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Monster Energy
Kawasaki’s Wienen Survives the Heat at Muddy
Creek
Blountville, Tenn.– Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
Chad Wienen earned his sixth consecutive podium
finish on his Kawasaki KFX™450R during a hot and
humid AMA ATV Motocross race at Muddy Creek
Raceway. Wienen’s third-place finish sustains
his lead in the championship points standings.
Teammate Josh Creamer finished 18th after being
stuck with some bad luck in Tennessee. Kawasaki
pro am rider Cody Gibson put another win under
his belt with a 2-1 finish in the Pro Am
Unlimited class and finished second overall in
the Pro Am Production class.
Coming Through the Pack
In both motos, Wienen
had to work his way through the pack after
mediocre starts. He didn’t let his position
outside the top-10 stop him from pushing his
KFX450R all the way to fourth in both motos.
“In the second moto, I got hit and spun out,”
said Wienen. “I already had a bad start and that
just pushed me even further back. I knew I could
make up the positions, but it was really hot
that second moto and it really takes a lot to
push it to the front. I basically wanted to
salvage as many points as possible and keep my
focus on the long term goal of a championship.”
Consistency Is Key
When racing for a
championship, teams know the final result is
about the consistency along the way. After
starting the season with two bad finishes, Wienen has ridden with great consistency for six
straight podiums, including two wins. He
currently sits in first in the overall points,
five points ahead of second place.
"Everyone always said consistency is how you win
championships and it is definitely true with a
long season like ours,” said Wienen. “Anything
can happen. At the start of the season, it would
have been easy to give up, but I pressed on and
I’m happy I did.”
Moving On
After a bit of bad luck at Muddy Creek
Raceway finishing 18th, Creamer has put Round 8
in the past and looks for the luck to come his
way at the next race at Pleasure Valley Raceway.
“It’s one of those things where it was out of my
hands,” said Creamer. “Everyone has their share
of bad luck, I just hope my luck turns around
sooner than later. For now, all I can do is
focus on the next race. I did well there last
year and I am hoping to get back on the box.”
Gibson Maintains Winning Average
Gibson
continued his winning ways in Tennessee and has
won at every event he has attended, either in
the Pro Am Production or Pro Am Unlimited. At
Muddy Creek Raceway, he took first in the Pro Am
Unlimited and second overall in the Pro Am
Production. The production class wasn’t easy for
Gibson, as he had to come through the pack in
both motos for a 3-2.
Hot Temperatures
The riders faced the heat and
humidity of a typical Tennessee summer day. The
second moto was the most brutal and Wienen felt
every ray of the sun while he was pushing to the
front pack of riders.
“It was definitely hot,” said Wienen. “You have
to be in shape to run the 25 minute motos in
this kind of heat. I had to come up from the
back and I wore myself out. It was a long second
moto.”
Six More Motos
With only six motos left, the
boys are on the home stretch for the 2009
season. The last three rounds will be
challenging in the humid East Coast states of
Pennsylvania, Michigan, and back again to
Tennessee.
“The season is winding down and we have to stay
focused all the way to Loretta Lynn’s in
August,” said Wienen. “Six motos doesn’t seem
like a lot, but anything can happen. I’m excited
for the next few races.”
Results
AMA ATV Motocross Championship
Muddy Creek Raceway – Blountville, Tenn.
June 28, 2009
Pro Overall Results (Moto Finishes)
1. Dustin Wimmer, Center
Valley, Pa., Suzuki, 1-1
2. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis.,
Suzuki, 3-2
3. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL.,
MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 4-4
4. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak,
Fla., Can Am, 2-9
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville,
Ohio, Honda, 9-3
6. Harold Goodman, Romulus,
Mich., Honda, 6-6
7. Jeremie Warnia, Paris,
France, Can Am, 10-5
8. Cody Miller, Greenville,
Texas, Cam Am, 5-10
9. Joe Byrd, Union City,
Tenn., Honda, 8-8
10. Patrick Brown, Pittstown,
N.J., Yamaha, 11-11
18. JOSH CREAMER, N.
STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI,
16-19
Pro Point Standings
1. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL.,
MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 290
2. Dustin Wimmer, Center
Valley, Pa., Suzuki, 285
3. Joe Byrd, Union City,
Tenn., Honda, 271
4. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis.,
Suzuki, 250
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville,
Ohio, Honda, 242
6. JOSH CREAMER, N.
STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 224
7. John Natalie, Jr.,
Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am, 203
8. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak,
Fla., Can Am, 201
9. Cody Miller, Greenville,
Texas, Can Am, 169
10. Thomas Brown, Sanger,
Texas, Yamaha, 159
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