http://glenhelen.c.tep1.com/maabOeoaa3eWGa7laAZe/ PRESS RELEASE - "The Prequel"
Glen Helen Raceway’s newest event to set the stage for the 2004 AMA Outdoor Motocross Nationals

Southern California motocross fans were aghast when they heard the recent rumor that Glen Helen Raceway might be losing the coveted first round of the AMA Outdoor Motocross series. A Mother's day tradition for some eight (8) years, Glen Helen has hosted the opening round of each year's professional series for the AMA and a legion of nearly 20 thousand fans annually.

In the end, the rumor proved to be only half true and the season opener will now take place at Hangtown, May 16 . Glen Helen's round of the 125/250 series has been relocated to the end of the schedule, making it the 12th and final round of the '04 schedule, on September 12.

Over the years, Glen Helen Raceway has developed a solid reputation of blending fresh thinking with hard work to meet the rapidly changing conditions of the racing world. The World Cup of Motocross in 2002 was organized and executed in one short week after the demise of the U.S. Motocross des Nations and by all accounts was a world class success.

With the unexpected opening in the 2004 schedule, Glen Helen once again recognized the opportunity at hand and set about developing an event to capitalize on it. Bud Feldkamp, Lori Yarnell and Rick Doughty have been in collaboration for the past couple of months and are now ready to unveil their newest event creation. That event is The Prequel. What is a Prequel you ask? Webster's defines it as "a dramatic work that proceeds a story".

In terms of the '04 motocross season, The Prequel spells a huge advantage for any teams or riders to do last minute testing prior to the series opener, the following weekend at Hangtown. Certainly every factory does extensive testing prior to the outdoor season but this will be the first chance for anyone to test and fine tune their programs in a real racing environment. A chance the factories and riders have never enjoyed.

The Prequel will also mark the first opportunity for any riders to evaluate themselves and their machines, if they have been away from the racing scene due to injury. Who might that be? Ricky Carmichael and Sebastien Tortelli are two top names that would benefit greatly from the opportunity that The Prequel presents.


All top AMA Pros will be invited and will compete for a hefty $20,000.00 purse. The pro portion of The Prequel weekend will take place on Saturday May 8th, with a similar format to the AMA 125/250 MX Nationals. The day will consist of 2, 30 minute motos plus two laps for each of the professional classes. First race will start at 11:00am with 125cc AMA Pro event followed by the 250cc AMA Pro race. The amateur portion to be held on the following day, Sunday, May 9 and will include a full compliment of classes.