Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Brett Metcalfe scored his first-ever AMA Pro Motocross overall win on his Yoshimura-equipped Suzuki RM-Z450 at round 10 of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championships at Southwick on Saturday as team mate Ryan Dungey joined him on the podium in third place overall.
The Rockstar Energy Drink Southwick National took place in the throes of Hurricane Irene, making the already mentally and physically demanding track a muddy, rutted quagmire.
At the start of the first moto, there was a light drizzle and Dungey got the holeshot, but Metcalfe was right behind him in second place. Throughout the next 30 minutes, Metcalfe battled for a podium position and wound up finishing in third. By the time the second 450 moto started, the rain was coming down hard and the sandy course was soaked. Despite this, Metcalfe was consistent and smooth on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and finished in second place; the combined results handing him his first overall win.
"Getting this win is definitely the highlight of my motocross career," said Metcalfe. "It's been eight years of racing in the U.S. and trying to get a win, so this is incredible. It's great to be back on the podium again, for both motos and the overall. Thanks to the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team for a great bike in the RM-Z450 and to my family and everyone who's helped make this happen. Hard work, motivation and dedication - stay at it and it happens. Now, there are two more rounds left and I want to take the momentum from this win into Steel City next weekend. I did really well there last year and I feel like that track really suits me. We really have things dialed-in with the bike now, I'm real comfortable, so it's really time to attack and try to go for the win again."
Dungey also demonstrated hard work, motivation and dedication at Southwick. After getting the holeshot in the first moto, Dungey rode flawlessly for the entire race and easily took the win. In the second moto, however, Dungey had to start after the gate had already dropped and he was almost a lap back. In spite of this, he put his head down and piloted the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 through the field. After starting in 39th place, Dungey managed to finish a remarkable seventh in the moto and third overall for the day.
"I have so many mixed emotions right now," said Dungey. "At one point, I didn't even think I was going to be able to ride, but then the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team came through. At that point, I knew it was just a matter of salvaging points. I don't want anybody to take anything away from my team. It's because of them and their hard work that we finished in seventh and were able to pull third overall. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have been out there at all. But there are four races left and winning the Championship isn't impossible. So now, I'm just focusing on being prepared for Steel City next weekend and getting as many points as possible. I really like the track at Steel City - I've had good rides and success there in the past few years and it will be good to get back there and keep pushing for this title."
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team's next event is the 11th round of the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, September 3rd at the Steel City National in Delmont.
Southwick 450 Class Overall Results:
1. Brett Metcalfe (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 2. Ryan Villopoto 3. Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 4. Justin Brayton 5. Mike Alessi 6. Jake Weimer 7. Justin Barcia 8. John Dowd 9. Les Smith 10. Kyle Chisholm
2011 Motocross 450 Class Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto - 431 2. Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) - 423 3. Chad Reed - 366 4. Brett Metcalfe (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) - 304 5. Mike Alessi - 243 6. Jake Weimer - 221 7. Andrew Short - 196 8. Kevin Windham - 193 9. Davi Millsaps - 173 10. Justin Brayton - 163
