Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Creamer earned his fifth top-five finish of the season with a 4-7 as the AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series returned to Pleasure Valley Raceway. Teammate Chad Wienen went 20-6 for 13th overall. On the championship front, Kawasaki’s young gun Cody Gibson clinched the Pro Am Production class with two races left on the schedule. Gibson took an outstanding lead in both motos to earn his sixth win of the season, while Joel Hetrick and Bobby Ross rounded out the podium as Kawasaki took the top three spots in the class.

Creamer made a great charge in the first moto after getting a decent start and working his way nearly to a podium spot, but settled for fourth. In the second moto, he got a similar smart, but worked his way up quicker to battle with the front-runners. The top four riders were switching positions and on the last corner on the way to the checkered flag, Creamer got tangled with another rider and ended up finishing seventh.

“I really couldn’t get into the groove right away,” said Creamer. “In the first moto, I almost had third and was really motivated to go out and finish on the overall podium. It looked like I was in position to do that, but I got brake checked going up to the finish line and got stuck in Joe (Byrd)’s bumper. I was able to get unstuck and finish seventh.

Wienen made the most of the cards he was dealt at Pleasure Valley. In the first moto, a first turn crash resulted in a broken kill switch and a 20th place finish. In the second moto, he had the furthest outside gate pick, but wasn’t going to give up. He charged hard through the pack after starting next to last to finish sixth.

“It was a tough weekend to go in ahead in the points and have a bad moto,” said Wienen. “It’s not over yet. There are still two important races left and a bad race or moto can happen to anyone. I’ve moved on and not going to let it get me down, but rather it is really motivating. I almost wish we had a race this coming weekend because I’m ready to go out and win.”

With the points lead being relinquished in Pennsylvania, Wienen still hasn’t given up hope for the championship.

“I’m taking this season one moto at a time,” said Wienen. “Anything can happen like it did to me. I am just staying positive and very motivated for the next two rounds.”

Gibson’s dominance of the Pro Am Production class can be shown in his results. The Tennessee native has never finished lower than second and with a dominating 1-1 finish on Sunday, Gibson clinched his second Pro Am championship in two years. It’s not over yet since Gibson has an opportunity to clinch the Pro Am Unlimited championship at the next round at Red Bud.

“It feels good to win the championship so early,” said Gibson. “It hasn’t kicked in yet. I won the championship last year in the Unlimited class, but this feels bigger. The race was great and I was posting pro lap times in both motos. My Kawasaki KFX®450R has been great.”

While Gibson was on his way to clinching the Pro Am Production championships, two other Kawasaki riders were following suit to make the class podium a Kawasaki sweep. Hetrick earned his second podium finish in second, while Ross grabbed his third podium in third.

The next race will take place at Wienen’s favorite track on the schedule. The historic Red Bud track is technical and rough, which suits Wienen’s style and abilities.

“I love Red Bud,” said Wienen. “It’s my favorite track and I did really well there. I need to step up to the plate. After Red Bud is Loretta Lynn’s, which I have won the past two years.”

AMA ATV Motocross Championship
Pleasure Valley Raceway – Armagh, Penn.
July 19, 2009

Pro Overall Results (Moto Finishes)
1. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki, 1-1
2. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 3-2
3. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 9-3
4. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am, 7-3
5. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 4-7
6. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 2-10
7. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 9-8
8. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Cam Am, 6-11
9. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am, 13-5
10. Greg Gee, Simcoe, Ontario, Honda, 11-9
11. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 20-6

Pro Point Standings
1. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., Suzuki, 335
2. CHAD WIENEN, GALENA, ILL., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 306
3. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., Honda, 304
4. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., Suzuki, 292
5. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio, Honda, 276
6. JOSH CREAMER, N. STONINGTON, CONN., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 256
7. John Natalie, Jr., Houtzdale, Pa., Can Am, 237
8. Jeremy Lawson, Live Oak, Fla., Can Am, 225
9. Cody Miller, Greenville, Texas, Can Am, 194
10. Thomas Brown, Sanger, Texas, Yamaha, 184