Wienen Continues Strong Start With Moto Sweep at Muddy Creek

ATV.com Staff
by ATV.com Staff
Yamaha pilot extends points lead

After opening the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series with a win four weeks ago, Chad Wienen (Wienen Motorsports/SSi/Walsh/ Yamaha) controlled things again in Round 2 of the Series at Muddy Creek Raceway by sweeping both motos and extending his points lead over defending champion John Natalie in the overall standings.

While Motoworks/ Can-Am’s Joel Hetrick was once again the fastest qualifier, it was ATVMX veteran Harold Goodman who shot out to the Moto 1 SSi Decals holeshot. Goodman, however, was quickly passed by Baldwin Motorports/PEP’s Josh Upperman who managed to lead the pack of pro racers before Natalie moved into the lead by lap three on his Motoworks/Can-Am. Wienen had a mid-pack holeshot but quickly put himself within striking distance of Natalie’s lead and the duo picked up the intense battle right where they left off at round one. Wienen stalked Natalie until the final lap and once again cut underneath the Ironman to steal the last minute lead and Moto 1 victory as the rain started to fall on the Muddy Creek Raceway.

Muddy Creek National Holeshot

Hetrick got off to a bad start but put himself into the third spot around lap five and kept a comfortable cushion on Upperman, who finished in fourth. Thomas Brown struggled off the start, but worked his way through the pack on his TBROWN Yamaha powered by Moto-X-Perts, where he maintained a fifth place finish, just ahead of Lonestar/SSi Decals rider Nick DeNoble.

In Moto 2, Wienen took control early on, while Natalie settled into a close second and that’s how they finished. Hetrick started off in fifth place as he passed his way back into the third spot, gunning for the leaders that were less than four seconds away throughout the entire race. Wienen went on to secure his second straight win of the season, while Natalie and Hetrick grabbed the other two podium positions.

Chad Wienen Muddy Creek National

“The new Yamaha is awesome, I’m starting to get more comfortable on it and especially in the mud today, I feel like I barely even rode the thing!” says Wienen. “It’s crazy to think that nine months ago I was laid up in bed and after a lot of hard work and determination we’ve gotten to where we’re at and I’m just having fun and paying my dues, taking it one race at a time.”

Although Upperman claimed the SSi Decals Holeshot Award, the Honda rider settled into fourth and maintained that position for the rest of the second moto, going 4-4 for fourth overall for the day.

Thomas Brown finished with a 5-6 score to take fifth overall, just ahead of Joe Byrd (Honda), who took home sixth overall. Nick DeNoble (Honda) ended the day with seventh place, ahead of Derek Swartfager (Honda), while rookie Mark Madl (Honda) took ninth and Harold Goodman (Honda) rounded out the top ten.

The 2012 AMA ATV Motocross Championship heads to Budds Creek in Budds Creek, Md., for round three of the ten-race circuit on May 5-6.

Muddy Creek ATV National2012 ATV Motocross Pro Class Standings
Pos.RiderATVMotosPos.RiderATVPoints
1.Chad WienenYamaha1 – 11.Chad WienenYamaha100 (2 wins)
2.John NatalieCan-Am2 – 22.John NatalieCan-Am88
3.Joel HetrickCan-Am3 – 33.Josh UppermanHonda76
4.Josh UppermanHonda4 – 44.Thomas BrownYamaha65
5.Thomas BrownYamaha5 – 65.Joel HetrickCan-Am65
6.Joe ByrdHonda7 – 56.Nick DeNobleHonda58
7.Nick DeNobleHonda6 – 77.Derek SwartfagerHonda54
8.Derek SwartfagerHonda8 – 88.Mark MadlHonda54
9.Mark MadlHonda9 – 99.Joe ByrdHonda43
10.Harold GoodmanHonda10 – 1010.Jeff RastrelliSuzuki42
ATV.com Staff
ATV.com Staff

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