Press Release

Pala Motocross National: Notes and Stats

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.
(September 10, 2010) - After three months of showcasing the best
motocross action on the planet at the most renowned facilities
throughout the country, the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross
Championship will come to an exciting conclusion this weekend with the
inaugural Pala Motocross National. Just over a year old, Pala Raceway
is the new home of American motocross in Southern California and this
weekend, the world's best riders will hit the track for the first time.


Last weekend at Steel City produced a surprise winner in the 450
Class when newly-crowned rookie champion Ryan Dungey experienced a rare
instance of misfortune aboard his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. When
opportunity arose, it was veteran Honda Red Bull Racing rider Kevin
Windham who stepped up to take a popular victory, his first since 2007.


The distance between Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's
Christophe Pourcel and GEICO Powersports Honda's Trey Canard got even
closer in the 250 Class when Canard posted a 1-1 sweep to bring his
championship deficit to just seven points. The win was Canard's fifth
in the last six rounds.


The MotorcycleUSA.com
Women's Motocross Championship will also bring its eight-race season to
an end at Pala. DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha rider Jessica
Patterson holds a comfortable lead over Honda Red Bull Racing's Ashley
Fiolek and will look to claim her sixth WMX title on Saturday.



Ryan Dungey looks for win number 10 this weekend.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X

450 Class



Rockstar/Makita Suzuki

Dungey's quest for the winningest rookie season in motocross history
hit a bump at Steel City and resulted in the nine-time winner's first
DNF of the season after a fall broke the front brake rotor of his
Suzuki in Moto 1. Even though the overall was out of the picture,
Dungey rebounded in Moto 2 by dominating his competitors and salvaging
a sixth-place finish overall. This weekend, he targets his 10th win of 2010, which would surpass Ricky Carmichael's nine wins during his rookie season in 2000.


GEICO Powersports Honda

After a frustrating day at Southwick two rounds ago, Brett Metcalfe was
determined to rebound at Steel City and assume control of his battle
with Andrew Short for second place in the championship standings.
Thanks to Dungey's misfortune, Metcalfe was in the thick of the overall
fight with Windham, but came up just short in an impressive runner-up
effort. As a result of his solid outing, Metcalfe moved ahead of Short
in the standings and will look to hold on to the position at Pala
Raceway and end 2010 on a high note.


Honda Red Bull Racing

Andrew Short also suffered some hard luck at the Southwick round and
while able to post a fourth-place finish overall with a respectable
outing at Steel City, he still fell from second to third in the
championship behind Metcalfe. With just one round and two motos
remaining, Short is determined to get back on the podium and head into
the offseason with his head held high.


Kevin Windham's 10th career 450 Class victory was
possibly his most popular with the dedicated motocross fans. The
32-year-old rider was in top form at Steel City, coming from behind to
take the Moto 1 victory away from his younger rival Brett Metcalfe and
securing a solid runner-up effort behind Dungey in Moto 2. Albeit in a
substitute role, Windham's return to the outdoor nationals has been
tremendously successful and has helped bring back fond memories to the
Mississippi native. With one round to go, he will continue to make the
most of the opportunity he's been given and will surely give the SoCal
fans something to cheer about.



Andrew Short (29) and Brett Metcalfe (24) will battle for the runner-up spot in the 450 Class championship at Pala.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X

Jagermeister KTM

After an up and down season, it appears as though Mike Alessi has found
his groove. After a long-awaited return to the overall podium at
Southwick, Alessi was consistent again at Steel City, relying on a pair
of seventh-place moto scores to finish fifth overall. With a return to
his home state, Alessi will look to use the local knowledge to his
advantage in an effort to get back atop the podium before season's end.


Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda

Steel City was yet another defining trait of what has been a tough 2010
season for Ben Townley. After another strong start in which he finished
third in Moto 1, Townley found himself at the wrong place at the wrong
time in Moto 2, getting caught up in a crash out of the starting gate
and ending his day early. His strong first moto score helped him secure
10th overall, but this weekend at Pala, there may not be a rider more determined that Townley to end 2010 with a bang.


Monster Energy Kawasaki

Nick Wey's weekly push into the top 10 overall has worked in the
Michigan native's favor in the 450 Class championship. Thanks to a
solid second half of the season, Wey has moved into the top 10 in the
standings. After just missing out on the top 10 in 11th at Steel City, the California transplant will look close out the season with that same consistency.


Rockstar Energy Suzuki

After his toughest weekend of the season at Steel City, Tommy Hahn will
look to head into the offseason with a strong effort at Pala.


Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR

With his teammate on the sideline, Justin Brayton gave the Joe Gibbs
Racing team its best result of the season at Steel City. After winning
his first career moto at the track one year ago, Brayton relied on
consistent 5-4 moto scores to stand on the overall podium in third.
He'll look to carry that momentum into Pala on Saturday.


 



Christophe Pourcel holds just a seven-point lead heading into the season finale.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X


250 Class


Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki

While his advantage is as small as its been all season at seven points,
Christophe Pourcel still has control of his own destiny on the path to
the 250 Class title. The French rider needs to finish second in both
motos at Pala to secure the title, no matter what Canard does. Knowing
the task that lies ahead, Pourcel will approach this weekend's race
looking to take care of the task at hand.


After an up and down first season in the U.S., Tyla Rattray has
found his groove and will likely secure the third sport on the
championship podium following Pala. The South African has experienced a
breakout season with a pair of overall wins and is also the proud
father of a new baby girl. He'll look to keep things going this weekend.


While he is likely frustrated with his recent efforts, Dean Wilson
has put together an impressive rookie season in 2010. The Scottish
rider has an overall win to his credit and has been on the overall
podium on several occasions this season. The return to California
should play into Wilson's favor this weekend and he'll look for career
win number two in front of family and friends.



Trey Canard has his sights set on the 250 Class championship.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X


GEICO Powersports Honda

Trey Canard's task at Pala is as straightforward as it can be. The
five-time winner needs to put together another podium sweep and hole
for some racing luck in order to overcome the seven-point deficit. With
five wins in the last six races, winning has become familiar for Canard
and he will surely put it all on the line at Pala in an effort to leave
the 250 Class as a champion.


 


WMX Class



Jessica Patterson's lead over Ashley Fiolek sits at 22 points
heading into Saturday's finale from Pala. While Fiolek has come one
strong in the second half of the season, Patterson has been able to
respond to her rival's challenges and will look to keep up her strong
efforts this weekend to secure her sixth WMX Class title and further
solidify herself as the most successful women's motocross rider in
history.


 



Jessica Patterson is on the verge of capturing her sixth WMX title.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X


 


Series Statistical Report

Pala Motocross National

Pala Raceway, Pala, Calif. - September 11



  • Pala Raceway is the newest member of American motocross and is the new Southern California home for the sport.

  • This weekend's race is the first in San Diego County in 28 years, dating back to the final race at Carlsbad Raceway in 1982.


  • After watching his nine-race win streak come to an end, Ryan Dungey will look for his 10th win of 2010 which would break his current tie with Ricky Carmichael for the winningest rookie season in history.


  • Dungey has captured 17of the last 20 motos.
    He boasts an average finish of 3.5 and remains the only rider in the
    class to capture more than one moto win.

  • With his 10th win in the 450 Class, Kevin Windham moved into 13th on the all-time wins list.

  • Dungey
    possesses the best average finish of any rider in the 450 Class at 3.5.
    Andrew Short boasts the best starting average at 4.6.

  • Andrew Short has the most holeshots in the class with 10.

  • Only
    Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki and GEICO Powersports Honda riders
    have won 250 Class motos in 2010. GEICO has six overall wins to Pro
    Circuit's five.

  • Trey Canard has won five of the last six races and eight of the last 12 motos.

  • Of the five different winners in 11 rounds of the 250 Class, four were first-time winners in 2010.

  • Three of Mitch Payton's four Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders have won an overall in 2010.

  • Canard possesses the best average finish of any rider in the 250 Class at 3.8. Pourcel holds the best average start at 4.5.



450 Class Stats



2010 Stats



450 Class Point Standings - After 11 of 12 rounds



  1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 493

  2. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 356

  3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 351

  4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 301

  5. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 291

  6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 260

  7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 238

  8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 211

  9. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 204

  10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki, 201

  11. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 201


450 Class Overall Wins

Ryan Dungey - 9

Chad Reed - 1

Kevin Windham - 1



450 Class Moto Wins

Ryan Dungey - 17

Mike Alessi - 1

Josh Grant - 1

Chad Reed - 1

Andrew Short - 1

Kevin Windham - 1


450 Class Wins by Brand

Suzuki - 9

Honda - 1

Kawasaki - 1


450 Class Laps Led

Ryan Dungey - 169

Andrew Short - 57

Brett Metcalfe - 35

Ben Townley - 20

Mike Alessi - 19

Josh Grant - 19

Chad Reed - 16

Kevin Windham - 14

Clement Desalle - 4


450 Class Holeshots

Andrew Short - 10

Brett Metcalfe - 3

Ryan Dungey - 2

Kevin Windham - 2

Mike Alessi - 1

Justin Brayton - 1

Chad Reed - 1

Ryan Sipes - 1


 


250 Class Stats



2010 Stats



250 Class Point Standings - After 11 of 12 rounds



  1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 443

  2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 436

  3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 402

  4. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 387

  5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 317

  6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 296

  7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 285

  8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 259

  9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 229

  10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 195



250 Class Overall Wins

Trey Canard - 5

Christophe Pourcel - 2

Tyla Rattray - 2

Eli Tomac - 1

Dean Wilson - 1



250 Class Moto Wins

Christophe Pourcel - 9

Trey Canard - 8

Justin Barcia - 2

Tyla Rattray - 1

Eli Tomac - 1

Dean Wilson - 1


250 Class Wins by Brand

Honda - 6

Kawasaki - 5


250 Class Laps Led

Trey Canard - 106

Christophe Pourcel - 104

Dean Wilson - 51

Justin Barcia - 35

Eli Tomac - 35

Wil Hahn - 13

Tommy Searle - 2

Tyla Rattray - 1


250 Class Holeshots

Eli Tomac - 5

Dean Wilson - 4

Christophe Pourcel - 4

Trey Canard - 3

Wil Hahn - 3

Justin Barcia - 1

Nico Izzi - 1

Tyla Rattray - 1


 


WMX Class Stats



2010 Stats



WMX Class Point Standings - Thru 7 of 8 Rounds




  1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha, 335

  2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 313

  3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda, 261

  4. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 217

  5. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 212

  6. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha, 207

  7. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM, 196

  8. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha, 172

  9. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 152

  10. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., Yamaha, 136


WMX Class Overall Wins

Jessica Patterson - 6

Ashley Fiolek - 1


WMX Class Moto Wins

Jessica Patterson - 9

Ashley Fiolek - 5


WMX Class Wins by Brand

Yamaha - 6

Honda - 1


For tickets and fan and racing information on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.


For more information about the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross
Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email
at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5750.



About the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is the world's most
prestigious motocross series. The Series is managed and produced by MX
Sports Pro Racing, whose mission is to raise awareness of motocross
racing through the promotion of professional championship racing events
nationwide


The series is also produced in conjunction with Alli, the Alliance
of Action Sports, a global business that encompasses national and
international action sports events, multimedia production and a
consumer-based lifestyle brand. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV
Networks and represents a vast network of athletes, fans, brands and
properties.


The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross series is sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in
North America. AMA Pro Racing operates a full schedule of events and
championships across every spectrum of motorcycle competition.

0 comments

The Latest