Danville, VA - Team Monster Engery/Kawasaki representatives were quick to point out last season that its team was in development mode of its KFX450 quad. However, if Pro rider Josh Creamer's run in qualifying Saturday for the TriangleCycle.com ATV National was any indication, development time is now over and it's time to race. The event, Round 4 of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Pro ATV Championship, is being held today and tomorrow at Birch Creek Motorsports.
Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki) topped the charts with a one-minute, 55.930-second lap, besting points leader Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) by less than a 10th of a second. Defending Champion Joe Byrd (No. 7 Joe Byrd Racing School/Honda) was third quick.
"This year is going great," said Creamer, who has one podium and an additional top-five finish in three races. "I had an injury early in the season and I can't cross train the way I'd like to. So, I've just put in more seat time. I've been riding as hard as I can and it's beginning to pay off.
"There are a lot of guys out there that would like to be in my shoes right now; I'm just glad I'm wearing them and that they fit," laughed Creamer. "The bike is just perfect; it fits me great."
Team Manager Jimmy White is pleased with Kawasaki's progress this season.
"It's really coming together," said White. "There are a lot of good riders out there now, and the competition is stiff. Suzuki is always there and Can-Am and Yamaha are really stepping it up. But we put in our dues last season, and, without a doubt, we don't expect less than a podium, if not a win, every weekend. We've really stepped it up."
Rocco Arno, Jr., John Ragon, Cale Downen and Greg Gee qualified for tomorrow's finals through the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Nate Morello, Trent Kandel, Christopher Tait, Richard Pelchat, Hunter Miller and Justin Bush didn't qualify for the 20-quad field.
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