--- Article Information ---
Article's URL: http://atv.info/article.cfm?id=521.
---------------------------

Top Twenty Invites for AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational

Fri, Aug/24/2007

Bellco, Inc., producer of the 20th Annual Monster Energy/Kawasaki Pro Motocross National at Steel City Raceway, is proud to announce the top twenty riders who have been selected for the first-ever AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational.

The race will take place Saturday, August 25th at Steel City Raceway, sharing the weekend with round 10 of the AMA/Toyota Motocross Championships presented by FMF, as well as the final round of the WMA Championships.

Rest assured, there are many talented riders in the world of ATV racing, and it was very difficult narrowing it down to twenty. With the help of the team managers and their recommendations, the following riders will be in attendance:

Kawasaki
Josh Creamer
Josh Upperman
Jason Luburgh

Yamaha
Pat Brown
Travis Spader
Richard Pelchat
Cody Miller
Hunter Miller

Honda
Jeremy Lawson
Keith Little
Mike Brown
Justin Bres
Rocco Arno

Suzuki
Doug Gust
Dustin Wimmer
Chad Wienen
Kory Ellis
Russell Shumaker

Lost Creek Cycle
Jason Dunkelberger
Joe Haavisto

The newly crowned 2007 AMA Pro Racing ATV Motocross Champion Joe Byrd was also invited to attend. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, Joe will not be able to attend. "The main reason [I won't be there] is I have a school scheduled for that weekend, and I didn’t have enough time to reschedule it," Byrd said. "I played with the idea of trying to change the school, and I made some phone calls because I got a lot of people showing up for that thing; a lot of people already had vacation time set. I even had one guy say, 'I already bought a bike for that school.' So I’d feel really bad canceling that school. It may hurt me in the future, but I'm all for it. I wish I could be there. I’m 100% behind it. I think a lot of top Pros will show up for that event, so I really hope it goes over well."

Steel City Raceway has hosted a round of the AMA Motocross Championship since 1988, and hosted a round of the ITP/Moose Racing ATVA MX Nationals for the first time last year. The track features plenty of elevation changes and jumps, all laid out in a valley which provides some of the best spectator viewing in the sport. Amateur bike racing takes place on Friday.

The inaugural AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City will take place on Saturday, August 25th in Delmont, Pennsylvania. The event will feature a Main Moto format starting at 11:30 am – rain or shine. ATV Pro pits will be open to fans for pro autographs.

Gates open on Thursday, and overnight camping is available. Admission for adults is $50 (Thur-Sun), $40 (Sat-Sun) and $30 on Sunday. Admission for Children 6-12 is $35 (Thur-Sun), $25 (Sat-Sun) and $15 on Sunday. Kids under 6 are free.
Tickets are available at the gate. Sorry, but there are no Saturday only tickets.

The ATV Open will be featured on Speed TV’s AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Show.

WHAT: AMA Pro ATV Open, an inaugural pro invitational race held in conjunction with Round 10 of the 12-round AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF

WHERE: Steel City Raceway, Delmont, PA
Located 20 miles east of Pittsburgh off Route 66

WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 2007

SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY -
10:00a ATV Open Practice
11:30a ATV Staging & Opening Ceremonies
11:45a ATV Open Main (20 Min + 1 lap)
1 – 5:00p Bike Timed Qualifying
5:15p WMA Open Practice

SUNDAY -
8:30a WMA Moto 1 (20 Min + 1 Lap)
9-11:30a Fast 40 Timed Practice for Gate Pick
12:30p Opening Ceremonies
1:00p Moto 1: Lites National (30 Mins + 2Laps)
2:00p Moto 1: Motocross National (30Mins + 2 Laps)
3:30p Moto 2: Lites National (30 Mins + 2 Laps)
4:30p Moto 2: Motocross National (30 Mins + 2 Laps)
5:30p WMA Moto 2 (20 Min + 1 Lap)

COURSE: 1 mile (approx), loamy top soil with sawdust additive

- end -