Pala AMA Motocross: Finale Preview

2011 AMA Motocross

Only one round remains in the 2011 AMA Motocross Championship, the series concluding this Saturday at Pala Raceway in Northern San Diego County, Calif. This is the newest circuit on the AMA Motocross schedule, the raceway premiering just last season.

For most of the 2011 MX Championship, it was a battle between Two-Two Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey.

But after his hectic crash at Millville, Minn., Reed began to fall to third in the point standings as the AMA MX series heads to the season finale at Pala Raceway this weekend; the Australian is 79 points off the lead.

But the man who leads doesn’t have much breathing run. The 2012 Supercross Champion Villopoto has 481 points heading into Pala Raceway, just 14 ahead of Dungey.

Dungey has one up on Villopoto, considering he took a 1-1 win at Pala last season en route to his motocross title in his rookie 450cc year. If Dungey riders flawlessly, winning both motos, Villopoto would need fourth or better in each moto to secure his first-ever 450cc Motocross title.

In the 250cc Class, after an impressive 1-1 performance for his second overall victory of the summer, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson became the 24th rider in AMA Pro Motocross history to claim a 250 Class title. Throughout the season, Wilson has set the standard for consistency, finishing on the overall podium in 10 of 11 rounds, including seven runner-up efforts. His series-leading point total and average finish is an indicator of the success he’s achieved, in what has become one of the most impressive championship performances of all-time, MX Sports says.

MX Sports reports that while one champion will be crowned at Pala in the 450 Class, another will walk away with a number one plate in the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship. After a dominant outing at Steel City, DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson decreased her deficit to points leader, and American Honda rider, Ashley Fiolek from 30 to 22 points. Patterson, the reigning WMX Class Champion, will have her work cut out for her on Saturday if she is to claim her seventh-career title, while Fiolek will simply look to replicate her winning efforts from Pala last season, and capture her third WMX Class title in four years.

The on-track action for the Traxxas Pala Motocross National begins this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. EDT with practice and qualifying. Opening ceremonies begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT with motos kicking off at 4 p.m. EDT

2011 Pala Motocross TV Schedule

• Sept. 10 / FUEL TV 4 p.m. 250/450 First Motos (live)
• Sept. 10 / SPEED 7 p.m. 450 Second Moto (live)
• Sept. 10 / SPEED 8 p.m. 250 Second Moto(Live)
• Sept. 15 / Fuel TV 10 p.m. Highlight Show

2011 AMA Motocross 450 Class Championship Standings (after 11 of 12 rounds)

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 481
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 467
3. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda – 402
4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki – 342
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM – 272
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 251
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 196
8. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda – 193
9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha – 191
10. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 173

2011 AMA Motocross 250 Class Championship Standings

1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki – 488
2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki – 436
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 427
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 290
5. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 283
6. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha – 270
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 236
8. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki – 197
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 195
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda – 181

2011 AMA Motocross WMX Class Championship Standings

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda – 321
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha – 299
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda – 268
4. Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM – 195
5. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda – 180
6. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Kawasaki – 171
7. Marissa Markelon, Bridgeport, Conn., Yamaha – 168
8. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 161
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Suzuki – 140
10. Lindsey Palmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda – 137