Kawasaki's Pourcel Takes 250 Win at Hangtown
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jun 09
Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel took the 250 class first moto and overall victory at the 41st running of the Hangtown Motocross Classic just outside of Sacramento.
Pourcel earned his second moto win of theseason along with his first overall victory by finishing 1-3. Pourcelactually finished second in Moto 2, but was penalized one positionafter jumping an obstacle under the yellow and red flag. Pourcel is nowsecond in the standings with two points behind.
Rattray's moveto the United States has proved to be fruitful as he earned his secondtop-five overall finish in as many races. Rattray rode a strong firstmoto finishing fourth and then he held on in the second to finishseventh to finish a fifth overall.
Jake Weimer was eighthoverall and Austin Stroupe was 15th overall after a late crash in thesecond moto. Weimer wasn't able to get the starts he wanted in eithermoto, but the Idaho native worked his way through the field to score aneighth place overall. Stroupe had a strong second moto going, runningin the top 10 when a crashed bike hit him while he was landing off thefinish line jump. Stroupe wasn't injured severely in the crash, justreceiving some bruises.
In the 450 class Villopoto had aneventful day at Hangtown finishing 16th in the first moto beforepulling out of the event with a knee injury. RV2 got a good jump out ofthe start gate and entered the second turn in fourth position. Contactwith another rider sent Villopoto down and when he was able to get backto his bike he was in 38th. A valiant ride through the field saw himmove into a points-paying position. After the moto, he and the teamdecided against riding the second moto because of a lingering kneeinjury.
After the first practice, Ferry was still in pain fromhis broken heel and he decided not to race so he could continue hisrecovery.
Quote Pourcel:
"My Monster Energy/ProCircuit/Kawasaki was really good today. I rode a good race and got twogood starts so I was able to get the win. I didn't see the red andyellow flag, but I slowed down because of all the yellow flags. We'rein a tight points race and I hope the two points I was penalized won'tbe a factor.”
Quote Rattray:
"The track was really brutal. Idid okay in the practice and then rode pretty well in the first moto.In the second moto I got a terrible start and I came back up toseventh, but then I crashed and fell back to tenth. It wasn't the bestday for me, but I still earned some points.”
Quote Weimer:
"I'vebeen riding well. I've just been struggling with my starts. I‘ve had tocome through the pack in every moto so far this season. I feel like I'mriding well and if I could get a couple of starts, I would get betterfinishes. I'm not sure what's going on, the bike is good, but I'm justnot getting through the first turn like I should.”
Quote Stroupe:
"Iwas riding well today. I was pushing hard at the end of the second motoand I think I could have made up a couple more spots.
Quote Villopoto:
"Thisis really disappointing,” said Villopoto. "My injury goes all the wayback to when I was riding 80's and it finally caught up to me. We'vetalked to some doctors and I'm going to find the best one to see whatwe can do.”
Quote Ferry:
"It is frustrating right now,”said Ferry. "I want to be out there racing with these guys, but I'mstill not able to give 100 percent. I'm going to keep working hard andhopefully get back to full strength.”
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1.Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-3)
2.Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (3-2)
3.Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (7-1)
4.Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (5-4)
5.Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (4-7)
6.Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (6-6)
7.Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (9-5)
8.Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (8-8)
9.P.J. Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki (10-10)
10.Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (2-29)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 86
2.Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 84
3.Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 75
4.Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 70
5.Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 63
6.Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 54
7.Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 53
8.Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 52
9.Tommy Searle, England, KTM, 48
10.Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 47
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1.Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (1-1)
2.Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda (2-4)
3.Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (6-3)
4.Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda (3-6)
5.Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (9-2)
6.Daniel Reardon, Australia, Honda (7-5)
7.Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki (5-9)
8.Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (8-10)
9.Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (11-8)
10.Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha (4-23)