TEAM SUZUKI
DUNGEY AND SUZUKI PODIUM AT UNADILLA MX

Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki put on an impressive performance at round nine of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in the Rockstar Energy Drink Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York at the weekend.

Reigning AMA Pro Motocross Champion Ryan Dungey raced his Yoshimura-equipped Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 to a strong second place overall at one of the most gruelling courses in the series as team-mate Brett Metcalfe rode two solid motos but had to overcome a collision with another rider to bring home 12th place overall.

In the first moto, Dungey got a good start but had a minor off-track excursion early on, but he managed to make his way back up into second place by the end of the race. In the second moto, he put his head down and moved into a podium position in third place, but made a daring last-lap move that put him in second place at the end of the moto - and second-place overall for the day.

"In the first moto, I high-sided a rut and almost threw it away," said Dungey. "But I was able to get back on the track and work my way up into second place. In the second moto, the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was running great, but I got stuck in third for a little while. I was able to make the most of the bike and the track and also take advantage of some things; and I moved into second place on the last lap. Overall, I'm happy. We had fun - and thanks to all the fans and my family and Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki. We've got a short break before Southwick so I'm going to focus on training and getting ready for that race. I won both motos there last year and I'm hoping to do that again this year."

Metcalfe struggled with starts all weekend but made the best of it: In the first moto he charged hard on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 from 12th place all the way to a solid sixth-placed finish. In the second moto, he was running with the top 10 and then moved through the field to battle for fifth place. Towards the end of the moto, however, he had contact with another rider and went down. He remounted and tried to salvage as many points as possible and in the end brought home a 12th-placed overall finish.

"I really wanted to be contending for the podium again," said Metcalfe. "Unfortunately my starts were a little off and this is a tough track to pass on. On the positive side, I rode strong; I came through the pack and was able to make moves. In the first moto, I ended up sixth. In the second moto, I had a good ride going and was challenging for fifth. But I came together with another rider and my front brake got jammed and that cost me. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was working awesome and the team was great, so it's a 'bummer' I wasn't able to show what I could do. But now I'm looking forward to Southwick. I had some bad luck there last year and I want to redeem myself. I'm going to be running up front and I want to win that race."

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team's next event is the 10th round of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, August 27th at the Rockstar Energy Drink Southwick National in Southwick, MA.


GARETH SWANEPOEL
Swanepoel climbs championship ladder in Unadilla

The historic Unadilla Valley Sports Center hosted round 9 of the 12 round Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship this weekend in New Berlin, NY.

DNA Shredstix/Star Racing/ Yamaha racer, Gareth Swanepoel,  came out guns blazing in the opening moto of the Lites class.  The South African holeshot the race and lead current points leader Dean Wilson for 3 laps before the Scot took over.  Swanepoel then came under pressure from championship challengers Blake Bagget and fellow South African Tyla Rattray in the latter stages of the race.  Holding onto fourth place, ‘Swanie’ gained valuable championship points and a good starting position for moto 2.

A first turn pile-up in moto 2 left Swanepoel at the bottom of the carnage with a mangled machine.  He straightened what he could and gave chase to the pack but could only manage 16 spot.

“I’m not happy with this result” admitted Swanepoel “I wanted to put myself in the position to be on the podium and after going down in the start of moto 2 that went out the window.  The bike was quite bent and I was ridden over so I did what I could to salvage some points.  On the positive side, I have jumped two spots in the championship.  There are still 3 rounds left and I really like the sand so am looking forward to Southwick.”

TYLA RATTRAY
RATTRAY's CHAMPIONSHIP ASPIRATIONS RECEIVE A SEVERE SETBACK AFTER UNADILLA DNF

The 2011 AMA motocross championship series is moving towards the sharp end, with only a few rounds left before the eventual champion is crowned. Although the champion is not known yet, this much is clear - the big trophy will yet again find price of place in the Pro Circuit Kawasaki headquarters, with the team's three top riders being the only realistic candidates for overall honours at this stage.

Coming into round nine of the series, South African Tyla Rattray was trailing team-mate Dean Wilson in the championship run, but still hovered close enough for his team-mate to feel the breath in his neck. The championship race was wide open, with the top three contenders swapping race wins throughout the year. The trend continued during the qualifying sessions for the event, as Wilson blitzed to the fastest time, with Rattray a gnat's whisker behind.

As 40 determined riders on highly-tuned machines piled into the first corner of race one, it was fellow South African Gareth Swanepoel who emerged in the lead, with Wilson in hot pursuit. Tyla had to recover form a half-fluffed start, and was finding his way forward from a position outside the top 10. By lap 3, Wilson had the luxury of clean air ahead of him, his view unspoilt by any other rider, whilst Tyla was homing in on a podium position like a guided missile on a Somalian pirate skiff. He was within striking distance of fifth position when a small error pulled him groundwards, and he had to do it all over again.

Tyla was now on a mission to succeed, and his march forward was relentless. He passed Swanepoel to move into third position, and was fast latching onto team-mate Blake Baggett, when time ran out. Yet again it was the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki triumvirate that occupied the first three slots, and Tyla could draw satisfaction from a strong ride that was well rewarded.

The weekend upended itself early in the second race, however. Another compromised start left him with much work to do, but a lap later he disappeared off the radar screens, and was spotted hobbling off the track. Now it takes a special kind of crash of near seismic proportions to get Tyla Rattray to withdraw from a race, and it was clear that his day was done. It was real bad news for the popular South African as far as his championship run was concerned, for his DNF allowed Wilson to break into a comfortable championship lead, whilst Baggett overhauled Tyla to move into second position.

With three rounds of the series still left, anything can still happen, but Tyla's championship aspirations were severely compromised by his DNF, and his focus will now shift on producing his best possible result on a race by race basis.