Stewart and Dungey Lead Saturday Practice from Steel City

Stewart and Dungey Top Practice and Qualifying on Friday
at Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National

DELMONT, Pa. (August 29, 2008) – On the opening day of the inaugural American Motocross Festival, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF took to the newly redesigned Steel City circuit. The world’s best riders were greeted with more air time and a flowing layout, setting the stage for exciting moto action on Saturday. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey distanced themselves from their competitors to sit atop the charts.

James Stewart - Credit VitalMX.com.

Rainfall from Thursday left a slick and smooth track for the opening rounds of practice, but as the dirt dried, the times picked up for the final sessions.


Stewart set his blistering lap of 2:20.295 in the final session of the day, bettering his previous best time from the first session by nearly three seconds.


"It's really slick out there," said Stewart. "I know they are going to disc the track tonight which will make it better. I just want to keep doing what I've been doing and it'll be a good weekend."


Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Timmy Ferry followed in second with a time of 2:23.702 while Factory Yamaha’s Josh Hill rounded out the top three at 2:24.533.

Ryan Dungey - Credit VitalMX.com.

In AMA Motocross Lites, Dungey was head of the class in each session. His lap of 2:23.050 in session two separated himself from Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto by a just over a second.


“Track was pretty decent,” said Dungey. “A little slippery, but ok. I was able to put some good laps in and get ready for tomorrow. I think we are going to be looking at a different track tomorrow. Either way, I’m ready for it.”


Villopoto clocked in at 2:24.299 in preparation for his final race in the AMA Motocross Lites class while GEICO Powersports Honda’s Blake Wharton sat third with a time of 2:25.615.


The AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship ran the first of its two motos at the T-Mobile Sidekick Final Round on Friday. American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars’ Ashley Fiolek grabbed the win and in the process, clinched her first WMA title, making her the first deaf champion in the history of professional motocross.


“This is just amazing,” explained Fiolek. “I just rode as hard as I could all season. Jessica (Patterson) didn’t make it easy on me. I just want to thank everyone that helped me in making this possible.”

Ashley Fiolek - Credit VitalMX.com.

Saturday’s main event action for the American Motocross Festival starts at 1 p.m. ET with Women’s ATV racer and Nashville recording artist Krista Marie kicking things off with the National Anthem. Live audio coverage of the event can be heard on live.motocross.com. SPEED will televise two separate one-hour broadcasts of the American Motocross Festival on September 6 at 10 p.m. ET and September 9 at 2 p.m. ET.

Motocross Class Saturday Practice

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:20.295

2. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:23.702

3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 2:24.533

4. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 2:25.346

5. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 2:25.352

6. Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 2:25.756

7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 2:26.161

8. Jacob Marsack, Berlin, Mich., Honda, 2:26.533

9. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Honda, 2:26.861

10. Colton Facciotti, Canada, Yamaha, 2:26.976


Motocross Lites Saturday Practice

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 2:23.050

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2:24.299

3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 2:25.615

4. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair, Mich., Suzuki, 2:25.682

5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 2:25.928

6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 2:26.288

7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki, 2:26.906

8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 2:27.170

9. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 2:27.352

10. Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Kawasaki, 2:27.380


AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda

2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

3. Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki

4. Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Fla., Yamaha

5. Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki

6. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki

7. Kirsten Raemisch, Madison, Wis., Yamaha

8. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki

9. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki

10. Alyssa Fitch, Castle Rock, Col., Honda