MILLVILLE, MN  – Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki showed its true championship-winning colors at round seven of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the Spring Creek National in Millville, MN on Saturday. Minnesota native Ryan Dungey powered his Yoshimura-equipped Suzuki RM-Z450 to the overall win on his local track, while Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Brett Metcalfe carded a solid sixth-place result.

Despite heavy rains the day before, the Spring Creek soil was in good condition for the first 30-minute moto. Local favorite, Dungey, and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 put on a good show for the fans, with Dungey getting a good start and powering into the top three early on. By the time the moto was over, Dungey had notched an impressive second-place finish. In moto two, Dungey got another good start on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and was running firmly in second place before reeling in the leader to take the win and the overall victory. This result is Dungey’s second overall victory of the season and his fourth win in a row at Spring Creek. Additionally, he’s now just one point shy of second and seven out of first place in the overall championship standings.

“Coming in, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Dungey. “With the mud, it was kind of a weird deal. We got a lot of rain the night before and I didn’t know how the track was going to be. The first two practices were a little sloppy, but in the first moto, I got off to a really good start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450. But I wasn’t able to make passes as quick as I wanted to, and I ended up second. In the second moto, I also got a good start and was in third. Then, I got into second and was able to close up the gap, make the pass for the lead, and get the overall. Obviously, being here at Millville and having the hometown crowd is great; it’s always a treat to be back here because I love the track and the fans are great. I grew up with a lot of people who came out today, so that was an extra bonus. Finally, I’m glad to get another win for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team – This is a good step in the right direction for the championship.”

Teammate Metcalfe struggled a bit at Spring Creek but still put in a strong performance overall. He got a good start in the first moto but then had to overcome a mid-race get-off in order to finish up in sixth place. In the second moto, his start wasn’t ideal, but he put his head down and rode a smart, aggressive race to pick up a solid top-five finish. Metcalf finished up sixth overall.

“It was a tough day for me, but I felt like my riding was good today,” said Metcalfe. “I got a good start in the first moto. I was up there in fifth and I was trying to get around into fourth, but it was difficult to pass. I was sitting there for a few laps – That sort of cost me because I was searching for a different line and that’s what took me down. I went into the outside in a corner and it was too muddy and I lost the front end. That was a mistake that dropped me back to sixth, and then I was too far behind to make a charge for fifth. But I still felt like overall I rode pretty good. In the second moto, I didn’t get the best of starts, but I was able to make some really good moves in the first couple of laps and I felt aggressive and charged through to fifth. It was a good day for us; the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was working awesome for me and everybody on the Suzuki team has been putting in a big effort. I really want to get up there and get top three for these guys.”

The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team’s next event is the eighth round of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, July 23rd, at the Washougal National in Washougal, WA. You can meet the Rockstar Makita Suzuki riders on Friday, July 22nd, from 6 to 7 PM, at Pro Caliber Motorsports, 10703 NE Fourth Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, WA.

Spring Creek 450 Class Overall Results:

1.  Ryan Dungey

2.  Ryan Villopoto

3.  Trey Canard

4.  Mike Alessi

5.  Chad Reed

6.  Brett Metcalfe

7.  Jake Weimer

8.  Andrew Short

9.  Justin Brayton

10. Kevin Windham

2011 Motocross 450 Class Standings:

1.  Chad Reed – 300

2.  Ryan Villopoto – 294

3.  Ryan Dungey – 293

4.  Brett Metcalfe – 209

5.  Kevin Windham – 193

6.  David Millsaps – 173

7.  Andrew Short – 156

8.  Mike Alessi – 151

9.  Jake Weimer – 140

10. Christian Craig – 119

About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans.