2006 ATVA National MX Round 4 - Pro

Natalie takes the win; builds on points lead

Mar. 19, 2006 By Stephani McIntyre

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NATALIE LEAVES THE SOUTH A WINNER

Runner-up for three straight rounds, Honda’s John Natalie finally earns the overall

John Natalie (13) leads the Pro pack into the third turn of Moto one

Macon, Georgia (March 19, 2006) -- Although the clouds rolled in and offered a few sprinkles at round four of the ATVA ITP Moose National Motocross Series, nothing would rain on Team Honda rider, John Natalie’s parade as he cruised to the win in both motos clinching his first overall for the 2006 season.

“It’s great to be back up front again, getting good holeshots.” Said Natalie of Houtzdale, Penn., “I think I was actually over training. Before, I was saying I had to train harder, but I took a week off and didn’t do anything and I’m not even tired now.”

Joe Byrd may have taken home the second spot, but he clearly wasn’t happy about it

The infamous sand track of Echeconnee Off-Road Park may start the day smooth but lap after lap, the lines change developing into one of the toughest and roughest tracks on the circuit, both loved and hated by riders merely depending on who you ask and what moto they are racing during the day. John Natalie was clearly at home in the sand, fending off the rest of the Pro class. Joe Byrd of Union City, Tenn., visibly frustrated for the weekend managed 4-2 for his motos having to overcome bad starts to earn second overall.

“The weekend didn’t go like I planned, but seconds not bad.” Byrd said. “The starts just killed me this weekend. So we’ll just regroup try and get them at Budds Creek.”

Suzuki’s Doug Gust suffered bad starts but was still on the box

A fan of “the rougher the better” tracks, Suzuki/Yoshimura rider, Doug Gust of Salem, Wis., worked his way up to second in the first moto, and fifth in the final to earn the last spot on the podium. Gust battled the southern sand to make up for his own bout of bad starts.

Joe Haavisto of New Ipswich, New Hampshire is definitely in the running for top privateer if there even was an award for ATV racing.

“This is one of my favorite tracks.” said Haavisto. “I like it when it gets rough. I was a little slower in the top section but made up the time in the bottom section.” For a rider who doesn’t even have a gear sponsorship, Haavisto fought his way up from bad starts to earn 5-3 in his motos for fourth overall ever so slightly gaining the confidence he deserves proving he has what it takes to run up front.

Kory Ellis earned top five with 3-9 for his motos

Suffering from a hurt leg at round three in Florida, Yamaha’s Kory Ellis of Murrieta, Calif., bounced back to take fifth overall after an outstanding run in the first moto earning third but unable to back that performance up in the second although still managing ninth overall.

“I found some really bad lines in the first laps,” began Ellis on the second moto. “I followed that up with a couple really strong laps and then I made a couple big mistakes and almost crashed twice right in a row. I was done. I had nothing left, and I could barely pick my head up to see where I was going.”

Consistency is key; Tavis (NOT Travis) Cain easily remains in the top ten

East Coast ATV rider, Dustin Wimmer of Center Valley, Penn., is steadily improving his results since his round one disaster in California. Finally putting two consistent motos together, the 19-year old Wimmer went 7-6 for sixth overall bringing him into the top ten for points for the first time this year. Duncan Racing’s Tavis Cain gained one position over Wimmer from moto one to two suffering a mistake in the first that could have landed him in the top five.

“I felt good in the first moto running fourth the whole race until the white flag when I overshot a berm and got passed by Haavisto and Byrd.” Cain said. It is just a matter of time before his consistency pays off and he finally graces the podium.

Goodman eventually gets by Little cruising to eighth in both motos and the overall

“Normally it hurts me,” said eighth overall Harold Goodman of the track roughness. “I don’t know, this weekend, it seemed to help me a little bit. I didn’t get tired, where a lot of the other guys seemed to fatigue. I think what was also helping me was seeing some of the smoother lines better than some of the others, so that may have worked to my advantage.”

Kory Ellis invades teammate Pat Brown’s photo

Rounding out in the top ten for the first time this year was Suzuki Yoshimura rider, Jeremiah Jones of Bowling Green Kentucky and Yamaha’s Pat Brown of Pittstown, New Jersey. Suffering yet again from bad luck, Jones could only salvage 15th in the first moto but fought tooth and nail to gain ground in the second eventually overtaking teammate Doug Gust to earn fourth yet ninth overall. Brown ran up front for much of moto one but fatigue would get the better of him although still able to manage tenth for the day.

Natalie thanks a fan

Heading into round five in two weeks at Budds Creek, Maryland (April 1/2), the points chase is heating up between Joe Byrd and John Natalie with Natalie taking the lead by just four points.

“It’s just like every other year; the more consistent you are the better you are going to do.” Honda rider, John Natalie spoke of the motocross series. “Everyone is riding so good there isn’t anyone that’s going to run away with it [the championship]. It’s going to be fun the whole way and I think it’s going to be great for the spectators and fans too.”


“A” class rider Nathan Commer’s has the perfect view	Amazing that Donald Lysinger is so upbeat after such an incredible scare. He’s planning to give up racing for the time being but will still attend race as a self-proclaimed “pit boy”.	Giovanni Colon Ramos of Puerto Rico came to the US last year and has been trying to pull together his racing game	Spader heads to the line

The 39-year old Rodney’s comeback is gaining ground on the class full of youth	Jeremy Lawson checks the width of his bike prior to destroying the Pro Qualifier field of riders on Saturday	The Miller Bros. had some bad luck in Florida. While Cody was on crutches, Hunter was back on the track	Event announcer and LIVE webcast host, Rodney Tomlin talks of the Echeconnee sand to the future OLN viewers

Up front early was both Josh Creamer and Jason Luburgh. Both would suffer situations to drop them back deeply in the moto finish	Travis Spader (30) and Jeremy Lawson (16) got together in the first turn	Suzuki’s Jeremiah Jones finally cracked the top ten	Steve Runkel (911) on the new Suzuki QuadRacer qualified for his first Pro main of the year

Chad Wienen went 18-10 for his motos	Joe (75) holds off Dustin (191) in the first moto	Jason Luburgh changed motors overnight and had an awesome start running in second most of the moto until a $5 gasket destroyed his chances of staying up front	Rocco Arno (101) leads Jason Dunkelberger (19) and Matt White (32) to the finish in the first moto

Going home	Legend Shane Hitt has a laugh with Matt White prior to their Pro-Am class start	Lonestar Racing Honda DG rider Keith Little didn’t fair so well for the weekend going 9-16 for 14th overall	“I’m ready for moto three. Let’s go best of three this weekend!”

Yamaha’s Travis Spader went 14-11 for 11th overall	Your Echeconnee podium