WPSA Powersports ATV Championship Tour
Round 2
South Fork Dirt Riders
Taylorville, IL
May 13, 2007
Text is Suzuki’s Official Press Release
The triple threat of the Suzuki Factory Team took over the whole podium Sunday evening for the second round of the World PowerSports ATV SuperQuad 450 Pro Series. Overall, Suzuki riders finished one, two, three, four, and five in a dominating performance by the Suzuki QuadRacer R450s.
Illinois native, Chad Wienen of Team Rockstar/MSR/Pro Taper/Suzuki/Yoshimura finished as top dog after an incredible come from behind race and an all out dogfight with his two teammates Doug Gust of Team Rockstar/MSR/Pro Taper/Suzuki/Yoshimura and Dustin Wimmer of Team MSR/ProTaper/Suzuki/Yoshimura. The ESPN2 cameras were able to catch some heart stopping action as Wienen jockeyed for passing positions with both his teammates. The local fans cheered loudly for Chad, the home state favorite.
The event started as always with the heat races – which the Suzukis dominated. The first Saturday heat race saw “Digger” Doug Gust come out strong with teammate Chad “Wide Open” Wienen not too far behind. Chad stalled his bike momentarily in a corner and lost a chance at the heat race win. It was Gust first with Lost Creek/Yoshimura/Suzuki rider Joe Haavisto bagging second at the checkers.
The second heat race was the “Dustin Wimmer show”. Team MSR/Pro Taper/Suzuki/Yoshimura rider #191 grabbed the holeshot and then flat checked out. In victory circle, Wimmer felt positive, “This is going to be an incredible weekend. My teammates and I are on the gas and are going to be putting our QuadRacer R450s up on the box all year. This is the beginning of something big. We are going to put together a pretty good show for ESPN2 by the time we are done this weekend.”
Sunday morning’s first heat race saw Doug grab the holeshot with Wienen coming in behind him. Wienen soon passed Doug for the lead and the win. Dustin dominated his heat race again and everything pointed to a Suzuki shootout in the main.
Under the hot sun, Sunday’s main event began with Doug Gust getting the holeshot, followed by Wimmer and then Suzuki privateer Russell “Hot Shoe” Shumaker. Weinen came out about 6th and then started moving forward. Meanwhile, Dustin Wimmer started pressuring Gust about the 4th lap and then got by him. Wimmer pulled about a second and a half on Doug and was trying to check out. About this time, out of nowhere, Wienen pulled in behind Gust’s rear grabbar.
Wienen first passed Doug and then, two laps later… he got Wimmer through the whoops section. At the checkers, the Suzuki factory team went one, two, three with Lost Creek Cycles Joe Haavisto in 4th and Rookie Pro Russell Shumaker in 5th.
This was Wienen’s first overall Pro win. Chad won a moto in Alabama- but not an overall until today. “Wow, my first overall win,” an excited Wienen said after the race. “I’m really happy, everybody is pumped… the team, my friends, my family. It’s a great day for Suzuki and for me. I can’t believe how great the bike is… and the team behind it.”
Suzuki ATV Operations Manager Rod Lopusnak was ecstatic with the win, “I think it’s great that Chad got his inaugural win in front of his home town fans. It’s a great day for Suzuki and the QuadRacer R450. What makes me even happier is the amount of our product in the amateur classes. We worked really hard with riders like Doug Gust in developing the QuadRacer and it’s very gratifying to see so many being raced successfully.”
2006 WPSA Champ Doug Gust was philosophical at the end of the day, “I had some health issues that have been holding me back so I am happy to get out of here with third.” The likeable multi-time champion said, “I was really not expecting to do to well today but I’ll take this third place for sure. I’m looking pretty good in the points and it’s a long season.”
The Suzuki tide is looking like it’s only going to get stronger as the season progresses. The starting gates are filling up across the country with QuadRacer R450s, and after today’s performance, we know why. Wienen, Wimmer and Gust are individually each a powerhouse and together they are truly a triple threat and well on their way to a great WPSA season.
