Wienen Wins Unadilla AMA Pro ATV, Martin Podiums at Budds Creek MX
- Updated: July 14, 2014
Wienen Motorsports’ Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown raced their YFZ450Rs to a 1-2 podium sweep in the seventh round of the 2014 AMA Pro ATV series at New York’s famed Unadilla motocross track on Saturday, July 12. The day was nearly perfect for Wienen, who rode methodically to score 1-1 moto finishes and claim his fifth overall win of the year, drawing closer to a third series title in the process. Brown followed up with strong 3-2 finishes for his fourth consecutive overall podium. In other ATV action over the weekend, Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson finished third in the sixth round of the WORCS off-road series in Cedar City, Utah on Sunday. Then in AMA Motocross, Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin took second overall with 2-2 moto finishes in the 250MX class at a hot and humid Budds Creek Motocross Park in Maryland. Although Blake Baggett took the overall win, Martin only gave up one point to his rival and still leads the championship by 27 points with five rounds remaining.
The discipline that Wienen applies to his ATV racing was fully evident in Unadilla. He started the first moto in fourth position, settled into the race pace, and then began picking off riders ahead of him. Wienen then advanced into podium position on lap three, into second just before the halfway point, and took over the lead with five laps remaining, opening up a gap from there to score a comfortable win. The second moto went even better, with the defending series champion slotting into second on lap one, taking the lead on lap four and promptly turning the quickest lap of the race to break away from rival Josh Creamer. This time, teammate Brown sprinted even further toward the front, giving Yamaha the fantastic 1-2 finish.
Switching gears to the AMA Motocross event in Maryland, Valli Yamaha’s Christophe Pourcel started the weekend off strongly by riding his new YZ250F to the top qualifier spot for an amazing sixth time this year, with Martin third quickest and Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb qualifying sixth. But it was rival Jason Anderson who grabbed the lead in the first of two motos, just holding the advantage over a fast-closing Martin at the flag. Webb finished inside the top five, Pourcel grabbed sixth and Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Anthony Rodriguez finished ninth to put four Yamahas inside the top 10. Then in the second moto, Martin grabbed the holeshot over Pourcel and led the first 11 laps before Baggett snuck by first Pourcel and then Martin with six laps to go. Despite the heat, the bLU cRU riders still claimed three of the top four places in the moto, with Martin finishing second, Pourcel third and Webb fourth, and A-Rod rounding out the top 10 once again. In the 450MX class, JGR Yamaha’s Josh Grant went 9-6 for sixth place overall.
