Countdown to 2015 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross Championship Opener at Daytona Has Begun
- Updated: March 9, 2015
This year’s edition of Daytona Bike Week is well underway thanks to an action-packed weekend of racing last weekend at Daytona International Speedway. In a matter of hours, the focus will shift to the historic debut of the Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA (ATVMX), at the legendary speedway. On Tuesday afternoon, March 10, the gate will drop on the inaugural ATV Supercross (ATVSX) as reigning three-time AMA Pro ATV Champion Chad Wienen will lead the world’s best ATV riders onto the hallowed ground.
This afternoon the track crew will put the finishing touches on the challenging Ricky Carmichael-designed Daytona layout, which has hosted the Daytona Supercross and the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross. Tomorrow, all the excitement will can be seen exclusively on RacerTV.com beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
With Wienen set to defend his AMA Pro ATV crown aboard his Wienen Motorsports Yamaha, chasing an incredible fourth consecutive championship, the bulk of his challengers for the title will be racing for the first time with new teams. The championship runner-up from 2014, Joel Hetrick, will pilot his own effort, a Corrosion/Hetrick Racing Honda, while last year’s third-place finisher Thomas Brown will move away from Wienen Motorsports to race for his own team as well, Maxxis Yamaha, powered by Moto-Xperts. Both riders are in search of their first career championship.
In addition to last year’s top three, veteran John Natalie will be riding for Baldwin Motorsports Honda in 2015, chasing his second title. The former rider at Baldwin Motorsports, Josh Upperman, will lead Rock River Racing into its quest to earn the first AMA Pro ATV title for both the team and rider. Up and comer Jeffrey Rastrelli will lead the way for JB Racing Can-Am, looking to carry some momentum from his Pro-Am championship last season into the premier class while another Pro-Am titleholder, 2013 winner Brett Musick, will join Wienen Motorsports.
The racing schedule for tomorrow starts with ATV practice at 7:15 a.m. ET, signifying the first time ATV’s will take to Daytona for the first time in history. The format for ATVSX will be different from the traditional two-moto format at ATVMX races, implementing a true supercross program that will condense the field to a 16-rider Main Event, via Heat Races and a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
7:10 a.m. ATV Practice
10:00 a.m. ATV Amateur Racing
11:30 a.m. AMA Pro ATV Heat Race 1 (6 Laps/16 Riders/Top 6 to Main Event)
11:35 a.m. AMA Pro ATV Heat Race 2 (6 Laps/16 Riders/Top 6 to Main Event)
ATV Amateur Racing (immediately after Heat Races)
1:30 p.m. AMA Pro ATV LCQ (4 Laps/Top 4 to Main Event)
ATV Amateur Racing (immediately after LCQ)
3:00 p.m. AMA Pro ATV Main Event (16 Riders/15 Laps)
ATV Amateur Racing (immediately after AMA Pro ATV podium)
The inaugural Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship race at Daytona International Speedway kicks off tomorrow, March 10. RacerTV.com will broadcast the racing live, starting at 2 p.m. ET.
For more information on the 2015 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, visit www.atvmotocross.com Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow on Twitter @ATVMXdotcom and Instagram @ATVMotocross, and be sure to always hashtag #ATVMX.
