Torrance, CA: The Honda Red Riders took
on round one of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship and WMA
Women’s Motocross Championship over the weekend at the Hangtown
Motocross National held in Sacramento, CA, and Honda newcomer Chad
Reed dominated the 450 Class, taking the overall victory on his Honda
CRF450R.
With American Honda Racing’s Trey
Canard and Josh Grant unable to compete at the opening round due to
injuries they sustained during the Supercross season, veteran Honda
racer Kevin Windham made his return to the factory Honda squad aboard
an American Honda Racing-prepared CRF450R. Making a strong impression
at his Motocross season debut with the team, Windham catapulted out
of the start gate in moto one, grabbing the holeshot and maintaining
the lead for six laps—much to the delight of the crowd. As the race
went on, Windham relinquished several spots before finishing moto one
in sixth position. The likeable Honda racer made up a few spots in
moto two, finishing in fourth place to earn fourth overall.
“I had very little time to prepare
for outdoors because I was off the bike while I waited for some
internal bleeding to stop after my crash at the final race of the
Supercross season,” said Windham. “However, I feel like today
went really well and I’m happy with fourth overall. We came out
here pretty much still a work in progress and just gave it our all.
I’m happy about getting the holeshot in the first moto and that I
held it for six laps. I know I have the bike to win and pretty soon
I’ll get the legs to be able to hold onto the lead.”
Reed put in a dominating performance
aboard his TwoTwo Motorsports factory-Honda-prepared CRF450R,
finishing runner-up in the opening moto and taking the moto two win
for the overall opening round victory. “I had so much fun out there
today,” said Reed. “The last time I was really good outdoors and
won the title I had this same feeling. I really want to thank
American Honda for their support and for giving me a factory race
bike. I plan to ride the wheels off this thing all season long and do
my best to win the championship.”
In the 250 Class Championship,
defending Hangtown event champ Eli Tomac raced his GEICO Honda
CRF250R to third in moto one and secured fourth spot in moto two for
fourth overall. Teammate Justin Barcia charged hard after getting a
midpack start in moto one to finish the opening race in sixth place.
Barcia blitzed the moto two start, grabbing the holeshot.
Unfortunately, he crashed out of the race while leading, which gave
him 13th place for the weekend. Honda privateer Darryn Durham went
10-9 for eighth overall, while Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s
Cole Seely went 7-13 to finish 10th overall.
In the Women’s Motocross
Championship, American Honda Racing’s Ashley Fiolek grabbed great
starts with her Honda CRF250R in both motos and finished each race in
the runner-up spot for second overall. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas
Oil/Honda’s Tarah Gieger went 4-7 for fourth overall, while fellow
Honda rider Kasie Creson finished eighth overall.
250 Class Overall Results
1. Blake Baggett 2-1
2. Dean Wilson 1-3
3. Tyla Rattray 5-2
4. Eli Tomac (Honda) 3-4
5. Marvin Musquin 4-6
6. Gareth Swanepoel 9-5
7. Kyle Cunningham 8-8
8. Darryn Durham (Honda) 10-9
9. Broc Tickle 13-7
10. Cole Seely (Honda) 7-13
250 Class Championship Points (after 1
of 13 rounds)
1. Blake Baggett 47
2. Dean Wilson 45
3. Tyla Rattray 38
4. Eli Tomac 38
5. Marvin Musquin 33
6. Gareth Swanepoel 28
7. Kyle Cunningham 26
8. Darryn Durham 23
9. Broc Tickle 22
10. Cole Seely 22
450 Class Overall Results
1. Chad Reed (Honda) 2-1
2. Ryan Dungey 1-2
3. Ryan Villopoto 3-3
4. Kevin Windham (Honda) 6-4
5. Brett Metcalfe 5-5
6. Davi Millsaps 4-7
7. Tommy Hahn 8-8
8. Christophe Pourcel 7-11
9. Ricky Dietrich 11-9
10. Christian Craig (Honda) 14-10
450 Class Championship Points (after 1
of 13 rounds)
1. Chad Reed 47
2. Ryan Dungey 47
3. Ryan Villopoto 40
4. Kevin Windham 33
5. Brett Metcalfe 32
6. Davi Millsaps 32
7. Tommy Hahn 26
8. Christophe Pourcel 24
9. Ricky Dietrich 22
10. Christian Craig 18
WMA Overall Results
1. Jessica Patterson 1-1
2. Ashley Fiolek (Honda) 2-2
3. Stephanie Laier 3-3
4. Tarah Gieger (Honda) 4-7
5. Jacqueline Strong 7-5
6. Tatum Sik 8-6
7. Mariana Balbi 13-4
8. Kasie Creson (Honda) 10-8
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro 9-10
10. Elizabeth Bash 14-9
WMA Championship Points (after round 1
of 8)
1. Jessica Patterson 50
2. Ashley Fiolek 44
3. Stephanie Laier 40
4. Tarah Gieger 32
5. Jacqueline Strong 30
6. Tatum Sik 28
7. Mariana Balbi 26
8. Kasie Creson 24
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro 23
10. Elizabeth Bash 19
For more information, contact American
Honda Motor Co., Inc. (310) 783-3745.
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the
sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, MUVs and
personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle
Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for
these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information
on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.