As threatening skies moved into Budds Creek MX Park and rain began to fall at the Monster Energy Motocross National, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Australia, endured the conditions to take his fifth overall victory of the season as well as capture his first AMA Pro Motocross championship with two rounds remaining. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, grabbed the 250 Class win for his third victory of the season.
Reed’s return to the outdoor nationals has been one of the most successful seasons of his career. Prior to 2009, the two-time AMA Supercross champion had never won an AMA Pro Motocross event but has broken through in dominating fashion this season. After taking the runner-up spot in moto one, he continued to push, passing Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco, of Tallahassee, Fla., for the lead early in the second moto and cruising to the championship. Additionally, Reed took home a $5,000 bonus as the winner of the three-race Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross.
1st 450cc – Chad Reed Speaks…
"I feel like (my career) is complete," stated Reed. "I also feel like I got a lot more fight in me, but it’s a step in the right direction. This is what hard work is all about. I want to thank everyone at Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki for putting this together. It was a last minute deal and just like in all racing, we had our ups and downs but came out on top in the end."
First moto winner Davi Millsaps, of Murrieta, Calif., finished second overall (1-6) giving Honda Red Bull Racing two of the three podium positions with Tedesco (5-3) rounding things out in third.
As the 250 Class title fight winds down, every moto counts for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., and with such difficult conditions, Saturday’s outcome took on extra importance. While Pourcel took the win in the first moto, his teammate Weimer overcame some of the most difficult conditions the series has ever seen to win the final moto as well as the overall.
1st 250cc – Jake Weimer Speaks…
"I’ve had glorious moments in the mud like today and I’ve had the worst days of my life," said Weimer. "You just never know how it’s going to go. I got a good start and kept my goggles on so it worked out."
Pourcel rode conservatively in the second moto, finishing third, which led to second overall in addition to gaining valuable points over Dungey in the championship battle. He also took home $5,000 as the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross winner. Dungey (3-4) completed the podium in third and currently sits 13 points behind Pourcel with two rounds remaining.
Next weekend, the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship travels to Southwick, Mass. for the penultimate round on Saturday, August 29 from MX-338 for the Motocross 338 Motocross National. Same-day coverage can be seen on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET.
Budds Creek MX Park – Mechanicsville, Md.
August 22, 2009
Round 10 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (2-1)
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (1-6)
3. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (5-3)
4. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha (4-4)
5. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (12-2)
6. Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (6-5)
7. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki (9-8)
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (7-10)
9. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha (3-27)
10. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Yamaha (11-12)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 434
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 330
3. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 322
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 280
5. Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki, 276
6. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 229
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 201
8. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 176
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 176
10. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Yamaha, 150
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-3)
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (3-4)
4. Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda (4-7)
5. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki (8-6)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (18-2)
7. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha (14-5)
8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM (11-9)
9. PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki (10-10)
10. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (6-15)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 432
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 419
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 312
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 302
5. Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM, 282
6. Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 267
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 242
8. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 214
9. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 196
10. Kyle Cunningham, Ft. Worth, Texas, Kawasaki, 174
