Defending AMA Pro ATV MX Champion and former series points leader Dustin Wimmer returned from injury at the previous round of the series, the Steel City National in Delmont, PA, but with his shoulder dislocation still less than two months old, it is clear the champion is still not back 100 percent. This has allowed Honda's Joe Byrd to keep his hold on the points lead and put Monster Kawasaki's Chad Wienen and Josh Creamer within striking distance of Wimmer, as well. Their road to the championship continues at the legendary Unadilla Valley Sports Center, which hosts round seven of the ITP/AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the Can-Am Northeastern ATV Nationals. The event will also serve as round six of the amateur portion of the national program.
(
left) Honda's Joe Byrd leads the 2009
AMA ATV Championship as the ATV riders head to
Unadilla for the seventh round of the series. (
right) Dustin Wimmer remains second in the points
standings and has had two weeks to rest following his return from injury at Steel City.
Wimmer won the Unadilla event in 2008, and has had two weeks to recover since the Steel City National and his 9-11 moto scores. Wimmer's scored landed him in 8th place, behind Byrd, Wienen and Creamer, as well as Josh Upperman, who was third on the podium. These riders have the best chance of moving past Wimmer to take his place should he not come back 100 percent this weekend. But the talented champion will dig deep in hopes of making up for his absence.
The event takes place at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center, a rough, high-speed track featuring such notable obstacles as Gravity Cavity and the Sky Shot, two of the biggest jumps on the AMA Pro ATV MX tour. Unadilla has been producing motocross events since 1969, long before motocross gained the foothold it has today. During the late 1970's and continuing through the early 1990's it was home to the 250cc United States Grand Prix and saw four world champions crowned at event's end. A few years ago, it opened its doors to ATV MX for the first time, and the racers have found the wide, high-speed layout a perfect proving ground for their four-wheeled machines.
Besides racing, the track will also host a Moose Racing Dinner show Saturday night.
To get to the track, take NYS Thruway to exit #31 (Utica, NY), follow signs for Route #8 SOUTH I-88 east, Exit 9 (Sidney, NY); Turn LEFT on Hwy 8 North; 30 min. to track.
