, 2008) – After months of anticipation, the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF officially kicked off on Saturday, May 24 at the 13th Annual Giant RV AMA Motocross National presented by Yamaha at Glen Helen Raceway Park. An opening day of practice and qualifying concluded with two familiar names atop the leaderboard. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart set fastest time in the Motocross Class, returning to action after a four month hiatus due to injury, while defending champion Ryan Villopoto topped the charts in the Motocross Lites Class aboard his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

James Stewart – Credit Brendan Lutes

After two days of torrential rain, the skies held off, creating nearly perfect track conditions for the day’s events. After a flurry of activity throughout the early afternoon  hours, Stewart and Villopoto staked their claim as the riders to beat on Sunday. While the weather still holds a slight chance of precipitation for Sunday’s finals, the conditions should be ideal for racing, setting the stage for an outstanding opening round. The gates drop promptly at 1 p.m..

Ryan Villopoto – Credit Brendan Lutes

Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.

For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.

Credential requests for each round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF must be submitted via email to Media@MXNationals.com three weeks prior to the race. Media members interested in interviews with the riders of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF should contact Brandon at 951-203-2605 or email Media@MXNationals.com.  

About the National Promoters Group (NPG)
The National Promoters Group (NPG) comprises 12 individual promoters of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF which sanctions outdoor motocross events throughout the United States, and remains the Nation's premier outdoor motocross championship series. NPG's mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide.

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 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA 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 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.
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