ATVA MOTOCROSS NATIONALS

By Brendan Connarton

Co

Photo courtesy atvriders.com Joe Byrd (7) of Union City, Tenn., leads the pack during the 2005 ATVA Motocross Nationals at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center last July. Byrd finished second in both motos, but Jeremiah Jones won the overall title.

ntributing Writer

To think a four-wheel All-Terrain Vehicle could negotiate the twists, turns and jumps at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center as well as a motorcycle seems absurd.

But ATV media relations director Harlan Foley said John Natalie Jr.’s lap times last year were within tenths of a second of AMA Pro National star Ricky Carmichael’s in the inaugural ATV event at the UVSC.

"People don’t really realize how fast these machines are," Foley said, adding that Natalie crashed and did not fi[an error occurred while processing this directive]nish last year’s race.

The ATVA Motorcross Nationals will make its second straight stop at the UVSC complex this weekend, starting with a practice session that begins at 10 this morning.

The highlight of the weekend’s schedule is Sunday, when the top professional ATV riders in the country will compete in the 12th of 14 events in the ATV National Motorcross series.

The first moto begins at noon and the second at 3 p.m.

Like the AMA Pro National that Carmichael won for the third straight year two weeks ago at the UVSC, the second moto carries more weight in breaking ties. Each moto is 20 minutes, with two additional laps.

The top three drivers in the series standings are separated by 29 points. Joe Byrd of Team Honda leads with 246 points followed by Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Jeremiah Jones (219) and Doug Gust (217).

Jones, the winner of last season’s race at UVSC, won last weekend’s race, the GNC-MX National at Walnut, Ill.

"This is one of the tightest points chases in years," Foley said. "Right now we have three riders with the possibility of winning the points race."

Twenty riders will compete for the $10,000 purse, with the winner receiving $2,000.

Because the ATVs are wider than motorcycles, Foley said there’s a lot of "tire rubbing through the turns." He also said on jumps that ATVs can remain airborne for up to 120 feet.

"The sport is really taking off this year," Foley said. "It is one of the fastest growing sports with a lot of brand new machines being produced."

Along with the pro moto, there will be a Pro-Am Production moto — a stepping stone to the pro class — Pro-Am Production last chance qualifier (LQC), Pro LCQ, Pro-Am Unlimited LCQ and Pro-Am Unlimited Moto during the weekend.

The practice session runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Amateur racing is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and pro and amateur racing is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Foley said he expects more than 500 entries for this weekend’s races.

The cost for a weekend pass for adults is $35 and $25 for children.

Saturday-Sunday tickets for adults are $30 and $20 for children.

Sunday prices are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Parking and admission for children 5-and-under is free.