Racing: Aussie trifecta in AMA MX
Blitz on the major placings'Team' Australia produced a spectacular trifecta in last weekend's opening 450cc class moto at the penultimate round of the 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Southwick.
Rain played havoc with the meeting, but the Australia contingent was on fire, with champion-designate Chad Reed (Suzuki) winning race one from compatriots Jake Moss (Kawasaki) and Michael Byrne (Suzuki).
It was the first time Australians have made a clean sweep of the top three spots in an AMA motocross race.
Reed, riding without any pressure after clinching the title the weekend before, was then leading the finale before a spectacular crash saw him finish a lowly 31st.
Eighth overall was all Reed could muster, with rookie Mat Goerke (Yamaha, 6-1) the victor from Australia's Michael Byrne (Suzuki, 3-3) and local favourite John Dowd (Kawasaki, 10-2).
"I felt good going into the round and really wanted to get out there, have some fun and show my thanks to those that have supported me," said Reed. "I got the holeshot to start and managed to win the first moto, the track was barely holding up but it was nothing compared to moto two.
"I felt I had the win and overall in me but cross-rutted and came down hard at the halfway point.
"It was a disappointing end to the day, but has no bearing on the championship."
Moss, riding for the factory Kawasaki team, also encountered his own issues in moto two, and finished just one spot ahead of Reed.
The final round of the championship will be held at Steel City Raceway next weekend, with Byrne (316pts) still a chance to pinch third from Ivan Tedesco (Honda, 338pts). Reed has an unassailable 103pt (459 to 356) lead over Honda's Andrew Short, who was seventh overall in Southwick.
In the 250cc class, Australia's Brett Metcalfe (Honda, 4-2) was second overall in Southwick, and is destined to finish third in the title behind Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) and Christophe Pourcel.
Click on the following link for full results and standings in the 2009 AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
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