When you think of the words “team domination” in motocross, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki has always come to mind, but still, nobody would ever expect them to do what they’ve done in 2011. With six races complete in the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship, Mitch Payton’s employees have won all twelve motos, all six overalls, have been first and second overall at all six nationals and have completely owned the entire podium at two of the six rounds. What they are doing has never been done before, so as the series headed to the Spring Creek National in Millville, Minnesota for round seven, most were wondering if they could keep it up. So far, the DNA/Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha riders and the GEICO Powersports Honda’s have not been able to do better than third overall, but with a week off to prepare, could they stop the Pro Circuit onslaught in Millville?
Moto 1:
When the first moto in Millville got underway, it was once again a Mitch Payton tuned Kawasaki racing out to the early lead. Dean Wilson grabbed the holeshot and was pursued by the DNA/Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha of Kyle Cunningham and the man that was fastest all day in qualifying Tyla Rattray. The Star Racing Yamaha’s have stepped it up big of late, and every other position from first place to sixth place early in moto one was a Pro Circuit Kawasaki or a Star Racing Yamaha. At the end of lap four, the order was Wilson, Cunningham, Rattray, Ryan Sipes, Blake Baggett and Gareth Swanepoel.
Starting on lap five, though, it was once again all about the Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s. Rattray was the first to make a move, and bull dogged his way around Cunningham. Soon after that, Baggett started moving forward as well, and by lap nine, it was all green in the first three positions. Up front, Wilson and Rattray were the class of the field, and by the end of moto one the duo had gapped Baggett by more than thirty second. While Rattray was fast enough to keep Wilson in sight, he was never able to get the Scotsman close enough to make a move. At the end of moto one, it remained Wilson up front followed by Rattray in second with Baggett crossing the line third.
Behind the 1-2-3 Pro Circuit sweep, the Star Racing Yamaha’s held on to the last two top-five positions. Kyle Cunningham has been the most consistent of the Yamaha’s all year long and, after going four-four at the last race in Red Bud, would cross the line fourth once again in moto one on Saturday. Crossing the line behind Cunningham was Gareth Swanepoel. The South African was able to charge through the Millville heat for every lap of the thirty-plus-two and, because of that, came out with a solid top five.
Moto 2:
When the second moto rounded turn one, it was one of the Star Racing guys with the holeshot. Kyle Cunningham has been incredibly fast all year and decided it was time to see what he could do with a holeshot. The problem for Kyle was the guys that ran away from everyone in moto one were running second and third. On lap two, Tyla Rattray was able to make the pass for the lead and was followed through one lap later by Dean Wilson. The rest of the moto went much like moto one, but reversed with Rattray in first and Wilson in second. Wilson tried to keep the South African honest, but in the end, Rattray was able to gap him and go on to win moto two and the overall. Wilson, for the sixth time this year, would have to settle in for a second overall on the day.
Way back in the pack to start moto two was the other man in the points-race. Blake Baggett checked in after lap one in twenty-first place, but was on a mission to get to the front. Incredibly by lap seven, he was in sixth and, on lap twelve, made his final pass on Cunningham to grab the final spot on the box, completing yet another Pro Circuit sweep of the box. Finishing fourth for the fourth straight moto was Kyle Cunningham. 2011 has been a breakthrough year for the Star Racing rider, and his consistency should prepare him well to possibly make a run for his first title next year.
The big surprise from moto two was local boy Alex Martin. Usually when we say local, we mean from the same state, but in this case, we really mean local. Alex’s parents own the Spring Creek facility, and Alex literally grew up at the track. He used that hometown knowledge and vibe to catapult himself to a fifth in moto two. Combine that with a seventh in moto one and the Eleven-10 Mods Honda rider finished the day with his first career top five overall. Congrats to Alex on a phenomenal ride at home.
All in all it was another dominating performance by Mitch Payton’s boys. Tyla was able to rebound from a couple of bad races and show, once again, that he can have the speed needed to run with his two very fast teammates. Dean–while he may be disappointed with another second overall–was still able to stretch his lead from fourteen points to sixteen points in the Championship. We know for confidence, it’s all about wins, but in this tight title chase, consistency looks to be key. As for Blake Baggett, he showed us something he hasn’t shown all year: the ability to salvage a solid podium when the win isn’t there. So far, this season has been win or bust for Baggett, but in Millville, he showed us some maturity with a solid 3-3. Now with five rounds left to race, it’s still tight between the teammates, and it’s anyone’s guess who will hold up that red number one at Pala.
See you all in Washougal!
250 Overall Results – Spring Creek National
1 28 Tyla Rattray 2 1 2 15 Dean Wilson 1 2 3 57 Blake Baggett 3 3 4 35 Kyle Cunningham 4 4 5 46 Alex Martin 7 5 6 20 Broc Tickle 6 9 7 31 William Hahn 9 8 8 387 Gareth Swanepoel 5 12 9 533 Gannon Audette 15 10 10 156 Jason Anderson 14 11
250 Motocross Points After Seven Rounds
Full points standings click here.
1 15 Dean Wilson 305 2 28 Tyla Rattray 289 3 57 Blake Baggett 284 4 35 Kyle Cunningham 199 5 19 Eli Tomac 190 6 20 Broc Tickle 170 7 17 Justin Barcia 152 8 387 Gareth Swanepoel 145 9 23 Martin Davalos 128 10 37 Darrtn Durham 122
