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AMA Motocross: Ryan Villopoto Wins 450 Class Motocross Debut

In Offroad

27 maggio 2009

AMA Motocross: Ryan Villopoto Wins 450 Class Motocross Debut

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto started off the 2009 AMA Motocross Championship just as he finished the 2009 supercross season, on the top step of the podium.

Villopoto went 1-1 in his motocross 450 class debut making it 26 straight moto wins for the Kawasaki KX450F. In the 250 class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel won the first moto and finished seventh in the second while his teammate, 2008 MX2 World Champion, Tyla Rattray went 5-2 in his first race on American soil. Jake Weimer went 6-9 and Austin Stroupe finished 13-5. Timmy Ferry started the first moto in the 450 class but was unable to finish as he continues to recover from a broken heel he sustained in March.

Villopoto joined elite company as he went 1-1 in his first motocross race in the 450 class. After winning the last three 250 class championships, he became only the second rider to then sweep both motos at Glen Helen in his 450 class debut. Ricky Carmichael also achieved the feat on a Kawasaki in 2000. It wasn’t easy for Villopoto who had to fight his way to the front during the 30 minute plus two lap motos.

During the second moto Villopoto worked his way up from 10th at the start to second on the sixth lap. When he moved up to second he was 16 seconds behind the leader. Over the next five laps, Villopoto caught up to and passed the leader to take his second moto win.

Rattray’s first race in America was a good one as he finished fifth in the first moto and followed that up with a runner-up finish in the second moto. Rattray came across the holeshot line in fourth during Moto 2 and then rode a patient race to slowly move up to second. Glen Helen not only marked Rattray’s first race in the United States, but also his first race on the Kawasaki KX250F.

Pourcel found a familiar position after the first moto, the top step of the podium. The French rider rode a smooth and patient race to get the win.

The rutted conditions combined with an already difficult track made for a long race day at Glen Helen. For Weimer, the tough conditions made it difficult for him to overcome mid-pack starts, but he knows there is still a long season ahead.

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