A number of leading riders from several racing disciplines are slated to take to the track in the 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship doubleheader season opener at the Copper Mountain Resort and Village in Copper Mountain, Colo., on Aug. 28-29. The doubleheader is part of the annual Suzuki CycleFest.Along with the likes of Jeremy McGrath and Mike Metzger, Jeff Ward is expected to be on hand at Copper Mountain. Ward, a Motorcycle Hall of Famer, won seven AMA National Championships and proved to be perhaps the most versatile rider in the history of the sport winning AMA National titles in 125cc, 250cc and 500cc motocross as well as AMA Supercross. Last year he won three AMA Supermoto events and finished second ranked in the regular season standings. Ward took third in the season-ending championship race in Las Vegas.Doug Henry is another motocross legend making the transition to AMA Supermoto. Henry, a three-time AMA Motocross Champion, only came to supermoto racing midway through last season. In the three rounds leading up to the championship race Henry, from Torrington, Conn., scored three podium finishes, including taking a surprise win at the Irwindale Speedway round in only his third AMA Supermoto race. With a half season under his belt, Henry is counted as one of the leading contenders in the championship this year.Perhaps the biggest name to make the jump to AMA Supermoto this season is former AMA Motocross Champion and X-Games Gold Medallist Travis Pastrana. Pastrana made his supermoto debut in the X-Games earlier this month and showed great adaptability despite suffering injuries from a freestyle crash the night before. The popular rider from Maryland, is slated to race the entire series on a Cernic’s Suzuki-sponsored DRZ400, before switching to the all-new 2005 Suzuki RMZ450 later in the year.World Supermoto contender Jurgen Kunzel, of Germany, and Kurt Nicoll, a former British motocross great now living in Austria and heading up KTM’s racing team, are expected to be two of the leading international riders lining up at Copper Mountain. Both riders scored victories in the Supermoto Unlimited class last season.Grant Langston will return to AMA Supermoto this year after earning the Supermoto Unlimited class championship in Las Vegas last November. Langston, from South Africa, is another former AMA Motocross Champion racing in supermoto this season and he’ll be on a factory-backed KTM.The Copper Mountain AMA Supermoto doubleheader will be taped and later televised nationally on OLN. For additional information on the Suzuki CycleFest and AMA Supermoto doubleheader contact (303) 377-3278 or visit the website www.cyclefestco.com.SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 28 / Sunday, August 297:00 AM – Tech Inspection Opens8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Practice:
Saturday, August 28 / Sunday, August 297:00 AM – Tech Inspection Opens8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Practice:
Supermoto Group A – 10 minutes
Supermoto Group B – 10 minutes
Supermoto Unlimited – 10 minutes
Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge – 8 minutes
9:00 AM – Riders Meeting9:30 AM – Timed Qualifying Session #1
Supermoto Group A – 12 minutes
Supermoto Group B – 12 minutes
Supermoto Unlimited – 12 minutes
Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Practice – 8 minutes
10:30 AM – Timed Qualifying Session #2
Supermoto – group A – 12 minutes
Supermoto – group B – 12 minutes
Supermoto Unlimited – 12 minutes
11:30AM – 12:00 PM – Lunch Break/On Track Autograph Session12:00 PM – Heat Races:
Supermoto – 4 races, 8 laps
Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge – 6 laps
Supermoto Unlimited – 2 races, 8 laps
2:00 PM – Opening Ceremonies2:15 PM – Semi-Finals:
Supermoto – 6 laps
Supermoto Unlimited – 6 laps
2:45 PM – Supermoto Superpole (top 8 riders from heats)3:10 PM – Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Final – 10 laps3:30 PM – Supermoto Final – 24 laps4:30 PM – Supermoto Unlimited Final – 24 laps
