We just got back from Bowling Green Kentucky's Ballance Moto X Park for Pro Round 3, and Amateur Round 2 (yes, it confuses us too) of the ATV MX Nationals. To say that we had a good time is an understatement; we (which in all reality is just me) had a great time. Speaking in plural really makes me feel as if I'm a one-man media empire, so like I was saying, we had an absolute blast. The economic crisis was nowhere to be found as nearly 600 riders were in attendance. The racing action was amazing from the Minis to the Pro and Pro Am classes, there were no "gimmees", and every position was heavily contested.
The AMA's new control of the Pro Am Production class is the best thing that could've happened to the sport of ATV MX Racing, as the fans are now treated to two separate displays of Pro Caliber racing on Sundays via four Motos (Two Pro Am, two Pro). The Pro Am class had the crowd cheering as Media Allstars' Cody Grant fought to the finish with Walsh Kawasaki's Cody Gibson. The two riders are clearly the top two contenders, and when you factor in ATP's Josh Williams and Devin Heimes, Moto X-Perts' Casey Martin, and Lost Creek Cycles' Chase Snapp it's bound to be the best racing of the weekend. This weekend however, Grant prevailed with the Overall, followed by Gibson, and Snapp.
The Pro Class was equally exciting as Honda's Joe Byrd, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Chad Wienen, and Rockstar/ Makita/ Suzuki's Dustin Wimmer just plain checked out from the rest of the crowd. The trio would start, and finish in that same order in both Motos, with late charges by Wienen in each. Behind the trio were Monster Energy Kawasaki's Josh Creamer, Can Am's Cody Miller, and the constantly improving, Rookie sensation, Yamaha's Thomas Brown. Byrd's protégé Clay Holmes took seventh, Baldwin Honda's Josh Upperman took 8th despite a first turn tumble in the first Moto. Can Am's Brandon Smith and Rockstar Makita Suzuki's rounded out the Top Ten.
The only thing more impressive than the racing action was the damn near beauty pageant that took place in the pits. The amount of beautiful ladies in the crowd was reason enough to return to Kentucky (or possibly move there).