AMA National Motocross Series Preview: Unadilla
16 July 1997
R97078 July 14, 1997 For Immediate Release ALBERTYN RETURNS TO SITE OF HIS FIRST U.S. MOTOCROSS WIN WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- In 1995, three-time World Motocross Champion Greg Albertyn came to America to test his skills against the best motocross racers in the world. Things didn't quite turn out the way South African Albertyn had hoped, as he separated his shoulder in his first U.S. appearance. That began a string of injuries and hard luck that plagued "Albee" for most of his first two seasons here. But Albertyn's luck started to change last July when he won the AMA National Motocross Series race at the famed Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, N.Y., and this Sunday, the likeable Suzuki rider returns to Unadilla hoping to repeat that success. Since his Unadilla win last year, things have gotten steadily better for Albertyn. So far this year, he has won in Sacramento, Calif., and finished second at San Bernardino, Calif., in May. The only reason Albertyn is in 10th place in the standings coming into Unadilla is because he aggravated a shoulder injury at the Mt. Morris, Pa. round late in May and was forced to sit out a couple of races. Albertyn will likely have to get past Yamaha's John Dowd to win in Unadilla. Dowd is currently the hottest rider in the 250cc series, coming into Unadilla with a two-race winning streak that has raised eyebrows around the motocross circuit. At 31, Dowd is one of the oldest riders in the series and hadn't won a National since 1994. If Dowd can continue his win streak at Unadilla, he could really close the gap on Jeff Emig, the series leader and defending 250cc champ. Emig has finished a relatively quiet second in the last three nationals after winning two of the first three races of the season. Like Dowd, Emig has never won at Unadilla. In the 125cc class, the rider to beat has been 17-year-old whiz-kid Ricky Carmichael, the 1996 AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year. Carmichael holds a commanding lead in the 125cc series after winning five of the first seven Nationals. But the second half of the season promises to be more challenging for the youngster. Defending 125cc champ and Unadilla winner Steve Lamson is coming back strong after surgery on his thumb in May. And Yamaha's Kevin Windham became the first rider to beat Carmichael head to head last week in Buchanan, Mich. PAST WINNERS UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER New Berlin, NY 250cc Motocross Date Winner, Hometown Machine July 21, 1996 Greg Albertyn, South Africa Suzuki July 23, 1995 Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN Honda July 17, 1994 Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN Kawasaki July 11, 1993 Mike Kiedrowski, Canyon Country, CA Kawasaki July 29, 1973 Pierre Karsmakers, Holland Yamaha July 16, 1972 Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA Yamaha 125cc Motocross Date Winner, Hometown Machine July 21, 1996 Steve Lamson, Pollock Pines, CA Honda July 23, 1995 Ryan Hughes, Escondido, CA Kawasaki July 17, 1994 Ryan Hughes, Escondido, CA Kawasaki July 11, 1993 James Dobb, Corona, CA Kawasaki October 13, 1991 Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Suzuki October 14, 1990 Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK Suzuki October 15, 1989 Damon Bradshaw, Charlotte, NC Yamaha Contact: Connie Fleming Phone: (614) 891-2425 Fax: (614) 891-7368 -30-