AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF comes to Unadilla -ozzy go-

The first half of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
presented by FMF comes to a close with round six of the series
at Unadilla Valley Sports Center on July 14-15 in New Berlin,
New York.

The Monster Energy Nice N Easy Pro National Presented by
Renegade Haulers will see James Stewart trying to overcome the
spate of bad luck he’s suffered at Unadilla over the last couple of
seasons. In 2005 Stewart had a collision with Ricky Carmichael as
the two battled for the lead. Last year Stewart suffered a high-
speed crash during morning practice and missed the race
altogether. This year Stewart is the pre-race favorite to win his
first national of the season aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Series leader Ricky Carmichael will not race at Unadilla. The
defending champion is transitioning into a NASCAR racing career
and is slated to race only one more national this summer on his
Makita Suzuki. This will mark the first Unadilla without Carmichael
in 10 years.

Stewart said he’ll approach Unadilla no differently than any other
race in spite of the fact that his biggest rival will not be on the
line.

“It’s going to be different without Ricky there,” Stewart said. “It
took me awhile in Supercross to get used to it and now I’m going
to have to do it outdoors. I’m going to focus like I always do. I
don’t think I’ll ride any differently.”

Stewart, who is 16-points behind Carmichael in the championship,
should take over the series lead with a good performance at
Unadilla. If he does take the series lead it would mark the second
time Stewart has led the series. He won the opening round in
2006 and held the series lead for one week. Stewart is a three-
time Unadilla Motocross Lites winner, but will be seeking his first
win in the premier class.

Kawasaki last won the premier event at Unadilla since 2001.

The big question is whether or not any rider can step up to
challenge Stewart in the second half of the season. His teammate
Tim Ferry comes into Unadilla ranked third in the standings. He’s
holding off a group of riders.... click on ozzy go to the full story
Ryan Villopoto (51) & Mike Alessi (800) at Unadilla in 2006