WMA Hangtown National Plenty of Action at Round One

By Pete Peterson

Photography by Pete Peterson

Moto 2 start

If the action from round one is any indication, the 6 rounds of the 2008 AMA/WMA Women's National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki is going to be an exciting one. The series is run on six of the twelve national tracks with the pro women racers running moto one on Saturday and moto two on Sunday between the Lites and Motocross class motos. And with all the crashes and passes, the most dymanic motos may have belonged to the women over the Hangtown National weekend.

In moto one American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars' Ashley Fiolek crashed in the first turn in her first WMA race while defending series champion American Honda/Honda of Houston/Fox Racing/Bad Boy Energy Drink's Jessica Pattersonnabbed the holeshot and tried to take off. Ashley got up and went to work slicing her way through the 22 rider pack while up front Patterson had a crash of her own that put her well back in the field. Fiolek reached the front and stretched out a comfortable lead. The top three at the checkers were Fiolek, Suzuki/Shift's Sarah Whitmore and Zip Ty Racing's Katie McGuire. Patterson crossed in eighth and Answer/Yamaha/Etnies' Tarah Gieger was tenth after a nasty trip over the bars of her own.

Moto two dropped the gate the next day, Sunday, right after the AMA Motocross Class Moto 1 concluded. Fiolek looked to be making things easy for herself to take the overall by holeshotting and leading, but that ended on lap two when she cased a jump, got out of control and high sided in a corner. She didn't stall the bike, but the short gaffe was all Patterson needed to jump into the lead. From that point on Patterson owned the other racers and she kept her number one plate well ahead of the other women right up until the finish. Fiolek would make it back to third in the moto to claim the overall victory on the day. Second in the moto went to Geiger after a smooth, consistent ride.

The overall podium was Fiolek, Patterson, and Whitmore.

Quotes

Ashley Fiolek
"In the past I've had to come through the pack before, but this weekend was the toughest to come through the crowd. But it was fun, too. It kept me more aggressive. I tend to get a holeshot and have a few issues, so it worked out okay. I definitely hope I can win the championship. I'm also in the FIM series, in third place overall in the world championship, just ten points out of first so we'll see what happens. I hope I can get a championship in the WMA and FIM."

Ashley Fiolek

Jessica Patterson
"Yesterday I can't believe I crashed after I worked that hard. I just couldn't get my bike started but after I got it going I knew I just had to pick 'em off. At least I came out of here with some good points. I just want to be consistent, be on the podium and just get some more points so I can take over this championship."

Jessica Patterson

Sarah Whitmore
"I just want to get through next weekend on the podium again. I've had a rough last three weeks with some pretty good get offs so I just want to survive through these next few motos, get as many points as I can and then come out swinging after the break and just win everything."

Sarah Whitmore

The WMA is running its next rounds at five more AMA nationals with the same Saturday Moto 1 and Sunday Moto 2 race format. The women racers are for real, so if you can't be at the race on Saturday to watch the first moto, be sure not to give up your spot on the fence when the gate drops for their Sunday afternoon second moto. It could likely be the best racing you catch that weekend.
June 7/8
Freestone Raceway in Wortham, TX
June 28/29
Thunder Valley MX in Lakewood, CO
July 26/27
Washougal MX
Washougal, WA
August 23/24
MX 338
Southwick, MA

August 30/31
Steel City Raceway
Delmont, PA

For more info check out http://www.wmaracing.com. The series sponsors are: Honda Rider's Club of America, Dunlop Tires, Alpinestars, The Original Pink Box, Thor MX Gear, Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, Team Powermadd, Polisport, Bad Boy Turbo Shot and ZLT Racing.

ROUND ONE RESULTS
http://www.wmaracing.com/news/2008/news_Hangtown_Pro_06-01-08.htm