AMA-MX: 2009 Season Preview

The 2009 season will see new champions crowned in both the 450 and 250 classes while the womens Motocross class joins the schedule for eight of the 12 rounds.

Then racing for Monster Energy Kawasaki, James Stewart won the 2008 AMA Motocross 450 title with a perfect 600-point season. Stewart will not be competing this MX season, so 2009 will see a new first-time AMA Motocross champion.

The competition will not be lacking in star power, despite the loss of Stewart. Rockstar Makita Suzuki s Chad Reed, fresh from his epic AMA Supercross championship battle with Stewart, will return to Motocross competition after a two-year hiatus as one of the favorites.

Im really looking forward to racing the outdoors this year, says Reed. And Im excited about it for several reasons. The last few years, I didnt race Motocross because I really felt like I needed to take a break after the Supercross season. But this year, I feel so comfortable with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team and everybody has been so supportive that it just makes me want to get out there and race.

Veteran racer Timmy Ferry of Monster Energy Kawasaki is oldest rider in the field but hell be another title contender based on his runner-up finish to Stewart in 2008.

Last years 250 class AMA Motocross champion Ryan Villopoto will enter his first 450cc Motocross season in 2009. The Monster Energy Kawasaki racer won the previous three 250 titles and has never failed to win an outdoor title, but the 450 class offers a new challenge. Villopoto gained some experience on the bigger bikes in the 2009 AMA Supercross season where he finished strong, winning two of the final three races.

Villopotos move to the 450 class opens the way for a new champion in the 250 class. West Region AMA Supercross Lites Champion Ryan Dungey of Rockstar Makita Suzuki is an early favorite to win the outdoor title. The Minnesota native finished second to Villopoto in 2008.

Dungeys top rivals may be a trio of talented international racers. Frances Christophe Pourcel, South Africas Tyla Rattray and Great Britains Tommy Searle will put up a challenge.

Pourcels teammate, Rattray may not be a familiar name to American fans but he enters the season as the reigning World MX2 Champion.

Searle was Rattrays main MX2 rival and hell compete the 2009 AMA Motocross season for Muscle Milk KTM.

Womens Motocross champion Ashley Fiolek will be the only rider defending a title in 2009. The 18-year-old phenom will compete for factory Honda Red Bull Racing team.

Fioleks main challenger will be five-time champion Jessica Patterson. X Games Womens Moto-X Gold Medalist Tarah Gieger will be another contender, as willl American KTM rider Sarah Whitmore.

All 12 rounds of the 2009 AMA Motocross season will be broadcast on television. Speed will air most races while NBC will provide live coverage of three rounds.

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AMA-MX adds womens class