Glen Helen Raceway
San Bernardino, Calif.
March 8, 2009
With the champ's No. 1 plate on his Suzuki QuadRacer R450, Dustin Wimmer began the AMA ATV MX Championship season with a victory and the points lead. On March 8, 2009, at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif., Wimmer and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing team continued the successful run that earned them a championship in 2008.
"I feel really good," said Wimmer. "It's always good to start the season off with a win! My team and I have been working really hard, and it is paying off."
In Moto 1, Wimmer was boxed in off the start and watched a small group of leaders pull away through the first few corners. As the dust settled, Wimmer began to find the champ's rhythm, and he quickly moved his way into second place. The race leader had gained considerable ground on Wimmer, though he closed the gap to within one second at the finish line.
On the line for Moto 2, Wimmer was determined to improve his start, and when the gate dropped he rocketed to the front for the holeshot. Wimmer's lead grew quickly, and by the halfway mark, he had nearly a 10-second lead over the field. He was able to cruise to the Moto 2 victory, giving him the overall win for the day and the championship points lead. "I'm going to try my best to keep the championship," said Wimmer. "I'm going to go out there and give it my all and race smart and consistent races like I did last year and do my best to put Suzuki on top of the podium."
Wimmer's Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate and former champion Doug Gust finished in eighth-place overall. Caught in traffic, Gust was mired in the back of the pack in Moto 1. He recovered with a sixth-place finish in Moto 2 to keep him in the top 10 heading into the season's second round. "I think all the bad luck is out of the way now and I'm ready for the next round," said Gust.
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing team will compete in the second round of the 2009 AMA ATV MX Championship season March 22 in Pell City, Alabama.
Round 1 - AMA ATV MX Championship Glen Helen Raceway
Pro Class Results
1. Dustin Wimmer (Suzuki)
2. Josh Creamer (Kawasaki)
3. Joe Byrd (Honda)
4. Thomas Brown (Yamaha)
5. Clay Holmes (Honda)
6. John Natalie (Can-Am)
7. Jeremy Lawson (Can-Am)
8. Doug Gust (Suzuki)
9. Josh Upperman (Honda)
10. Greg Gee (Honda)