Wimmer clinches 2008 AMA Championship

Dustin Wimmer clinched his first AMA Championship after finishing fourth in the first of two motos in Round 10 of the 2008 Moose Racing/ITP Tires AMA/ATV National Championship at Red Bud Raceway in Buchanon, Mich. July 27.

“My Suzuki team members deserve most of the credit,” says Wimmer. “My bike has been just perfect all year, and that’s how you win championships.”

Wimmer entered the weekend needing at least a fourth-place finish in the first moto to clinch the championship. Not needing to go for the win, Wimmer rode a conservative race to finish in fourth.

Dustin Wimmer clinched his first AMA No. 1 championship plate July 27.

“It really hasn’t set in yet,” says Wimmer holding the AMA No. 1 plate. “This has been just a great season. I just went out there and rode safely. I tried to stay consistent, though it was difficult. I fought a bent tie-rod during the moto.”

The Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper Suzuki rider has five overall victories and two additional podiums in 2008. Wimmer finished fifth overall at Red Bud to give him 400 total points on the season, 65 points ahead of second place American Honda/Joe Byrd Quad School Honda’s Joe Byrd.

Wimmer’s teammate Chad Wienen took the first moto after holeshot winner Josh Creamer of Team Monster Energy/Kawasaki was sidelined by mechanical problems on the fourth lap. Byrd finished behind him in second while another Suzuki rider, Doug Gust, completed the podium.

Byrd claimed the second moto with a dominating performance. Byrd led the way after taking the holeshot award to win the second moto and the overall win on the weekend.

“Dunlop gave me some new tires this weekend and they really hooked up,” says Byrd. “The bike was just fast all weekend. We took the holeshot and then we just cruised.”

Byrd congratulated Wimmer on his first AMA title.

“Lady Luck didn’t smile on us early in the season,” says Byrd. “But Dustin and his team worked hard all season. My hat is off to them. He deserved the championship.”

Despite losing the AMA championship, Byrd’s victory at Red Bud was not hollow. It earned him a $1,000 bonus and the Third Base of the ITP Grand Slam to retain his lead. The championship within a championship concludes in the season finale at Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Aug. 9-10.

National Motocross Series Round 10 Results:

Championship Points Leaders: