Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
Josh Creamer Closes Out Season With Kawasaki’s
Fourth Win
2009 AMA ATV Motocross Nationals
- Round 11 - Loretta Lynn's Dirt Days
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Kawasaki's
Josh Creamer claims his 2nd AMA Pro ATV
Motocross Win of the season at Loretta Lynn's
Rnach |
Irvine, CA (8/18/2009) - Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Creamer went out in
style going 1-2 to earn his second overall win of
the season at the series finale at Loretta Lynn’s
Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. His teammate Chad
Wienen wanted to enjoy some of the winnings as he
earned the Moto 2 win and went seventh overall with
a 13-1. Although the championship didn’t go
to green, the team had huge success during the 2009
season with four of 11 overall wins, 10 moto wins,
and stood on the podium an additional nine times.
The KFX®450R was also the quad to beat in the
Pro Am classes as well with Cody Gibson claiming
both the Production and Unlimited championships
prior to the final round.
Way To
Go Out
The last race was a favorite for both Kawasaki
riders. Creamer finished on the podium at last
years finale and he came back with a vengeance
in 2009 going 1-2 for his second career win. In
the first moto, he didn’t waste anytime
getting out front, taking the holeshot and leading
the whole race to victory. In the second moto,
he didn’t get a great start, but moved quickly
through the pack. By the third lap he was in first,
but conceded the lead to his teammate and went
on to place second in the moto.
“The first moto went my way,” said
Creamer. “I think I won by over seven seconds
and the heat didn’t really bother me then.
In the second moto I had to work a little harder
since I didn’t get the start I wanted. I
played it smart when Wienen passed me because
I knew I still had the overall even if I didn’t
win the moto. It was nice to go out like this.”
Bad Luck, Good Luck
Like Creamer, Wienen enjoyed the spoils of victory
in the second moto, but with his first moto result,
he finished seventh overall. In the first moto,
Wienen got hooked together with another rider
and it took almost a minute to get untangled.
At that point, he did all he could to make up
as many positions as possible, but only had enough
time to move into 13th. He came out in the second
moto with a fire that sent him from seventh at
the start to the moto win.
“It was definitely unfortunate that I got
stuck together at the start,” said Wienen.
“I felt good all weekend and the bike was
working great. In the second moto, I got an okay
start and eventually got clear of the rest of
the riders at the end of the race. I passed Josh
with a few laps to go. It was great to go out
with a moto win because I felt like I had something
for everyone this weekend.”
Kawasaki Stands Out
Last year the Kawasaki KFX450R started to make
a name for itself in the AMA ATV Motocross Championship
series with its first moto win and constant podium
appearances. The 2009 season was a break out year
that saw the riders win four overalls, 10 of 22
moto wins and nine trips to the podium.
“This year was great for the Monster Energy
Kawasaki team,” said Team Manager Jimmy
White. “The quad is now a proven winner
we always knew it could be. In just the short
time that we have been back in ATV racing, Kawasaki
has become a constant threat each weekend for
moto wins.”
Top Qualifier
Although he didn’t get the overall result
he was looking for, Wienen took home an extra
$100 for winning the top qualifier award on Sunday
morning.
Filling the Gap
With Kawasaki’s Cody Gibson making the jump
up to the Pro class for the weekend, Kawasaki’s
Bobby Ross filled the missing gap and pulled out
a 2-1 overall victory in the Pro Am Production
class that is featured prior to each Pro moto.
The overall was his first in the class and he
went on to finish out the season second in points
behind Gibson.
Hot Weather
The weather in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. was the
usual hot and humid that the riders have come
to know for the final round. The heat didn’t
seem to bother the Monster Energy Kawasaki riders
as they rode hard every lap. Wienen posted the
fastest lap in both motos.
“I was thinking the heat was going to bother
me because I had been practicing in the same kind
of heat at home and it wasn’t fun,”
said Creamer. “In the first moto, I didn’t
even feel the heat, but the second moto I had
to push more to make it through the pack so I
felt it a little more. The training and practice
definitely pays off in the hot weather.”
What’s Next
The AMA ATV Motocross Championship series may
be over, but the guys will be filling their craving
to be on track with a few more races this season.
Wienen will try to redeem his finish at the next
round of the WORCS ATV series when the circuit
comes to Glen Helen Raceway in just over a month.
The New England born Creamer will be staying local
and challenging Kawasaki rider Joe Haavisto at
the New England ATV series over the next month.
AMA
ATV Motocross Championship
Loretta Lynn's Ranch – Hurricane Mills,
TN
August 16, 2009 |
ATV
Pro Class (Moto Finishes) |
1. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON,
CONN., KAWASAKI, 1-2
2. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 2-3
3. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can
Am, 3-4
4. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki,
4-5
5. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 7-6
6. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am,
6-7
7. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., KAWASAKI,
13-1
8. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda,
5-9
9. Brandon Smith, South Jordan, Utah, Can
Am, 12-10
10. KEITH LITTLE HUNTSVILLE, ALA.,
KAWASAKI, 11-12
Pro
Overall Point Standings |
1. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley,
Pa., Suzuki, 419
2. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 376
3. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., KAWASAKI, 373
4. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 356
5. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN.,
KAWASAKI, 345
6. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda,
329
7. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can
Am, 296
8. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am,
257
9. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am,
244
10. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 221 |
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