MORGANTOWN, W.V. – The 2009 season has been one of change across the motocross landscape as new faces have moved to new places and the sport of motocross enters into a period of growth fueled by new ownership. After one of the greatest AMA Supercross Championship battles in the history of the sport, dirt-bike racing in America is carrying considerable momentum heading into the prestigious Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Undergoing its own fair bit of change, motocross in the U.S. is now managed by MX Sports Pro Racing and their partners in The Alliance of Action Sports. With new leadership at the helm, revolutionary initiatives are already transforming the sport, while providing more access and coverage than ever before.

The most significant change from the traditional format of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship is the move to Saturday racing. While Sundays have served as race day for many years, the new opportunities available for the sport make the move to Saturdays immediately beneficial for the future. Add an unprecedented television package with six races on live television, split between NBC and SPEED, the addition of a world class title sponsor in Lucas Oil, fresh talent coming in to challenge America’s best motocross riders, and some of the most legendary motocross tracks the world has to offer, and the ever-growing list of exciting changes make a recipe for success for motocross.

And to only add to the anticipation, both of the newly-named 450 and 250 classes will boast new faces holding the trophies at the end of the season.

In the premier 450 class, just as in the 250 class, the lack of a returning champion has left a huge opportunity available for a bevy of the world’s fastest riders. Waiting to take their shot at the coveted title is Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, Davi Millsaps and Ivan Tedesco, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Timmy Ferry, and powerful rookie contenders Josh Grant (JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha) and Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki).

Also making his dramatic return to American motocross is two-time AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed. The Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider and Australian native adds to the international flair of the series, as he will make his first attempt at claiming an AMA Motocross title since the 2006 season. With a runner-up finish in the aforementioned Monster Energy AMA Supercross title fight earlier this season, the never-surrender Reed is ready to make his presence felt and go after this title.

Reed won’t have to look far for challengers. His teammate Mike Alessi has been dubbed the “Holeshot King,” regularly besting his opponents as the bikes blast out of the staring gates. After having his last AMA Motocross campaign cut short in a terrifying crash in front of the pack at Red Bud, Mike Alessi is primed and ready for a full run at the 2009 title.

Andrew Short is arguably the most underrated rider in the world. While he is still in search of his first victory in the premier class, the Honda rider has claimed more combined supercross and motocross points than any other competitor for the past two seasons, building the distinction of an ironman. A perennial podium finisher, 2009 will be his best chance for that breakout season. Same goes for his Honda teammates Davi Millsaps and Ivan Tedesco, both of whom ended their stadium-racing seasons in fine form and hope to be in the mix for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Tim Ferry is a true veteran of motocross and, much like fine wine, only gets better with age. At 33 years old, he is the elder statesmen of the pro paddock, but he is one of the most tenacious and durable riders the sport has ever seen. His tendency to finish strong at the tail end of 30-minutes-plus motos works in his favor and could produce some hard-fought wins in 2009.

While each is a virtual unknown on a 450cc motocross bike, Villopoto and Grant are no strangers to success. Each competitor has earned their spot atop the podium on more than one occasion, and are considered two of the most talented athletes of their generation. Villopoto has cruised to the last three 250 Class Championships and has never failed to win an outdoor title during his career, but he is now making the transition to the much more powerful and heavier 450 machines.

Grant has raced in the shadow of his long-time rival throughout the duo’s days in the 250 class but has shown no fear in banging bars and mixing it up out on the track. Moreover, both have already captured main event wins in AMA Supercross as 450 Class rookies, drawing even further comparison. It will be fun for all to watch these two rising superstars battle it out bar-to-bar.

Looming behind these talented men is a list of several riders capable of winning on any given Saturday. Spending the 2008 season as a privateer, Cody Cooper turned heads on several occasions with outstanding performances. His breakthrough performance came at the Unadilla national where the New Zealand native stalked eventual champion James Stewart in treacherous, muddy conditions, nearly bringing an end to his perfect season. Thanks to such a tremendous season, Cooper was graced with a ride at JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha alongside Grant. A first-class operation could be all Cooper needs to take the next step.

While he has battled injuries throughout his career, Factory Yamaha’s Broc Hepler is one of the fastest riders in the world when he is healthy. Despite missing nearly every round of the season in 2008, Hepler ended the season on a high note with a strong podium finish in the season finale at Steel City, his hometown race. Hepler will be joined on factory-blue Yamahas by Josh Hill, as well as independent Yamaha rider Jason Lawrence, who is backed by Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster/Troy Racing. All three of these riders can win on any given Saturday.

It’s been since before the reign of the great Ricky Carmichael, 10-time series champion, that the AMA Pro Motocross Championship has been so wide open. No single rider stands out head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field. Not only will there be a new champion, but there will also be a chance at a multitude of first-time winners. Parity is what makes racing exciting and the 450 Class has just that in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

For more information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

For fan and racing information on the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, including television coverage of the 250 Class, log onto www.allisports.com.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious motocross series – the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. An industry leader in off road powersport production and management, its mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information, please visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour; Alli TV Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, greases, and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, greases, and problem-solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry.

Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte, founded Lucas Oil Products in 1989 after he spent 20 years as a truck driver and owner of a nationwide long-haul trucking fleet. They experienced firsthand the need for better lubricants and fuel treatments to maintain their equipment.

Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.” For more information on Lucas Oil, please visit www.LucasOil.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT. AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.