Ryan Dungey celebrated his first race of the 2009 AMA Motocross series with a victory on Saturday afternoon at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. The young Minnesota rider carded second- and first-place moto finishes to take the overall victory in the 250 class.
In the 450 class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi enjoyed a second-place overall finish, thanks to third- and second-place finishes in the two motos. Chad Reed, racing his first outdoor motocross race in two years, raced his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RMZ450 to a fourth and third-place finish for an overall fourth-place result. Michael Byrne finished fifteenth and fourteenth for an overall twelfth-place result in his first race back after recent shoulder surgery.
Ryan Dungey Speaks…
"It definitely feels good to be back outdoors. I think overall it was a good day. We had solid practices and finished first-fastest in both. Ended up second in the first moto, had a little bobble in a corner, and kind of lost the lead. Going into the second moto, not such a great start, but I worked my way through the pack and was able to work my way up to first. Two-one today for the overall. I think it was solid."
Mike Alessi Speaks…
"It was good. First moto we got a really great start and were out in front and pulling away big time. Just all of a sudden, I hit a turn and got stuck — literally got stuck and couldn’t get out. That put me all the way back to fourth. I charged back to third to try to salvage points. Second moto, got a great start, was out front and pulled away from everybody, and was riding a good pace and my own race. I led it ‘till the last couple laps when Ryan caught me and took the lead. We’ll come back strong next week."
Chad Reed Speaks…
"It was good. I got flashes of brilliance. There are some things I need to work on with me and I think we’ll be real good. I feel confident. The results on paper aren’t really as important to me as what it means to me. I was really more comfortable than I expected to be. I didn’t expect to be the fastest guy in practice, and I was. There’s a realistic side of things, and we tested twice and came racing. We made a lot of changes throughout the weekend that were positive ones. It’s promising."
Michael Byrne Speaks…
"It was okay. I got points, and that was the main goal. I probably don’t even know if I should be really racing yet, but you got to be in it to build those points up for the championship. I felt like I rode stronger in the second moto than in the first moto. The first moto I got a good start, but my shoulder just wasn’t used to the jarring of the hills and stuff. It got a little weak and I just kept falling back. The second moto I felt like I kind of maintained and caught the guys ahead of me. All in all, it was okay."
AMA Motocross 450 Class (Over-all Event Finishes):
1. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
2. Michael Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
3. Josh Grant, Yamaha
4. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
5. David Millsaps, Honda
6. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
7. Mike Brown, KTM
8. Cody Cooper, Yamaha
9. Weston Peick, Honda
10. Andrew Short, Honda
AMA Motocross 250 Class (Over-all Event Finishes):
1. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
2. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki
3. Tyla Rattray, Kawasaki
4. Tommy Searle, KTM
5. Trey Canard, Honda
6. Justin Barcia, Honda
7. Brett Metcalfe, Honda
8. Jake Weimer, Kawasaki
9. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
10. Blake Wharton, Honda
Next race is the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, California on May 30, 2009.Â
