BUCHANAN, Mich. (July 4, 2009) – The 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continued to provide some of the most unpredictable action in the history of the sport as JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha rookie Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., became the series’ seventh first-time winner of the season at the Monster Energy Motocross National from RedBud. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer made it two in a row in the 250 Class.
Grant paced the morning practice sessions on Saturday and showcased his stellar speed in each of the day’s motos. After a bad start in moto one, Grant stormed through the field to a runner-up finish, nearly stealing the win from Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Australia. In the final moto, Grant came out of the gates in the top five and quickly moved into second where he stalked Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco, of Tallahassee, Fla., before making the move for the win.
"I really needed this win," explained Grant. "I finally got a decent start and just made all the passes I needed to get to the front. I’m pumped for the Joe Gibbs Racing team because its our first outdoor win. I knew we had the speed. I just needed to get a start and today everything worked out."
Reed solidified second overall (1-3) and his spot atop the season standings while Tedesco wrapped up the third position (4-2). Halfway through the season, Reed holds a 21-point lead over Andrew Short.
Weimer raced to his second straight victory after claiming his inaugural win one week ago. Consistency proved to be the key on Saturday as Weimer’s competitor’s battled misfortune in the motos, becoming an unlikely winner with moto results of second and fourth.
"I was pretty sure I had the overall by the halfway point. I knew the guys ahead of me were behind me in the first moto. I saw Dungey go down so he was behind me and he was the only one that beat me (in moto one). I feel like I rode well and I’m just happy to be up here."
The overall podium duplicated that of last week’s as Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, took second overall (8-1) and Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Tommy Searle, of Great Britain, rounded out the podium (5-2) for the third week in a row.
Pourcel holds a nine point lead over Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey heading into the final six races.
The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship takes a week off, but returns to action on Saturday, July 18 from Millville, Minn. for the Honda Spring Creek Pro National from Spring Creek Motocross Park. Same day coverage can be seen on SPEED at 11:30 p.m. ET.
Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Monster Energy Motocross National
July 4, 2009
Round 6 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (2-1)
- Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (1-3)
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (4-2)
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (3-4)
- Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha (6-5)
- Ricky Dietrich, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (5-6)
- Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (7-7)
- Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Honda (8-9)
- Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha (10-8)
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (11-11)
450 Class Championship Standings
- Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 240
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 219
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 200
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 198
- Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki, 145
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 142
- Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 135
- Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 123
- Ricky Dietrich, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 119
- Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 101
250 Class (Moto Finish)
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (2-1)
- Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-6)
- Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM (5-3)
- Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (7-5)
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (6-4)
- Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda (9-2)
- Kyle Cunningham, Ft. Worth, Texas, Kawasaki (7-11)
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha (10-12)
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM (9-14)
- Martin Davalos, Ecuador, KTM (20-5)
250 Class Championship Standings
- Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 255
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 246
- Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM, 191
- Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 179
- Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 175
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 156
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 153
- Justin Barcia, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 151
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 141
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 139