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AMA ATV Motocross Nationals
Round #1 - Aonia Pass MX
Washington, GA
March 24, 2012
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AMA Pro ATV Motocross
- Round 1 - Aonia Pass - Race Report
Yamaha's Chad Wienen Wins,
John Natlaie & Josh Upperman Podium
| 2012
AMA Pro ATV Motocross
Round 1 - Aonia Pass MX |
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Washington,GA
(3/24/2012) – The competition was
incredible for the opening round of the 2012 AMA
Pro ATV Motocross championship as Yamaha’s
Chad Wienen made his return to take both
moto wins and top the pro podium while current champ,
Can-am’s John Natalie, Jr. followed in second
with Baldwin’s Josh Upperman in third.
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The
2012 AMA ATV Motocross Championship kicked
off this weekend at the Aonia Pass MX
Track in Washington, GA & over 600
racers showed up for the opening round,
which included 17 Pro racers
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Great weather was on tap for the season opener at
Aonia Pass MX with temps in the 80’s and partly
sunny skies, and the track was in great condition
for the start of the race. The favorable conditions
allowed the top runners to put down some incredible
lap times, and Joel Hetrick appeared to be right
at home on his new Can-am DS450 ATV ride for 2012
as he secured the ATVriders.com Fastest Qualifier
Award.
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| Motoworks
/ Can-am's #88 Joel Hetrick scored the fastest
laptimes in both Pro practices on the Can-Am
DS450 to secure the ATVriders.com Fastest
Qualifier Award |
The first Pro ATV Moto of the 2012 season proved
to be one of the most competitive in a long time
with a moto one battle for the lead between Chad
Wienen and Joel Hetrick, and a late moto charge
from current champ John Natalie, Jr. and as if
the first moto wasn’t exciting enough, moto
two was a nail biter, all the way to the checkered
flag.
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Baldwin
Motorsport's #20 Josh Upperman grabbed
the Moto One Holeshot
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Yamaha’s Chad Wienen was nothing short
of impressive in the first moto of the season.
Wienen was in fourth off the start and made quick
work of Nick De Noble and John Natalie. Wienen
then began to chase down leader, Josh Upperman.
Upperman put up a fight and the pair battled furiously,
but Wienen was able to make the pass and take
over the lead.
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Yamaha's
#44 Chad Wienen charged his way to the
front, but he wasn't alone with Can-Am's
#88 Joel Hetrick in chase
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Wienen then came under fire from Joel Hetrick,
who made his way up to the number two spot. Wienen
and Hetrick battled relentlessly and when Wienen
made a slight mistake, Hetrick took over the lead
for about half a lap, but it would not last. “Joel
gave me a lot of pressure early on and he took
the lead when I made a mistake. We came into one
corner and connected and he went down. I feel
bad for him and I’m glad he’s ok,”
said Wienen.
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/ Can-am's #88 Joel Hetrick would make the
pass on Wienen briefly in lap 8 as the pair
battled for the lead., Hetrick went off
the track before the end of the lap, which
left him sidelined for the rest of the race.
Hetrick was visibily upset by giving Wienen
a thumbs down |
After Hetrick fell back, Wienen was able to relax
a bit but not for long as John Natalie began to
close the gap in the final two laps. Wienen had
a solid enough lead to keep his distance and secure
his first moto win of the season.
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SSi
Decal's #44 Chad Wienen was able to out
run the #13 John Natalie Jr to the checkered
flag in Moto one for the win on his Yamaha
YFZ450R, which had Wienen smiling ear to
ear on the Podium |
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