From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

ASTERISK MOBILE MEDICAL CENTER NOW COMPLETE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Construction and outfitting of the Asterisk Mobile Medical Center has been completed and the unit is now fully functional and being used at AMA Supercross events. The center will travel to all AMA Supercross and AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship events in 2003, and will be staffed by the experienced team of physicians Dr. John Bodnar and Dr. Steve Augustine, supported by Eddie Casillas, athletic trainer, Dr. Crystal Nyberg, physical therapist and a team of registered nurses, and medical assistants.

The new Mobile Medical Center is provided by Asterisk, a company specializing in knee protection devices. The center will be administered by AMA Pro Racing and the AMA Pro Racing Medical Advisory Board with funding from a growing list of OEMs, private teams, aftermarket companies and individuals.

“Bringing together all the elements to make the Mobile Medical Center possible has been an outstanding collaborative effort,” said Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing CEO. “A special thanks goes to Dr. Bodnar and Tom Carson for completing much of the groundwork and to Asterisk for purchasing the mobile medical center.” The custom-made mobile center houses a variety of medical and treatment equipment, including a state-of-the-art mobile x-ray machine.

“This is a big advance in providing the best possible care for the athletes,” said Dr. Bodnar. “We will be able to evaluate a much broader spectrum of injuries with the facilities now available to us and provide faster and more efficient treatment for those injuries.”

Dr. Bodnar is based at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego as Assistant Medical Director for the emergency room. Dr. Augustine is an assistant professor of orthopedics at the University of Florida’s Jacksonville campus.

The Asterisk Mobile Medical Center is the latest effort by AMA Pro Racing and its industry partners to advance the cause of rider safety in motorcycle racing. Beginning in 2001, with support from throughout the motorcycle industry, AMA Pro Racing implemented the use of hundreds of feet of additional air module barrier protectors at AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship events.

The Mobile Medical Center and the doctors were made possible through the financial investment of Asterisk. Contributors for the support team (R. N., Athletic Trainer Certified, Physical Therapist & supplies) are made possible by the support of many in the motorcycle industry. To date, contributors for the staff include: AMA Pro Racing, Clear Channel Entertainment/Motorsports, Dunlop Tire, Suzuki, Pro Circuit, Yamaha, Honda, Yamaha of Troy. Several of the leading riders have contributed including Ricky Carmichael, Nathan Ramsey, Ernesto Fonseca, David Vuillemin, Tim Ferry, Chad Reed, Craig Anderson, Josh Hansen, Brock Sellards and Ivan Tedesco. Contributions to help defray the continued cost of the Asterisk Mobile Medical Center are still being accepted. Send your donation to AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington Ohio 43230. For additional information contact AMA Pro Racing’s Hugh Fleming at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1281 or [email protected].