Factory For a Day: Michael James Brown and Justin BresCernic's Honda Pro ATV Team at the AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational
Morgantown, W.Va. (August 23, 2007) - Two top five finishers in the 2007 AMA Pro ATV Championship series just jumped at the chance when Jeff Cernic of Cernic's Racing announced that Cernic's Honda Pro ATV Team would sponsor both Bullville, N.Y.'s Michael James Brown and Oakdale, Pa.'s Justin Bres for the first-ever AMA Pro ATV Open on August 25. This unique event brings twenty handpicked AMA Pro ATV riders to the track at Steel City. Brown and Bres recently wrapped up the 2007 AMA Pro ATV Championship series with a fourth and fifth overall, respectively. Bres finished just 19 points behind Brown, adding a clue to the competition ahead.
Michael Brown explained how Cernic's Racing and the Honda Pro ATV Team will be helping out this weekend."Basically Cernic's Racing is almost going to give us a full ride for the weekend," Brown said. "We're going to pit out of their rig; they're giving us an allowance for anything we need. I think it feels awesome," Brown said. "It feels almost like having a factory ride."
On behalf of the Cernic's Honda Pro ATV Team, Jeff Cernic stepped up and offered $500 in parts credit to both Michael Brown and Justin Bres at the ATV Open, in addition to sponsoring Team Graphics, Team collared shirts with Cernic's logo and five sponsors embroidered on the sleeves, as well as Team hats for both riders.
Brown also revealed his thoughts on the ATV Open and the other nineteen riders, adding his excitement for turning pro earlier this year. "I think everyone on that list is fast," Brown said. [Justin and I] know each other a little bit from racing this year. It's kind of last minute thing. I think it'll be good for all of the pro quad guys; some of them haven't even been to a dirt bike national. I've been to Broome-Tioga and Unadilla [for the dirt bike national.]"I was excited to be invited," Brown continued, "since this is my first year going pro. I'm curious to see what the dirt bikes are going to think of us."
Pennsylvania's Justin Bres commented on the help from hometown Johnstown, Pa.'s own Cernic's Racing."It's actually pretty good," Bres said. "Anything helps. I think [the event is] going to be really good. I was surprised when they told me; I never really thought they'd have quads and bikes. "I was at High Point a couple of years ago. There's a lot more spectators at them."
As for the celebrated list of twenty, Bres was expectant but took no guesses; he puts the same prep time into every race."It's going to turn out to be a pretty good race," Bres said. "Pretty much every top guy in the industry is going to be there; it's going to be hard. A lot of the guys do the other series; I don't have any good predictions. "[We will do] pretty much the same thing we always do; one day at a time. All of my family will be there, and most of my friends."
Don't miss the special one-moto format at Steel City's AMA Pro ATV Open Invitational on Saturday August 25!
Steel City Raceway has hosted a round of the AMA Motocross Championship since 1988, and hosted a round of the ITP/Moose Racing ATVA MX Nationals for the first time last year. The track features plenty of elevation changes and jumps, all laid out in a valley which provides some of the best spectator viewing in the sport. Amateur bike racing takes place on Friday.
The inaugural AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City will take place on Saturday, August 25th in Delmont, Pennsylvania. The event will feature a Main Moto format starting at 11:30 am - rain or shine. ATV Pro pits will be open to fans for pro autographs.
Gates open on Thursday, and overnight camping is available. Admission for adults is $50 (Thur-Sun), $40 (Sat-Sun) and $30 on Sunday. Admission for Children 6-12 is $35 (Thur-Sun), $25 (Sat-Sun) and $15 on Sunday. Kids under 6 are free.Tickets are available at the gate. Sorry, but there are no Saturday only tickets.
The ATV Open will be featured on Speed TV's AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Show.
WHAT: AMA Pro ATV Open, an inaugural pro invitational race held in conjunction with Round 10 of the 12-round AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF
WHERE: Steel City Raceway, Delmont, PALocated 20 miles east of Pittsburgh off Route 66
WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 2007
SATURDAY -
10:00a ATV Open Practice
11:30a ATV Staging & Opening Ceremonies
11:45a ATV Open Main (20 Min + 1 lap)
1 - 5:00p Bike Timed Qualifying
5:15p WMA Open Practice
SUNDAY -
8:30a WMA Moto 1 (20 Min + 1 Lap)
9-11:30a Fast 40 Timed Practice for Gate Pick
12:30p Opening Ceremonies
1:00p Moto 1: Lites National (30 Mins + 2Laps)
2:00p Moto 1: Motocross National (30Mins + 2 Laps)
3:30p Moto 2: Lites National (30 Mins + 2 Laps)
4:30p Moto 2: Motocross National (30 Mins + 2 Laps)
5:30p WMA Moto 2 (20 Min + 1 Lap)
COURSE: 1 mile (approx), loamy top soil with sawdust additive
WHO: 20 of the top AMA Pro ATV racers, chosen in coordination with AMA Pro Racing and the following teams: Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki & Yamaha.
PURSE: $10,000, with $5,000 to winWinner will be awarded AMA Pro ATV Open #1 plate
For more information on the inaugural AMA Pro ATV Open contact Bellco at 304.284.0084 or visit www.atvmotocross.com. For information about the Monster Energy/Kawasaki National Motocross at Steel City, visit the website at www.steelcitymx.com.
About AMA Racing:
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members.