Reigning Champs to Display Red Number Plates

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Jan. 11, 2007) – AMA Racing has implemented a new rule requiring red number plates be displayed by reigning champions in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series and AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF. This will help identify the current champion if he elects not to use the traditional number 1.

The champion in the Supercross and Motocross classes will run a red plate with white numbers. The Motocross Lites champion will display a red plate with black numbers.

Teams were informed of this change last fall during a series of meetings held at AMA offices in Ohio and California. The change was also reflected in the 2007 AMA Supercross Series/AMA Motocross Championship Rulebook which was made available at the end of November.

Ricky Carmichael debuted his red plate at last weekend’s Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series opener in Anaheim, Calif.  Carmichael is also the reigning AMA Toyota Motocross Champion and will continue displaying a red plate when that series begins on May 19-20 at the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif. Ryan Villopoto is the reigning champion in the AMA Motocross Lites class and will also run a red number plate.

Other changes implemented for 2007 include new fuel testing procedures; lowered sound limits; and new licensing criteria and qualifying procedures for both motocross and supercross. Riders are also now required to be equipped with an emergency helmet removal device. An on-line version of the 2007 Rulebook can be viewed at www.amaproracing.com/rulebook. All changes for 2007 are italicized.