Monster Energy National in Mt. Morris Becomes Wide Open Race with Injury to Points Leader Alessi

From Alli Sports

MORGANTOWN, W.V. (June 9, 2009) - Beginning in the mid 1970s, High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Pa. has been a mainstay on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship circuit. With a course layout inspired by the late Dave Coombs Sr, the June 13th Monster Energy National Presented by Centra Bank will serve as host to a new beginning in Motocross, as the first-ever live network television broadcast will take place.

NBC Sports will present Saturday's Monster Energy National live, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Ryan Dungey will head a strong 250 Class lineup while WMX Class leader Ashley Fiolek will lead the way for a historic day of racing in Southern Pennsylvania. Current 450 Class points leader Mike Alessi will miss High Point and the following rounds for the foreseeable future.

After a dominating performance last weekend in Texas in which Alessi asserted himself as the man to beat for the series title, the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki rider suffered a broken kneecap yesterday in preparation for Saturday's race. He underwent successful surgery this morning and the current prognosis for a return is positive as Alessi could make it back to the track before the end of the season.

Alessi's injury is the latest twist in what has already been an interesting 2009 season. Just two weeks earlier, Glen Helen winner and then-points leader Ryan Villopoto suffered a knee injury of his own and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. Now, this weekend's race and the chase for the championship is wide open with Alessi's teammate Chad Reed asserting himself out front thanks to his current second place standing.

Reed, a former two-time AMA Supercross class champion, picked up his second consecutive podium finish of the season last Saturday and will see his 31 point deficit to Alessi erased this weekend. He continues to inch closer to his first career outdoor motocross victory, but Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short, who made his first appearance on the overall podium for 2009 in Texas, and JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha's Josh Grant, who captured a second moto victory over Alessi at Hangtown, are right with Reed and will make this a memorable title fight through the remaining nine rounds.

The hotly-contested 250 Class didn't disappoint in Texas either. Dungey scored his second overall of the year thanks to his third straight moto two victory. The Minnesota native was runner-up in the first moto, and took advantage of a bad start by rival Christophe Pourcel to extend his points lead.

"It is my third year and I'm still at the beginning of my career the way I look at it," stated Dungey on the second win of the season. "I feel like I belong here and thinking like I feel that I need to step up. There aren't any excuses and I can't expect anything less."

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Pourcel trails Dungey by six points in the standings, but also raced to his third consecutive first moto win last weekend en route to second overall. Saturday will mark the Frenchman's first visit to High Point. With GEICO Powersports Honda's Trey Canard coming into picture as well, he will need to be at the top of his game.

Last season, Dungey was the only member of the trio to compete in Mt. Morris, bringing home third overall.

In the WMX Class, Honda Red Bull Racing's Fiolek stayed perfect through three rounds in 2009, sweeping the day's motos. Rival Jessica Patterson found misfortune in the day's final moto as Sherri Cruse and Vicki Golden rose to the occasion to complete the podium.

With 2009 being the inaugural visit to High Point for the women, Saturday's race will surely be anyone's for the taking.

Always known for being one of the most unique tracks on the circuit, High Point will present a new set of challenges for all the competitors on Saturday. The race will also kick-off the first round of the three-race Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross, a prestigious run for the money within the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Fans looking for a sneak preview of the Monster Energy National can join the festivities of Fan Fest on Friday, June 12 beginning at 4 p.m. at the track. Team Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki will be on hand to meet and great with the fans, as well as the G.O.A.T, Ricky Carmichael. In addition, fans can also watch the minibike racing and enjoy a free concert, courtesy of Ten Man Push, the official band of Motocross.

Thursday-Saturday Tickets
Adults $50
Kids (6-11 years) $35

5 and under FREE

Friday-Saturday Tickets

Adults $45

Kids (6-11 years) $30

5 and under FREE

Saturday Tickets

Adults $30

Kids (6-11 years) $20

5 and under FREE

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Standings

450 Class Championship Standings
1) Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 142
2) Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 111
3) Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 94
4) Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 93
5) Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 70
6) Dan Reardon, Australia, Honda, 68
7) Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 68
8) Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 60
9) Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 57
10) Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 55

250 Class Championship Standings
1) Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 133
2) Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 12
3) Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 117
4) Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 101
5) Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 95
6) Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 86
7) Tommy Searle, England, KTM, 79
8) Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 72
9) Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 66
10) Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 54

WMX Class Standings
1) Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 147
2) Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 123
3) Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 114
4) Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Honda, 114
5) Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 87
6) Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 87
7) Penni Cyrus, Queens Creek, Ariz., Kawasaki, 71
8) Kim Kocher, Paris, Ohio, KTM, 55
9) Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 54
10) Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., Honda, 52