Team Suzuki Quickest at Washougal

Kit Palmer | July 25, 2009

Rockstar Makita Suzuki team riders Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey set the bar during timed practice today at the eighth round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Washougal MX Park in Washougal, Washington. This should make team manager Roger DeCoster very happy, but he is not here today to enjoy it. Instead, DeCoster is in Belgium attending his son’s wedding.Reed nipped Honda Red Bull’s Andrew Short for the quickest lap in the 450cc class, stopping the clock at 2:11.449 and Short at 2:11.673. They were the only two riders to dip into the 11-second range.Third fastest was Belgian Grand Prix racer Desalle Clement, who is currently fourth in the MX1 class. Clement set the pace in the first session, but in the official second qualifying session, he was third-fastest with a 2:12.107. Clement is receiving temporary support from The Dirt Lab (a parts and accessories/service shop in Phoenix, Arizona) and is riding a Honda.Fourth quickest is another factory Suzuki rider Michael Byrne with a 2:12.944. He’s followed by Tommy Hahn (2:13.264), Jason Lawrence (2:13.306), Josh Grant (2:13.405), Ivan Tedesco (2:13.432), Justin Brayton (2:13.643) and Cody Cooper (2:13.767).In the 250cc class, only two riders cracked the 12-second mark – Dungey and series points leader Christophe Pourcel, of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. Dungey went 2:12.249 and Pourcel 2:12.575.Third-quickest is Star Racing Yamaha’s Matthew Lemoine who recorded a 2:13.691, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer is right behind him with a 2:13.855. Lemoine’s teammate Broc Tickle is fifth fastest with a 2:14.562.Conditions for today’s race should be good, though it might be quite hot by the time the first moto gets underway at 1:40 p.m. The forecast is for unusually hot temperatures for this area and could break the three-digit mark, but so far, a few high clouds are keeping temperatures down a bit.