Walnut, IL (4/28/2009) -
Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki/Yoshimura factory rider
Dustin Wimmer was injured during a test session
at the track "A Place To Ride" in
Monroe, GA this past week, putting him out
of commission for the next several weeks,
and allowing new riders to take over his lead
position in the 2009 AMA Pro ATV MX Championship
Wimmer said he hoped to be back after this
weekend's Sunset Ridge MX, but he could be
out of competition anywhere from six to eight
weeks, leaving the door open for the competition
to grab his championship, especially if he
misses more than one round of racing.
Joe Byrd, the 2006 and 2007 AMA Pro Motocross
Series' Champion from Union
City, Tennessee broke Wimmer's winning streak
with his victory at Ballance MX, proving he
has what it takes to beat Wimmer at his best.
Byrd is only six points behind Wimmer in the
point standings, so a solid finish at Sunset
Ridge could catapult him over Wimmer to take
the lead.
Josh Creamer, of the Monster Energy Kawasaki
team, took second at Glen Helen and, suffered
a hard crash at the race in Alabama, improved
to come in fourth at Ballance MX but struggled
at Birch Creek to come in eighth. He is still
third in the point standings but is almost
60 points behind Byrd and Wimmer.
Creamer's teammate Chad Wienen improved at
Ballance MX, carrying solid 2-2 moto scores
and then won his first moto of the season
at Birch Creek. With another win, he could
move up into championship contention. 2005
Champion John Natalie has moved up to fifth
in the standings, coming in with consistent
fourth place finishes at Birch Creek.
In addition, nationally-recognized stars
including veteran Doug Gust, Jeremy Lawson,
Josh Upperman, Pat Brown and a crop of hard
charging rookies will make up a full gate
of talent in the AMA Pro ATV Class.
About the ITP
Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV National Motocross
Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited
The ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV National
Motocross Championship 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. For more information,
please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
About the ATV
Association (ATVA)
The ATV Association ("ATVA") is
the official sanctioning body of the amateur
division of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA
ATV National Motocross Championship 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. 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 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV
National Motocross Championship 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.