Kawasaki Pairs up on the Podium in Washougal
By TMX Archives on 27th Jul 10
Christophe Pourcel and Tyla Rattray battled on the track and celebrated on the podium together claiming second and third overall respectively.
Rookie Dean Wilson overcame crashes in bothmotos to finish 6-6 and fifth overall while Jake Weimer went 3-11ending the day sixth overall. In the 450 class, Nick Wey turned in hisbest performance of the year finishing 10-6 which placed him fifthoverall.
Pourcel rode two strong motos finishing second inboth. The Frenchman overcame a slow start in the first moto and workedhis way into the runner-up position. In the second moto, he lost hisclutch early and rode the entire race without it.
"I didn't havea clutch the whole second moto,” said Pourcel. "It was difficult in theslower sections of the track. I was worried I was going to stall thebike in the corners.”
Rattray showed his signature style inthe first moto, charging through the field and finishing fourth despitebeing under the weather most of the week. In the second moto he got agood start and battled for most of the moto with his teammate Pourcel.The two battled for most of the second race with Rattray settling forthird in both the moto and overall.
"Nothing really specialhappened today,” said Rattray. "I've been sick all week and my ears arestill all clogged. I think I rode well.”
Wilson had two greatstarts nearly grabbing the holeshot in both motos, but the 18-year-oldrookie went down early in each one. In the first moto, he worked hisway up from 26th to 6th. In the second moto, Wilson went down on thefirst lap, but again charged up to sixth to earn 5th overall.
"I'mkind of bummed right now, but also I feel good about how I rode,” saidWilson. "I never want to crash and especially not twice in two motos,but at the same time I know I rode really well so that's the positiveI'm taking from this weekend.”
Weimer continues to work hisway forward, ending the first moto on the podium for the second week ina row. In the second moto, the AMA Supercross Lites West Coast championwas battling for an overall podium finish when he went down and endedthe moto in 11th, dropping him to sixth overall.
"It felt goodto get on the podium again in the first moto,” said Weimer. "I need toput together two strong motos and get back to the top step for anoverall win.”
Wey rode a streak of top-10 finishes into Washougal and posted his best finish of the season earning fifth overall.
"Everythingis coming together,” said Wey. "Everyone on the Monster Energy Kawasakiteam is working hard to be the best and we are getting better everyweek. Today was tough with the heat and Washougal is always tricky withthe shadows and the rocks.”
Hometown Fans
Ryan Villopotowas also in attendance at Washougal, signing autographs and taking aturn in the television booth during the first 450 moto. Villopoto isstill recovering from a broken right leg.
"It's great to be backat the track, but I would rather be racing,” said Villopoto. "Thissummer has been difficult sitting on the sidelines, but I'm going tothe doctor this week and hopefully I'll get clearance to get back toriding my Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F.”