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AMA ATV Motocross Nationals
Round #5 - Ballance Moto-X
Bowling Green, Kentucky
June 2, 2012
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Can-Am's John Natalie
Goes 1-1 at Ballance Moto-X Night Race
Walsh's Cody Gibson Dominates
Pro-Am Production ATV class
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AMA Pro ATV Motocross
Round 5 - Ballance Moto-X |
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Bowling Green, KY (6/2/2012) –
Round 5 of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship
Series made its way to Oakland, Ky., where defending
champion John Natalie made history by sweeping
the first-ever ATVMX night race at Ballance Moto
X. The specially-designed night track was made
up of technical whoop-sections and quick lap times,
and the unique atmosphere made for a spectator-friendly
weekend of racing.
Central Kentucky hosted a regular day of amateur
racing at the home track of 9-Time GNCC ATV champion
Bill Ballance, but the evening show brought an
all-new element to the race program. The AMA Pro
ATV class featured two motos under the lights,
while the Pro-Am Production class highlighted
the amateur portion of night racing, and the Women
and 50cc Sr. (6-8) classes wrapped up their second
motos under the lights.
Motoworks/Can-Am’s John Natalie kicked
off the afternoon’s qualifying with high
intensity as he took home the ATVRiders.com Fastest
Qualifier Award for the first time this season.
Natalie maintained his momentum as the gate dropped
for Moto 1. It was Texas native Craig Porter who
grabbed the SSi Decals Holeshot Award in Moto
1, but Natalie put himself into the lead position
after getting around Porter and Chad Wienen on
the opening lap.
Wienen Motorsports/SSi Decals/Walsh Race Craft/Yamaha’s
Chad Wienen is coming off a three-race win streak
after taking the victory in his home state last
round. Wienen settled in behind the defending
champ Natalie and the duo kept within two seconds
of each other throughout the entire 17-lap race.
Moto 1 came down to the final moments between
Natalie and Wienen, and this time it was Natalie
who came out on top.
“I was determined to get that fastest qualifier
award this afternoon and I was pumped to take
it home,” said Natalie. “We got the
bike dialed in after last night’s practice
and everything was working well today.”
Baldwin Motorports/PEP’s Josh Upperman
got off to a good start in Moto 1 and spent a
majority of the race battling with Motoworks/Can-Am’s
Joel Hetrick for the third place spot. Hetrick’s
holeshot was less-than-desirable but the young
gun pushed his way inside the top three by mid-moto,
only to have Upperman reclaim the third place
position by the end of the moto.
TBROWN Yamaha Racing/Moto-X-Perts rider Thomas
Brown got a back of the pack holeshot in Moto
1, but quickly made his way into the top five
battle with Hetrick and Upperman. From there,
Hetrick put a charge on Wienen for the second
place spot but a late pass attempt caused Hetrick
to lose some time and Wienen went on to take second.
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