Can-Am/ Motoworks John Natalie placed 10th overall but still took the AMA ATV MX Pro Points lead at Sunday Creek

Vista, CA (7/4/2011) – It was a tough week for the Motoworks team with Chad Wienen and John Natalie, Jr. both sustaining injuries, but John Natalie would more than live up to his Ironman reputation as he chose to endure the pain and ride injured. Natalie’s determination, and desire to win, kept him going as he took a top ten position and took over the pro points lead at round number eight of the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross Championships.

Sunday Creek was the hosting facility for this round with rain and plenty of mud greeting racers for the first moto. Despite his broken arm, John Natalie, Jr. was lined up at the gate and ready for action.

Natalie got off to a good start in moto one as he left the line in sixth place. Natalie charged hard and made his way up to fourth place by the third lap and was looking quite impressive despite his injury, but the deteriorating track conditions took their toll and Natalie fell back, and eventually he would be forced to pull off the track, but that did not deter him from taking to the line again in moto two. “The first moto was pretty tough and my arm was really killing me out there, but I wasn’t going to give up and decided I was going back out for moto two,” said Natalie.

Natalie currently has 307 points in the pro class after round 8 aboard his Can-Am DS450 ATV

As the gate dropped, Natalie was last off the line, but put in an incredible charge. Natalie worked his way up from the back of the pack to tenth place where he battled it out with Joe Byrd, who is notoriously tough to pass. Natalie was able to make the pass after several laps and form there he put the hammer down and made his way all the way up to sixth place before taking the checkered flag. Natalie’s perseverance would give him tenth overall for the day, but it would also give him the pro championship points lead. “I went out there and did what I needed to do. I want that championship and I’m not going to let anything, not even a broken arm, stop me,” he said with determination.

“We have two weeks before we go to Unadilla so I have some time to heal. I’m not going there to salvage points and I’m not going there for a spot on the podium; I’m going there to win,” added Natalie, who has the points lead with 307 points.

WORCS series pro points leader, Jeremie Warnia came out for round eight and despite the muddy conditions in moto one, he still had fun. Warnia, who took the ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier Award, was looking great off the start as he came off the line in fifth and worked into the number four spot by lap two. Warnia was holding strong in that position, but encountered mechanical issues due to the wet and muddy conditions and was forced to pull off the track. “I was doing well, and I felt really good out there. I had a little bad luck, but it was still fun,” he said.

In moto two, Warnia was in mid pack off the start and hovered there for the entire moto. Warnia would end his day with a seventh place finish in moto two, and take 14th place overall.

Chad Wienen who suffered a broken back while training at him home in Galena, IL last week is on the mend and is expected to make a full recovery. “I’m really disappointed that I won’t be able to finish out the season, but I wish John the best and hope he is able to bring the team a championship. I’m feeling better every day and I plan to be back next season,” stated Wienen.

Round number nine of the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross Championships will head to Unadilla in New Berlin, NY on July 16th, where John Natalie, Jr. will be going for the top of the box as he tried to extend his points lead as he goes for the 2011 pro championship.