Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Wins Second-Straight Overall with Rattray's First of the Season

CORONA, Calif. (May 30, 2011) - Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray took his first overall victory of the
season with a 2-1 finish at the hot and humid second round of the AMA
Motocross Championship series at Freestone County Raceway in Wortham,
Texas. Teammate Dean Wilson opened the day with a Moto 1 victory and
ended back on the podium in second with a 1-3 result. Blake Baggett
overcame two tough motos to finish ninth with a 7-16, while Broc Tickle
finished in 12^th overall after retiring early in the first moto.

Coming off a podium finish at Hangtown, Rattray knew he was
worthy of standing on top of the podium. His second-place finish in the
first moto set him up nicely for an overall victory. After a good start
in the second moto, Rattray rode smart and made a late-race pass for the
lead to take his third-career overall victory.

 

“I’ve been working really hard all week so I could get back out
front,” said Rattray. “I was pretty bummed last week and went back to
fine-tune some things. It must have worked because I haven’t felt this
good in a long time. The track got pretty gnarly in the second moto and
you really had to be smart. I’m happy with how everything went and
hopefully I can go and do it again next race.”

Wilson came out to prove he was capable of tackling the tough
Texas heat and started off with an impressive Moto 1 victory. He looked
strong in the second moto, but came together with another rider, pushing
him back to seventh. Wilson didn’t let anything stand in his way from
making up as much ground as possible and finished third in the moto and
second overall.

 

“I really like the track because it got pretty rough in the
second moto,” said Wilson. “The first moto went well and was able to get
another moto win. I just got tangled with (Justin) Barcia in the second
moto and that forced me to come through the pack. I was hoping for the
overall, but I still think I rode pretty strong. It’s good to get into
the points lead and I’ll try to build momentum with the red plate.”

After a win last week, Baggett was prepared to put in another
good finish. He started the first moto out front, but a small crash
pushed him back, forcing him to come through the pack. In the second
moto, mistakes cost him positions, landing Baggett in ninth overall with
a 7-16.

 

“It wasn’t my weekend, but it definitely motivates me to go back
and work even harder before the next race,” said Baggett. “I think I was
pushing a little too hard and it ended up biting me. There is a lot of
racing left and I’m going to work my way back to the top.”

Although Tickle retired early from the first moto, he lined up
for the second moto ready to do battle. He started just outside the top
10 and at the finish had made his way up to fifth and finish 12^th overall, despite the first moto result.

 

“Pulling in on the first lap of Moto 1 wasn’t the way I wanted to
start the day, but I tried to stay positive, knowing I would be fresh
for the second moto,” said Tickle. “I think that helped me push as hard
as I did. I didn’t get the best start, but I never gave up. The track
was pretty tough, so overall I think I rode pretty well.”

 

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team will get a weekend
off before heading to High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pa. Wilson
currently leads the 250 Motocross class with 90 points, while Rattray is
close behind with 85 in the runner-up spot. Baggett sits in fourth with
66 points, and Tickle’s comeback in Moto 2 put him 10^th with 38 points.