250 Motocross Preview

With three-time defending champion Ryan Villopoto making his move up to the 450 Class, the 250 class championship is wide open in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. And as the 12-round season kicks off this Saturday, the field is absolutely stacked with promising talent, and picking a favorite is virtually impossible. As the series makes the move to Saturday nationals beginning this weekend, a comprehensive television package, world class talent, and some of the best on-track action on the planet has built a high level of anticipation for what could be the most competitive season in the history of the sport.

Thanks to a trio of wins at the end of the season in 2008 and a newly-earned Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional championship, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey has been dubbed the favorite by many. The Minnesota native has more experience on his bike and with his team than any of his competitors and possesses all the necessary tools to become the next 250 class champion.

However, if history has proven anything, the outdoor nationals are never a sure thing. Thanks to what some are a calling an international invasion, Dungey will have his fare share of challengers for the title.

Leading the way for the trio of overseas newcomers is Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel. The French rider is the 2006 World Motocross Champion in this MX2 Class, the European counterpart to the 250 Class. After suffering a near career-ending injury two years ago, Pourcel returned stateside this season, capturing the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional title. With the support of the perennial front-running team, he will absolutely be a force to be reckoned with.

Joining Pourcel under the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit tent is South African Tyla Rattray, the reigning MX2 World Champion. Despite being a relative unknown in the United States, Rattray holds the credentials to be considered an immediate threat. But because he sat out the AMA Supercross tour to prepare for the outdoors, few of his competitors know his speed.

One young athlete who does is Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM's Tommy Searle. The British rider was Rattray's main source of competition throughout the 2008 season in the MX2 Class, engaging in an exciting season-long battle that came down to the final race of the season. Much like Rattray, Searle is largely unfamiliar with the competition in America, having also waited for the Glen Helen outdoor opener to begin his season, but he certainly has the talent to run up front.

While the concept of a four-rider battle for the championship is a mouth-watering thought for anyone, the list doesn't stop there. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki is pulling out all the stops in 2009. With the addition of Pourcel and Searle, Mitch Payton's squad will campaign five riders, each of which has a shot at the title. Jake Weimer made the move from Honda and has experienced nothing but success since swinging a leg over the green bike. Alongside him is Austin Stroupe. One of the most talented young athletes in the sport, Stroupe shocked the motocross world in 2008 by winning the season-opener at Glen Helen from Villopoto. Rounding out the loaded stable is quietly quick Ryan Morais. Unfortunately, Morais is temporarily sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Over at GEICO Powersports Honda, a trio of riders is prepared to throw their names into the championship equation. Trey Canard has an AMA Supercross Lites title to his credit and has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his short professional career. Australian native Brett Metcalfe is the new face and veteran rider in the GEICO lineup. While he is still in search of his first career AMA victory, a switch in teams has rejuvenated his motivation. The third and youngest member of the team is Blake Wharton, who hails from Texas. Wharton made his pro debut late last season, racing the final three rounds of the '08 championship. Raw and inexperienced, he turned heads by quickly acclimating himself within the highly talented competition, even leading multiple laps in his first ever national at Spring Creek.

There are many other fine young racers in what many consider to be the deepest field in the history of American motocross, and that directly translates into one of the most highly anticipated seasons ever. Proven winners from around the globe will converge for 12 weekends during the summer of 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and determining who will prevail on Labor Day weekend in September is truly unpredictable.

For more information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log onto www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Round 1: South Point Hotel & Casino Motocross National

Glen Helen Raceway, San Bernardino, Calif., May 23
• Mt. St. Helens, the famed hill at Glen Helen, drops about 200 feet of elevation, which equals 20 stories.
• Glen Helen serves as the test facility for most of the Southern California-based factory teams.
• Glen Helen's Talladega first turn is the fastest and steepest first turn on the circuit

Series Statistical Report
• The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team has won every 250-class title since switching to the KX250F four-stroke in 2005 (Ivan Tedesco in 2005, Ryan Villopoto in 2006, 2007 and 2008).
• 250 Class favorite Ryan Dungey finished second in last year's 250-class points. But it has been 15 years since a rider ranked second in 250 points came back to win the title. The rider was Steve Lamson, who finished second in 1994 and won the title in 1995.
• Ryan Villopoto won three-straight 250-class titles. The last rider to win three-straight in that class, Ricky Carmichael, won the 450 title the next season in his rookie year. Carmichael went 1-1 at Glen Helen in his very first race in the big class.

250 Class Stats
• The first 250 Class race was held August 1, 1993, with Doug Henry winning on a Honda.
• This will be the 15th time the gate will drop for an AMA Pro Motocross 250 Class race at Glen Helen.
• Glen Helen wins by brand: 
    Kawasaki: 10 
    Yamaha: 2 
    Honda: 1 
    KTM: 1
• Last win by brand at Glen Helen: 
    Kawasaki: 2008 
    KTM: 2001 
    Yamaha: 2000 
    Honda: 1993
• First time winners at Glen Helen: 
    Kevin Windham - 1996 (Yamaha) 
    Stephane Roncada - 2000 (Yamaha) 
    Grant Langston - 2001 (KTM) 
    James Stewart 2002 (Kawasaki) 
    Austin Stroupe - 2008 (Kawasaki)
• Austin Stroupe's victory last season was the first of his career and the seventh in a row for Kawasaki.
• Six different Kawasaki riders have won the past seven 250 Class races at Glen Helen (Stewart - 2002 & 2004; Mike Brown - 2003; Langston - 2005; Villopoto - 2006; Townley - 2007; Stroupe - 2008).
• A Suzuki rider has never won the 250 Class at Glen Helen.
• European transplants Christophe Pourcel, Tyla Rattray, and Tommy Searle all make their AMA Pro Motocross Championship debuts at Glen Helen.
• Max Anstie and Justin Barcia make their professional debuts at Glen Helen, graduating from the amateur ranks.
• Two riders have won in their 250 Class debuts at Glen Helen: Grant Langston - 2001; James Stewart - 2002

2008 250 Class Final Point Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto - Kawasaki - 540
2. Ryan Dungey - Suzuki - 468
3. Brett Metcalfe - Kawasaki - 382
4. Jake Weimer - Honda - 321
5. Nico Izzi - Suzuki - 292
6. Ryan Sipes - Honda - 228
7. Kyle Cunningham - Kawasaki - 198
8. Kyle Chisholm - Kawasaki - 189
9. Josh Grant - Honda - 186
10. Trey Canard - Honda - 173

250 Class Overall Wins - 2008 Season 
    Ryan Villopoto: 8 
    Ryan Dungey: 3 
    Austin Stroupe: 1

250 Class Moto Wins - 2008 Season 
    Ryan Villopoto: 19 
    Ryan Dungey: 4 
    Jason Lawrence: 1

250 Class Wins by Brand - 2008 Season 
    Kawasaki: 9 
    Suzuki: 3

Glen Helen Raceway Past 250 Class Winners
Date,  Winner,  Hometown,  Machine

May 25, 2008 Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C. Kawasaki
September 10, 2007 Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla. Kawasaki
September 10, 2006 Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash. Kawasaki
September 11, 2005 Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calf. Kawasaki
September 12, 2004 James Stewart, Haines City, Fla. Kawasaki
May 11, 2003 Michael Brown, Johnson City, Tenn. Kawasaki
May 12, 2002 James Stewart, Haines City, Fla. Kawasaki
May 13, 2001 Grant Langston, S. Africa KTM
May 14, 2000 Stephane Roncada, France Yamaha
May 9, 1999 Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla. Kawasaki
May 10, 1998 Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla. Kawasaki
May 11, 1997 Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla. Kawasaki
May 12, 1996 Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La. Yamaha
August 1, 1993 Doug Henry, Oxford, Conn. Honda

Tickets are available are available at the box office, or online at www.glenhelen.com. Wednesday-Saturday General Admission: $45, children ages 6-12 for $30, children 5 and under free. Saturday General Admission: $35, children ages 6-12 for $25, children 5 and under free. Additional options can be found online.