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.