Leaders Reed and Pourcel Carry Points Lead into Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross National at Thunder Valley

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 3:45 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:Brandon Short

Leaders Reed and Pourcel Carry Points Lead into Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross National at Thunder Valley
Can Reed Back up First-Ever Win?

MORGANTOWN, W.V. (June 23, 2009) - For just the second time in history, the Toyota AMA Pro National at Thunder Valley, round five of the 12-race Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, will be held under the lights this Saturday evening. An international pairing sits atop the standings as Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Chad Reed, of Australia, carries the 450 Class points lead while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel, of France, aims to hold down the 250 Class points lead for a second week in a row.

Created in 1999, Thunder Valley Motocross hosted its inaugural Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship race in 2005 and has been on the schedule ever since. Last year, the track reached a series milestone when it hosted the first-ever night race. After undergoing several upgrades and renovations, Thunder Valley is awaiting the arrival of the world's best motocross racers to settle the score under the illuminated mountainside Saturday night. Fans that can't make the race will be able to follow the 450 Class action live on SPEED at 11:00 p.m. ET. The 250 Class will also air on SPEED at 6 p.m. ET on July 5.

The preceding round of the series, held at High Point Raceway, was won by fan favorite Reed. The event served as the first first-ever 450 Class overall victory for Reed, who has two AMA Supercross championships to his name. After a two-year hiatus, he has come back to the Nationals with a vengeance for 2009. Finishing 1-1 at High Point, Reed extended his overall points lead and looks forward to a repeat this weekend.

"It definitely took me (a long time)," said Reed. "To be truthful, I didn't think it'd be eight years for my first overall. But it wasn't for lack of trying. It feels good to get one and this is actually where I got my first (250) win. This weekend off is coming at a good time for me; I'm still not 100%. I'm just not feeling right and that's not the way to go (racing)."

Finishing second in the 450 Class was Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short while his teammate Ivan Tedesco finished third. Short, a Colorado native, currently sits third in the season standings and is on the cusp of capturing his first career 450 Class victory. A front runner at Thunder Valley since 2005, a win in front of his hometown crowd could be the push Short needs in the championship fight.

In the midst of his first season in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Pourcel ran away with the overall in Mt. Morris, finishing 1-1 for the first moto sweep of his career, which translated into stealing the points lead from Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Ryan Dungey by just two points.

"I liked supercross a lot and I felt like today was like that. I just got into a rhythm," said Pourcel. "I went to my doctor and she told me I have a lot of problems (internally) and it's not going to get better since I was paralyzed. It's not easy to ride like that but I just have to keep doing my best."

Being his rookie campaign, Pourcel has never faced a challenge quite like running at night in mile-high altitude. His adjustment to the conditions will be crucial to his position in the standings as Dungey, who has not finished better than 11^th in two trips to Thunder Valley, looks to overcome his hard luck in Colorado.

The WMX Class also makes its return to Lakewood for round five of its eight-race season. So far, Honda Red Bull Racing's Ashley Fiolek has won every race and all but one moto. However, rival Jessica Patterson has been on her heels all season. Last year, Thunder Valley marked the site of current third place holder Sherri Cruse's breakout performance as she dominated the field en route to a second moto victory and a best career finish of second overall. Fiolek asserted her control of the 2008 championship in Colorado with the overall victory.

At last season's historic event in Lakewood, eventual series champion James Stewart piloted his way to the fifth consecutive 450 Class overall win of 2008 and his 10^th consecutive moto win. In the 250 Class, Ryan Villopoto kept his overall winning streak alive at Thunder Valley, making it four in a row with his 1-1 moto sweep. With Stewart's absence and Villopoto's move to the big bikes, Thunder Valley will welcome a pair of first time winner's in each class under the lights this season.

On Friday, June 26 Sun Enterprises, Colorado's largest motorcycle dealership, will be the site of the official Toyota AMA Pro National at Thunder Valley Fan Fest, a combination autograph session and celebration of the return of AMA Professional Racing to Colorado. Starting at Noon, this year's Fan Fest will conclude at 8:00 p.m. and admission is free.

Ticket Info:

Saturday General Admission Tickets

Adults $37

Kids (6-11 years) $18

Children under 5 FREE

Saturday Grandstand Tickets

Adults $50

Kids (6-11) $40

Children under 5 FREE

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Standings

Round 4 of 12 at High Point Raceway

450 Class (Moto Finish)

Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (1-1)
Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda (2-2)
Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (3-3)
Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (4-5)
Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha (5-6)
Ricky Dietrich, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (8-9)
Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha (7-10)
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (6-11)
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (13-7)
Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (18-4)

450 Class Championship Standings

Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 161
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 142
Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 137
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 119
Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 110
Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 91
Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 89
Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki, 84
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 79
Dan Reardon, Australia, Honda, 68

250 Class (Moto Finish)

Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-1)
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (3-2)
Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM (4-3)
Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (5-4)
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (6-6)
Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda (8-5)
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (9-8)
Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha (7-11)
Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki (10-10)
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (2-32)

250 Class Championship Standings

Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 177
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 175
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 139
Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 135
Tommy Searle, England, KTM, 117
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 116
Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 111
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 97
Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 83
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 66

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-1)
Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (4-2)
Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki (3-3)
Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Honda (2-4)
Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (5-5)
Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki (6-6)
Kim Kocher, Paris, Ohio, KTM (8-8)
Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM (11-7)
Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki (9-10)
Jackie Ives, Exeter, Calif., Yamaha (12-9)

WMX Class Standings

Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 197
Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 163
Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Honda, 154
Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 154
Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 119
Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 117
Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM, 94
Penni Cyrus, Queen Creek, Ariz., Kawasaki, 85
Kim Kocher, Paris, Ohio, KTM, 81
Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 77

For more information, please contact Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

For fan and racing information on the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log onto www.allisports.com.

MX Sports Pro Racing

MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. An industry leader in off road powersport production and management, its mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information, please visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour; Alli TV Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil Products

Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, greases, and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, greases, and problem-solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry.

Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte, founded Lucas Oil Products in 1989 after he spent 20 years as a truck driver and owner of a nationwide long-haul trucking fleet. They experienced firsthand the need for better lubricants and fuel treatments to maintain their equipment.

Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." For more information on Lucas Oil, please visit www.LucasOil.com.

AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT. AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.