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John Natalie Takes Inaugural ATV Event at Great Outdoor Games
 CELEBRATION, Fla. - Champions are supposed to win in any type
of weather condition, and recently crowned Grand National
Championship motocross champion John Natalie proved that
Saturday night at ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge
when he won the inaugural Four Wheel Frenzy ATV race at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports ® Complex.
In a steady rain and under extremely sloppy conditions, the
Houtzdale, Pa. resident, who turned 30 on Thursday, started
third and passed Bill Ballance and Jason Luburgh in the first
three laps. He then pulled away for a half-lap victory.
“I just waited for them to make mistakes,” Natalie said.
“Then, I just ran my line. I knew I could win it.”
Luburgh, who won one of Friday's heat races, got the holeshot
on a slight bump with Ballance. On the third lap, on the hairpin
turn after going around the pond, Luburgh stayed high and
Natalie went low to take the lead. It was the only pass for the
lead in two days of racing.
“He had been running the high line, and I was trying to
protect it,” said Luburgh, of Zanesville, Ohio. “It was a risky
move, and I didn't think he could pull it off, but he did.”
Luburgh lost his clutch halfway through the race and
eventually dropped out when it froze. Dustin Wimmer of Center
Valley, Pa., took second and Ballance, of Smith Grove, Ky.,
earned the bronze.
The track had numerous waterholes because of heavy rains less
than 30 minutes before the race began. Surprisingly, racers said
it held up fairly well.
“Considering the conditions, ESPN and the Great Outdoor Games
did a great job with the track,” Natalie said.
Doug Eichner of El Cajon, Calif., the oldest rider in the
event at 40, got the holeshot and won the eight-lap Last Chance
Qualifying race earlier in the day. He finished 13th.
Final Standings
1. John Natalie, Houtzdale, Pa.
2 Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa.
3. Bill Ballance, Smith Grove, Ky.
4. Kory Ellis, Redding, Calif.
5. Tavis Cain, McKinleyville, Calif.
6. Pat Brown, Flemington, N.J.
7. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn.
8. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis.
9. Travis Spader, Point Pleasant, N.J.
10. Jeremiah Jones, Bowling Green, Ky.
11. Rocco Arno, Bridgeton, N.J.
12. Jason Dunkelberger, Trevorton, Pa.
13. Doug Eichner, El Cajon, Calif.
14. Dustin Nelson, El Cajon, Calif.
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