Wimmer Dominates ATV MX Season Opener

Two-time defending champion Dustin Wimmer opened the 2010 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship season with an almost effortless campaign to the top of the podium, with 1-1 moto wins at the Millcreek Raceway in Pell City, Alabama.

“I really love this track,” says Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Wimmer. “Millcreek is great. I think this is my sixth-straight moto win here. I’m out here to win, what can I say?”

The day started with ominous clouds in the distance that threatened a serious downpour, and just as the Pro-Am Production gate was loaded for the first moto, the rain came down hard for several minutes. While Chase Snapp roared to a first-place finish over Honda rider Jeremy Tulenchik and Marc Winchester, the downpour turned to a light sprinkle for the first moto for the Pros.

Wimmer dominated the field at the season-opener.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Josh Creamer got off to a solid start by grabbing the holeshot in the first moto, but teammate Wimmer powered to the front to lead all 13 laps, finishing the first moto with three seconds to spare over Baldwin Motorsports PEP’s Josh Upperman in second and Motoworks Can-Am‘s John Natalie in third. Motoworks Can-Am’s Chad Wienen finished fourth while fellow Can-Am teammate Jeremie Warnia finished fifth and Creamer 6th.

In Moto 2, Creamer again snuck up to grab the second holeshot, setting off a fierce battle between the Suzuki teammates. Creamer held the lead just seconds in front of Wimmer, but Wimmer was able to slowly close the time margin. By the fourth lap he was on Creamer’s wheels and by lap six, Wimmer took over the lead. Then he slowly pulled away from Creamer to finish almost five seconds ahead and take first place overall.

Wienen picked up the speed in moto 2, and after starting in the sixth place position, slowly edged his way up to third after battling with Upperman and Joe Byrd Quad Riding School’s Joe Byrd.

“The Can-Am is working great,” says Wienen. “Thankfully, Mother Nature was nice to us and held off on the rain. I can’t say enough about the Can-Am. I’ll be on that top spot soon. This is the team that wants it the most, and we’re going to go out and get it.”

Creamer, Wimmer, and Wienen celebrate on the podium.

Creamer took a second place finish in moto 2, to finish third overall for the day.

“Yoshimura makes a really good motor,” says Creamer. “This thing just flies. Dustin was pressuring me out there and I wasn’t about to hold him up. I just need to head to Florida to train but with this team behind me we should be up here every weekend.”

Snapp took the win in moto 2 for the Pro Am Production class, beating out Winchester in second and Jeffrey Rastrelli in third. Snapp took the overall win, followed by Winchester in second overall and Tulenchik in third overall.

The series travels next to the Ballance Moto X in Bowling Green, Ky. for round two on April 17-18.