AMA, FIM merge Supercross championships.

The American Motorcyclist Association and the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme have announced that the AMA sanctioned Supercross Series and the FIM sanctioned World Supercross GP programmes will be combined in 2008 to create a single championship.

The new consolidated series will run under the somewhat lengthy 'Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship' banner.

"Since 2002, the AMA Supercross Series and the FIM World Supercross GP have run together at stadiums across the United States, with two separate titles awarded at the series finale each year in Las Vegas," explained a statement to the media. "Beginning in 2008, these programmes will now be combined, with all of the races counting towards one single world championship.

"In 2008, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will include one race outside the United States when the championship returns to the Rogers Centre, in Toronto, on March 29.

"The remaining 16 rounds will be conducted at stadiums across the United States. For 2009, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will again include two races outside the United States."

"We are pleased to be able to work together with the FIM to create the consolidated Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "The consolidated series maintains the strong foundation and tradition of AMA Supercross and at the same time internationalises the championship with select races at stadiums outside the United States.

"To make the transition as seamless as possible for the teams, riders and support staff, the championship will only include one international race in 2008, in Toronto, however, the programme may include a second international race in 2009 and beyond."

"I have no doubt that the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will be an exciting and thrilling World Championship that will continue to grow season after season," added FIM president, Vito Ippolito. "It has all the potential to become a truly 'big sport' on the world sports scene in the years to come with rounds outside the United States.

"I am truly satisfied that the good cooperation between the FIM, the AMA and Live Nation has lead to the integration of supercross into a unique and exclusive World Championship. This will prove to be beneficial for all parties concerned and especially for supercross fans in the United States and all over the world."

The '2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship' schedule, is as follows:

January 5, 2008 Anaheim, Calif. Angel StadiumJanuary 12, 2008 Phoenix, Ariz. Chase FieldJanuary 19, 2008 Anaheim, Calif. Angel StadiumJanuary 26, 2008 San Francisco, Calif. AT&T ParkFebruary 2, 2008 Anaheim, Calif. Angel StadiumFebruary 9, 2008 San Diego, Calif. Qualcomm StadiumFebruary 16, 2008 Houston, Texas Reliant StadiumFebruary 23, 2008 Atlanta, Ga. Georgia DomeMarch 1, 2008 Indianapolis, Ind. RCA DomeMarch 7, 2008 Daytona Beach, Fla. Daytona International SpeedwayMarch 15, 2008 Minneapolis, Minn. MetrodomeMarch 29, 2008 Toronto, Canada Rogers CentreApril 5, 2008 Irving, Texas Texas StadiumApril 12, 2008 Detroit, Mich. Ford FieldApril 19, 2008 St. Louis, Mo. Edward Jones DomeApril 26, 2008 Seattle, Wash. Qwest FieldMay 3, 2008 Las Vegas, Nev. Sam Boyd Stadium