ATV MX Nationals: Pleasure Valley 2010

By Christa Watson
Photos by Christa Watson

Pennsylvania’s own John Natalie took home the overall win aboard his Motoworks Can-Am during round eight of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, PA. This win marks Can-Am’s first time winning an AMA Pro ATV MX overall. Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Josh Creamer finished second overall, further extending his points lead over his teammate Dustin Wimmer.

“The weekend went really well for me here at Pleasure Valley” Natalie said. “I was able to grab Can-Am’s first ever win in front of these amazing fans.”

Creamer started his weekend on a high note when he earned the $100 ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier award during timed qualifying. Natalie started moto one by earning the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award and the early lead on the field. Throughout the moto, Natalie and Wimmer fought closely for the win, at one point making contact in a corner after Natalie lost his footing on the footpeg and came to a stop. The battled ragged on throughout the moto, but in the end Natalie won, followed by Wimmer, with Jeremy Lawson rounding out the top three.

 Jeremy Lawson (#16)

 

“Dustin Wimmer and I had a really good battle the whole race, but I came across the finish line first.” Natalie said.

Noticeably absent from the front was Creamer, who suffered a poor start and struggled to come back through the field. By the finish, Creamer had battled to capture the forth spot in the first moto.

“I had some struggles in the first moto. Things didn’t go my way,” Creamer said. “We came back, got mentally focused for the second moto and made some bike changes that proved to be better on this track.”

Baldwin Motorsports/ PEPs Josh Upperman captured the second moto $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award, but was quickly passed by Natalie for the early lead. Creamer was bound to make up for his first moto woes, and set a fast pace, making his way past Natalie for the lead.

“I was able to pull out a win in the second moto that left me in second overall.” Creamer said. “I’m never happy with second, but I am happy to be on the podium. We need to stay on the podium in able to win a championship.”

Natalie maintained second with knowledge it would bring him the first overall, but the top five stayed very close and competitive throughout the race.

“In the second moto, Josh Upperman got the holeshot and I was able to get around him in the first lap” Natalie said. “Josh Creamer came up on me and we had a great battle. I let Creamer around instead of taking the chance on not getting the overall win.”

Jeremy Lawson proved himself by making passes to get to third, followed by Upperman in the fourth and Wimmer in fifth.

With one moto win, Natalie grabbed the overall win, and one that would make its way into the history books.

In the Pro-Am Production class, Factory Polaris rider Casey Martin took a two moto sweep for the overall win. Chase Snapp took the first holeshot and the IdolSpeed.com $100 Holeshot award and the early lead, but just as he began to walk away from the pack, stalled his bike and went back to the very tail of the field, opening the door for Martin to take the win. In the second moto, Aaron Meyer grabbed the IdolSpeed.com Holeshot award, but was quickly passed by Martin who went on to take the win. Snapp continues to lead the points heading into Round 9 of the AMA Pro ATV MX.

The series travels next to Unadilla in New Berlin, New York for the Round 9 of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship on July 17-18.

For more information, log on to www.atvmotocross.com

AMA Pro ATV Results
1. John Natalie Jr (Can) 1-2
2. Josh Creamer (Suz) 4-1 3. Jeremy Lawson (Suz) 3-3
4. Dustin Wimmer (Suz) 2-5
5. Josh Upperman (Hon) 7-4
6. Jeremie Warnia (Can) 6-8
7. Thomas Brown (Yam) 8-7
8. Pat Brown (Hon) 10-9
9. Cody Gibson (Suz) 9-10
10. Joe Byrd (Hon) 5-14

AMA ATV Motocross Championship Pro Point Standings
1. Josh Creamer (356); 2. Dustin Wimmer (331); 3. John Natalie Jr (281); 4. Josh Upperman (259); 5. Chad Wienen (258); 6. Thomas Brown (233); 7. Jeremy Lawson (207); 8. Patrick Brown (180); 9. Jeremie Warnia (179); 10. Nick A. Denoble (146).

Tags:

Comments

comments