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Motocross by the Numbers:
A Season Recap for the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2008) - From the opening round at Glen Helen on Memorial Day weekend to the Labor Day celebration at the American Motocross Festival from Steel City, the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF was one of the most memorable and historic seasons in the sport of motocross.
A revamped schedule, aimed at condensing the season and alleviating logistical issues featured the introduction of the first-ever night event from Thunder Valley, and the inaugural American Motocross Festival, which was held on a Saturday. The huge successes at each event established a potential new trend for the sport. The Fourth of July tradition at RedBud was once again a fan and rider favorite as the centerpiece of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, as were returns to such famous motocross venues as Hangtown, Unadilla, Washougal, Southwick and more.
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AMA Motocross at Freestone – Credit Racer X
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Additionally, the NPG and AMA introduced trio of exciting new awards for the world’s best motocross riders. The BTOSports.com Holeshot Award granted a $500 bonus in each moto for both classes to the competitor with the fastest start out of the gate.
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AMA Motocross Lites Holeshot from Millville – Credit Racer X
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The Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award recognized the one rider in each event that passed the most opponents in a single moto, displaying the similar tenacity of the “Greatest of All Time.” A mid-season introduction, the Muscle Milk Recovery Rider of the Day Award acknowledged the rider with the best increase in finishing position from Moto 1 to Moto 2 with a $1,000 reward.
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Josh Hill en route to the RC Hard Charger Award at Hangtown – Credit Racer X
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Even with all the exciting additions, the focus remained with the on-track action. Leading the way throughout the 15-week summer season was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart. Just four months removed from extensive knee surgery, the perennial front-runner dominated the field at each of the 12 events to register a perfect 24-0 record on the season, joining 10-time AMA Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael (2002, ’04) as the only two riders to accomplish a perfect season. Even more impressive, Stewart led 369 out of 382 laps completed, running at the head of the pack for every lap at eight different events. His first AMA Motocross class championship is his third in AMA Toyota Motocross competition. He now sits tied for fifth on the AMA Motocross class career wins list with 16 and second overall in AMA Toyota Motocross Championship career victories at 44.
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James Stewart earns his first AMA Motocross title at Millville – Credit Racer X
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In the AMA Motocross Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto grabbed his third consecutive championship, joining the elite company of Carmichael, Mark Barnett, and Broc Glover as the only riders to accomplish the feat. In his final season in the class, Villopoto won a career-high eight events, including seven in a row, and was the rider to beat throughout the summer. He brought his career win total to 20 to sit fifth all-time.
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Ryan Villopoto wins his third AMA Motocross Lites title at Millville – Credit Racer X
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Every lap of the championship was featured on Speed TV, with a total of 48 hours of air time. Also, the ground-breaking Racer X Motocross Shows on Motocross.com included the half-hour Toyota Pre-Race and Toyota Post-Race shows from every round, as well as more than 50 individual videos set at and around the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship races.
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AMA Motocross Lites from Hangtown – Credit Racer X
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Here are some of the significant racing stats from the tour:
2008 AMA Motocross Class (450cc motorcycles):
Final Point Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 600
- Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 414
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Teas., Honda, 392
- Michael Byrne, Newman, Ga., Suzuki, 377
- Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 266
- Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 264
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 234
- Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 233
- Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 225
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 221
Overall Wins:
James Stewart: 12
Moto Wins:
James Stewart: 24
Wins by Brand:
Kawasaki: 12
Laps Led (total)
James Stewart: 369
Mike Alessi: 13
BTOSports.com Holeshot Award Winners (total)
James Stewart: 11
Mike Alessi: 8
Cody Cooper: 2
Jimmy Albertson: 1
Jeff Alessi: 1
Davi Millsaps: 1
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James Stewart wins at Southwick – Credit Racer X
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2008 AMA Motocross Lites Class (250cc motorcycles):
Final Point Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 540
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 468
- Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 382
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 321
- Nico Izzi, Saint Clair, Mich., Suzuki, 292
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 228
- Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 198
- Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki, 189
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda ,186
- Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 173
Overall Wins
Ryan Villopoto: 8
Ryan Dungey: 3
Austin Stroupe: 1
Moto Wins
Ryan Villopoto: 19
Ryan Dungey: 4
Jason Lawrence: 1
Wins by Brand
Kawasaki: 9
Suzuki: 3
Laps Led (total)
Ryan Villopoto: 263
Ryan Dungey: 51
Josh Grant: 23
Jason Lawrence: 14
Trey Canard: 10
Austin Stroupe: 9
Blake Wharton: 4
Martin Davalos: 3
Nico Izzi: 2
Ryan Sipes: 2
BTOSports.com Holeshot Award Winners (total)
Ryan Villopoto: 5
Martin Davalos: 4
Ryan Dungey: 4
Trey Canard: 2
Josh Grant: 2
Ryan Sipes: 2
Blake Wharton: 2
Jason Lawrence: 1
Matt Lemoine: 1
Andrew McFarlane: 1
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Nico Izzi gets air at Hangtown – Credit Racer X
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Series Awards
Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award (total)
Trey Canard: 2
Timmy Ferry: 2
Antonio Balbi: 1
Jack Carpenter: 1
Bobby Fitch: 1
Josh Hill: 1
Andrew Short: 1
Ryan Sipes: 1
Ryan Villopoto: 1
Jake Weimer: 1
Nick Wey: 1
Michael Willard: 1
Muscle Milk Recovery Rider of the Day Award (total)
Jack Carpenter: 1
Scott Champion: 1
Chad Charbonneau: 1
Colton Facciotti: 1
Broc Tickle: 1
Tyler Wharton: 1
Michael Willard: 1
Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.
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.
Credential requests for each round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF must be submitted via email to Media@MXNationals.com three weeks prior to the race. Media members interested in interviews with the riders of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF should contact Brandon at 951-203-2605 or email Media@MXNationals.com.
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 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 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA 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. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.
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