Washougal motocross 30 years

2010 AMA National at Washougal MX Park

o Tickets: Available at the box office, or online at www.washougalmxpark.com. $55 for a Wednesday through Saturday ticket. $35 for a Saturday only ticket.

o Gates open: Wednesday, at 10 a.m. Overnight camping for one to three nights is $50 and parking is $5.

o Schedule of events: Amatuer Days are Thursday and Friday. Fan Fest is on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. AMA racing begins Saturday, at 1 p.m.

o Live feed: Saturday on SPEED TV, 4 p.m.

Follow the Washougal AMA National on Twitter

Toyota Action Hub is providing updates on the 30th anniversary of the Washougal AMA National this weekend on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com/toyotaactionhub.

Pictures, background information on the riders, race results, giveaways and other fun acitivies will be available, as well as facts about the Washougal Motocross Park and the surrounding area.

For more information, contact Kaitlynn Comer at (303) 278-0402 or kc@podium-marketing.com.

The Washougal Motocross Park is far from over the hill.

This 39-year-old beauty, nestled in a forest of fir trees near the Washougal River, continues to captivate riders and racing fans with its hairpin turns, hang time jumps and breathtaking scenery. When AMA professional riders Ryan Dungey, Andrew Short, Kevin Windham and Chad Reed hit the park’s famous Horsepower Hill and Scott Ski Jump during the eighth round of the 2010 Lucas Oil National Championship Saturday, fans are going to be right on top of the action.

“We are very excited for the 30th anniversary of the national,” said spokesman Brian Barnes. “There’s a tremendous amount of hype, mostly from the racers and fans who have been with us since the park opened in 1971.”

More than 100 pros will be soaring three stories high over 70 feet of track. Washougal is the only Pacific Northwest stop for these riders. Since 1980, Washougal has hosted an AMA National race every year.

In light of 30 years of booming success, the Washougal MX Park is going “retro” this week. Gates open Wednesday, at 10 a.m. Nearly 1,000 amateur riders are expected to show up for one of the largest Amateur Days on Thursday and Friday.

Fan Fest is Friday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. More than 80 retro machines from 1971 through 1980 will be on display. Fans will be able to greet and get autographs from former national champions Rick Burgett (1978) and Chuck Sun (1980), and local legends Eric Eaton, Ryan Huffman and Jason McCormick. Sun won the first Washougal AMA National event, back on July 6, 1980. Eaton won in Washougal in 1985.

More than 20,000 fans are projected to visit the park by the time national races kick in to gear Saturday. Pros begin practicing at 8:30 a.m. Qualifying leads up to the first 450 class moto at 1 p.m. The first 250 class moto follows, at approximately 2 p.m.

A retro exhibition race, featuring AMA riders from yesteryear, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., Washougal goes live on SPEED TV just moments before the final moto of the 450 class.

“To have an event like this televised live in Southwest Washington is pretty cool. It puts the spotlight on Clark County and the Camas-Washougal area,” Barnes said. “We’re already seeing a huge increase in participation just from going live for the first time last year. It attracts top sponsors and introduces a lot of mainstream media to the track. We hope that turns into a lot of dollars for the community.”

Although temperatures should be cooler than last year, the competition could be sizzling. Ryan Dungey has won the last six rounds of the 450 class. The rider from Belle Plaine, Minn., leads the standings by 89 points. Travelling all the way from Australia, Chad Reed won at Washougal in 2009.

This past weekend, Trey Canard of Shawnee, Okla., became the first in the 250 class to win back-to-back races. Christophe Pourcel of France leads the standings with 296 points. Four riders, including Canard, are hot on his heels.

Tickets are available at the box office, or online at www.washougalmxpk.com. Wednesday through Saturday tickets are $55. Saturday only tickets cost $35. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free. Overnight camping for one to three nights is $50. Parking is $5 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and free on Saturday.

For more information about Washougal MX Park, go to www.washougalmxpk.com. For more on the riders and the series, go to www.allisports.com/motocross.

Follow the Washougal AMA National on Twitter:

Toyota Action Hub is providing updates on the 30th anniversary of the Washougal AMA National this weekend on Twitter.

Go to www.twitter.com/toyotaactionhub.

Pictures, background information on the riders, race results, giveaways and other fun acitivies will be available, as well as facts about the Washougal Motocross Park and the surrounding area.

For more information, contact Kaitlynn Comer at (303) 278-0402 or kc@podium-marketing.com.