Chino, CA (8/24/2009) -
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.
