Motoworks / Can-Am's John
Natalie Wins AMA ATV MX Championship
AMA ATV MX Pro Championships
- Round 11 - Loretta Lynns - August 13, 2011
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2011 AMA
ATV MX Pro Champion John Natalie and his
team celebrate the first Pro Motocross
Championship for Can-Am at Loretta Lynn's
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Valcourt, Québec, (8/16//2011)
- Motoworks / Can-Am pro DS 450 racer John Natalie
won the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross Championship by finishing
third overall in the series finale held at Loretta
Lynn Dude Ranch. Natalie tallied 2-4 moto scores
and literally earned the third spot on the Pro class
podium with an impressive moto-two performance that
saw him finish in fourth place after battling back
from dead last after a crash in turn two.
“John has been committed to winning the
Pro class championship aboard the DS 450 for four
years now and he really deserves to be champion,
especially after the inspiring performance he
put in today,” said Jimmie O’Dell,
Race Manager, Can-Am. “He rode with the
heart and conviction of a true champion, battling
back from his horrendous crash at the start of
moto two. It was an unbelievable effort today.
But all season long he has fought fiercely for
this title, overcoming the broken arm and riding
through pain the past three races to preserve
and earn the sport’s ultimate prize and
win the championship title for team Motoworks
/ Can-Am. We are extremely proud of John and the
entire Motoworks team. Mission accomplished.”
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Natlie makes
his last jump of the 2011 season aboard
his Can-Am DS 450 ATV to win the AMA ATV
MX Pro Championship
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Natalie rode his DS 450 to a fourth-place start
to begin the first Pro class moto and then moved
into third place a few laps later. After Can-Am
X-Team Pro racer Chase Snapp stopped to repair
a derailed chain, Natalie moved into second place
and set his sights on the leader. He posted the
fastest lap of the race on lap 11 as he charged
ahead and pulled close to the leader. In the end,
however, he settled for second and gained two
valuable points in his chase for the Pro class
title.
Moto two started much the same as Natalie was
amongst the top three after the first turn. However,
in turn two, Natalie was thrown from his DS 450
and then hit and actually run over by another
racer. Uninjured, Natalie quickly sprung to his
feet, restarted his machine and started chasing
the pack from last place. Going into the moto,
he knew a ninth-place finish in the second moto
would tie him for the points lead and give him
the title via the tiebreaker. However, Natalie
instead charged hard aboard the DS 450 and fought
for a spot on the final Pro class podium. He had
moved up seven spots by lap three. Two laps later
Natalie had moved comfortably into fifth place.
Still he didn’t stop. On the final lap,
he passed Snapp to move into fourth place. Natalie’s
2-4 finish earned him not only the third spot
on the Loretta’s podium but also the 2011
AMA ATV Motocross Pro Championship.
“It’s been a long road and we finally
made it and took the championship,” said
Natalie. “It felt great to come out here
and take the championship in the last round of
the season. I have to thank everyone at Can-Am
and Motoworks and everyone who has been there
for us this season and stuck behind us; it brings
tears to my eyes. This has been such an incredible
season, and with all the ups and downs our team
has had with both Chad and I getting injured,
for our team to take the championship couldn’t
be any sweeter right now.”
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Pro Rookie
Chase Snapp finished the season with sixth
place overall in the Pro points race
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Can-Am X-Team member Chase Snapp earned seventh
place overall in the Pro class aboard his DS 450.
The rookie pro looked anything but as he led for
three laps of the first moto before an errant rock
derailed the chain and forced him to stop to fix
it. He finished 10th in moto one. Another good start
put Snapp in the top three in the second Pro moto.
He ended the moto in fifth place and his 10-5 finishes
were good enough for seventh on the day and helped
him secure sixth overall in the Pro class for the
season.
“I felt like if I hadn’t thrown my
chain that I would have won that moto,”
said Snapp. “I’m happy with how everything
has gone this season and I’m hoping to come
back and do even better next year. I have to thank
Can-Am and Motoworks for all of their help this
year. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 Pro racer Chad Wienen,
who remained out of action due to his recovery
from back surgery, ended the year in seventh place
in the Pro class points standings. His four overall
victories in 2011 led the Pro class. Wienen, who
is expecting a full recovery from his injury,
was on hand to sign autographs and assist AMA
ATV MX announcer Rodney Tomblin in the announcing
booth during both Pro class motos.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire
2011 schedule, the 2011 contingency program and
Can-Am DS 450 ATV amateur racer support program,
please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
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