The ATV Motocross National Championship Series returns to RedBud this weekend for two days of racing. (Submitted photo)

BUCHANAN — The Mountain Dew ATV Motocross National Championship, sanctioned by AMA (ATVMX), is the world’s longest-running and most prestigious ATV racing series.

The 2014 season marks the 30th year of this truly unique championship, which will visit some of the most well-known motocross tracks in the country over the course of a nine-round schedule that will ultimately crown a national champion.

On Saturday and Sunday, the series will make its anticipated return to Buchanan’s legendary RedBud MX, which will host the world’s best riders for the eighth and penultimate round of the 2014 season with the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC ATV National. Hundreds of riders from across the country will converge on the facility for two days of rugged competition for both professionals and amateurs alike.

RedBud is one of the most anticipated rounds of the year thanks to the illustrious history of the iconic track. This is a world-class motocross facility that has hosted more historic racing moments than one can imagine and is widely considered to be a favorite of both fans and riders alike. The facility offers racers and fans the opportunity to experience something truly special thanks to a track layout that winds around three distinct areas, each offering incredible views for spectators and insane challenges for competitors.

The soil consistency at RedBud can vary greatly, from hard-pack, to deep loam, to sand, and it all gets brutally rough. The jumps here are famous for a reason; big air is the name of the game, as riders fearlessly set sail to give spectators some of the best action of the year. The opportunity to see a 400-pound ATV soar through the air and tear it up in the legendary RedBud dirt makes for a truly remarkable experience.

The Mountain Dew ATV Motocross National Championship is the world’s premier showcase of four-wheeled off-road racing talent. The physically demanding sport forces riders to navigate a variety of obstacles as fast as possible over the course of two 15 minute motos, while controlling a 400-pound machine and battling alongside 20 other competitors with the same common goal. It’s a true battle of man, machine and the will to win, and the mental and physical strength needed to become a champion makes these riders some of the toughest athletes on the planet.

With the conclusion of 2014 season nearing, championship control sits squarely in the possession of reigning back-to-back AMA Pro ATV champion Chad Wienen. The Illinois native boasts a series-leading five wins this season and carries a comfortable 64-point margin into RedBud, where he has won three of the last four years. However, Wienen’s rise to the top of the division this season hasn’t come without some significant challenges, as riders like Joel Hetrick, Thomas Brown and John Natalie are ready to do everything they can to prevent Wienen from capturing his third consecutive title prior to the final round of the championship.

The eighth round of the 2014 Mountain Dew ATV Motocross National Championship from RedBud kicks off on Saturday and continues on Sunday, with a full slate of action throughout each day.