2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Schedule
Wednesday 30 November: Just weeks after celebrating the conclusion of an epic 40th season of professional motocross racing, MX Sports Pro Racing and partners, Alli Sports, are pleased to announce the 2012 schedule for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
The
series will begin on Saturday, 19 May, near Sacramento, California, at the
Hangtown Classic - the longest-running event on the schedule-and will
conclude on 08 September in Southern California, at the championship's
newest stop (to be announced at a later date). Throughout the summer,
the 12-round series will visit such highly-regarded motocross circuits
as High Point, in Pennsylvania, RedBud, in Michigan, Washougal, in
Washington, and New York's legendary Unadilla.
"We
are very fortunate to have so many great, iconic motocross tracks as
part of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship-tracks that
challenge the racers and have strong, loyal fan bases that come out to
see these races," said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs.
"This series is the pinnacle of professional motocross, and the growth
we've seen in the last three years for both the live audiences and
television viewers watching from all over the world has been
outstanding."
Not
only does the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship include the best
tracks in the sport, it also features the fastest riders on the planet,
as well as an expanded television package with NBC Sports Group. Add in
a global television package that allows fans from all over the world to
tune in, plus live event streaming on www.allisports.com, and the result is an unprecedented audience for motocross racing.
Monster
Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto will defend his #1 plate against no
less than three former 450 Class Champions in 2012. Besides the man he
wrestled the 2011 title from, Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey, as well as a
hugely-popular Australian star in TwoTwo Motorsports' Chad Reed,
Villopoto must also contend with James Stewart, who is returning to
outdoor motocross for the first time since his perfect 2008 season as a
member of the Joe Gibbs Racing/Toyota/Yamaha team. There will also be
challenges from such formidable programs as Team Honda Muscle Milk, the
Yoshimura Suzuki factory team, MotoConcepts/Alessi Racing, the new
L&Mc Racing Honda team spearheaded by legend Jeremy McGrath, and
more.
In
the 250 Class, newly-crowned champion, and Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki rider, Dean Wilson will not only have to defend his
title against the best young riders in America, he will also be pursued
by the two most recent MX2 World Champions. Frenchman Marvin Musquin and
German sensation Ken Roczen have each earned Grand Prix titles on 250cc
motorcycles, and will now join forces at Red Bull KTM to challenge
Wilson for the most-coveted outdoor title in the sport, a Lucas Oil AMA
Pro Motocross Championship. Add in the formidable GEICO Honda team, DNA
Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha, Rockstar Energy Suzuki, JDR KTM, in
addition to Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda, and the 2012 season is
ripe for exceptional competition.
Additionally,
the Women's Motocross Championship will be included at eight rounds.
Led by defending champion, Team Honda Muscle Milk's Ashley Fiolek, who
claimed her third title in four years as a pro, the world's fastest
women riders are set to bring even more excitement to the series. Fiolek
can once again expect serious competition from her primary rival, and
fellow multi-time champion, Jessica Patterson of the DNA Shred Stix/Star
Racing Yamaha team.
Following
the traditional opener at Hangtown, series favorites - Freestone,
Thunder Valley, High Point, Budds Creek, RedBud, Spring Creek,
Washougal, Southwick, Unadilla and Steel City - all return to compose
the bulk of the 2012 schedule. While some venues' traditional dates on
the calendar have shifted, they remain as part of the integral
foundation of American Motocross.
The
season finale will feature a new venue in the motocross hotbed of
Southern California. Details and additional information will follow.
Tickets for all 12 rounds of the 2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will be on sale on Moto Monday, December 5th. Fans eager to get a head start on plans for next summer can simply log onto the official website of American Motocross at AlliSports.com/motocross. Special holiday promotions for advance purchasers will be available.
2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Schedule |
|
|
|
May 19 |
Hangtown Motocross Classic* |
Sacramento, Calif. |
May 26 |
Freestone Raceway* |
Wortham, Texas |
June 2 |
Thunder Valley Motocross* |
Lakewood, Colo. |
June 9 |
High Point Raceway |
Mt. Morris, Pa. |
June 16 |
Budds Creek Motocross |
Mechanicsville, Md. |
July 7 |
RedBud* |
Buchanan, Mich. |
July 14 |
Spring Creek Motocross* |
Millville, Minn. |
July 21 |
Washougal MX Park |
Washougal, Wash. |
August 11 |
Moto-X 338* |
Southwick, Mass. |
August 18 |
Unadilla |
New Berlin, N.Y. |
September 1 |
Steel City Raceway* |
Delmont, Pa. |
September 8 |
TBA* |
Southern Calif |