Dungey closes in with fourth-straight Spring Creek win

Ryan Dungey continued his recent domination of the Spring Creek AMA Motocross event to claim a fourth consecutive victory on home turf and narrow the gap at the top of the standings. Tyla Rattray scooped the 250 class spoils.

It was championship leader Chad Reed who had looked odds on to extend his points advantage in the opening moto with a hard fought victory over Dungey. The pair were joined by Trey Canard in the early stages as the trio ran as one before a mistake from the American Honda rider allowed the top two to pull clear.

Reed was seldom troubled thereafter, stretching his advantage to come home comfortably clear of Dungey and fellow title protagonist Ryan Villopoto who recovered from a subdued start to complete the podium.

Mike Alessi also passed Canard to finish fourth with Brett Metcalfe completing the top six.

Reed’s excellent form then continued at the start of moto two before being fortunate to recover from a frightening accident.

Again the championship’s top three headed the opening laps. But just after passing Villopoto for the lead, Reed lost control of his bike while in mid-air above the circuit’s highest jump and fell to the floor. Miraculously the Australian was unhurt and actually continued to finish 14th.

Back at the front Villopoto at one stage enjoyed a six second lead over Dungey. But as traffic began to play its part so the Kawasaki rider started losing time, allowing his pursuer to close in. By lap 13 Dungey was alongside, only for Villopoto to gift him the win when falling as he attempted to cut back underneath.

Trey Canard’s impressive 450 class debut resulted in third overall after completing the second heat podium, while Alessi’s two fourth places saw him finish just ahead of Reed whose opening moto victory gave him enough points to end the day fifth despite his fall. Metcalfe was sixth.

All that sees Reed’s championship lead cut to just six points from Villopoto with Dungey now a further point back in third.

Tyla Rattray meanwhile kept himself in 250 class title contention thanks to a victory and second place at Spring Creek.

The South African was just unable to get the better of championship leader Dean Wilson in moto one following a close contest between the pair. Only half a second separated them at the finish.

Their positions were then reversed in the second with Rattray getting the nod overall due to greater emphasis placed on moto two’s results.

A pair of third place finishes also kept Blake Baggett in championship contention while Kyle Cunningham, Alex Martin and Broc Tickle completing the overall top six places.

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450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-1)
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (3-2)
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (5-3)
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (4-4)
5. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (1-14)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (6-5)
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (8-6)
8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (7-9)
9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (12-7)
10. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda (11-10)

450 Class Championship Standings
1. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda - 300
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki - 294
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki - 293
4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki - 209
5. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda - 193
6. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha - 173
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM - 156
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM - 151
9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki - 140
10. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Honda - 119

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (3-3)
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (4-4)
5. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (7-5)
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (6-9)
7. Wil Hahn, Wichita, Kan., Honda (9-8)
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (5-12)
9. Gannon Audette, Minneapolis, Minn., Yamaha (15-10)
10. Jason Anderson, Las Cruces, N.M., Suzuki (14-11)

250 Class Championship Standings
1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki - 305
2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki - 289
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki - 284
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha - 199
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda - 190
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki - 170
7. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda - 152
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha - 145
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki - 128
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda - 122

Tom Hornsby