|
Monster Energy
Kawasaki's Creamer Closes Out Season With
Kawasakis Fourth Win
Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
Josh Creamer went out in style going 1-2 to earn
his second overall win of the season at the
series finale at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in
Hurricane Mills, Tenn. His teammate Chad Wienen
wanted to enjoy some of the winnings as he
earned the Moto 2 win and went seventh overall
with a 13-1. Although the championship didn’t go
to green, the team had huge success during the
2009 season with four of 11 overall wins, 10
moto wins, and stood on the podium an additional
nine times. The KFX®450R was also the quad to
beatin the Pro Am classes as well with Cody
Gibson claiming both the Production and
Unlimited championships prior to the final
round.
Way To Go Out
The last race was a favorite for
both Kawasaki riders. Creamer finished on the
podium at last years finale and he came back
with a vengeance in 2009 going 1-2 for his
second career win. In the first moto, he didn’t
waste anytime getting out front, taking the
holeshot and leading the whole race to victory.
In the second moto, he didn’t get a great start,
but moved quickly through the pack. By the third
lap he was in first, but conceded the lead to
his teammate and went on to place second in the
moto.
“The first moto went my way,” said Creamer. “I
think I won by over seven seconds and the heat
didn’t really bother me then. In the second moto
I had to work a little harder since I didn’t get
the start I wanted. I played it smart when
Wienen passed me because I knew I still had the
overall even if I didn’t win the moto. It was
nice to go out like this.”
Bad Luck, Good Luck
Like Creamer, Wienen enjoyed
the spoils of victory in the second moto, but
with his first moto result, he finished seventh
overall. In the first moto, Wienen got hooked
together with another rider and it took almost a
minute to get untangled. At that point, he did
all he could to make up as many positions as
possible, but only had enough time to move into
13th. He came out in the second moto with a fire
that sent him from seventh at the start to the
moto win.
“It was definitely unfortunate that I got stuck
together at the start,” said Wienen. “I felt
good all weekend and the bike was working great.
In the second moto, I got an okay start and
eventually got clear of the rest of the riders
at the end of the race. I passed Josh with a few
laps to go. It was great to go out with a moto
win because I felt like I had something for
everyone this weekend.”
Kawasaki Stands Out
Last year the Kawasaki
KFX450R started to make a name for itself in the
AMA ATV Motocross Championship series with its
first moto win and constant podium appearances.
The 2009 season was a break out year that saw
the riders win four overalls, 10 of 22 moto wins
and nine trips to the podium.
“This year was great for the Monster Energy
Kawasaki team,” said Team Manager Jimmy White.
“The quad is now a proven winner we always knew
it could be. In just the short time that we have
been back in ATV racing, Kawasaki has become a
constant threat each weekend for moto wins.”
Top Qualifier
Although he didn’t get the overall
result he was looking for, Wienen took home an
extra $100 for winning the top qualifier award
on Sunday morning.
Filling the Gap
With Kawasaki’s Cody Gibson
making the jump up to the Pro class for the
weekend, Kawasaki’s Bobby Ross filled the
missing gap and pulled out a 2-1 overall victory
in the Pro Am Production class that is featured
prior to each Pro moto. The overall was his
first in the class and he went on to finish out
the season second in points behind Gibson.
Hot Weather
The weather in Hurricane Mills,
Tenn. was the usual hot and humid that the
riders have come to know for the final round.
The heat didn’t seem to bother the Monster
Energy Kawasaki riders as they rode hard every
lap. Wienen posted the fastest lap in both motos.
“I was thinking the heat was going to bother me
because I had been practicing in the same kind
of heat at home and it wasn’t fun,” said
Creamer. “In the first moto, I didn’t even feel
the heat, but the second moto I had to push more
to make it through the pack so I felt it a
little more. The training and practice
definitely pays off in the hot weather.”
What s Next
The AMA ATV Motocross Championship
series may be over, but the guys will be filling
their craving to be on track with a few more
races this season. Wienen will try to redeem his
finish at the first round of the WORCS ATV
series when the circuit comes to Glen Helen
Raceway in just over a month. The New England
born Creamer will be staying local and
challenging Kawasaki rider Joe Haavisto at the
New England ATV series over the next month.
Results
AMA ATV Motocross Championship
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch – Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
August 16, 2009
Pro Overall Results (Moto Finishes)
1. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER
ENERGY KAWASAKI, 1-2
2. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 2-3
3. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am,
3-4
4. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki,
4-5
5. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 7-6
6. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am, 6-7
7. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER ENERGY
KAWASAKI, 13-1
8. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 5-9
9. Brandon Smith, South Jordan, Utah, Can Am,
12-10
10. KEITH LITTLE HUNTSVILLE, ALA., KAWASAKI,
11-12
Pro Point Standings
1. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki,
419
2. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 376
3. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER ENERGY
KAWASAKI, 373
4. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 356
5. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER
ENERGY KAWASAKI, 345
6. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 329
7. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am,
296
8. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am, 257
9. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am, 244
10. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 221
|
