Reed Continues to Impress as Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Prepares To Go Mile High at Thunder Valley - With Two Wins to His Credit, Rattray Leads the Way in the 250 Class – MX Sports News Release
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (June 21, 2011) – Another exciting weekend of action resulted in TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed adding to his overall win total for the 2011 season. The Australian rider has won three of the first four rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and currently occupies the lead in the 450 Class standings. This weekend, Reed, and 250 Class points leader Tyla Rattray, lead the world’s best riders into Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, Colo., for Saturday’s Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National.
Throughout the first month of action this summer, three riders have asserted themselves as the leaders of the pack in the 450 Class. Reed, along with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, have won every moto thus far and each week, this trio has engaged in intense battles for the overall victory.
Last weekend from Budds Creek MX Park, Reed took a strategic approach to his third win of the year. After losing touch of both Villopoto and Dungey in the opening moto, Reed put himself in position to win Moto 2, controlling what he’s capable of, and letting the points play out. At each of the first three rounds, Reed won the final moto of the day, and that trend continued at Budds Creek. Despite a hard charge from Dungey throughout the moto, Reed crossed the finish line first and, in turn, overtook Villopoto, who won Moto 1 and tied Reed in points for the day, in the tiebreaker for the top spot overall.
It’s been an impressive start to the season for Reed, and now he leads the 450 Class field into a venue at which he’s never won before. He currently holds a 15-point lead over Villopoto, and a 28-point lead over Dungey in the championship standings. Reed’s rivals’ hope their past success at Thunder Valley gives them an edge, as each rider has stood atop the podium at the Colorado facility.
The story of the 250 Class continues to be headlined by the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. Through four rounds and eight motos, three of Mitch Payton’s riders – Tyla Rattray, Dean Wilson and Blake Baggett – are the only athletes to grab a victory. Wilson and Baggett share three moto wins apiece, while Rattray boasts two of his own. In the overall win category, both Rattray and Baggett share two each, and currently, all three riders occupy the top three in the 250 Class standings.
At Budds Creek, Wilson got off to a fast start, winning the opening moto for the third time in 2011. However, in Moto 2, Rattray took charge, grabbing the lead early and never looking back. Wilson was able to secure his third overall runner-up effort of the season, overcoming a tough start in the final moto, and sits four points behind his teammate in the standings. As for Baggett, adversity struck the sophomore rider in both motos, and his pair of seventh-place finishes landed him seventh overall.
Since becoming part of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship in 2005, Thunder Valley MX Park has become one of the most anticipated stops on the entire schedule. As the lone national event in the Rocky Mountain region, fans come in droves from throughout the Midwest for the chance to watch the world’s best riders in action. With its mile-high elevation and sprawling layout, Thunder Valley presents one of the most unique challenges for both the riders and their teams. The thin mountain air robs bikes of power while also testing a rider’s endurance. It is a one-of-a-kind combination that is only found at Thunder Valley and each year, it is a storyline in the outcome of the race.
Last year at Thunder Valley, Dungey broke through for his first-career win at the facility, posting 2-1 moto scores. In the 250 Class, then-Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel swept the day’s motos for his second overall victory of the 2010 season.
This weekend, Dungey enters the race as the only return winner in the 450 Class at Thunder Valley. While Reed and Villopoto, a two-time winner at the track in the 250 Class, lead the way as challengers, several additional front-runners, like Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR’s Davi Millsaps and Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi, will look to put themselves in the mix. Also, Colorado native Andrew Short will be in search of his first podium performance of 2011 for Red Bull KTM at his hometown track.
The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship also returns to action this weekend, following a two-round break. American Honda’s Ashley Fiolek leads the WMX standings through two rounds of competition, while DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson sits just eight points out of the lead. Patterson will seek to defend her victory at Thunder Valley one year ago, while Fiolek will be in search for her second win in Colorado.
The on-track action for the Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National begins this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EST with practice and qualifying. Opening ceremonies begin at 2:30 p.m. EST with motos kicking off at 3 p.m. EST.
Previous Round Results and Current Standings
Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
MotoTees Budds Creek National
Budds Creek MX Park – Mechanicsville, Md.
June 18, 2011
Round 4 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (3-1)
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-3)
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-2)
4. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda (4-4)
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (5-5)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (6-6)
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha (7-9)
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (10-7)
9. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (9-8)
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda (8-10)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda – 183
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 168
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 155
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 130
5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki – 118
6. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda – 112
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 93
8. Ricky Dietrich, Snohomish, Wash., Yamaha – 92
9. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Honda – 76
10. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 75
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-3)
3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (6-2)
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-5)
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (3-9)
6. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (9-4)
7. Blake Baggett, Redlands, Calif., Kawasaki (7-7)
8. Kyle Cunningham, Irving, Texas, Yamaha (4-15)
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki (10-10)
10. Nico Izzi, Rochester, N.Y., Honda (8-13)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki – 174
2. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki – 170
3. Blake Baggett, Redlands, Calif., Kawasaki – 144
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 136
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 116
6. Kyle Cunningham, Irving, Texas, Yamaha – 114
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 99
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha – 91
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki – 75
10. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 72
Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship
Freestone Raceway – Wortham, Texas
May 28, 2011
Round 2 of 8
WMX Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-2)
2. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-3)
3. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Yamaha (2-4)
4. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (13-1)
5. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (6-5)
6. Marissa Markelon, Winchester, Calif., Yamaha (5-8)
7. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki (4-11)
8. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., KTM (8-7)
9. Kasie Creson, Byron, Calif., Honda (9-9)
10. Lindsey Palmer, Conifer, Colo., Honda (10-10)
WMX Class Standings
1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda – 91
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha – 83
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda – 72
4. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Yamaha – 66
5. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 59
6. Kasie Creson, Byron, Calif., Honda – 48
7. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM – 48
8. Marissa Markelon, Winchester, Calif., Yamaha – 47
9. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki – 43
10. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., KTM – 42
Tickets for the upcoming Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship are on sale now at www.allisports.com. Special discounts and incentives are available for advance ticket purchasers.
For more information on the 2011 tour, please log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.
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.
