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AMA: David Watson is 'King of the Hill'

4 October 2000

     PICKERINGTON, Ohio --  For the first time in history, AMA Pro Racing has

crowned a single rider, David Watson, of Ludlow, Mass., as champion in both the

540cc and 800cc classes of the AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championship presented by Pace

American Trailers.

     A rule change for 2000 allowed riders to participate in both classes during

a single season and Watson took full advantage, wrapping up the 800cc

championship at Jefferson, Pa., Oct., 1 and the 540cc championship at Nashville,

Ind., Sept., 24.

     On a sleeved down CBR900RR based machine, Watson missed the podium in the

800cc class only four times in 15 events, logging five wins and never placing

lower than eighth. Riding a sleeved down Honda CBR600F based machine in the

540cc class he was just as consistent, missing the podium only four times in 15

events to date, logging eight wins and once again never placing lower than

eighth.

     Watson is no stranger to the championship crown. In 1998 he won his first

hillclimb championship in the 540cc class. Unlike his 2000 championships, Watson

won the 1998 crown without taking a single 540cc class win and instead relied on

his consistent style to take home that championship.

     Making the 540cc championship even sweeter for Watson is the grand prize

he'll pick up from series sponsor Pace American Trailers, the official trailer

of AMA Pro Racing. Soon Watson will be towing a brand-new semi-custom Cargo

Sport trailer with an "SX" options package. The Cargo Sport SX is an

8-foot-by-16-foot, fully enclosed tandem-axle trailer featuring electric brakes,

a heavy-duty rear ramp door, a 36-inch side door, two dome lights with a light

switch near each door, two adjustable roof vents, chrome-center caps on the

wheels and a 24-inch stone guard up front.