By By Matthew Nascone
The first race of the year 2007 in the Southeast took place this past weekend at the Atmore Motocross Park. And the 2007 Big Chill MX Race was a success according to track owner Bobby Hadley.
"We had another good weekend," Hadley said. "And we had some riders from up north come down and race with us."
The turnout was good yet again for Atmore MotoX and Hadley said it was a good indication of how many riders and spectators will be out for the opening weekend of the 2007 Gulf Coast MX Championship Series Feb. 10-11.
"We are getting a lot more people coming to Atmore and it was good to see some of the riders from up north and the bigger tracks coming down to us," Hadley said. "We are getting more and more into the community and we are trying to make this place very spectator-friendly."
The Gulf Coast MX Championship Series involves Atmore MX Park and will involve tracks in Pell City, Wagarville, Baker, Fla, Kentwood, La. and two tracks located between Montgomery and Atlanta, Ga.
Track promoter Steve Hicks saw the influx of riders and spectators as well.
"The 2007 Big Chill MX Race brought the snow birds down in flocks as riders from Talladega, Selma and other north Alabama cities came to the Atmore MX Park to enjoy some good racing and the beautiful South Alabama weather," Hicks said. "This was one of the largest groups of northern riders that we have had come down for a race."
Hicks said Atmore native Clay Helton won both of the 85ccD classes and dominated a large field of riders and showed that he is ready to challenge riders from all over at the next level of competition.
The Atmore Motocross Park has expanded every weekend with some new feature for the riders or the spectators and Hadley said they would continue to grow and serve the racing community.
"We are trying to gear everything we do towards making the spectators happy," Hadley said. "And the bigger the event, the more we have to put into it to make our spectators happy."