News 6 Jun 2010

AMA MX: Dungey captures first career 450 Class victory

Ryan Dungey bounced back to take his first career 450 Class win at Freestone.

Ryan Dungey bounced back to take his first career 450 Class win at Freestone.

Round two of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship commenced from Freestone Raceway in Wortham, Texas, on Saturday with the Flagstar Bank Freestone National, where Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey captured the 450 Class victory to earn his first career win at the top level of the sport.

After a tough opening round, Dungey returned stronger than ever in Texas and proved he is a title contender in the premier class. After grabbing good starts in each moto, he worked his way into the lead in the early stages and never look back, posting perfect 1-1 moto scores en route to the overall.

“It feels good to come back strong and get a win,” said Dungey. “We had a tough weekend at the opening round but we went back and worked hard to get better and were able to get a win. I want to be at the front of the pack and challenge for wins and the championship so it feels good to get that first one out of the way.”

Defending 450 Class champion and first round winner Chad Reed, of Australia, endured a pair of tough starts aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki, but showed an impressive resiliency by working his way through the field, finishing second and third to grab the runner-up spot overall.

Reed took 42 points from today’s event and now sits 11 points clear of today’s overall winner Ryan Dungey in the championship standings.

“I think today was a very successful day,” Reed said “Although we didn’t reach the top step of the podium we took home valuable points and learnt a lot about the bike.

“My track at home is very similar to what we raced on today and I have been having some issues there that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. With today’s track having similar characteristics it allowed us to confirm our thoughts and move forward yet again.

“Physically it was an exhausting day with the temperature so with 20 races still to go in the championship I really had no interest in pushing too hard and making a mistake. I was riding well within my ability and that was still enough to take second.”

Merge Racing Honda’s Kyle Regal, of Kemp, Texas, grabbed a career-best third overall (5-3) in front of his hometown fans.

Despite a first turn crash in the final 250 Class moto of the day, Pourcel battled his way to the front portion of the field to finish fifth and in the end, salvaged the overall victory by virtue of a first moto win to take the early-season points lead.

“I was surprised to get the overall,” said Pourcel. “I fell in the second moto and just rode as good as I could to get a good finish. It’s good for the championship and I will go to High Point next weekend and try to win again.”

Pourcel led the way to a Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki and international sweep of the podium as Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, tied a career-best second overall and rookie Dean Wilson, of Canada, captured the best career finish of his young career in third.

The MotorcylceUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship hosted its second round of the 2010 season as well with opening round winner Jessica Patterson remaining undefeated on the season, sweeping both motos on her way to the win for DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha.

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues next weekend from Mt. Morris, Pa., for round three and the Rockstar Energy High Point National from High Point Raceway on June 12.

OVERALL RESULTS:
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-1)
2. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (2-3)
3. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda (6-2)
4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (7-4)
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (5-10)
6. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki (4-12)
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (12-5)
8. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (3-16)
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (9-9)
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Yamaha (8-11)

450 Class Championship Standings
1. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 87
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 76
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 68
4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 66
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 60
6. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 55
7. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 54
8. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 51
9. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 43
10. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 37

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-5)
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (6-1)
3. Dean Wilson, Canada, Kawasaki (3-3)
4. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (8-2)
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (4-7)
6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (2-11)
7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (9-6)
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (5-12)
9. Max Anstie, England, Yamaha (15-4)
10. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (10-8)

250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 86
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 77
3. Dean Wilson, Canada, Kawasaki, 69
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 68
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 61
6. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 58
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 56
8. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 54
9. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 50
10. Max Anstie, England, Yamaha, 40

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