- press release -

Alessi and Grant Post Top Lap Times in Lakewood Night Practice at

Toyota Trucks AMA National from Thunder Valley

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (June 27, 2008) – As the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains, the introduction of a new nighttime format translated into new names atop the lap charts in the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi and Geico Powersports Honda’s Josh Grant posted fast lap times for the first time this season in preparation for Saturday’s main event at the Toyota Trucks AMA National at Thunder Valley Presented by Division 7 Insulation.

A perennial front runner all season, Alessi finally broke through to the top of the class as series points leader James Stewart sat out the day’s practice session. Alessi posted a quick time of 2:15.345.

“It felt good,” said Alessi. “The track was exceptionally good in the first practice. The second practice in the dark was a little bit sketchy (but) it wasn’t that bad. Everything’s a little different at night and reacts different. I’ll see what (James Stewart’s) got tomorrow. I’m sure he’s going to be fast like always.”

Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short nabbed the second position with a time of 2:17.839 with teammate Davi Millsaps clocking in at 2:18.912 for third.

The reason for Stewart’s absence was unconfirmed but Monster Energy Kawasaki representatives fully expect him to race in Sunday’s finale.

After missing the first four races of the season with an injury, Grant returned to the circuit and quickly made his presence felt by posting the fastest time of the day in his first race back with a time of 2:16.531.

“It was good,” explained Grant. “But it wasn’t a goal to come out and set the world on fire. I did my own thing today and that’s all I really wanted to do. I’m just going to go out there and do the same thing tomorrow. I have no pressure on myself, there’s four rounds already gone. Just go out and do the best for my team.”

Grant’s Trey Canard was second with a time of 2:17.691, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto posted the third fastest lap in 2:19.212.

Saturday’s main event action for the Toyota Trucks AMA National from Thunder Valley kicks off at 6 p.m. MT. Live streaming video coverage of the first two motos can be seen on live.motocross.com while SPEED picks up the remaining motos, beginning at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Motocross Class Friday Practice

Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 2:15.345
Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 2:17.839
Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 2:18.912
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 2:18.946
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:19.158
Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 2:19.622
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 2:19.967
Shaun Skinner, Stuart, Fla., Honda, 2:20.178
Sean Collier, Santa Clarita, Calif., Kawasaki, 2:20.721
Kevin Rookstool, Klamath Falls, Ore., Honda, 2:20.921
 

Motocross Lites Friday Practice

Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 2:16.531
Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 2:17.691
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2:19.212
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 2:19.320
Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Tex., Honda, 2:19.552
Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 2:19.703
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki 2:19.791
Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 2:19.814
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 2:20.292
Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM, 2:20.321
 

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.