Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
Chad Wienen Dominates Both Motos for Kawasaki’s
First ATV Overall National Win
2009 AMA ATV Motocross Nationals
- Round 5 - Walnut, IL
Irvine, CA (5/5/2009) - Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Chad Wienen earned his first
overall win of the season with two perfect motos
at the fifth round of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship
at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Ill., making it Kawasaki’s
first ATV national overall win since the manufacturer
started racing in 2007. The special win came at
Wienen’s hometown track in front of many friends
and family. Teammate Josh Creamer was just off the
podium in fourth, while Kawasaki’s Cody Gibson
went 1-1 in the Pro Am Production class. Back
On Top
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Monster Energy
Kawasaki's Chad Wienen claims his 1st
Win on the KFX450R
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Wienen has experienced the top of the podium
before, but it wasn’t until his hometown
race that he was able to claim his first win of
this season. Wienen started the day by earning
the top qualifying spot. He then went on to lead
nearly every lap in both motos, establishing himself
as the one to watch at the upcoming rounds.
“I had pretty high expectations going into
this race,” said Wienen. “I was second
at the previous two rounds and I really wanted
to get a win. It feels great to have a day like
I did. I got two great starts and rode two solid
motos. At the beginning of the season I was having
some bad luck, but it’s a long year and
I didn’t give up. We got the quad dialed
in and there isn’t too much holding us back.”
First Kawasaki Win
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Chad Wienen on his
way to victory
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Wienen’s win on Sunday marked the first
ATV overall national win for the Kawasaki KFX®450R
since the team started in 2007. In that short
time, the Kawasaki quad has proven it’s
a competitor. The KFX®450R traveled to the
podium four times in 2008 and four times in five
races already this season.
“It’s great to get this win for Kawasaki,”
said Wienen. “Both Josh and I have been
trying to bring home this win for the team. Our
quad is a proven winner now, but the team has
known that for a long time.”
Good Day
Creamer went into the race at Sunset Ridge MX
hoping to return to the podium. He raced to third-place
in the first moto, and looked for another good
finish but a crash early in the moto set him back.
He battled his way back to eventually finish eighth
for the moto and just off the podium with fourth
for the overall. Creamer now sits fourth in points,
just six points back from his teammate.
“It obviously wasn’t the day I was
hoping for, but a lot of people had bad luck so
it was good to leave there with fourth,”
said Creamer. “I’ve been close to
the podium a few times now. I’m not the
type to give up and I’ll be looking for
that podium next race.”
Cody Gibson Keeps Streak Alive
Gibson kept his winning streak going in the Pro
Am Production class with another 1-1 win at Sunset
Ridge. He has won three of the four races and
has yet to finish off the podium in the class.
Gibson also won the first moto in the Pro Am Unlimited,
but he crashed in the second moto, finishing 12th
overall.
Returning to Steel City
The next race will be held at a venue that the
riders are familiar with even though it hasn’t
been part of the series the last few years. The
Steel City Invitational has kept the riders coming
to the track and Wienen was last year’s
big winner.
“I really like that track,” said
Wienen. “It’s a good technical track.
I hope they keep it similar to what it was before.
We are going to try and keep the wheels turning
in the right direction.”
AMA
ATV Motocross Championship
Sunset Ridge Motocross - Round 5 - May 3,
2009 |
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ATV
Pro Class (Moto Finishes) |
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1. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER
ENERGY KAWASAKI, 1-1
2. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am,
5-5
3. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 4-6
4. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON,
CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 3-8
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda,
10-2
6. Jeremie Warnia, Paris, France, Can Am,
8-4
7. Pat Brown, Gray, Ga., Yamaha, 7-10
8. Brandon Smith, South George, Utah, Can
Am, 11-7
9. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can
Am, 16-3
10. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am,
2-18
Pro
Overall Point Standings |
1. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda,
186
2. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki,
184
3. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER
ENERGY KAWASAKI, 144
4. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON,
CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 138
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda,
118
6. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 118
7. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can
Am, 116
8. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am,
108
9. Clay Holmes, Lexington, Tenn., Honda,
106
10. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can
Am, 102
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