Big Texas Air! 2

Freestone County Raceway Will Host
Round 3 of the
AMA Outdoor Motocross Nationals on June 6th

Interview by John Willis

Photos by Aaron Remkus and Shand Garcia

Clayton Miller shows us some "Big Texas Air"!
This is one of the new jumps on the track.
Fans on the bleachers
will have a great view.

Tony Miller of Freestone
County Raceway invited Holeshot
Magazine along with the Navarro County Times to get
a first hand look at the track that will host Round 3 of
the AMA Outdoor Motocross Nationals on June 6th. Tony walked
us around the track and pointed out all of the changes that
were made to improve the facility for the race fans. Also
on hand was Freestone's new Title Sponsor Flagstar
Bank. Michael Baker gave us a little insight on their
role with the national and the opportunities of being involved
with motocross. After the track walk a few invited riders
gave us a little demo on what we can look forward to come
raced next week. All of the riders came off the track and
said it has improved from last year and had good flow. There
is a new double before the sand whoops that will get your
heart rate going! Once the demo ride came to a close I was
able to sit down with Tony and ask him a few questions about
his race and what he has planned for the future at Freestone
County Raceway.

Tony, after holding two nationals
prior, what have you learned from the past years events
and how have you used the information moving forward?

We must continue to improve our facility and implement change
with the help and the input of our riders and our industry.
Texans have great pride in their sport and want us to stand
tall in the Nationals.

It has been said that you wanted
to improve spectator viewing. What has been done to accomplish
this?

We have relocated fences closer to the starting and finish
line areas and have created big new areas in the middle
area of the track. Also a new jump in the middle of the
track allows spectators to flow up and through from the
finish line to the parking lot.

Some racers have dubbed this
track as one of the toughest on the circuit (heat, ruts,
roughness and multiple line choice). Did you design your
track that way on purpose to get that reputation or did
it just develop that way naturally?

Sandy loam allows a track to develop really deep ruts and
rough corners making Freestone a very challenging track.
We don't have big hills but we make up for it in roughness.
When Clayton and I laid out the track we wanted the track,
to have speed but develop into one of the roughest tracks
on the circuit. All of the national tracks get seriously
rough. During the national there will be lines from one
side of the track to the other allowing for plenty of passing
opportunities.

Flagstar Bank's VP Michael Baker explained to us their new relationship with Freestone County Raceway and being involved with Motocross.

Tell us about your new sponsor
that has come on board.

Mike Baker, Vice President of Flagstar Bank came on board
this year as Title Sponsor. The event is the FlagStar Bank
Freestone Motocross National presented by Yamaha, Berkey's
Plumbing and Kicker Audio. Mike has a son, Gaines who races,
and also is sponsor to rider Michael Royal from Houston
who is making his national Pro debut in the 250 class at
Freestone.

What is the weather forecast
supposed to be like on race day?

Ah, the weather: The weather forecast for Saturday, June
6, is set to be in the low 90's to 94 degrees. Cool night
temperatures will help hold down the heat through most of
the day with a partly cloudy real feel of 89-90 degrees.
Humidity should be moderate for a really great race day.
Last year it was reported that we had a record 103 degrees
and that was not correct. We had a cheap temperature device
that gave us that reading but it really was 94 degrees officially
from the Weather Channel.

So what all is going to be
happening over the race weekend at Freestone?

The race weekend is full of activity starting with Friday
night June 5th the last Round of the North Texas Night Series.
It is also combined with Round 2 of the Big Tex Night series.
Starting at 4pm thru 7pm is the Fan Fest at the Amateur
track. Pro riders will be there to sign autographs and the
band Ten Man Push will be playing while the races are running.
There will be three pit bike Demo races with industry and
pro riders participating. Saturday, June 6th is the Flagstar
Freestone National Motocross day with great racing action.
Sunday, June 7th is the AMA Amateur Day at the Nationals;
Great amateur racing with a $3000 Pro/Am purse.

Tony, thanks for your time,
I know you have a busy week coming up. Who would you like
to thank?

I would like to thanks MxSports for taking the National
Motocross series under their wings and bring such a great
program together. Lucas
Oil, Toyota and all of the great companies who are sponsoring
the Outdoor Nationals. In addition Mike Baker and Flagstar
Bank for being our title sponsor. Thanks to the great staff
of employees and volunteers that we have. Thanks for the
encouragement and support from family, friends, racers and
spectators who support and make Freestone what it is.

Freestone County Raceway has added more Texas sized culverts
allowing more air for the riders, and giving spectators
even more flow areas.

Holeshot Magazine's Shand Garcia and the "Viking"
stand where the old spectator fencing ran through. To their
left (small section) was where the spectators were able
to go last year. This year it has been opened up another
30 yards to the fence on their right......allowing for you
guessed it....more spectator flowing.

This huge hit is in development...and we hope it stays!
This gap double has been added just after Cemetery Hill
(tabletop that flows next to the Miller Ranch cemetery),
and just before the notorious Texas 12 Pack (sand whoops).
It is a slowdown, big-air gap double that looks to keep
the speed through the Texas 12 Pack down, but still allowing
for enough speed faster than you and I would know what to
do with. This section will be a hotbed for the Fans!

Long time Texas pro, Ty Conner sizes the gap.

Bud Moore

Aaron Smith

Tony Miller discussing track-flow feedback with some
Texas aces to make sure the course is spot on.

Calm before the storm....... June 6th Freestone County
Raceway will have the entire motocross nation focused in
for Round 3 of the Lucas Oil Motocross Championships.