Yamaha's Dustin Nelson Extends Points Lead SpeedWorld Quadcross
Yamaha / ITP Quadcross - Round 7 - Surprise, AZ - September 18, 2010

Cypress, CA (9/20/2010) - The September 18-19 weekend was a winning one for Yamaha pro motorcycle and ATV racers across four states, headlined by Yamaha Racing’s Dustin Nelson taking his fifth ITP QuadCross Pro Production win of the year on his YFZ450R and Am Pro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley dominating the OMA Nationals Pro off-road race aboard his 2010 YZ450F. Amazingly, Nelson also swept the ITP QuadCross Pro Open class as Brandon Sommers took an AWRCS ATV win in Pennsylvania on his GT Thunder YFZ450R, Am Pro’s Barry Hawk topped the AWRCS bike class aboard his 2010 YZ450F, and Obermeyer Am Pro’s Charlie Mullins won the Mid America XC series event in Ohio on his YZ450F.

Withering heat of 107 degrees greeted ITP QuadCross racers on Saturday afternoon at the Speedworld MX Park near Phoenix, Arizona. Nelson’s existing points lead gave him gate priority for the first Pro Production moto, and he used it to grab the holeshot and win his first race of the day. In moto two, Nelson got away behind fellow YFZ450R racer Justin Noss, took the lead before the end of lap one, and eventually opened up a comfortable 12-second advantage after 20 minutes. He backed this up with twin victories in the Open Pro class to make a perfect day. “This is my second year on the 450R model,” Nelson said. “For me it’s the total package, with a great motor and great handling right out of the box.”

OMA Nationals competitors didn’t have heat to contend with – they had mud. A rain system began pelting the Memphis, Missouri area on Friday and didn’t let up until race time, leaving riders with a massive challenge of simply completing the tight, muddy course. Whibley not only completed it, but also turned in a stellar performance aboard his big YZ four-stroke to win his sixth consecutive OMA race and forge a 27-point lead in the series with just one round remaining. “Across the board, this proves that no matter what the conditions are, YFZs and YZs are capable of getting on the podium,” commented Donnie Luce, Yamaha’s ATV and off-road racing coordinator.