Can-Am/ Motoworks Chad Wienen (right) grabbed the ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier Award while Teammate John Natalie (left) grabbed his first win of the AMA Pro ATV Motocross season

Vista, CA (4/6/2011) – Motoworks’ John Natalie, Jr. went 1-1 at Ballance MX to take his first win of the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross Championships while teammate Chad Wienen finished in a close second to join him on the Pro podium.

A break in the weather made for favorable track conditions for round three that saw the best battle of the season for the number one spot on the podium as John Natalie, Jr. left no doubt that he is hungry for a championship, and has what it takes to make it happen.

John Natalie took both Moto wins aboard his Can-Am / Motoworks DS450 ATV

As the gate dropped for the first moto, Natalie found himself in third place going into the first corner behind rookie Devin Heimes and Josh Upperman. Natalie made quick work of Heimes and soon began to chase down Upperman who had about a two second lead. Natalie applied the pressure and waited for his opportunity to get by Upperman. He wouldn’t have to wait long as that chance came about in the fifth lap. Natalie began to pull away, but was soon caught by teammate Chad Wienen. Wienen pressured Natalie for several laps, but the Ironman never gave in and held the number one spot all the way to the checkered flag.

#13 John Natalie & teammate #44 Chad Wienen battle for the number one position in the AMA ATV Pro Class

In moto two, Natalie got off to an even better start in second and soon made the pass on Upperman, who again had the early lead. Natalie pulled away, but in the final laps, Wienen again caught up to the number 13 Can-Am and the battled began. Despite Wienen’s best efforts, Natalie managed to keep his lead and take the moto two win, giving him his first overall win of the season.

“I had a great race out there and I think we put on a good show for everyone. It was great to hear everyone cheering us on out there. I have to thank everyone at Can-Am and Motoworks for helping us get to where we are,” said Natalie.

Chad Wienen was looking for his third straight win, but for round three he would have to settle for the number two spot on the podium. In the first moto, Wienen was outside of the top five off the start, but he worked his way into second by the mid-way point. From there Wienen began to chase down his teammate, Natalie, who was in the lead. Wienen closed the gap, but was unable to get around him and would settle for second in the first moto.

In moto two, Wienen was hoping for a better start, but he missed a shift and was buried deep in the pack. Wienen put the hammer down and by the seventh lap, he had worked his way up from tenth to second and was again battling it out with his teammate for the lead. Wienen and Natalie were bumper to bumper and Wienen was giving it his all, and despite recording the fastest lap of the entire race with a time of 01:34.188 in lap ten, he was unable to get around Natalie. Wienen would end his day with a pair of second place finishes that gave him second overall for the day.

“John and I both did a good job out there and made it on the podium. I have to thank all of our fans. It was great hearing them all cheer as we went by, that really helped to keep the momentum going. I didn’t get the starts I wanted, but I gave it everything I had and caught up to John, but he made it hard for me so I am happy to take second this time, but I’m going for the win at Budds Creek,” stated Wienen.

Round number four of the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross Championships will head to buds Creek in Mechanicville, MD on April 16th – 17th where both Chad Wienen and John Natalie will be going for the podium.