A TRIO OF RIDERS EMERGING AS AMA SUPERMOTO CONTENDERS COMING INTO DEL MAR
13 October 2004 - AMA Pro Racing

The 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship moves to the Del Mar Fairgrounds this Sunday, Oct. 17, for round six of the seven race series.

Jeff Ward, Jurgen Kunzel and Doug Henry have emerged as the three leading contenders for the championship as the series heats up heading towards the finale in Las Vegas next month.

Ward, the 43-year-old former AMA Motocross and Supercross champion, jumped to an early lead in the title chase and has tenaciously protected his frontrunner status with a string of podium finishes in spite of a sore left knee. He’s looking forward to racing in his native Southern California.

“It’ll be nice to be home and not be in a different time zone,” said Ward, who along with Doug Henry, rides for Troy Lee Designs Honda. “Del Mar [not part of the 2003 AMA Supermoto Championship] was a pretty tight track last year and if I can make it through that race with my knee then I have a month to rest and get ready for Las Vegas.”

Kunzel, a veteran of the world championship series from Germany, fell 16 points behind Ward after stalling his bike and finishing second in South Boston, Va., last weekend. The lead Red Bull KTM rider feels he needs to score a win in Del Mar to be in a position to earn this year’s title. “The mistake in South Boston was costly,” he said. “Now there is nothing but victories that can help me win the championship.”

Henry is the hottest rider on the circuit right now, coming off consecutive wins in Reno and South Boston. His three wins overall this year lead the series and he has now moved up to third in the standings, just seven points behind Kunzel.

“I thought the DNF at Copper Mountain really put a hurting on my championship hopes,” said Henry, another former AMA Motocross champ. “But afterwards I thought about it and I realized if I could string together some wins that I could maybe put a little pressure on the leaders and get back in the title picture. There are two rounds to go and anything can happen. I’m hoping for the best.”

In addition to the individual championship AMA Supermoto features a team title as well. Troy Lee Designs Honda is pulling away from Red Bull KTM in team competition. HMC Racing is third.

The AMA Supermoto Championship race in Del Mar will be supported by an Unlimited Supermoto race and the Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge.

Kunzel is leading the Unlimited Series, but another stall in the race in South Boston resulted in a 14th-place finish, which took a big chunk out of his series lead. His teammates Kurt Nicoll, of England, and Placentia, California’s Micky Dymond closed to within 10 points of Kunzel with two rounds remaining.

For additional information on the Del Mar Supermoto event call (630) 566-6100. The race will be televised Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

For immediate post-race results, points, live transponder scoring, in-depth series and rider information and much more, log onto www.amasupermoto.com.

Schedule of Events

AMA Supermoto Championship - Round 6 - October 17, 2004

Del Mar Fairgrounds – Del Mar, CA

Saturday, October 16

3:00 - 6:00 PM - Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

3:00 - 6:00 PM - Tech inspection

6:00 PM - Entries Close for all classes

Sunday, October 17

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

7:00 AM - Tech Inspection Opens

8:30 AM - Mandatory Riders Meeting

9:00 AM - Practice:

1. Supermoto - Group A - 12 minutes

2. Supermoto - Group B - 12 minutes

3. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge - 8 minutes

4. Supermoto Unlimited - 12 minutes

10:00 AM - Timed Qualifying Session #1:

1. Supermoto - Group A - 12 minutes

2. Supermoto - Group B - 12 minutes

3. Supermoto Unlimited - 12 minutes

4. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Practice - 8 minutes

11:00 AM - Timed Qualifying Session #2:

1. Supermoto - Group A - 12 minutes

2. Supermoto - Group B - 12 minutes

3. Supermoto Unlimited - 12 minutes

11:45 AM - Track Maintenance

12:25 PM - Opening Ceremonies

12:30 PM - Heat Races:

1. Supermoto - 4 races, 8 laps each

2. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge - 6 laps

3. Supermoto Unlimited - 2 races, 8 laps each

2:20 PM - Supermoto Superpole (top 8 riders from heats)

2:45 PM - Semi-Finals:

1. Supermoto - 2 races, 6 laps each

2. Supermoto Unlimited - 6 laps

3:15 PM - Intermission

3:30 PM - Supermoto Final - 22 laps

4:10 PM - Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Final - 10 laps

4:30 PM - Supermoto Unlimited Final - 22 laps

www.amaproracing.com

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