Makita Global
Dungey, reigning MX Champion, goes two-two for a 3rd place overall
Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki riders showed their strength, consistency, and the power of their Makita tools-tuned Suzuki RM-Z450s during the fifth round of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championships at the Budds Creek National in Mechanicsville, MD on Saturday.
Ryan Dungey rode strong and consistent, claiming second place in both motos and ending the day with a third-place overall. Teammate Brett Metcalfe worked through the pack in both motos to grab a couple of sixths and scored a sixth-place overall finish for the day.
Dungey started the day showing off the speed of his Suzuki by scoring the fastest time in the morning timed practices by over a second. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider had a great start in moto one that put him into the front group. Dungey powered his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z from fourth to second over the first few laps and then the reigning champion put his head down and chased after the leader. Dungey was able to catch the leader in the closing laps but was unable to make the pass. Moto two went about the same for the Suzuki rider, with a good start that slotted him quickly into second. Dungey pushed hard for the remaining 12 laps but fell just a little short of passing for the lead and came away with a second-place moto finish and third overall for the day. Dungey sits third in the championship points race.
"It was another good, solid weekend,” said Dungey. “We got off to really good starts on today and I was able to get second in both motos. I lost some time in the beginning of the first moto, but I was able to make that up and get up there and almost get the win. I got another good start in the second moto and got up into second and battled for the number one position for the rest of the moto but just couldn’t make the pass. It was tough. The track was really one-lined. Overall, my Rockstar Makita Suzuki felt great and we were solid throughout the day. We just gotta keep moving forward and plugging away. We’ve got Lakewood coming up and I’m really looking forward to it. Last year we were able to get a win there in the AMA Pro MX Championship race as well as the MX Des Nations. It’s always a great track.”
Teammate Brett Metcalfe started the day with the fourth fastest time in the morning practices, which was his best qualifying effort of the season. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider suffered a bad start in the first moto but was able to work his way through the field to capture a sixth-place finish. In moto two, Metcalfe had another tough start but was able to quickly get into sixth, which is where he finished, giving him a sixth-place overall for the day. Metcalfe sits solidly in fifth in the championship points.
"It was a pretty positive day for me,” said Metcalfe. “I went six-six for sixth overall and there were some positives and negatives, but overall I felt pretty good. The negative side of the day was bad starts in both motos. I really felt if I could have had better starts, I could have been running up front and at least challenging for a podium. I had my best qualifying result of the year today with a fourth. My Rockstar Makita Suzuki is working great and the team has been doing a great job getting me more comfortable out there. I think that’s why I was able to qualify faster. I’m happy and feel that was my best riding of the season. We need to go home and work this week on starts and give myself a chance to run up front. I’m looking forward to Lakewood. It’s a track I’ve done well at in the past. And I think it is a track that suits me. I’m hoping to go there and put my Rockstar Makita Suzuki up on the podium where I know it can be.”
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team’s next event is the fifth round of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, June 25th, at the Thunder Valley National in Lakewood, CO. You can meet the Rockstar Makita Suzuki riders on Friday, June 24th, from 5 to 6 PM, at Fay Myers Motorcycle World, 9700 East Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, CO.
Budds Creek 450 Class Overall Results:
1. Chad Reed
2. Ryan Villopoto
3. Ryan Dungey
4. Kevin Windham
5. Mike Alessi
6. Brett Metcalfe
7. David Millsaps
8. Jake Weimer
9. Andrew Short
10. Josh Grant
2011 Motocross 450 Class Standings:
1. Chad Reed – 183
2. Ryan Villopoto – 168
3. Ryan Dungey – 155
4. David Millsaps – 130
5. Brett Metcalfe – 118
6. Kevin Windham – 112
7. Jake Weimer – 93
8. Ricky Dietrich – 92
9. Christian Craig – 76
10. Andrew Short – 75
Defending MX Champ Ryan Dungey ran strong and went two-two for a 3rd place overall finish.
Brett Metcalfe overcame a bad start in the first moto to finish 6th overall.
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