Motocross: A Rockstar/Makita Suzuki sweep in both classes Saturday

Ron Lieback
AllAboutBikes.com Content Editor/Staff Writer

It was a Suzuki weekend at the Washougal National, round eight of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed took a 1-1 in the 450 class, and his teammate Ryan Dungey took a 1-5 in the 250 class, both grabbing the overall win this weekend.

The Australian Reed had suffered from a mysterious stomach illness this year, but seemed to be feeling better last week at round seven in Millville for his 2-1 moto finishes, and obviously felt much better sweeping both 450cc races this weekend, making for three win moto wins so far this season.

In moto 1, Reed got the holeshot and led every lap of the race for what appeared an easy victory. But in moto 2, Reed barely missed going down in a first-turn pileup, and ended up in sixth place. But he began picking off other riders to get to third place, behind fast starters Josh Grant on the JGR/Toyota Yamaha and Jason Lawrence on the Mobile/Monster/ampm Yamaha.

Reed chased down Lawrence, who was eight seconds ahead of the Aussie, and then with three laps to go, Reed passed Grant and rode to victory.

“I just put my head down. I didn't even know who was winning,” Reed said after moto 2. “The sun was setting and coming through the trees and made it really hard to see in some places so I just kept looking for lines. I've just tried to be smooth (and) fast throughout the motos. The 30 minutes is the easy part. Today I felt strong. I just did what I had to do to win.”

Grant was second in moto 2, also taking second overall, and Lawrence was third in the moto and overall despite 10th place in the opening race.

The large pile-up at the beginning of moto 2 sent Tommy Hahn to the hospital. Hahn, who took second in moto 1, is reported to be doing well after the spill.

In the 250 class, Reed’s teammate Dungey got a bad start in the second moto while Monster Energ/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel took off with the lead out front over his teammate Jake Weimer and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Blake Wharton.

Dungey went down twice in the moto and ended up fifth, but the 1-5 was still good enough for the overall, while Wharton’s 3-3 was good for second and Pourcel’s 9-1 was good for third.

Dungey and Pourcel are now tied for the points lead and after the two-week break, they will both be sporting red plates at Unadilla.

450 Class Result:
1. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (1-1)
2. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (5-2)
3. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha (10-3)
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (9-8)
5. Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (15-4)
6. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Yamaha (8-10)
7. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha (13-6)
8. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (2-38)
9. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (11-11)
10. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Honda (3-25)

250 Class Results:
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-5)
2. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (3-3)
3. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (8-1)
4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (4-4)
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (10-2)
6. Tommy Searle, Great Britain, KTM (6-6)
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (7-8)
8. Darryn Durham, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha (5-10)
9. Max Anstie, Great Britain, KTM (9-9)
10. Kyle Cunningham, Ft. Worth, Texas, Kawasaki (2-34)