The Honda Red Riders took on round one of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship and WMA Women's Motocross Championship over the weekend at the Hangtown Motocross National held in Sacramento, CA, and Honda newcomer Chad Reed dominated the 450 Class, taking the overall victory on his Honda CRF450R.
With American Honda Racing's Trey Canard and Josh Grant unable to compete at the opening round due to injuries they sustained during the Supercross season, veteran Honda racer Kevin Windham made his return to the factory Honda squad aboard an American Honda Racing-prepared CRF450R. Making a strong impression at his Motocross season debut with the team, Windham catapulted out of the start gate in moto one, grabbing the holeshot and maintaining the lead for six laps—much to the delight of the crowd. As the race went on, Windham relinquished several spots before finishing moto one in sixth position. The likeable Honda racer made up a few spots in moto two, finishing in fourth place to earn fourth overall.
"I had very little time to prepare for outdoors because I was off the bike while I waited for some internal bleeding to stop after my crash at the final race of the Supercross season," said Windham. "However, I feel like today went really well and I'm happy with fourth overall. We came out here pretty much still a work in progress and just gave it our all. I'm happy about getting the holeshot in the first moto and that I held it for six laps. I know I have the bike to win and pretty soon I'll get the legs to be able to hold onto the lead."
Reed put in a dominating performance aboard his TwoTwo Motorsports factory-Honda-prepared CRF450R, finishing runner-up in the opening moto and taking the moto two win for the overall opening round victory. "I had so much fun out there today," said Reed. "The last time I was really good outdoors and won the title I had this same feeling. I really want to thank American Honda for their support and for giving me a factory race bike. I plan to ride the wheels off this thing all season long and do my best to win the championship."
In the 250 Class Championship, defending Hangtown event champ Eli Tomac raced his GEICO Honda CRF250R to third in moto one and secured fourth spot in moto two for fourth overall. Teammate Justin Barcia charged hard after getting a midpack start in moto one to finish the opening race in sixth place. Barcia blitzed the moto two start, grabbing the holeshot. Unfortunately, he crashed out of the race while leading, which gave him 13th place for the weekend. Honda privateer Darryn Durham went 10-9 for eighth overall, while Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda's Cole Seely went 7-13 to finish 10th overall.
In the Women's Motocross Championship, American Honda Racing's Ashley Fiolek grabbed great starts with her Honda CRF250R in both motos and finished each race in the runner-up spot for second overall. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda's Tarah Gieger went 4-7 for fourth overall, while fellow Honda rider Kasie Creson finished eighth overall.
250 Class Overall Results
1. Blake Baggett 2-1
2. Dean Wilson 1-3
3. Tyla Rattray 5-2
4. Eli Tomac (Honda) 3-4
5. Marvin Musquin 4-6
6. Gareth Swanepoel 9-5
7. Kyle Cunningham 8-8
8. Darryn Durham (Honda) 10-9
9. Broc Tickle 13-7
10. Cole Seely (Honda) 7-13
250 Class Championship Points (after 1 of 13 rounds)
1. Blake Baggett 47
2. Dean Wilson 45
3. Tyla Rattray 38
4. Eli Tomac 38
5. Marvin Musquin 33
6. Gareth Swanepoel 28
7. Kyle Cunningham 26
8. Darryn Durham 23
9. Broc Tickle 22
10. Cole Seely 22
450 Class Overall Results
1. Chad Reed (Honda) 2-1
2. Ryan Dungey 1-2
3. Ryan Villopoto 3-3
4. Kevin Windham (Honda) 6-4
5. Brett Metcalfe 5-5
6. Davi Millsaps 4-7
7. Tommy Hahn 8-8
8. Christophe Pourcel 7-11
9. Ricky Dietrich 11-9
10. Christian Craig (Honda) 14-10
450 Class Championship Points (after 1 of 13 rounds)
1. Chad Reed 47
2. Ryan Dungey 47
3. Ryan Villopoto 40
4. Kevin Windham 33
5. Brett Metcalfe 32
6. Davi Millsaps 32
7. Tommy Hahn 26
8. Christophe Pourcel 24
9. Ricky Dietrich 22
10. Christian Craig 18
WMA Overall Results
1. Jessica Patterson 1-1
2. Ashley Fiolek (Honda) 2-2
3. Stephanie Laier 3-3
4. Tarah Gieger (Honda) 4-7
5. Jacqueline Strong 7-5
6. Tatum Sik 8-6
7. Mariana Balbi 13-4
8. Kasie Creson (Honda) 10-8
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro 9-10
10. Elizabeth Bash 14-9
WMA Championship Points (after round 1 of 8)
1. Jessica Patterson 50
2. Ashley Fiolek 44
3. Stephanie Laier 40
4. Tarah Gieger 32
5. Jacqueline Strong 30
6. Tatum Sik 28
7. Mariana Balbi 26
8. Kasie Creson 24
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro 23
10. Elizabeth Bash 19
For more information, contact American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (310) 783-3745.
About Honda
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