Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Heads to Texas

Tight Battles in Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Head East with Flagstar Bank Motocross National in Wortham

MORGANTOWN, W.V. (June 2, 2009) - With its challenging layout and technical obstacles, Freestone Raceway in Wortham has always served as a tough test for the world's best riders in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. For 2009, the June 6th Flagstar Bank Motocross National Presented by Yamaha, Berkey's Plumbing and Kicker Audio will not be any different, serving as an early-season wildcard in the chase for the 450, 250, and WMX class titles.

The sprawling landscape of Freestone Raceway parlays into some of the most fast-paced, high-intensity action of the season as multiple lines lead to bar-banging action. The Texas national also marks the first time the series will race outside of California, beginning an Eastern swing in which competitors will be presented with various soils and a myriad of track layouts.

As the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship wrapped up its second round of the 2009 season at the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif., two new faces stood atop the podium. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Mike Alessi and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel both captured their first career victories and shook up the points standings in the process. Alessi overtook the 450 Class points lead from an injured Ryan Villopoto while the Frenchman Pourcel moved to within two points of 250 Class leader Ryan Dungey.

In Villopoto's absence, Alessi asserted himself as a title favorite by sweeping the day's motos last week in Sacramento. JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha's Josh Grant and Honda Red Bull Racing's Ivan Tedesco also rose to the occasion, proving that the 2009 championship is far from decided. Alessi, who captured a runner-up finish last season in Wortham, should also feel pressure from Texas rider Andrew Short, who rode to a third place finish last year for Honda Red Bull Racing.

In the 250 Class, the Pourcel/Dungey match-up is more than a two rider battle, as four competitors from the highly regarded GEICO Powersports Honda team are nipping at their heels, led by Pilot Point, Texas' Blake Wharton. Also adding to one of the most competitive fields in recent history are the other two members of the international invasion in Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, and Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM's Tommy Searle, of Great Britain.

The WMX Class once again saw phenom and Honda Red Bull Racing rider Ashley Fiolek atop the podium, but five-time champion Jessica Patterson made a statement by capturing a convincing moto two victory and let Fiolek know she is ready to fight each and every week. The duo provided an epic battle in Texas last season on the way to a closely-contested title fight.

With the ever-growing popularity of the Freestone Bank Motocross National, track owner Tony Miller has added infield viewing areas as well as a tunnel jump. Flagstar Bank has joined the event this season to provide additional support.

Based in Troy, Mich., Flagstar Bank is the tenth largest residential loan originator in the country, the fourth largest FHA lender and the fourth largest residential wholesale lender. Flagstar is widely heralded as a leader in mortgage technology, winning numerous awards for its end-to-end paperless processing. The company also provides banking services for customers in Michigan, Indiana, and Georgia and on the Web at www.flagstar.com.

Ten Man PushTM, the official band of motocross, will also provide a live performance while a night race will give the audience a little taste of what the pros have in store for Saturday. All the activity takes place at Freestone Raceway's amateur track.

Saturday Advance Purchase Tickets

Adults $30

Kids (6-12 years) $15

5 and under FREE

Saturday Day of Tickets

Adults $35

Kids (6-12 years) $20

5 and under FREE

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Standings

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 92

2. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 74

3. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 73

4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 55

5. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 52

6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 51

7. Dan Reardon, Australia, Honda, 41

8. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki, 41

9. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 40

10. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 37

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 86

2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 84

3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 75

4. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 70

5. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 63

6. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 54

7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 53

8. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 52

9. Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM, 48

10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 47

WMX Class Standings

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 97

2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 87

3. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Honda, 78

4. Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 72

5. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 63

6. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 56

7. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 54

8. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Honda, 48

9. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Japan, Suzuki, 47

10. Penni Cyrus, Queens Creek, Ariz., Kawasaki, 46

For more information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com 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.