2009 AMA ATV Motocross Nationals #6 - Steel City - Live Race Coverage (

Delmot, PA - Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura factory rider Dustin Wimmer, the defending AMA Pro ATV Motocross Champion, is out of action as he recovers from an injury to his shoulder. With Wimmer out, Monster Kawasaki's Chad Wienen captured his first win of the season with 1-1 scores at the previous race at Sunset Ridge, and Honda's Joe Byrd took over the series points lead from Wimmer. It will be a last minute decision for Wimmer to race this weekend as the battle for the championship resumes at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, PA. The event also marks round five of the amateur portion of the National program.

oe Byrd, the 2006 and 2007 AMA Pro Motocross Series' Champion from Union City, Tennessee broke Wimmer's winning streak with his victory a few weeks ago at Ballance MX and is now the points leader, despite having bike problems at Sunset Ridge. Wimmer is only 11 points behind in second and Wienen, who suffered through a few mechanical problems at the beginning of the season, is in third. Josh Creamer, of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team, fell to fourth in the points standings, despite an improved fourth place finish at Sunset Ridge. Pennyslvania's own 2005 Champion John Natalie had a bad run at Sunset Ridge to come in ninth, falling to seventh in the points, but has shown the speed all season to win races. In addition, nationally-recognized stars including veteran Doug Gust, Jeremy Lawson, Josh Upperman, Pat Brown and a crop of hard charging rookies will make up a full gate of talent in the AMA Pro ATV Class.

Pro-Am Unlimited Class

In the Pro-Am Unlimited Ranks, the day belonged to the rookie #88 Joel Hetrick as he grabbed the Holeshot in Both Motos and held the lead from start to finish to secure a 1-1 finish for his first overall win

Media Allstars #18 Cody Grant grabbed the runners-up spot behind Hetrick with a division Moto win, but he wasn't able to reel in Hetrick in the 2nd Moto

Walsh / Kawasaki’s Cody Gibson earned the final spot on the Podium

ATP's Jeffrey Rastrelli finally turned 16, so he made his Pro-Am Unlimited class debut at Steel City and proved he was ready with a 7th Overall finish on his Suzuki LTR450

Polaris Pro-Am Racer, #179 Landon Hurst suffered a serious wreck at his home practice track with multiple fractures to his legs, which will have him sidelined for the rest of the season, so #375 Casey Martin has replaced Hurst on the Polaris Outlaw, and he finished 13th Overall in Polaris debut, and he will back in action on Sunday in the Pro-Am Production Class.

Pro-Am Racer, Marc Winchester made his return to race at Steel City outfitted with a Halo as he continues to recover from a serious wreck at Amateur opener at Pell City, Al when he wrecked on down hill jump, which left him with a fractured leg & hip along with a few fractured vertebrate in his neck.

Fortunately, Marc’s neck is healing up great, but he still has some intense pain in his hip, which may be the only thing that could keep him coming back from racing as he is expected to get his halo removed in just another month.

It was great seeing Marc, and I wish him a speedy recovery

Women’s Pro-Am

Heather Byrd once again went 1-1 as she lead from start to finish in both Motos, but #13 Michelle Natalie shadowed Byrd both Motos, but was never able to make the pass as Heather rode a nearly flawless race both motos

#13 Michelle Natalie may not have scored an overall win, but each year she keeps closing the gap on Heather, so I wouldn't count her out for an overall win yet this year.

#14 Adrienne Cooper once again claimed the 3rd spot