AMA ATV Motocross Nationals
Round #3 - Ballance Moto X
Bowling
Green, Kentucky
April 4-5, 2009
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Honda's Joe Byrd Snaps
Dustin Wimmer's Streak with Victory
AMA ATV Motocross - Round 3 - Ballance Moto
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AMA
ATV Motocross Nationals
Round #3 - Ballance Moto X |
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#7
Joe Byrd Claims season 1st Win & moves
within one point of #1 Dustin Wimmer in
the points chase |
Bowling
Green, KY (4/5/2009)
– Two-time ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV
Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited
Champion Joe Byrd vaulted himself right back into
the chase for the 2009 crown with a dominant double-moto
sweep and overall win at round three of the season,
the Bluegrass National, at Ballance MX in Bowling
Green, Kentucky.
The veteran Joe Byrd Quad Riding School Honda-backed
rider from Tennessee topped Monster Energy Kawasaki's
rejuvenated Chad Wienen and Defending AMA ATV
MX Champion Dustin Wimmer on the podium.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Wimmer won the first
two rounds of the season, but admitted the tight,
technical Ballance MX track wasn't to his liking.
Byrd's 1-1 day brings him within one point of
Wimmer in the series standings.
"With Wienen and Wimmer right there it's
a great match and really a matter of who gets
the best lines," said Byrd. "These guys
are always a challenge and you can never let up."
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With
the threat of heavy rain, many racers &
spectators had their eyes on the sky especially
heading into the 2nd Moto with the winds
picking up & dark clouds moving in,
but luckily the rain held off to well after
the race, but once it arrived around 5PM
it packed a punch with heavy rain &
hail
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The weather forecast predicted rain throughout
the weekend, but dark skies never opened, leaving
perfect track conditions and 70-degree temperatures.
Byrd was ready for whatever he had to face.
"With the weather we had two setups ready
to go depending on what happened, and we got lucky
with our setup," said Byrd. "We put
together a new engine for the weekend that was
a big difference in getting out front early."
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Dasa
Racing's #7 Joe Byrd grabbed his 1st Holeshot
of the season and held the lead from start
to finish to claim the Moto One Win |
Byrd grabbed the Holeshot Award in the first
moto, followed by Wienen and Wimmer. Byrd stretched
his lead throughout the race, and the top three
maintained their order to the finish.
Warnert Racing Can-Am's Jeremy Lawson powered
his DS450 to the second moto Holeshot Award, but
Byrd quickly made a move around him to take the
lead and the win. Wimmer started third, but Wienen
went on a mission, passing both Wimmer and Lawson
to take the second spot again.
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Motoworks
#16 Jeremy Lawson grabbed a career 1st Holeshot
on his Can-Am Ds450 as he edged out Pro
rookies #79 Clay Holmes & #123 Nick
DeNoble |
Wienen failed to finish several motos early in
the season due to mechanical issues, but this
time his KFX450 carried him to solid 2-2 moto
scores.
"It was a rough track, and it really suited
my style," said Wienen. "You had to
be smart in some of the tougher sections and not
jump in too fast. I'm happy to put the Monster
Kawasaki on the podium."
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