2014 Regional Championship Schedule Kicks Off This Weekend in the Mid-East and Southwest Regions

"As we embark on our second stage of qualifying for the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL we are expecting over 8,000 Regional Championship entries in the next four weeks," said Tim Cotter, MX Sports Director. "Our Regional organizers are excited and ready to host these prestigious events."

The AMA amateur national program includes 50 Area Qualifiers and 12 Regional Championships. Several thousand riders compete for the 1,410 national qualifying spots up for grabs. Those riders -- the best amateur motocross racers in the country -- advance to the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch to race for AMA National No. 1 plates in 36 classes.

"The AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the pinnacle of an amateur racer's career, and that opportunity is only earned from a season of racing the best from your area and your region to prove you are among the country's elite," said AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. "Working closely with MX Sports, we have put together a strong calendar of events at the country's best motocross tracks. The talent that emerges from this Regional Championship competition is sure to create one of the most-exciting national championship lineups we've ever seen."

Chosen by MX Sports and the AMA, only the most competitive motocross facilities across the country play host to regional competition. The AMA Regional Championships get started this weekend with races in the Mid-East and Southwest regions. All regional titles will be decided by the last weekend in June.

"Hosting a Regional Championship is one of the highest honors that the Pleasure Valley team has received," said Jeff Cernic, Regional Organizer at Pleasure Valley MX. "We appreciate the confidence from both the AMA and MX Sports in our ability to put on such a substantial event."

This weekend's schedule kicks off with the Amateur Mid-East Regional Championship in Crawfordsville, Indiana with the inaugural Ironman Raceway event. In the Southwest region, Competitive Edge is hosting the Youth and Amateur Regional Championship in Hesperia, California.

The 2014 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by AMSOIL will take place July 27 - August 2 at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. For more information, visit the series website at www.mxsports.com.

2014 Regional Championship Schedule

Northeast Regional Championship

June 21-22: Pleasure Valley Raceway (Youth); Armagh, Pa. (814) 695-2453

June 28-29: High Point (Amateur); Mt. Morris, Pa. (304) 284-0084

Southeast Regional Championship

June 7-8: Muddy Creek Raceway (Amateur); Blountville, Tenn. (423) 323-5497

June 14-15: Lazy River (Youth); Chatsworth, Ga. (706) 278-1620

Mid-East Regional Championship

May 31-June 1: Ironman (Amateur); Crawfordsville, Ind. (304) 284-0084

June 7-8: Red Bud (Youth); Buchanan, Mich. (269) 695-6405

North Central Regional Championship

June 14-15: MC Motopark (Amateur); Mt. Carroll, Ill. (815) 238-1614

June 21-22: Sunset Ridge MX (Youth); Walnut, Ill. (815) 379-9534

South Central Regional Championship

June 14-15: Freestone MX (Youth); Wortham, Texas. (713) 962-3386

June 28-29: Three Palms (Amateur); Houston, Texas. (936) 321-8725

Northwest Regional Championship

June 7-8: Prairie City MX (Youth, Amateur); Rancho Cordova, Calif. (740) 297-6686

Southwest Regional Championship

May 31-June 1: Competitive Edge (Youth, Amateur); Hesperia, Calif. (909) 456-1070

About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship

The Rocky Mountain ATV/MCAMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 52 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 12 Regional Championships (June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week of August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 20,000 racers attempt to qualify in 36 classes for the 1,446 available positions at the National. Christened "The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation", the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production.