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AMA PRO ATV MX TEAM
ROCKSTAR/MAKITA/SUZUKI/YOSHIMURA 2009 RECAP
2009 AMA Pro ATV Champion
Dustin Wimmer |
Chino, Calif. - August 21, 2009 - After last
year's fantastic season, many were wondering if
the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura team, led
by defending champion Dustin Wimmer (#1) and
veteran rider Doug Gust (#55), would be able to
put in another championship winning performance
in the 2009 AMA Pro Moose Racing/ITP Tires ATV
MX Series. The competition would be as strong -
if not stronger - than it was in 2008, and there
were some new faces determined to stand at the
top step of the podium. But after the final
checkered flag of the 2009 season, it was Dustin
Wimmer holding his second consecutive
championship plate in the air.
The season began on March 7th and started off
just as it had the year before, with Dustin
Wimmer on top. Wimmer, aboard his trusted
QuadRacer R450, stormed to the overall win at
Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino,
California. Teammate Doug Gust, however, had a
much more difficult time. After a first-turn
pileup, Gust managed to finish the day in 8th
overall.
Round two of the series landed in Pell City,
Alabama, home of Mill Creek Raceway, on March
20th. Wimmer, proving early on that he was going
to be the man to beat, decimated the field in
both motos, going 1-1 for the overall victory.
Gust, however, was once again the victim of a
first-turn incident, but the veteran rider rode
hard to secure a respectable 6th overall.
On April 4th, the Ballance Moto X track in
Bowling Green, Kentucky played host to round
three of the series. Wimmer appeared to be an
early favorite by setting blazing fast lap times
in practice and qualifying, but the defending
champ couldn't find his rhythm. He secured his
third straight podium finished of the season,
however, with a 3-3 finish, good enough for
third overall. Gust had a problematic weekend,
as he was only able to finish tenth overall.
April 17th saw Dustin Wimmer return to the
top step of the podium at the Birch Creek
Motorsports Facility in Danville, Virginia.
After two drawn out battles, Wimmer claimed his
third win of the season with 2-1 moto scores.
Gust put in a strong come from behind ride and
finished the weekend seventh overall.
Wimmer's championship hopes seemed to suffer
serious blow on May 2nd. It was round five of
the series at the Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in
Walnut, Illinois, and the series points leader
was sitting at home, nursing a dislocated
shoulder. Doug Gust took over for his teammate,
though, putting the
Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura QuadRacer R450
on the podium with 4 - 6 moto finishes for third
overall.
In a display of heart and determination to
win a second title, Dustin Wimmer surprised
everyone when he showed up to race at Steel City
on May 23rd in Delmont, Pennsylvania. Though he
hadn't been able to train and his stamina was
low, the Pennsylvania native put in two gritty
rides to finish 8th overall, but most
importantly, kept himself alive in the
championship hunt. Gust put in a consistent top
five finish with fourth overall.
Round seven took place at the daunting
Unadilla circuit in New Berlin, New York.
Wimmer, still riding with an injured shoulder,
put in two safe and steady rides to secure 6th
place overall, keeping himself close to the top
of the points standings. Teammate Gust rode two
great races and finished a fantastic second
place.
June 27th marked Dustin Wimmer's return to
the podium at Muddy Creek Raceway in
Blountville, Tennessee. Though he was recovering
from shoulder surgery, Wimmer wasn't about to
let that hold him back. After an eleventh place
start in the first moto, he cut through the
field with unmatched speed, taking the win on
the last lap. In the second moto, he made it
look easy, checking out at the front on his way
to a crushing 1-1 performance. Gust, meanwhile,
backed up his podium finishes from the previous
races and second place overall.
The Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura duo
weren't about to stop their display of dominance
when the series hit Pleasure Valley Raceway in
Armagh, Pennsylvania on July 17th. Wimmer added
two more moto victories and another first
overall to his tally, while Gust followed the
defending champ home to another second overall.
Wimmer was relentless at Red Bud Track N
Trail in Buchanan, Michigan, site of the
penultimate round on August 1st. The competition
was fierce and Wimmer was under intense pressure
in both motos, but he never cracked, riding off
to another stunning 1-1 overall victory. It was
another top five overall for Doug Gust, as well,
with the veteran rider taking fourth overall.
It was now August 15th and the series was at
Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills,
Tennessee. Wimmer needed only five points in the
first moto to put an exclamation point on his
incredible season. As the gate dropped, he would
not be denied. Riding safely and consistently,
the defending champion became a two-time
champion, finishing the first moto in fourth. He
finished the day fourth overall, one spot ahead
of his teammate Doug Gust. As well as winning
the 2009 AMA ATV Motocross title, Wimmer, as
well as Gust, catapulted Suzuki to their second
straight manufacturers title.
The final standings for the 2009 AMA ATV
Motocross Series:
1. Dustin Wimmer, Champion,
Team Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura
2. Joe Byrd
3. Chad Wienen
4. Doug Gust, Team
Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura
5. Josh Creamer
Congratulations also go out to
Yoshimura-sponsored amateur riders that finished
in the top three in their class, including Bobby
Ross and Chase Snapp, finishing second and third
in the Pro-Am Production class.
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