SOUTHWICK, Mass. (August 27, 2011) - Despite rainy conditions, the avid motocross enthusiasts throughout the New England area withstood the weather to watch the world's best riders in action on Saturday, at the Rockstar Energy Southwick National from Moto-X 338 in Southwick. The 10th round of the 2011 Lucas Oil Motocross Championship signified a memorable day for Australian Brett Metcalfe, who broke through for his first career victory, outlasting his rivals in a consistent effort aboard his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, rode to his fourth win of the summer.
As the gate dropped on the opening 450 Class moto, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., took control early, grabbing the holeshot and leading all 17 laps of competition. The strong start to the day put Dungey in position for his third win in four races, in addition to closing in on his points deficit to Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash.
As the bikes lined up on the gates for Moto 2, Dungey's Suzuki was nowhere to be found, still sitting in the pits. As his crew worked feverishly to get the bike prepared, Dungey was forced to watch his competitors start without him. Moments later, Dungey's bike arrived, and the defending champion tore out onto the track, nearly a full lap behind.
Out front, American Honda's Justin Barcia, of Monroe, N.Y., looked to overcome a DNF in the first moto, moving into the lead early, and checking out on the field. Behind him, Metcalfe, Villopoto, and Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR's Justin Brayton, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, battled for the remaining podium spots.
Barcia rode convincingly to his first moto win in the 450 Class, while Metcalfe's runner-up effort in the moto solidified his position atop the overall standings for the day, on the heels of 3-2 results.
"I'm a winner now," exclaimed Metcalfe. "This career has been a roller coaster. After everything I've been through, to finally get a win after eight years just feels good. The first moto was the worst I've ever rode at Southwick, but I still got third. We prepared my bike for the mud in the second moto and it rode like butter. It was perfect. I knew I had to beat Villopoto for the overall. I saw him ahead of me, dug deep, and passed him."
Villopoto's fourth-place effort in the final moto, combined with his second-place finish in Moto 1, landed him second overall. With the win out of his grasp, Dungey battled through the field in tricky conditions to fight his way to seventh in the moto, and third overall (1-7).
"My parents always told me to never quit," said Dungey. "I wanted to, and I almost did, but then I saw the bike come down the hill. I just went out there and rode as hard as I could. I can't take all the credit though. The Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team made it happen. It was the difference between starting late, or not starting at all. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have been out there."
Even with Dungey's misfortune, Villopoto gained just one point on his rival, and enters the penultimate round of the season next weekend with an eight-point lead. TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing's Chad Reed, of Australia, the series' points leader just a few rounds ago, experienced misfortune in both motos, failing to score points on the day. He now sits 65 points out of the lead.
After his toughest outing of the 250 Class season at the previous round, Rattray looked to bounce back at a track in which he was able to take the win one year ago. While leading in the late stages of the first moto, Rattray experienced misfortune, stalling his engine and ultimately losing the lead and win to DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha's Gareth Swanepoel, of South Africa. In Moto 2, Rattray rebounded and took over the lead on Lap 4, gradually pulling away from the field (2-1).
"This track has been good to me," said Rattray. "I've ridden in the sand a lot in my career, so it means a little more to win here. I settled for second in the first moto and knew the track was going to be tough in the second moto, so I pressured myself to get a good start, which I did. I was able to get into the lead, and then I just put my head down."
Rattray's Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Dean Wilson, of Scotland, finished in the runner-up spot (2-3), to maintain his points lead, while Swanepoel garnered his first career podium in third (5-2).
Wilson now holds a 38-point advantage over Rattray in the 250 Class standings.
In the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women's Motocross Championship, American Honda's Ashley Fiolek, of St. Augustine, Fla., won her third race of the season with 1-2 moto results. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Tarah Gieger, of Puerto Rico, finished second (2-5), while KTM rider Alexah Pearson, of Sacramento, Calif., finished third (7-3).
The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues next weekend, on Saturday, September 3, from Delmont, Pa. Steel City Raceway will host the 11th of 12 rounds this summer, beginning at 1 p.m. EST.
Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Rockstar Energy Southwick National
Moto-X 338 - Southwick, Mass.
August 27, 2011
Round 10 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
- Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (3-2)
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (2-4)
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-7)
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (7-3)
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (4-6)
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (6-5)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (36-1)
- John Dowd, Holyoke, Mass., Kawasaki (9-8)
- Les Smith, York, S.C., Yamaha (8-9)
- Kyle Chisholm, Clearwater, Fla., Yamaha (11-10)
450 Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki - 431
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki - 423
- Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda - 366
- Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki - 304
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM - 243
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki - 221
- Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM - 196
- Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda - 193
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha - 173
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha - 163
250 Class (Moto Finish)
- Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-1)
- Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (3-2)
- Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (1-5)
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (10-3)
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (9-6)
- Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (7-8)
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (5-12)
- Gannon Audette, Minneapolis, Minn., Yamaha (4-16)
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (18-4)
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda (8-13)
250 Class Championship Standings
- Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki - 438
- Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki - 400
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki - 398
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha - 264
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda - 246
- Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha - 241
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki - 220
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda - 181
- Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki - 175
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda - 170
WMX Class (Moto Finish)
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-2)
- Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (2-5)
- Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (7-3)
- Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Yamaha (5-4)
- Julie Parizek, Manchester, Conn., Kawasaki (8-7)
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (27-1)
- Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (11-6)
- Lindsey Palmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda (9-8)
- Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM (4-15)
- Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Kawasaki (10-9)
WMX Class Standings
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda - 279
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha - 249
- Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda - 226
- Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM - 162
- Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda - 153
- Marissa Markelon, Bridgeport, Conn., Yamaha - 148
- Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Kawasaki - 140
- Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM - 137
- Lindsey Palmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda - 132
- Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Suzuki - 113
Tickets for the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship are on sale at www.allisports.com, Special discounts and incentives are available for advance ticket purchasers.
For more information on the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.
For media information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact Media Manager Brandon Short via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com or by phone at 949-365-5750.
MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. Alli TV Productions creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. Visit www.allisports.com.
Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." Visit www.LucasOil.com.
AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.
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