Yamaha's Thomas Brown Scores First AMA Pro ATV MX Podium
AMA ATV Motocross - Round 3 - Birch Creek - Danville, Virignia

Yamaha's #84 Thomas Brown Podiums at Birch Creek

The Birch Creek Motorsports track featured both dry clay and moist loamy sections that made overall machine balance critical. As well, the 40-bike dual gate meant the track could handle a big field, and 17 pro riders eventually lined up. Sunday-morning qualifying had earned Thomas the ninth gate pick, about mid-field, and he selected a spot just inside of center. When the gate dropped for moto one Thomas powered to the first turn inside the top five, got pushed wide and fell back to seventh, and then advanced back to fifth – all by the end of a most exciting first lap. He maintained this position for most of the moto before ultimately passing Chad Wienen in the closing laps to finish fourth – tying his best-ever AMA Pro ATV result to date.

With an even better gate pick for the second moto, Thomas and his YFZ450R rocketed into the first turn in third. He took control when early leaders Dustin Wimmer and Josh Upperman faltered, but Josh Creamer eventually got a wheel inside to take over the lead, and John Natalie likewise squeaked through late in the race. With an overall podium in his sights, Thomas used his head and brought his 450R home in third behind Creamer and Natalie. “I had great starts in both motos and the overall handling was awesome all weekend,” he explained. “My bike flowed really well on the track and I was even able to charge the corners over squared-edge braking bumps.” Yamaha off-road coordinator Donnie Luce added, “Those guys have been working really hard to get their first podium – and now they’ve also given us our best AMA Pro ATV finish in two years!”