Hangtown Set to Celebrate 40 Years of Motocross Action

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 20, 2008) – Since opening its doors in 1968, Hangtown MX Park and the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club has played host to exciting motocross racing as the site of some of history’s most memorable battles. Hosting its inaugural AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF event in 1974, many of the sports all-time greats have graced the top of the podium and etched their names in the record books.

When Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club first came up with the concept of a motocross event, it was simply as an opportunity for riders in Northern California to participate in a national event. Now, 40 years later, Sacramento shines as a crown jewel of the schedule. Hosting the largest attendance of the season year in and year out, the Honda Hangtown Motocross Classic presented by Jackson Rancheria Hotel and Casino is a race all riders want to win, much like the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. With a dedicated fan base, storied past, and the introduction of a redesigned circuit that will be run in reverse, the 40th anniversary event is sure to be one for the ages.

In celebrating their milestone, Hangtown is extending an open invitation to its past winners to come out May 31-June 1 and take part in the festivities, including five-time winner Ricky Carmichael, four-time event champion Rick Johnson, and three-time podium topper Mike Kiedrowski.

HANGTOWN MOTOCROSS CLASSIC WINNERS
Sacramento, CA
Motocross
Date                         Winner                         Hometown                               Machine
May 20, 2007           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Suzuki
May 21, 2006           James Stewart, Jr.     Haines City, Fla.                     Kawasaki
May 22, 2005           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Suzuki
May 16, 2004           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Honda   
May 18, 2003           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Honda
May 19, 2002           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Honda
May 20, 2001           Sebastien Tortelli        France                                     Honda
May 21, 2000           David Vuillemin           Murrieta, Calif.                        Yamaha
May 16, 1999           Kevin Windham          Ethel, Lou.                               Honda
May 17, 1998           Jeremy McGrath        Menifee, Calif.                        Yamaha
May 4, 1997             Greg Albertyn             South Africa                            Suzuki
May 5, 1996             Jeremy McGrath        Menifee, Calif.                        Honda
May 7, 1995             Mike Kiedrowski         Canyon Country, Calif.           Kawasaki
May 1, 1994             Mike Kiedrowski         Canyon Country, Calif.           Kawasaki
June 20, 1993          Mike Kiedrowski         Canyon Country, Calif.           Kawasaki
June 14, 1992          Damon Bradshaw       Moorseville, North Car.           Yamaha
March 24, 1991        John Dowd                  Chicopee, Mass.                     Honda
April 1, 1990             Jeff Ward                    San Juan Capistrano, Calif     Kawasaki
April 23, 1989           Jeff Stanton                Sherwood, Mich.                     Honda
March 27, 1988        Rick Johnson              El Cajon, Calif.                        Honda
March 22, 1987        Rick Johnson              El Cajon, Calif.                        Honda
April 6, 1986             Rick Johnson              El Cajon, Calif.                        Honda
March 31, 1985        Jeff Ward                    Mission Viejo, Calif.                Kawasaki
April 8, 1984             Alan King                     Troy, Mich.                              Honda
March 27, 1983        Bob Hannah                Carson City, Nev.                   Honda
March 28, 1982        Rick Johnson              El Cajon, Calif.                        Yamaha
March 29, 1981        Kent Howerton            San Antonio, Tex.                   Suzuki
March 23, 1980        Kent Howerton            San Antonio, Tex.                   Suzuki
March 25, 1979        Bob Hannah                Carson City, Nev.                   Yamaha
April 9, 1978             Bob Hannah                Carson City, Nev.                   Yamaha
April 10, 1977           Marty Smith                San Diego, Calif.                     Honda
April 4, 1976             Jim Ellis                       East Hampton, Conn.             Can-Am
April 6, 1975             Kent Howerton            San Antonio, Tex.                   Husqvarna
April 8, 1974             Bill Grossi                    Santa Cruz, Calif.                   Honda

Motocross Lites
Date                         Winner                         Hometown                               Machine
May 20, 2007           Ryan Villopoto             Poulsbo, Wash.                       Kawasaki
May 21, 2006           Mike Alessi                  Victorville, Calif.                      KTM
May 22, 2005           Grant Langston           Murrieta, Calif.                        Kawasaki
May 16, 2004           James Stewart, Jr.     Haines City, Fla.                     Kawasaki
May 18, 2003           Ryan Hughes              Temecula, Calif.                     KTM
May 19, 2002           James Stewart, Jr.     Haines City, Fla.                     Kawasaki
May 20, 2001           Grant Langston           South Africa                            KTM
May 21, 2000           Steve Lamson             Murrieta, Calif.                        Honda
May 16, 1999           Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Kawasaki
May 17, 1998           Steve Lamson             Riverside, Calif.                      Honda
May 4, 1997             Ricky Carmichael       Havana, Fla.                           Kawasaki
May 5, 1996             Steve Lamson             Pollock Pines, Calif.                Honda
May 7, 1995             Ryan Hughes              Escondido, Calif.                     Kawasaki
May 1, 1994             Damon Huffman         Saugus, Calif.                         Suzuki
June 20, 1993          Jeremy McGrath        Murrieta, Calif.                        Honda
June 14, 1992          Steve Lamson             Pollock Pines, Calif.                Honda
March 24, 1991        Doug Henry                Fairfield, Conn.                       Yamaha
April 1, 1990             Guy Cooper                Stillwater, Okla.                       Suzuki
April 23, 1989           Damon Bradshaw       Charlotte, North Car.              Yamaha
March 28, 1988        Guy Cooper                Stillwater, Okla.                       Suzuki
March 22, 1987        George Holland           Kerman, Calif.                         Suzuki
April 6, 1986             Erik Kehoe                  Granada Hills, Calif.                Suzuki
March 31, 1985        Ron Lechien                El Cajon, Calif.                        Honda
April 8, 1984             Jeff Ward                    Mission Viejo, Calif.                Kawasaki
March 27, 1983        Mark Barnett               Bridgeview, Ill.                         Suzuki
March 28, 1982        Mark Barnett               Bridgeview, Ill.                         Suzuki
March 29, 1981        Mark Barnett               Bridgeview, Ill.                         Suzuki
March 23, 1980        Mark Barnett               Bridgeview, Ill.                         Suzuki
March 25, 1979        Brian Myerscough      Calimesa, Calif.                      Suzuki
April 9, 1978             Broc Glover                El Cajon, Calif.                        Yamaha
April 10, 1977           Danny LaPorte            Yucca Valley, Calif.                Suzuki
April 4, 1976             Bob Hannah                Whittier, Calif.                         Yamaha
April 6, 1975             Tim Hart                      Torrance, Calif.                       Yamaha
April 8, 1974             Marty Smith                San Diego, Calif.                     Honda

500cc Motocross
Date                         Winner                         Hometown                               Machine
March 31, 1985        Broc Glover                El Cajon, Calif.                        Yamaha
April 8, 1984             David Bailey                Axton, Virg.                             Honda
March 27, 1983        Danny Chandler          Foresthill, Calif.                       Honda

DIRT DIGGERS NORTH MOTORCYLCE CLUB PRO MOTOCROSS
250cc
Year                         Winner                        
1969                         Bob Grossi
1970                         Hans Hanson
1971                         Hans Hanson
1972                         Bob Grossi
1973                         Tom Rapp

125cc
Year                         Winner                        
1969                         Larry Mulock
1970                         Lars Larson
1971                         Bull Urban
1972                         Tom Rapp
1973                         Marty Smith

500cc
Year                         Winner                        
1969                         Gary Bailey
1970                         Bob Grossi
1971                         Bob Grossi
1972                         Brad Lackey
1973                         Pierre Karsmaker
1974                         Mike Hartwick

For more information, log onto www.hangtownmx.com

The 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF begins on May 24-25 in San Bernardino, Calif.

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.