Natalie, Hetrick Earn Pro Podiums at Muddy Creek

AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series
Round 2: Muddy Creek Raceway

Courtesy of Can-Am
BLOUNTVILLE, TN, APR. 22, 2012

Team Motoworks/ Can-Am DS 450 racers John Natalie and Joel Hetrick finished second and third, respectively, in the Pro class at round two of the 2012 AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series, held at Muddy Creek in Blountville, Tennessee. Can-Am X-Team ATV and side-by-side racers also had a successful weekend, winning several classes at races held in Texas and Iowa.

“We were excited to have both John and Joel reach the AMA Motocross Pro-class podium at Muddy Creek,” stated Can-Am race manager Jimmie O’Dell. “Although we didn’t get the overall victory, both of our racers rode well despite the slick conditions, put themselves in contention, and ultimately earned a trip to the podium. John has led motos at both rounds and is currently second in the Pro-class points race, while Joel has been the fastest qualifier twice, so they definitely have the speed and skills to win every race they enter.”

Motoworks/ Can-Am DS 450 Pro rider John Natalie (1) finished second overall at the second round of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series.

AMA ATV Motocross

In moto one, Natalie started the race in the top three and then led during the third lap. The reigning AMA ATV MX Champion then began pulling away from the competition. Then the rain fell hard during the final four laps and the conditions became very slick. On the final lap, Natalie slid too wide in a corner and was passed by the eventual moto winner, Yamaha rider Chad Wienen. Natalie had to settle for second. Hetrick, who won the ATVriders.com Fastest Qualifier Award for the second time in two rounds, started in seventh place, but he charged hard into third after only a few laps. Once the rain hit, Hetrick chose to ride safely and smartly rather than risk losing his moto position with an attempted charge at the leaders. He finished third.

“Qualifying was great; the track was dry,” said Hetrick. “I was hoping the rain would hold off and it would stay that way, but it didn’t. I learned a lot in the past year riding with all these guys, and I just laid low and just tried to hold third place.”

Motoworks/ Can-Am DS 450 Pro rider Joel Hetrick came in third overall at Muddy Creek.

Natalie came out of the second moto in the fourth spot, while Hetrick was in fifth. Both riders pushed forward and eventually battled for second place. After briefly swapping the second-place position with Hetrick, Natalie regained the spot and then raced ahead in an attempt to catch the leader. He ran out of time and finished the day in second overall. Hetrick’s 3-3 moto scores were good for third, and his first Pro-class podium with Motoworks/ Can-Am.

“We got out where we wanted to be for moto one, but I didn’t get the start I wanted in moto two and then got tied up,” said Natalie. “I closed in and took second, so – not too bad.”

Cole Henry (11) took third overall in the Pro-Am Production class in Blountville, Tennessee.

In other AMA ATV MX Series action, Can-Am X-Team racer Cole Henry took third overall in the Pro-Am Production class. Former Grand National ATV Champion Travis Spader rode his Can-Am DS 450 to three class wins, earning the top spot in the Veteran Over 30 A, Four-Stroke A and Junior Over 25 classes. Merrill Crose, who also competes on a Can-Am, won both the Open A and 450cc A classes.

(See Results below)

TORN

At the third round of the Texas Off-Road Nationals, Cody Miller held off his brother Hunter to win the ATV Pro class and extend his class points lead aboard his Louis Powersports-prepped DS 450. Hunter later drove his Can-Am Commander 1000 X to victory in the UTV Unlimited class. He is the current points leader.

D22 Motocross Series

At the District 22 MX Series race in Iowa, rider Zach Harris won all four motos he entered aboard his CR21/ Hicklin Powersports-sponsored Can-Am DS 450 on his way to winning both the Quad A and Quad A Production classes.

Notes

Round five of the 2012 Can-Am/ Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series is scheduled for April 28 at Park Mammoth Resort in Park City, Kentucky.

For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2012 schedule, the 2012 contingency program and DS 450 amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

About BRP

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, and Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries. For more info, go to www.brp.com.

Muddy Creek Raceway
Blountville, Tennessee
Results: April 22, 2012 (Round 2)

AMA PRO ATV: 1. Chad Wienen (Yam) 1-1; 2. John Natalie (C-A) 2-2; 3. Joel Hetrick (C-A) 3-3; 4. Josh Upperman (Hon) 4-4; 5. Thomas Brown (Yam) 5-6; 6. Joe Byrd (Hon) 7-5; 7. Nick DeNoble (Hon); 6-7; 8. Derek Swartfager (Hon) 8-8; 9. Mark Madl (Hon) 9-9; 10. Harold Goodman (Hon) 10-10.