(May 10, 2006) Bend, Or: The 2006 Hitachi AMA/WMA National Motocross Championship presented by Hitachi kicks off this Saturday, May 13^th, at the Glen Helen Raceway’s “Prequel” event, San Bernardino, CA and the WMA Pro starting grid is set to be the most competitive in women’s pro national motocross history.

The defending WMA Pro Champion, Jessica Patterson (Honda of Houston/Moto XXX), will have her hands full with this season’s field of racers as she shoots for her 3^rd WMA Pro Championship. Sarah Whitmore (Richardson’s RV/Yamaha #4) is hungry to win the championship having been runner-up in 2005 and 2003. Whitmore has been in California most of the winter preparing for the outdoor nationals and has made the switch from 125cc to 250F. Tania Satchwell (Team Green Kawasaki #105) also relocated to California to get more track time in before the WMA Nationals. Satchwell has proven that she is capable of winning, having won the championship in 2001 and that she is a fierce competitor finishing numerous times on the podium these past few years. More “seat” time may just be what Satchwell has needed to win another championship.  Tarah Gieger (Richardson’s RV/Yamaha #68) was having a great season in 2005 before getting injured at Washougal, she is healed up and ready to contend the championship.

Up-and-comer Alisa Nix (Yamaha # 2), will be one to watch. She won the Women’s “A” class at Lake Whitney and Oak Hill in March of 2006,  and at only 16 years-old she has a great future in WMA pro racing. Leah Cantrell (VFM Racing Team/Suzuki #322), from Marietta, GA will be racing the WMA Championship for the first time. Cantrell finished 2^nd at Loretta Lynn’s in 2005 behind Whitmore and is definite threat. Sherri Cruse (Zip Ty Racing/Yamaha #11) 17, from Bakersfield, CA has been dominating the WORCS races gearing up for the WMA Nationals and Elizabeth Bash (Team Green Kawasaki #33) 19, has been gaining momentum the past few seasons, they both could be title challengers.

The Championship upset could come from Team Green Kawasaki’s Katherine Prumm, 17 years-old, Auckland, New Zealand. Prumm is fresh off of a FIM Women’s World Cup win in Teutschenthal, Germany. She finished in front of French rider Livia Lancelot and Germany’s Steffi Laier. She will race the first two rounds of the Hitachi AMA/WMA National Motocross Championship presented by Kawasaki.

There is plenty of new talent to the field including rookies Vanessa Florentino (Bluestarrmx/Honda #75), 18, from New Mexico; Jacqueline Ross (American Honda #34)19, from Palm Beach, FL; Katie McGuire (Kawasaki #98), 16, from Lancaster, CA; Michele Collins (Kawasaki #249), Stephanie Cancilla (Honda #96) 18, from San Jose, CA;  Lindsey Scheltema (Kawasaki #130) 17, from Byron Center, MI; Lucy Freer (Yamaha # 154) 20, from Eldorado Hills, CA; and Chris Blewett (Suzuki #302) 21, from Oklahoma City, OK.

Although she will not be contending the title in 2006, Jacki Short WMA Pro # 7, will race the opening round of the WMA Championship at Glen Helen, on a Honda (of course), to retain her WMA Pro number.

The complete WMA pre-entry list is brought to you by WMA sponsors:  Sick Racing, Z1R Helmets, Honda, Scott USA, VP Fuels, Dunlop, Alpinestars, Thor, Northgate Auto and Pro Clean.

Check the WMA website for race results Saturday evening womensmxassociation.com or wmaracing.com.