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Photo Report: Glen Helen AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
Presented by FMF SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.
(May 26, 2008) – This past Sunday, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
presented by FMF dropped the gates on the 2008 season at the 13th
Annual Giant RV AMA Motocross National presented by Yamaha at Glen Helen
Raceway Park. In front of the heart of the motocross industry and
thousands of Southern California fans, Monster Energy-backed
James Stewart – Credit Brendan Lutes Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Stewart, made a
triumphant return from ACL knee surgery with a convincing AMA Toyota
Motocross debut, sweeping the day and taking home his fifth career AMA
Motocross class overall victory. The two-time 125cc AMA Motocross champ
looked healthy and flawless and carries a six-point lead heading into
Austin Stroupe – Credit Brendan Lutes Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Stroupe
capitalized on two consistent motos (2-3) to earn his first career
professional AMA Motocross Lites victory. Stroupe, who ran the last two
AMA Toyota Motocross race last season, ran up front in both motos and
actually led the first few laps of moto two before making an inspired
comeback to nab the third position to earn the overall victory.
Mike Alessi – Credit Brendan Lutes Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi picked up right
where he left off last season with an inspired 2-2 moto finish, good for
second overall. Alessi, who finished second in the season-ending points
last season, showed that the AMA Motocross class championship may not be
a one-man race, and later stated in the post-race press conference, “I
feel like this season is my year to win this championship.”
Davi Millsaps – Credit Brendan Lutes Davi Millsaps led the charge for the talented Red
Bull Honda squad, turning in a 3-3 performance to earn the final podium
spot. Millsaps engaged in heated battles with Ferry in both motos, but
walked away with third overall. Millsap’s teammate Ivan Tedesco made a
successful return to racing after missing most of the season with a
broken hand. He finished fifth overall (7-5), as teammates Andrew Short
(5-36) and Ben Townley (6-32) had good first moto finishes before
mechanical problems in moto two dropped them to 13th and 14th
overall, respectively.
Jason Lawrence – Credit Brendan Lutes Boost Mobile Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence took the
BTOSports.com Holeshot Award, and the accompanying check for $500, in
the first moto of AMA Motocross Lites and held on for an amazing
wire-to-wire victory. He followed with a fifth in moto two, overcoming
the mid-race challenges of Geico Motorsports Honda’s Trey Canard to
finish fifth, earning third-place overall.
Ryan Villopoto – Credit Brendan Lutes Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s defending AMA
Motocross Lites Champion Ryan Villopoto used a on moto two victory to
place second overall in a very competitive day of racing at Glen Helen.
Villopoto got a bad start in the first moto and could only manage a
fifth-place finish. His start in the final moto was much better, as he
found himself in third place after the opening lap, trailing Rockstar/Makita
Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, who got the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award, and his
teammate Stroupe. Stroupe and Villopoto got by Dungey, and then after a
crash by Stroupe at the bottom of
AMA/NPG Mechanic’s Area – Credit
Brendan Lutes The AMA and NPG coordinated a new working area for
the mechanic’s at Glen Helen, which provided shade and live timing and
scoring. Scheduled to be erected at each of the 12-stops on the AMA
Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF, the mechanic’s area was
hit with the team, the mechanics and the riders.
AMA/NPG Media Center – Credit Brendan
Lutes More than 175 media credentials were issued for the
opening round event at Glen Helen, including all of the motocross
magazines and newspaper journalists reporting for the LA Times,
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