FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Brandon Short
brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com
(949) 365-5752
Women's Motocross Association Acquired by MX Sports
Series Added as Third Class to 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Morgantown, W. Va. (January 12, 2009) - MX Sports announced today that it has acquired the Women's Motocross Association (WMA) National Championship. As a result, the Women's Motocross Championship will be fully integrated into the AMA Pro Motocross Championship beginning with the 2009 season.
MX Sports acquired the rights to the WMA from its founder Miki Keller. Based out of Oregon, Keller founded the company in 2004 and dedicated herself to the growth of women's motocross, building a legitimate women's championship that draws top racers from around the world as competitors.
Keller will remain an integral part of the women's program, consulting for MX Sports and working as the Women's Director on a contractual basis. She will continue to work independently on other projects including with ESPN on Women's Moto X at the X Games.
"I am thrilled with this latest development for the WMA and women's professional motocross," said Keller. "This validates my original belief that women racers are worthy of competing in their own series and young riders deserve to have a top level championship to aspire to."
MX Sports Vice President Davey Coombs added, "Miki has done an outstanding job developing and nurturing women's motocross and leading the sport into the spotlight and mainstream acceptance. With the new role of MX Sports as operators of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, we are finally in a position to provide the women racers the treatment they have earned in the series. Additionally, we look forward to working with Miki on the transition and into the 2009 season."
Plans are already underway to continue improvements to the women's program. The 2009 schedule will feature eight rounds of women's racing with both motos on Saturday in the new one-day national format.
"This is huge news for the sport of women's motocross here in the U.S.," said 2008 Champion Ashley Fiolek. "We all know that Miki Keller has worked tirelessly to improve the environment for women in this sport and for the WMA to make another step forward with MX Sports is awesome. I look forward to defending my WMA Championship in 2009 and working with Miki and the MX Sports team to further improve the series."
Operationally, the 2009 Women's Class technical regulations will be the same as the men's 250 Class (formerly AMA Motocross Lites) and the women will be required to go through the same tech inspection while also attending the riders meetings at each event.
On the marketing side, the Women's Class will be included in the MX Sports television package and will be featured in the live webcast at each round where they compete. The women will also be promoted in pre-event media initiatives along with the post-event press conferences.
"This commitment to the women's pro class by MX Sports is a milestone for women's motocross and women athletes as a whole," added Keller. "It creates more career opportunities for the current women riders and offers aspiring women racers a shot at a career in professional motocross. I could not be more proud."
2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Women's Class Schedule
May 23 Glen Helen Raceway San Bernardino, Calif.
May 30 Hangtown Motocross Classic Sacramento, Calif.
June 6 Freestone Raceway Wortham, Texas
June 13 High Point Raceway Mt. Morris, Calif.
June 27 Thunder Valley Motocross Lakewood, Col.
July 25 Washougal MX Park Washougal, Wash.
August 29 Moto-X 338 Southwick, Mass.
Sept. 5 Steel City Raceway Delmont, Pa.
2008 WMA National Championship Top-10
1 Ashley Fiolek
2 Jessica Patterson
3 Sarah Whitmore
4 Tarah Gieger
5 Sherri Cruse
6 Mariana Balbi
7 Elizabeth Bash
8 Tatum Sik
9 Ayla Cabus
10 Alisa Nix
2009 Women's Class National Numbers
1 Ashley Fiolek *
2 Alisa Nix *
3 Sherri Cruse *
5 Mariana Balbi *
11 April Zastrow *
12 Ashley Boham *
14 Katie McGuire
15 Penni Cyrus
17 Kristine Wright
18 Lauren Volentir
20 Kimberly Kocher
21 Marissa Markelon
23 Casuandra Regal
24 Kirsten Raemisch
25 Sayaka Kaneshiro
26 Taylor Miller
28 Katelyn Crowley
29 Danielle Sawicki
32 Jenn Mead
33 Elizabeth Bash *
34 Jenna Smith
35 Jenny Mortimer
36 Lindsey Jelitto
37 Taryn Covington
38 Bonnie Warch
63 Jolene Van Vugt *
68 Tarah Gieger *
75 Vanessa Florentino *
76 Jackie Ives
78 Sara Price
89 Sarah Whitmore *
105 Tania Satchwell *
114 Maria Forsberg
174 Nicole Madsen
184 Hailey Larson
120 Aubriana Dunn
188 Alyssa Fitch
190 Sydney Babcock
250 Jessica Patterson *
254 Jacqueline Strong
265 Brittany Gagne
323 Jocelyn Killough
334 Tatum Sik *
410 Julie Parizek
473 Ayla Cabus *
569 Jessica Smith
905 Meika Cornelius *
* Denotes earned career number
For more information, please contact AMA Pro Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.
About MX Sports
MX Sports, LLC, owns, manages and produces the two most prestigious and world-leading motocross championships - the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the Air Nautiques AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. MX Sports is a second generation family owned business that has been in operation for well over 26 years and is an industry leader in the segment of off road/action sports race promotion in the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information on MX Sports, please visit www.mxsports.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, AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Free Flow Tour; Alli 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.
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