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AMA: Three riders picked for upcoming FIM Junior Motocross Cup

12 August 1999

     PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Three of America's brightest young motocross stars

will take on the world's finest at the August 28-29 Federation Internationale de

Motocyclisme (FIM) World Junior Motocross Cup in Gaildorf, Germany.

     Shane Bess, 15, of Oxnard, Calif.; Gavin Gracyk, 15, of Blissfield, Ohio;

and 13-year-old James Stewart Jr., of Winter Haven, Fla., have been selected to

represent the United States in the inaugural international event, which will

take place during the Grand Prix of Germany and receive international television

coverage. The riders were picked from hundreds of America's best young motocross

stars at the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Amateur Motocross

Nationals, held August 2-7 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

     The Junior Motocross Cup will showcase more than 50 of the world's best

young riders, aged 12-15 on 85cc machines.

     "I've always dreamed of racing against other riders in the world. It's

definitely an honor, especially when you consider it's the first year they're

doing it," said Gracyk. "The prospect of going to the Junior Motocross Cup

motivated me a lot last week."

     Gracyk's main goal going into the AMA Amateur Motocross Nationals was

winning the two classes he entered. He swept all three motos to win the national

championship in the 105cc (12-15) Super Mini class, but fell short in the 85cc

(14-15) Modified class with a third overall behind Bess. While Bess took the top

honors in the 85cc (14-15) Modified class, he missed a second title in the 85cc

(14-15) Stock class by one point. Meanwhile, Stewart maintained his winning ways

at the amateur nationals with national championships in the 85cc (12-13) Stock

and 85cc (9-13) Modified classes, sweeping all six motos he entered.