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SEASON REVIEW

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AMA MOtOcROSS

GreatThe Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross

Championship was better than ever in 2011, with Ryan Villopoto eventually capturing the premier

450 Class crown over arch-rival Ryan Dungey as the season went down to the wire at Pala Raceway.

It wasn’t always the two Ryans who were out front though, with Australia’s Chad Reed starting his season in a blaze of glory for TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing aboard a factory-supported Honda CRF450R.

Former 2009 champion Reed won the opening four rounds and led the series

into the midway point of the season, however a monumental crash at Millville while leading literally took the wind out of his sails and made mainstream news headlines worldwide.

That enabled RV and the Dunge to take control at the front, with the nail in Reed’s championship coffin coming via a mechanical at Southwick in moto one.

Once all was said and done, Villopoto won via consistency with podiums at every round, adding the title to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross crown that he won in May. His turning point came at ?, when he debuted Kawasaki’s 2012 KX450F with a double win.

Meanwhile, Dungey had to relinquish his title, but some observers suggest it could have been more save a mechanical while leading at Freestone. RV’s final points buffer was 14.

As for the other Aussies, Brett Metcalfe scored his first career win at Southwick on his way to fourth overall, while Michael Byrne was 12th, rookie Tye Simmonds 17th and privateer Dean Porter 48th.

The 250 Class was painted green by Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, the title won by Scottish teen Dean Wilson over teammates Tyla Rattray and Blake Baggett.

Now, lets reflect upon the series with some of the great moments and standout stars through the lens of Simon Cudby.OutdOOr

sVillopoto and Dungey make it an all-Ryan show in American Motocross,

as Wilson wins the 250sImages sImon Cudby

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SEASON REVIEW

AMA MOtOcROSS

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championship standings

RookIe of the yeaR JustIn baRCIan No, he wasn’t actually an official rookie but Justin Barcia did make a spectacular impact in the final three rounds when filling in for Trey Canard at American Honda. Moto wins, consistent podiums and outright speed will have Barcia a favourite for teams when he decides to step up full time.

CRash of the yeaRChad Reed at mIllvIllen They’ve labelled it the ‘Chad-a-pult’ in America, speaking of Chad Reed’s unbelievable crash on the opening lap of moto two at Millville. A lesser man would still be laying deep in the ditch he landed in after being flung off the bike mid-air, however Reedy got back up to finish the race! Amazing.

1 Aussie Chad Reed who took a 2 convincing win, but Ryan3 Villopoto sealed the series 4 with a safe third behind 20105 Villopoto sealed the series

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450 Class 1. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) 5262. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) 5143. Chad Reed (Honda) 4294. Brett Metcalfe (Suzuki) 3745. Mike Alessi (KTM) 3046. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki) 2717. Justin Brayton (Yamaha) 2188. Andrew Short (KTM) 1969. Kevin Windham (Honda) 19310. Davi Millsaps (Yamaha) 17312. Michael Byrne (Suzuki) 15417. Tye Simmonds (KTM) 11548. Dean Porter (Suzuki) 5

250 Class 1. Dean Wilson (Kawasaki) 5382. Tyla Rattray (Kawasaki) 4723. Blake Baggett (Kawasaki) 4694. Eli Tomac (Honda) 3145. Kyle Cunningham (Yamaha) 3116. Gareth Swanepoel (Yamaha) 3007. Broc Tickle (Kawasaki) 2538. Alex Martin (Honda) 2139. Martin Davalos (Suzuki) 21310. Darryn Durham (Honda) 195

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250 Class moto vICtoRy lIst

Dean Wilson 11Blake Baggett 8Tyla Rattray 4

Gareth Swanepoel 1

450 ClassmotovICtoRy lIst

Ryan Villopoto 10Chad Reed 7

Ryan Dungey 6Justin Barcia 1

team of the yeaRmonsteR eneRgy PRo CIRCuIt kawasakIn The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team absolutely rocked the 250 Class during the 2011 outdoor season. Sweeping all 12 rounds and winning 23 from 24 motos, Mitch Payton had a lot to smile about at year’s end. What’s more, Wilson, Rattray and Baggett took 1-2-3 in the series.

RIsIng staR of the yeaRdean wIlsonn There’s a lot to like about young Scotsman Dean Wilson, winner of the 250 Class in this year’s outdoors. At just 19 in his second year of racing AMA, Wilson finished on the podium at all bar one round and absolutely dominated the final rounds. He’ll be a premier class champion in years to come.

RaCe of the yeaRsouthwICkn It may not have been an all out battle for victory, but the fact that South Australian Brett Metcalfe took his first national win in the U.S. at Southwick after eight years of trying was a huge one in our books. Metty went 3-2 for the W, a great achievement for one of the nice guys of the sport. 1

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series AMA MOtOcROSS

SEASON REVIEW

1 Aussie Chad Reed who took a 2 convincing win, but Ryan3 Villopoto sealed the series

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