RRR’s Sam Rowe Best Pro Finish
at Unadilla MX
Root River Racing’s
Pro ATV MX Race Report
La Crosse, WI (7/22/2016) - Root
River Racing’s Pro racer Sam Rowe captured his season
best finish with eighth overall in the Pro class
at round nine of the 2016 AMA ATV Motocross National
Championship. Racing was held at the historic Unadilla
MX in New Berlin, NY. Teammate Josh Upperman took
ninth overall.
The day started off a positive note for Rowe
during timed qualifying and only improved from
there. “I started off feeling great in timed qualifying
and when the first moto came around I got a decent
start behind Nick Gennusa and Brett Musick. For
the first couple laps I stayed with them. I put
my head down and caught up to Musick and got around
him, so I ended up seventh in the first moto.
That is my highest moto finish all year,” explained
Rowe.
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Sam Rowe
finished a season best 8th Overall in
the Pro Class
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After a great first moto, Rowe’s confidence was
building and it showed in the second moto when
he rocketed his Root River Racing machine off
the gate to a second place start behind Chad Wienen.
“I was definitely freaking out a little and got
kind of pumped up. About halfway through, I was
starting to regain my composure in fifth place,
but in the Pro section Musick and I came together,
and I came off the bike a little. I kept the clutch
going so the bike did not stall, but I dropped
back to tenth. It was a crazy moto, and I think
if nothing happened, I could have came out with
a solid sixth or seventh, but overall I am stoked
on my finish.”
In Pro Am, Rowe went 3-10 for sixth overall.
The second moto Rowe connected with his teammate
in the start, nearly crashing and causing some
mechanical issues that kept him from the finish
he was counting on.
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Sam Rowe
finished 3rd in Pro-Am Moto One at Unadilla
MX
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“I came out in second and right after the first
corner my teammate and I connected fourth gear
wide open. My rear end started to swap out really
bad. I don’t know how I held on to it and saved
it, but I am really thankful that I did. All in
all it was a good weekend, I rode good and had
fun,” explained Rowe.
Root River Racing’s other Pro rider Josh Upperman
took ninth overall in the Pro class, right behind
Rowe. “I just had a really bad holeshot and was
in the back of the pack. With the track being
so fast it was harder to pass. Everyone was running
a really good pace and I was just not able to
make passes,” said Upperman.
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Josh Upperman
finished 9th Overall at Unadilla MX
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Upperman is still fourth in the championship
points and is optimistic heading into the final
rounds of the season. “We are still right there.
With the points being so tight it is definitely
going to be a battle to the end. It is what it
is for the weekend. I just have to try to not
let that bug me and put my head down, stay focused,
and go into Redbud and get on that podium,” stated
Upperman.
Root River Racing’s Pro riders will return to
AMA ATV Motocross National Championship racing
at the tenth round. The event will be held at
Redbud MX in Buchanan, MI July 30-31.
Josh Upperman 2016
Sponsors:
Root River Racing, Hoosier Tires, Motowoz, Fly Racing, Hinson, JB Racing, Rage ATV, DWT, Fasst company, Sunstar, Powermadd, FTR, Fourwerx, Yoshimura, Pepsi, DP Brakes, Rath, 100%, La Crescent Wine and Spirit, Streamline, PT Welding, Works Connection, RPM, Racing for Cancer, C&L Powder Coating, Trimbles Cycle Center, Rods Powersports, Severson Oil co
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