Cycle News Staff | June 18, 2011
MECHANICSVILLE, MD. (June 18, 2011) – Chad Reed scored his third Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross victory of the season Saturday at the Budds Creek Motocross National – round four of the 12-race series. Reed rode his Two Two Motorsports Honda to a 3-1 moto finish to nail down the win. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was second via a 1-3 finish. Ryan Dungey was Mr. Consistency at Budds Creek, scoring a 2-2 for third overall.
Reed can rightfully now be called Sir. He was honored this week in his home country being named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) as part of the Queen’s Birthday celebrations.
Even though Reed earned the overall victory, the championship picture didn’t change much. Both Reed and Villopoto scored the same number of championship points and Reed continues to lead by 15 points, 183 to 168. Dungey remains in shooting distance in third with 155 points.
South African Tyla Rattay continued his early-season success, taking the win in 250 Motocross by way of a 2-1 and expanding his series lead. Rattray got stronger as the day went on scoring second in the first moto and capping it off with a convincing win aboard his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.
Rattray’s teammate and series rival Dean Wilson went 1-3 to score second Saturday, this after crashing hard in practice and injuring his left hand. Justin Barcia rode to third (6-2) on his GEICO Honda in spite of suffering through a bout of mononucleosis.
For Reed the win Saturday continues a season of exceeding expectations.
“I didn’t ride as well as I wanted in that first moto,” admitted Reed, who won Budds Creek in 2009 as well. “I decided to conserve my energy a bit and really give everything in that second moto and it paid off. The track was really tricky and picking lines was important. If you went with a wrong line it could cost you a lot of time. I’m happy with how the season is playing out so far. Obviously we have a long way to go, but I really couldn’t ask for a much better start to the first four rounds.”
For Rattray he said consistency was the key to his 250 Motocross victory today.
“I knew Dean (Wilson) would be my main competition,” said Rattray, who scored his first victory at Budds Creek. “He rode a great race in the first moto. In the second moto I came out strong and Justin (Barcia) was pushing me. I put in some hard laps and he was still right there. I was kind of surprised. Finally I think I broke him with about five minutes to go.”
Rattray added two points to his series lead over teammate Wilson. He now leads 174 to 170.
Fast qualifier Blake Baggett had a sub-par day. The winner of last week’s race in Mt. Morris, Pa, finished seventh overall (7-7) after getting a terrible start in the first moto and then crashing big early in the second moto, barely missing being hit by on oncoming pack of riders. Baggett fell to a distant third in the standings with 144 points.
The series moves to Lakewood, Colorado next Saturday, June 25.
450 Motocross Results and Standings
1. Chad Reed Honda CRF450R (3-1)
2. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki KX450F (1-3)
3. Ryan Dungey Suzuki RMZ 450 (2-2)
4. Kevin Windham Honda CRF450R (4-4)
5. Mike Alessi KTM 450 SX-F (5-5)
6. Brett Metcalfe Suzuki RMZ 450 (6-6)
7. David Millsaps Yamaha YZ 450F (7-9)
8. Jacob Weimer Kawasaki KX450F (10-7)
9. Andrew Short KTM 350 SX-F (9-8)
10. Josh Grant Honda CRF450R (8-10)
1. Chad Reed Honda CRF450R 183
2. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki KX450F 168
3. Ryan Dungey Suzuki RMZ 450 155
4. David Millsaps Yamaha YZ 450F 130
5. Brett Metcalfe Suzuki RMZ 450 118
6. Kevin Windham Honda CRF450R 112
7. Jacob Weimer Kawasaki KX450F 93
8. Ricky Dietrich Yamaha YZ 450F 92
9. Christian Craig Honda CRF450R 76
10. Andrew Short KTM 350 SX-F 75
250 Motocross Results and Standings
1. Tyla Rattray Kawasaki KX 250F (2-1)
2. Dean Wilson Kawasaki KX 250F (1-3)
3. Justin Barcia Honda CRF250R (6-2)
4. Eli Tomac Honda CRF250R (5-5)
5. Broc Tickle Kawasaki KX 250F (3-9)
6. Gareth Swanepoel Yamaha YZ 250F (9-4)
7. Blake Baggett Kawasaki KX 250F (7-7)
8. Kyle Cunningham Yamaha YZ 250F (4-15)
9. Martin Davalos Suzuki RMZ 250 (10-10)
10. Nico Izzi Honda CRF250R (8-13)
1. Tyla Rattray Kawasaki KX 250F 174
2. Dean Wilson Kawasaki KX250F 170
3. Blake Baggett Kawasaki KX 250F 144
4. Eli Tomac Honda CRF250R 136
5. Justin Barcia Honda CRF250R 116
6. Kyle Cunningham Yamaha YZ 250F 114
7. Broc Tickle Kawasaki KX 250F 99
8. Gareth Swanepoel Yamaha YZ 250F 91
9. Martin Davalos Suzuki RMZ 250 75
10. Cole Seely Honda CRF250R 72
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