Gust Comes away Clean in Johnstown
Rain helps veteran earn second win of the 2008 season.

Doug Gust does a burnout on the podium after winning Sunday's race as the large crowd looks on (Stephani McIntyre Photo).

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (July 13, 2008) -- Doug Gust raced fast and consistent to earn the overall Pro ATV victory Sunday at Pleasure Valley Raceway. The event, the American Suzuki Summer National, was Round 9 of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATVA Pro Motocross Championship.

Gust (No. 55 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) took the victory, his second this season, ahead of Josh Creamer (No. 9 Monster Energy Kawasaki). Series points leader Dustin Wimmer (No. Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) finished third, maintaining his healthy points advantage.

"When it started raining, I started smiling,” said the affable Gust. “Dustin was riding really well and when he got around me I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get him back. But, when it started raining, that changed!

"These wins feel better than any I’ve had in my career because of how tight the competition is," added Gust. "Look at the lap sheets. We are all within a second or so of each other, so to be able to win against a field like we have feels incredible.”

While Suzuki riders won the event, it was a great day for factory Kawasaki. Josh Creamer took the holeshot and the win in the first moto, while his teammate Keith Little (No. 12 Monster Energy Kawasaki) rode well all day to finish fifth overall.

“I wanted the win today very badly,” said Creamer. “I didn’t get a very good holeshot in the second moto, but I charged as hard as I could to get to the front pack. Right when I reached fourth, it started raining and I had to take off my goggles. It was a good day though, and we’ll win soon.”

Creamer grabbed the Suspension Systems Holeshot Award in the first moto and led the pack to the green flag. Also gating well were Gust and Wimmer, with John Natalie Jr. (No. 13 Cam-Am) and Greg Gee (No. 10 Team Epic Racing/Can-Am) rounding out the top five at the conclusion of the first lap. Creamer set a lightning quick pace and pulled out to a two-second lead by the halfway point.

Meanwhile, Gust pulled clear of Wimmer, who appeared to be riding cautiously in the slick conditions. Natalie could smell blood and laid down a couple of the fastest laps of the moto to draw close to Wimmer’s rear wheels. From there, things went downhill for the hometown hero, as Natalie suffered a flat tire, and, later, engine problems. Up front, Gust mounted a charge but Creamer held on for the opening moto victory. Wimmer rode home third with Little and Gee rounding out the top five.

The moto was a big heartbreak for Chad Wienen (No. 44 Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki) who had qualified a close second. Wienen’s Suzuki suffered an electrical problem on the starting line and was unable to start the race.

Gust earned the ATVRiders.com Holeshot Award in the second moto. Hot on his heels was teammate Wimmer, who dogged the veteran relentlessly. Creamer had a poor start but was charging through the pack quickly. Business picked up around the halfway point of the moto as Wimmer made his move on Gust and took over the lead. Almost simultaneously, the heavens opened and heavy rain began to pound the track.

Wimmer would only lead one lap before sliding out on a tricky jump. Once in the lead, Gust never faltered, taking the checkered flag about five seconds ahead of Jeremy Lawson (No. 16 Team Epic Can-Am) and earned the overall victory. Creamer finished the moto third, which was good enough for second overall.

Team Suzuki continues to hold the lead in the Manufacturers' Cup standings.

Special award winners were:

Ti Lube Fast Qualifier Award: Dustin Wimmer
Suspension Systems Holeshot Award--Moto 1: Josh Creamer
ATVRiders.com Holeshot Award--Moto 2: Doug Gust
DASA Mechanic of the Race: Brandon Lamey

The next race for the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Motocross Championship is scheduled for July 26-27 at Redbud Raceway in Buchanan, Mich.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (July 13, 2008) – Results of Sunday’s ITP/ Tires Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship at Pleasure Valley Raceway (Showing finishing position, rider, bike number, bike brand, hometown, and moto finishes):

1. Doug Gust, 55, Suzuki, Salem, Wis., 2-1.
2. Josh Creamer, 9, Kawasaki, North Stonington, Conn., 1-3.
3. Dustin Wimmer, 191, Suzuki, Center Valley, Pa., 3-4.
4. Jeremy Lawson, 16, Can-Am, Battletown, Ky., 6-2.
5. Keith Little, 12, Kawasaki, Spruce Pine, Al., 4-6.
6. Greg Gee, 10, Can-Am, Simcoe, ON., 5-9.
7. Joe Byrd, 7, Honda, Union City, Tenn., 8-8.
8. Russell Schumaker, 68, Kawasaki, Bristol, Wis., 7-11.
9. Sage M. Baker, 9, Can-Am, Shasta Lake, Calif., 12-7.
10. Rocco Arno, Jr., 101, Honda, Bridgeton, N.J., 14-10.
11. Josh Upperman, 20, Honda, Louisville, Ohio., 11-13.
12. Chad Wienen, 44, Suzuki, Galena, Ill., 20-5.
13. Cody Miller, 22, Can-Am, Greenville, Texas., 10-17.
14. John Natalie Jr., 13, Can-Am, Houtzdale, Pa., 16-12.
15. Cale Downen, 727, Honda, Juction, Ill, 13-15.
16. Harold Goodman, 708, Honda, Romulus, Mich., 9-20.
17. Jason Dunkleberger, 19, Honda, Treverton, Pa., 19-14.
18. Patrick Brown, 199, Yamaha, Pittstown, N.J., 15-18.
19. John Ragon, 98, Honda, Milan, Tenn., 18-16.
20. Hunter Miller, 90, Honda, Greenville, Texas., 17-19.

ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship points leaders: Wimmer 367, Byrd 288, Gust 280, Creamer 242, Lawson 233, Natalie Jr., 214, Goodman 209, Upperman, 182, Weinen 174, Arno Jr., 164

Notebook:

RIDE TO LIVE...An after race benefit dinner was held by 88 Live to Ride Mobile Medical Unit Saturday night. Nearly $4,000 was raised to support the Mobile Medical Unit, which is sponsored by the 88 Live to Ride non-profit organization. The organization is headed by Debi Bartosek, which established the effort in honor of her son, Matt who lost his life in a racing accident.
FIREWORKS...The Pleasure Valley staff held an impressive fireworks display Saturday night. Explosions and starbursts lit up the sky for a solid 30 minutes, thrilling the crowd.
MOTOCROSS REQUIRES BALLANCE...GNCC ATV legend Bill Ballance was on hand assisting the factory Yamaha/Golden West Cycle team.
FRENCH CONNECTION… Jeremie Warnia made the long trek from Bountigny, France to compete in the Pro Am and Pro Am Production classes. Warnia displayed impressive speed but struggled to find consistency on the unfamiliar track.
YELLOW FEVER…Team Suzuki riders take the win and two spots on the podium at the American Suzuki Summer National. American Suzuki Sports Manager, Pat Alexander could be seen wearing a big smile after the race.

"Jeff Cernic did a lot of preparation with the track, and I think things went pretty well for the first time," said event winner and Team Suzuki veteran Rider Doug Gust. "It’s easy for me to say because I won and all, but it was a great day of ATV racing and we had a great crowd.”

About the ATV Association (ATVA)
The ATV Association (“ATVA”) is the official sanctioning body of the amateur division of the ATVA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited. The 9,000-member ATVA is a sister organization of the 260,000 member American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). ATV racing has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, and continues to gain momentum and support, outselling off-road motorcycles annually. Each ATVA round attracts hundreds of racers who compete for bragging rights to one of 31 amateur national titles. For more information, please visit www.atvaonline.com.

About the ATV Promoters Group (ATVPG)
The ATVPG is composed of the individual promoters that host the AMA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championships, presented by Parts Unlimited. The goal of the ATVPG is to raise awareness of ATV motocross through the production of professional and amateur championship racing events. For more information on the ATVPG and the ATV National events they produce, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.

About the ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited
The AMA ITP/Moose ATV National Motocross Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited is the nation’s premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, and competes at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 11-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America’s largest and longest-running ATV National Motocross series with more than 20 years of competition. The series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while keeping close to the grassroots fun that makes people love to go to the races.

Series sponsors include title sponsors ITP Tires and Moose Racing, and presenting sponsor Parts Unlimited. Premiere and Feature sponsors include ATV Sport, Moto Tees, Scott USA, Maxxis Tires, Elka Suspension and H-Bomb Films/Division Four. Associate sponsors include Weekend Warrior Trailers, Denton Racing, and Hinson Racing. Media partners include ATV Insider, ATV Rider and ATVRiders.com. For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.