Upperman Earns First Career ATV MX Win

Josh Upperman took home his first career overall win aboard his Baldwin Motorsports PEP Honda during the fourth round of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in Walnut, Ill.

Upperman was able to take the overall with start to finish win in moto one, but was overcome by two time defending Champion Dustin Wimmer in the second moto, finishing runner up in moto 2. With third and first place moto finishes, Wimmer took second overall but moved back into the points lead over teammate Josh Creamer for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“Everything fell into place this weekend for me. It feels so great to be up front running with these top guys,” says Upperman. “It really was a great race. Mark Baldwin and Wayne Mooradian had the bike working perfect for me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Upperman started the weekend off right, taking the holeshot moto 1. Motoworks Can-Am teammates John Natalie and Chad Weinen battled closely behind Upperman at the start of the race. Unfortunately, the battle ended early at lap five when Weinen and Natalie raced side by side and came together. Both were thrown from their machines, and Weinen took a somber ride back to the trailer with a DNF while Natalie was able to come back to sixth. This left the door open for Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Josh Creamer and Dustin Wimmer to capture the second and third positions respectively, while Upperman walked away from the pack with the win.

Upperman continued his reign in the second moto by again capturing the holeshot. This time, Wimmer was just seconds behind Upperman, and Natalie and Creamer were both fighting towards the front. At the halfway point in the race, everything changed. Creamer was able to get by Natalie and take the third spot, but then accidentally pulled his own tether cord, shutting off the machine and falling back to sixth. On the same lap, Wimmer made the pass on Upperman and walked away with the second moto win.

“The second moto we were running in third and somehow my kill switch came unplugged,” says Creamer. “I’m just glad I was able to get my Rockstar Makita Suzuki back on the podium this weekend.”

Upperman was still able to take the overall win, followed by Wimmer in second and Creamer with third.

“I’m just happy to come out and be neck and neck with my teammate Josh Creamer,” says Wimmer. “I had a good second moto and was able to make up some points and regain the points lead. is great motivation leading into Round 5.”

In the Pro-Am Production class, Joel Hetrick continued his success with wins in both motos. In the first moto, Joel was able to quickly pass to the front and ran away from the rest of the pack. Jeffrey Rastrelli continued his success this season with a second overall with 2-3 moto scores and the first moto Idol Speed Holeshot award. Travis Moore captured third overall with a 3-4. William Cottage took the moto 2 Idol Speed Holeshot award.

The series travels next to Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. for the ATV Stampede on May 29-30.