2006 ATVA MX Nationals Round 12 Pro Report

Extreme High and Low for Team Suzuki

Aug. 01, 2006 By Stephani McIntyre
New Berlin, New York (July 30, 2006) – Although Team Suzuki Yoshimura caught a break to regain momentum on Joe Byrd’s points lead, the win by Doug Gust of Salem, Wis., was overshadowed by the blow his team took when Jeremiah Jones, 26, of Bowling Green, Ky., suffered a crash during the start of moto two, leaving him without feeling to his lower extremities. The injury lies around the T10-T12 vertebrae but surgery performed on Monday, July 31 will confirm what the complete damage was.




Unadilla was Jones’ only win in 2005, but for 2006 he planned to make it his fifth win of the season after fighting his way back from early gremlins to be within striking distance of the Championship. With the overwhelming support from Jones’ wife and family, friends, team and fans he will obviously now be taking on a different challenge, but one we all know he will attack with the same determination.

The drama in the Pro class has been one for the record books this season. John Natalie, Jr. of Houtzdale, Penn., sidelined due to a wrist injury; Tim Farr taking a break from motocross to focus on his team and the chase for the Extreme Dirt Track Championship while giving his back a rest; riders mixing up their racing programs; rookie’s making the transition up from the Pro-Am ranks and others. This weekend would add to the elevated drama involved on both sides of the spectrum, both good and horribly bad.

Dustin Wimmer of Center Valley, Penn., earned his first ATVA National Motocross moto win by not only tracking down Yamaha’s Patrick Brown of Pittstown, N.J. in moto one, but he had to pass Doug Gust to get there. The mid-season training change up is working for the two youngsters of Wimmer and Brown with neither one losing any momentum during the moto.

The evolution of a Pro became complete with Josh Upperman of Louisville, Ohio who dominated the Pro-Am ranks as a Team Motosport and Tim Farr coached rider made the step up everyone has been waiting for. He demonstrated without a doubt he was ready by not only taking the win in his qualifier but earning a fourth overall by taking 6-4 for his first pro motos ever.



Moto two had the worst chain reaction pile-up this year with nearly half the class affected, completely changing the order from moto one. Although it looked as though Joe Byrd was off to claim the win, his machine would come to a complete stop halfway through the moto thereby requiring him to push it across the line for a 15th since a quarter of the class did not finish. Gust won the second moto followed by Travis Spader still hunting for a podium and then Keith Little of Russellville, Ala. Despite struggling to get started after the first turn stalemate, Wimmer was able to make his way up to seventh to still land on the podium in third just behind Keith Little.



Three Canadian’s qualified for the main events, something possibly never seen before in the Pro class. Greg Gee of Simcoe, Ontario who has the fortune of having John Natalie, Jr. by his side finished 12th overall by taking a 12-10 for his motos. Notre Dame, Quebec’s Jasmin Plante hasn’t been a regular on the series since 2004 but came back for Steel City and now Unadilla. He didn’t fair so well however by taking 15 in the first moto and became involved in the crash with Jones in moto two eventually ending the moto with a did not finish. Having hit many stops on the series, Richard Pelchat of St. Romuald, Quebec never finished a moto plagued with mechanical problems.

Dana Creech made Unadilla a last minute stop on the schedule qualifying yet never starting the main when his ATV suffered mechanicals never making it to the line.



Remaining positive in light of horrible circumstances can only make us stronger as an industry. Being there for the fallen rider is what makes this community so unique. We all know racing will continue because the passion will always be there, pushing those to move forward through the negative side of loving this. Jeremiah Jones was hurt doing what he loved at a level so many are envious of while others strive to attain one day. From being not only a full-time factory backed Suzuki rider but most importantly, a husband, brother, son, father and friend to an overwhelming supportive family who is now there for him in his biggest challenge yet. Whether walking again is something he will ever be able to do again, right now no one really knows, but without a doubt even at 26 he’s had an unbelievable ride as one of the very few professional ATV motocross stars of our time. No matter what, Jeremiah will always be Jeremiah.

RESULTS - TOP TEN ROUND 12 - UNADILLA NATIONAL

  1. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., (SUZ) 3-1
  2. Keith Little, Russellville, Ala., (HON) 5-3
  3. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Penn., (HON) 1-7
  4. Josh Upperman, Louisville, Ohio (HON) 6-4
  5. Patrick Brown, Pittstown, N.J., (YAM) 2-9
  6. Travis Spader, Pt. Pleasant, N.J., (YAM) 11-2
  7. Harold Goodman, Romulus, Mich., (HON) 8-5
  8. Jason Dunkelberger, Trevorton, Penn., (SUZ) 7-6
  9. Matt White, Warren, Penn., (YAM) 9-11
  10. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., (HON) 4-15

 

POINTS - TOP TEN AFTER ROUND 12 OF 14

  1. Joe Byrd, Union City, Tenn., (HON) - 257 (2 wins)
  2. Doug Gust, Salem, Wis., (SUZ) - 247 (2 win)
  3. Jeremiah Jones, Bowling Green, Ky., (SUZ) - 222 (4 wins)
  4. John Natalie, Houtzdale, Pa., (HON) - 202 (2 wins)
  5. Keith Little, Russellville, Ala., (HON) - 199 (2 wins)
  6. Dustin Wimmer, Center Valley, Pa., (HON) - 169
  7. Joe Haavisto, New Ipswich, N.H. (HON) - 150
  8. Travis Spader, Pt. Pleasant, N.J., (YAM) - 127
  9. Harold Goodman, Romulus, Mich., (HON) - 125
  10. Patrick Brown, Pittstown, N.J. (YAM) - 124

 

For official results, go to www.atvaonline.com


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