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To
reflect the fun and excitement that surrounds ATV Grand
National Championship TT racing, the All-Terrain Vehicle
Association has changed the name of the series to the
FMF Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals.
FMF Racing
is back again this year to support ATV racing as the
title sponsor.The ATVA also announced changes to the
2005 schedule, some of the classes, and the race programs.The
first race, traditionally held in Orville, Ohio, will
be held June 11 at Twin Creeks Raceway in Greenbrier,
Arkansas. The Orville track proved to be too small to
accommodate all the racers and fans. A new site has
been secured for the 2006 season.
The FMF Extreme
Dirt Track ATVA Nationals will wrap up with the sixth
round at Bullet Speedway in Brashear, Texas, on September
24.Concerning class changes, Youth classes have been
expanded for the 2005 season. Now, there are two 90cc
Production classes: 90 Junior, ages 8 to 11; and 90
Senior, ages 12 to 15. Both of these classes are limited
to automatic transmissions or auto clutch transmissions
— no manual clutches allowed.Also, a new youth
class has been added: 70cc Production. In 2006, 70cc
Production class will be split into two separate classes:
70cc Production Auto and 70cc Production Shifter.Another
new class is Beginner/Knobby, which will be 91cc to
Open. This is to allow new racers to give Extreme Dirt
Track a try and join in the excitement. No sway bars
will be allowed. Awards will be given but racers won't
accumulate National points.Meanwhile, the new race program
for 2005 will start with practice Friday night under
the lights. Saturdays will have a morning practice followed
by qualifying heats and then main events. Selected classes
will race their main events during the evening Pro and
Pro-Am events. The exception to this change is the event
at Pine Lake in Ashtabula, Ohio, July 23-24. Pine Lake
will hold practice Friday during the day, and races
on Saturday and Sunday.Short track fans are advised
that there will be no Short Track Nationals in combination
with the FMF Extreme Dirt Track Nationals.
On another
note, the ATVA has begun imposing sound limits on Pro
racers. A 102-decibel sound limit will be enforced in
the FMF Extreme Dirt Track Nationals Pro classes. The
sound limit has already been successfully imposed on
the ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship Motocross
Series, with some of the top racers running the quietest
pipes.Enforcement of a sound limit shows that, as a
sanctioning body, the ATVA is taking steps to control
noise."We have chosen to lead by example before
we are forced to reduce sound levels by local governments,"
said ATVA Director Doug Morris.
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