American Motocross Featured on Wind Tunnel This Sunday

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - American Motocross fans are in for a special treat this Sunday evening, as the renowned SPEED program Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain will celebrate the history of the sport, kicking off the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Despain's featured guests this weekend will be three multi-time AMA Pro Motocross Champions - Ricky Carmichael, Gary Jones and Ryan Villopoto.

Carmichael will get the best seat in the house, sitting alongside long-time motorcycle racing aficionado Despain as the in-studio guest. "The GOAT" is a record-setting 10-time AMA Pro Motocross title holder and winner of 102 races in the discipline during his decade-long career. Since retiring from professional motocross in 2007, Carmichael has tried his hand at racing on four wheels, currently competing for Turner Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He will join Despain in discussing the 40^th year of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which will begin on Saturday, May 21, with the Rockstar Energy Hangtown National from Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Also appearing on the show to discuss the series will be Gary Jones, a three-time champion of the AMA Pro Motocross tour, including the inaugural season back in 1972. A pioneer of American Motocross, Jones managed to win his three titles on three different brands of motorcycle and is the namesake for the coveted 250 Class trophy, the Gary Jones Motocross Cup. Jones is also a member of the AMA Motorcycling Hall of Fame, inducted back in the year 2000.

To round out a full evening of motocross sure to satisfy any fan's hunger for the sport, Despain will be joined by Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, who is also a three-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion in the 250 Class and was recently crowned the 2011 AMA Supercross Champion after what many are calling the greatest season of all time. Since moving into the premier 450 Class in 2009, Villopoto has made just two starts in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. After recovering from a broken leg suffered last year, Villopoto is looking to complete his first full season on the big bike and keep his undefeated championship record in motocross intact.

Add them all up and Despain's three Wind Tunnel guests are responsible for an astonishing total of 16 AMA Pro Motocross Championships.

As if the résumé of success for his guests wasn't impressive enough, Despain is also a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame himself with the Class of 1998. He is arguably the most well-known television personality in the history of motorcycling, having risen from the role of a local racing event announcer to the host of the highly-acclaimed program that bears his name, which covers all forms of racing. Despain's lifelong enthusiasm for motorcycling continues to help the sport broaden its continually-growing audience. Make sure to tune in this Sunday night to SPEED at 9 p.m. EST for this historic episode.

SPEED will also be covering all 12 rounds of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, beginning with the Rockstar Energy Hangtown National, next Saturday, May 21.

Tickets for the upcoming Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship are on sale now at www.allisports.com. Special discounts and incentives are available for advance ticket purchasers.

For more information on the 2011 tour, please log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.

For media information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact Media Manager Brandon Short via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com or by phone at 949-365-5750      .

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, , King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. Alli TV Productions creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. Visit www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." Visit www.LucasOil.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.

About SPEED^TM
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation's first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in more than 82 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.