MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (August 22, 2011) – Following the final off weekend of the season, the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship returns to action this Saturday, August 27, with the Rockstar Energy Southwick National from Southwick, Mass. The 10th round of the summer will commence from Moto-X 388, the only sand track in American Motocross, kicking off the final three weeks of competition as the championship battles come down to the wire. Following impressive wins at the previous round from Unadilla, both Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson are looking to add to their points leads in the 450 and 250 classes, respectively.
In his first race as the premier class points leader, Villopoto put forth a dominant effort aboard a brand new 2012 Kawasaki KX450F, sweeping both of the day’s motos and claiming his second victory of the season at the right time. By virtue of a strong runner-up effort by Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, Villopoto’s lead in the standings sits at seven points coming into Southwick. With four-time winner Chad Reed lurking in third aboard his TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing machine, and 450 Class newcomer Justin Barcia turning heads for American Honda, the competition is sure to be close, as the fastest riders on the planet prepare to do battle in the sand.
The 250 Class has been highlighted throughout the 2011 season by an incredible collective effort from the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. Mitch Payton’s talented lineup has amassed a perfect season through the division’s top three riders in Wilson, Blake Baggett and Tyla Rattray. Both Baggett and Rattray had savored victories earlier in the summer, but Wilson maintained his position atop the standings thanks to the most impressive consistency of any rider in American Motocross. He entered Unadilla still in search of that elusive overall win, and took advantage of strong starts to sweep both motos convincingly, putting himself 25 points ahead of Baggett heading into this weekend.
Following a break from action since Spring Creek in July, the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship will host its sixth of eight rounds this summer from Moto-X 338. Currently, two-time series champion Ashley Fiolek, who rides for American Honda, carries an eight-point lead over DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson into the sands of Southwick. The rivalry between the two fastest women’s competitors in the sport has intensified throughout the season and with three wins to Patterson’s credit over Fiolek’s two, the defending champion will look to gain valuable ground on Saturday.
Moto-X 338, named after American Legion Post 338, which owns the property, has been hosting motocross events since the 1973 season. Just three years after the facility’s first year of operation, the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship held its first event in Southern Massachusetts, and Moto-X 338 has been a staple on the schedule ever since. Southwick boasts the most unique characteristic of any other track in American Motocross, featuring an entire layout of sand, which creates a very technical and challenging track for the world’s best riders.
Affectionately referred to as the “sand box” and “the beach,” Southwick is a fan and rider favorite, year-in and year-out. This summer, the track has added a new tunnel jump, which will bring even more excitement to what is already sure to be a captivating event.
Last year at Southwick, Dungey rode to his ninth win of the season, which ultimately vaulted him to securing the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship crown at Moto-X 338. In the 250 Class, Trey Canard’s impressive four-race win streak was brought to a halt by a consistent 2-2 effort from Rattray, who took his second win of the summer on the same day his first child was born. WMX Class action saw Patterson overcome an opening-moto victory by Fiolek, to take Moto 2 and maintain her series points lead.
The on-track action for the Rockstar Energy Southwick National begins this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. EST with practice and qualifying. Opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 p.m. EST with motos kicking off at 1 p.m. EST.
Previous Round Results and Current Standings
Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Rockstar Energy Unadilla National
Unadilla Valley Sports Center – New Berlin, N.Y.
August 13, 2011
Round 9 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish) – To view complete event Box Score, click HERE
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-1)
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-2)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (3-3)
- Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (4-5)
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (7-4)
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (5-6)
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (8-7)
- Kyle Regal, Howell, Mich., Suzuki (10-9)
- Jimmy Albertson, San Diego, Calif., Yamaha (12-11)
- Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Yamaha (11-14)
450 Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 391
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 384
- Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda – 366
- Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki – 262
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM – 210
- Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 196
- Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda – 193
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 190
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 173
- Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Yamaha – 140
250 Class (Moto Finish) – To view complete event Box Score, click HERE
- Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-1)
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-3)
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-2)
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (8-4)
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (6-6)
- Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (7-8)
- Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki (14-5)
- Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (4-16)
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (10-10)
- Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (9-11)
250 Class Championship Standings
- Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki – 396
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 371
- Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki – 353
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 264
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 239
- Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha – 200
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 195
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda – 181
- Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki – 175
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda – 148
Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship
Spring Creek MX Park – Millville, Minn.
July 16, 2011
Round 5 of 8
WMX Class (Moto Finish) – To view complete event Box Score, click HERE
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (2-1)
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-2)
- Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-3)
- Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Kawasaki (4-4)
- Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (7-5)
- Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM (5-7)
- Marissa Markelon, Bridgeport, Conn., Yamaha (8-6)
- Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., KTM (10-8)
- Lindsey Palmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda (9-9)
- Jackie Ives, Visalia, Calif., Yamaha (12-10)
WMX Class Standings
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda – 232
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha – 224
- Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda – 188
- Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM – 138
- Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Kawasaki – 131
- Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda – 128
- Marissa Markelon, Bridgeport, Conn., Yamaha – 125
- Lindsey Palmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda – 107
- Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., KTM – 103
- Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Suzuki – 98
