Area qualifiers kick off 2018 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship

The first step to qualify for the 37th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil, begins this weekend in the Southwest region. Arizona Cycle Park in Buckeye, Arizona will play host the first of 57 different Area Qualifiers, this weekend, February 10 and 11.

Arizona Cycle Park in Buckeye, Ariz., will play host the first of 57 different Area Qualifiers this weekend, Feb. 10 and 11. Photo courtesy of Arizona Cycle Park

"This is perhaps the most exciting time of the year as racers get to dust off their motorcycles and get back onto the dirt on their Road to Loretta's," said MX Sports Director Tim Cotter. "The organizers for the AMA Area Qualifiers are all prepped and ready to go and ready to welcome an estimated 25,000 entries at their race tracks for the 2018 season."

The Area Qualifiers serve as the first phase in qualifying for the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross championship. The Regional Championships then serve as the next step to seed riders into the National Championship. Only riders who finish in a qualifying position at a Regional Championship are eligible to race the National the week of July 30 through August 4, 2018 in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

The AMA Amateur National Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross race where riders from all over the world compete in the National class structure that includes classes for youth riders on 50cc bikes all the way up to vet and senior classes.

As with past years, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Race Gas program will be in effect for the Area Qualifiers in 2018. Participants who race in at least one class will receive $10 in Race Gas Cash, which can be used on any product purchased on the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC website.

The Area Qualifiers serve as the first phase in qualifying for the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross championship. Photo by Derek Garcia

The 2018 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil, takes place July 30 through August 4 at the renowned Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

To view the full schedule of Area Qualifiers, click HERE. For more information on the AMA Amateur National, visit the series official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101. Join the conversation on the event's social media channels, along with receiving the most up-to-date news and exclusive content.

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About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 57 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week in August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 22,000 racers attempt to qualify in 35 classes for the 1,470 available positions at the National. Christened "The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation", the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen, Aaron Plessinger and Justin Barcia. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production company and sanctioned by AMA. For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com.