Villopoto Sets the Bar with Fastest Overall Time on Saturday at Monster Energy National at Unadilla

NEW BERLIN, N.Y. (July 19, 2008) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto turned heads on Saturday at the Monster Energy National at Unadilla Presented by Renegade, posting the fastest overall lap of the day in practice and qualifying. The Kawasaki rider not only paced the AMA Motocross Lites class, but also bested Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart in the AMA Motocross class just under a half second. Stewart led the way in the premier class as the series prepares for round eight of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF.

Ryan Villopoto - Credit Vital MX.

Villopoto’s blistering lap came in the first of two qualifying sessions on the day. Hoping to overturn recent hardship at the famed circuit, his 2:05.982 was just under one second faster than Geico Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard in second. This marks the first time during the 2008 season that an AMA Motocross Lites competitor has posted the top time.


“It’s pretty cool being fastest overall,” explained Villopoto. “They’ve done a good job with the track this year. The added sand has made it so you have to choose your lines carefully. Hopefully the weather is like today and we’ll have a good race.”


Canard’s lap of 2:06.802 put him just ahead of DNA Energy Drink/BTO Sports Honda’s Kyle Cunningham, who rounded out the top three, at 2:06.896.

James Stewart - Credit Vital MX.

Stewart led the way in AMA Motocross with a quick lap of 2:06.435. Factory Yamaha’s Josh Hill followed in second at 2:07.289 while Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne rounded out the top three in 2:08.524.


“I came in to this weekend with a positive attitude and it’s paying off,” said Stewart. “The track is in good shape and I think it will be a good race tomorrow. This place isn’t my favorite, but I’m riding well and hopefully we can get two more moto wins tomorrow.”



Sunday’s main event action for the Monster Energy National at Unadilla Presented by Renegade kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. Live audio coverage of the event can be heard on live.motocross.com. SPEED will televise the action for the AMA Motocross class on July 26 at 10 p.m. ET and the AMA Motocross Lites class on July 29 at 2 p.m. ET.


Motocross Class Saturday Practice

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:06.435

2. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 2:07.289

3. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 2:08.524

4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:08.672

5. Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 2:09.759

6. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Honda, 2:10.084

7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 2:10.325

8. Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 2:10.448

9. Ricky Renner, Mulberry, Fla. , Kawasaki, 2:10.493

10. Charles Summey, Huntersville, N.C., Yamaha, 2:10.796


Motocross Lites Saturday Practice

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2:05.982

2. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 2:06.802

3. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 2:06.896

4. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair, Mich., Suzuki, 2:07.174

5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 12:07.191

6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 2:07.358

7. Thomas Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 2:08.030

8. Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:08.124

9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 2:08.336

10. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha. 2:08.405

For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.

About the National Promoters Group (NPG)

The National Promoters Group (NPG) comprises 12 individual promoters of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF which sanctions outdoor motocross events throughout the United States, and remains the Nation's premier outdoor motocross championship series. NPG's mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide.

About AMA Pro Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.