Cody Gibson continues to dominate the Pro Am ranks
Oakland, Ky. (June 7, 2012)-Round five of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series headed south to Ballance Moto X for another exciting weekend of amateur ATV racing. With almost perfect weather conditions on hand, Walsh Racecrafts Cody Gibson would once again dominate the Pro Am Unlimited class as he rode to a perfect 1-1 score over his competition. Moto 1 would see Gibson claim the holeshot and steadily pull away from the field as he cruised to victory, followed by Tyler Hamrick who put in an outstanding ride after battling the entire moto with third place finisher Cody Janssen.
Moto 2 would almost be a repeat of the first moto as Gibson took the lead early on the first lap, leaving the remainder of the class to battle behind. Janssen and Hamrick would once again be locked in a moto-long battle where Janssen bested Hamrick to claim second place in Moto 2. For Hamrick, his third place performance at Round 5 marks his best finish this season and came after a miraculous save in one of the many rhythm sections that highlighted the intensity of racing found in the Pro Am Unlimited ranks.
Youth racing was intense at Ballance Moto X
Cody Janssen's performance was solid as he put in another great effort in Round 5 to finish on the podium for the third time this season. Cody Suggs would reel in a fourth place finish for the weekend and Nick Moser would round out the top five after another incredible performance as he powered his way through the class with a 4-6 score on the weekend.
The entire weekend was jam packed with racing action as the amateur ranks tackled the Kentucky track with a vengeance. The three rhythm sections added a serious challenge for many as positions swapped continuously throughout each moto. For Merrill Crose, the weekend was all about staying out front in four different classes. Crose blistered the tracks technical sections as he battled with Travis Spader in Vet 30+ as the pair pulled on the field behind them. Crose could put distance on Spader through the whoops and Spader would gain it back only to loose it again as Crose ripped through another section of whoops. Crose would go 1-1 in Vet 30+ with Spader taking second via his 2-2 finishes with Mike Barnhart claiming third. Spader would claim a moto victory in Junior 25+ with Crose going 2-1 for his second overall win on the weekend.
Tyler Hamrick took 3rd in Pro Am Unlimited
Open A would again see Crose, Barnhart and Spader locked in battle as the trio mixed it up in both motos. Crose would claim his third win on the weekend with Barnhart taking second with Spader finishing third. Nick Gennusa would be the spoiler for Crose's perfect weekend in 450 A as Gennusa and Crose swapped wins, with Gennusa walking away with the class victory. Gennusa would also claim a victory in Production A as the talented New Jersey racer continues to make his name known on the circuit.
Katie Mette would see her first Women's class win this season at Ballance MX as she raced hard against Adrienne Cooper in Moto 1 with Cooper edging out Mette for the win. Moto two would however see Mette streak to the front and roll across the checkers to claim the overall win for the weekend. Cooper would drop to third in moto two and claim second with Shay Honeywell rounding out the podium.
Katie Mette - Women's Class
The youth racing was as powerful as ever here at round five with so many talented young racers on the track, it was a non-stop blur of action in the mini ranks. Maci Davenport continues to be a powerhouse in 90 Production 8-15 as she ripped her way to a 1-1 class victory. DJ Bassani rolled out of Round 5 with two more victories as he claimed wins in both 90 Mod 8-11 and 70 Mod 6-11.
Round 5 may be over, but the memories will remain as the weekend's action featured the first-ever ATVMX race under the lights. With a DJ, fireworks and a festive atmosphere, the fun and excitement was far from over when the last moto was over.
Competition heats up as the series turns its attention to Round 6, which is to be held at Highpoint Raceway on June 16 and 17. With the point battles so thin in so many classes, the intensity will be at an all-time high as the Pennsylvania track awaits us all in just a few short weeks. Be sure to check out all the racing action, reports and information at http://www.atvmotocross.com as the series breaks its midway point in the 2012 race season!