The top names in professional ATV racing will converge at South Fork Dirt Riders this weekend as the WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour readies for its second round of the 2007 season. The Jack Link’s ATV Championship is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the facility, located just outside Springfield, Ill.
The racing weekend will feature the nation’s top Pro riders, competing in three Classes: SuperQuad Pro 450, QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock, and SuperSport Side by Side. The SuperQuad Pro 450 Class features big air, motocross style racing. QuadTerrain Challenge features larger, utility-type ATVs, competing on an obstacle course that includes log jams, mud bogs, rock crawls, as well as high-speed sections. The SuperSport Class comprises four-wheel utility vehicles piloted by a driver and co-driver, sitting side by side. The purpose-built racing machines compete on a modified course that includes both big air sections, as well as obstacles.
The race weekend will also feature nearly 20 other classes for Pro Am, Amateur, Junior and Women’s classes.
SuperQuad Pro 450
John Natalie, Jr. (No. 13 Elka, Maxxis/Honda) returned to winning form two weeks ago at the season opener. After dominating qualifying and the final, Natalie, who returned to competition this season after suffering a severely broken thumb last year, came out of the event with a four-point lead in the season ending SuperQuad Pro 450 Riders’ Championship.
Just behind Natalie is veteran rider and defending WPSA champion Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) and sophomore sensation Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki). The factory Suzuki teammates welcomed Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar, MSR, Pro Taper, Yoshimura/Suzuki) to the team at the opener, making for a nearly unstoppable combination of experience and talent.
Other riders to watch include: Joe Haavisto (No. 75 Lost Creek Cycles/Suzuki), Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda/Honda) and Keith Little (No. 12 Lonestar/Honda).
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