Matt Goerke scored his first AMA Pro Motocross victory Saturday, inheriting the lead when division champ Chad Reed crashed to end his bid for a fifth straight win.
Goerke made amends for a wreck-related sixth-place finish in the first event of the day to become the 450cc class’ sixth first-time winner this season. USA Today
“This is the best day of my life,” said Goerke, who has been filling in for the injured Josh Hill on the Factory Yamaha team. “I crashed in the first moto and thought my day was over. I really was hoping for a good overall today but luckily I got back up to sixth. In the second moto, I missed gate pick and had to start all the way outside so it wasn’t looking good, but everything worked out.”
Suzuki’s Michael Byrne was in good position to take the overall win, as well, but he needed to catch Dowd in the second moto to do so. Dowd, however, used his expert sand-riding skills to keep his Kawasaki in front of Byrne for the duration of the moto. A 3-3 score gave Byrne the runner-up spot in the overall standings, while Dowd claimed third overall with a 10-2 score.
After winning the first moto, Reed was credited with eighth overall as a result of his second moto DNF. The newly crowned outdoor champ hit the ground pretty hard and was helped off the track, but according to Suzuki team manager Roger DeCoster, he is expected to finish out the season next week at Steel City. Cycle News
Results
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha (6-1)
2. Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki (3-3)
3. John Dowd, Ludlow, Mass., Kawasaki (10-2)
4. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki (9-4)
5. Robby Marshall, Stow, Mass., Suzuki (5-7)
6. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha (4-10)
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (7-9)
8. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki (1-31)
9. Jake Moss, Australia, Kawasaki (2-30)
10. Ricky Renner, Lakeland, Fla., Honda (11-12) Motorcycle News
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