Motocross: Reed claims an early championship victory with two rounds to go

Tyler Hopper
AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer

Chad Reed rode to victory at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md., despite adverse weather conditions. The victory, and points earned, enabled Reed to claim the title of 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Champion with two rounds to go. 

The two-time AMA Supercross champ leads second place Andre Short by 104 points in Championship standings. A number great enough for the rider to claim victory with two rounds left in the Championship.  Reed rode to victory five times this season, a feat accomplished during the first year he ever won an AMA Motocross event.

Total domination wasn't in the books for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider at Budds Creek; he took the back seat to Red Bull Honda rider Davi Millsaps in the first moto, finishing second. The win for Millsaps was his first of the season; Millsaps powered his Honda in first place from start to finish.  Jeff Alessi, along with a muddy stretch of track, were all that stood between Reed and Millsaps.  Reed moved into second by lap six, and Alessi's down hill spiral began, with Alessi eventually coming to a stop in 20th. Matt Goerke and Ivan Tedesco had it out for third, with Goerke taking the podium spot.

In Moto 2 action, Reed passed Ivan Tedesco to take an early unwavering lead. Tommy Hahn finished second, followed by Tedesco in third. Davi Millsaps took second for the event behind Reed.  Ivan Tedesco claimed third followed by Kyle Regan and Tommy Hahn.

In Championship standings, Reed sits at the top with 434 points, followed by Andrew short with 330.  Ivan Tedesco trails Short by only 8 points and leads Josh Grant by 42.  Michael Byrne has the pressure on Grant with only 4 points separating the two riders.

450 Overall Results:
1. Chad Reed (Suz)
2. Davi Millsaps (Hon)
3. Ivan Tedesco (Hon)
4. Kyle Regal (Yam)
5. Tommy Hahn (Kaw)
6. Michael Byrne (Suz)
7. Timmy Ferry (Kaw)
8. Andrew Short (Hon)
9. Matt Goerke (Yam)
10. James Albertson (Yam)

According to Alli Sports, the 250s ran second on the day at Budds Creek, and in the first moto, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer got the start over his teammate and points leader Christophe Pourcel and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey quickly joined the duo at the front. After a few laps, Pourcel made a pass stick on Weimer over the track’s uphill triple. Weimer tried to come back at his teammate right away, and again late in the race, but Pourcel was too good in that moto.

Dungey finished third.

In the second moto, though, the skies opened up, and after a false start due to a malfunctioning Monster girl, it was Weimer again with the holeshot on the re-start, although GEICO Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe was quickly by for the lead. Metcalfe led for eight laps before getting passed by Weimer on lap nine just before they threw the red flag, signaling the end of the race due to weather.

Weimer took the second-moto victory over Metcalfe, Pourcel, Dungey, Matt Lemoine and the rest of the field.

With the second-moto victory, Weimer took home his third AMA National victory of the year and pulled to within 10 points of Metcalfe for third in the championship.

By virtue of beating his championship rival Ryan Dungey in both motos, Pourcel now leads the title chase by 13 with two rounds left to run.

250 Overall Results:
1. Jake Weimer (Kaw)
2. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw)
3. Ryan Dungey (Suz)
4. Justin Barcia (Hon)
5. Austin Stroupe (Kaw)
6. Brett Metcalfe (Hon)
7. Matt Lemoine (Yam)
8. Ryan Sipes (KTM)
9. PJ Larsen (Kaw)
10. Tyla Rattray (Kaw)