- press release -

Kawasaki Riders Stewart and Villopoto Pace Saturday Practice

at The Motosport.com National from Washougal

WASHOUGAL, Wash. (July 26, 2008) AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF class points leaders James Stewart, of Monster Energy Kawasaki, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto set the pace on Saturday for practice and qualifying at The Motosport.com National at Washougal Motocross Park Presented by Yamaha and Scott USA.

Stewart jumped to the top of the board in the AMA Motocross class early in the first session of the day and stayed there throughout both sessions. His time of 2:16.263 was two seconds faster than Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short at 2:18.349.

“It’s a little slick out there,” said Stewart. “I think it will be a little better tomorrow. I’m just going to stay within myself. All season I’ve taken it one moto at time and I’m just going to keep that mindset tomorrow.”

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne followed Short in third at 2:18.594.

In the AMA Motocross Lites class, Villopoto’s top time of 2:16.868 from the first practice session set the tone, edging out Geico Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard at 2:17.366.

“The track is in good shape,” said Villopoto. “It’s always good to race near your house and I’ve already seen a lot of signs cheering me on. I just need to get a good start, so I can get my first overall win at my home race.”

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey rounded out the top three with a time of 2:17.872.

Sunday’s main event action for The Motosport.com National at Washougal Motocross Park Presented by Yamaha and Scott USA kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. Live audio coverage of the event can be heard on live.motocross.com. SPEED will televise the action for the AMA Motocross class on August 2 at 10 p.m. ET and the AMA Motocross Lites class on August 6 at 2 p.m. ET.

Motocross Class Saturday Practice

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:16.263
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 2:18.349
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 2:18.594
Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Honda, 2:18.694
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 2:18.935
Kyle Partridge, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 2:19.877
Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 2:19.945
Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 2:19.982
Sean Collier, Santa Clarita, Calif., Kawasaki, 2:20.561
Antonio Balbi, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 2:20.963

Motocross Lites Saturday Practice

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2:16.868
Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 2:17.366
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 2:17.872
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 2:17.944
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 12:18.445
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 2:19.447
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki, 2:19.613
Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 2:19.683
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 2:19.781
Nico Izzi, Saint Clair, Mich., Suzuki, 2:20.098

The AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki completed the first of two motos on Saturday, with American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars Honda’s Ashley Fiolek grabbing the victory. American Honda/Honda of Houston/Fox Racing/Bad Boy Energy Drink’s Jessica Patterson and Smith Suzuki/Zip Ty Racing's Sherri Cruse rounded out the podium. The second and final moto will be held on Sunday, kicking off the day’s racing at 10:40 a.m.

AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Moto One

Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda
Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki
Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki
Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Fla., Yamaha
Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
Alisa Nix, Ukiah, Calif., Yamaha
Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki
Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki
Ayla Cabus, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha

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