MX SPORTS PRO RACING:

A buzz was in the air as 40 years of motocross was celebrated at Unadilla Valley Sports Center for round nine of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the Unadilla Retro Motocross National. With championships in sight, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Australia, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, captured the overall victories in the 450 and 250 Class, respectively.

Throughout the second half of the season, Reed has been at the top of his game. The two-time AMA Supercross champion has four wins this season and appears to be on his way to a first career Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship crown, rounding out what has already been a tremendously successful career. After working his way into the lead, Reed dominated each of the day’s motos en route to his third 1-1 sweep of 2009 and now carries a 81-point advantage going into the next round at Budds Creek.

“I’ve been working hard to get back to 100-percent healthy,” said Reed. “I had some excuses earlier in the year and I feel they were legit. This is a product of all the help and support I’ve received from my doctor, my wife and everyone at the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki team. I’ve always struggled here, but today I was excited. I had a lot of confidence coming in and this is the best opportunity I’ve had here.”

Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, made his return to the overall podium in the runner-up spot (5-2), while Reed’s Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki teammate and fellow Australian Michael Byrne finished third (4-3).

After watching a nine-point lead dwindle to a tie atop the standings with Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., over the past two rounds, Pourcel made a statement with a pair of convincing moto victories and his third overall victory of the season. The Frenchman’s win gives him a six point advantage over Dungey, who finished second, with three races remaining.

“I just felt really good on the track,” explained Pourcel. “I was ready for my day and today was my day. I found good speed and lines on the track and it worked. Today (the track) was worse than usual. It was really bumpy and rough but I like when it’s like that. There are lots of choices for lines which is good.”

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, rounded out the overall podium in third.

Next weekend, the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship travels to Mechanicsville, Md. for round 10 on Saturday, August 22 from Budds Creek MX Park for the Monster Energy Motocross National. Live coverage can be seen on NBC at 4 p.m. ET.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Unadilla Retro Motocross National
Unadilla Valley Sports Center – New Berlin, N.Y.
August 15, 2009
Round 9 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)
1.    Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (1-1)
2.    Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (5-2)
3.    Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (4-3)
4.    Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (8-4)
5.    Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (3-11)
6.    Gareth Swanepoel, South Africa, Kawasaki (7-6)
7.    Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (6-8)
8.    Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha (10-5)
9.    Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (2-16)
10.    Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki (11-7)

450 Class Championship Standings
1.    Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 387
2.    Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 305
3.    Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 286
4.    Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 272
5.    Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki, 245
6.    Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 198
7.    Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 183
8.    Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 163
9.    Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 161
10.    Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 142

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1.    Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-1)
2.    Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-2)
3.    Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-3)
4.    Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (4-4)
5.    Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (9-5)
6.    Kyle Cunningham, Ft. Worth, Texas, Kawasaki (6-8)
7.    Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM (10-7)
8.    Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda (7-10)
9.    Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha (14-9)
10.    PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki (13-11)

250 Class Championship Standings
1.    Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 387
2.    Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 381
3.    Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 287
4.    Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM, 268
5.    Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 255
6.    Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 235
7.    Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 227
8.    Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 214
9.    Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 175
10.    Kyle Cunningham, Ft. Worth, Texas, Kawasaki, 162