Can-Am DS 450 Racers Josh Creamer, John Natalie Earn Pro Class Podium at Unadilla AMA ATV MX National
Valcourt,
Québec, July 17, 2012 – Can-Am® DS 450™ ATV Pro
class racer Josh Creamer finished second overall at round eight in Unadilla,
N.Y., in a successful return to the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship
Series. He was joined on the Pro class podium by defending AMA ATV MX champion
John Natalie, who finished third overall. Natalie’s Motoworks / Can-Am teammate
Joel Hetrick finished fourth while Canadian Can-Am X-Team racer Richard Pelchat
took seventh on his DS 450.
“It was another great
weekend of racing, as our Can-Am riders battled hard to earn two spots on the
Pro podium in Unadilla, N.Y. Josh Creamer had a memorable return to the AMA ATV
MX National series convincingly winning the first moto and ending up second
overall. Motoworks / Can-Am pilot John Natalie earned a hard-fought third-place
finish and kept himself in the championship points race with only two rounds
remaining,” said Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Joel Hetrick just
missed the podium, finishing fourth, but gained some valuable points in his
pursuit to remain in the top three in the Pro class points race.”
Holeshots were critical in New York as the
famed Unadilla Valley Sports Center played hard and fast with limited lines to
pass. Creamer, BCS Performance / Can-Am racer and current New England ATV
Motocross series Pro class points leader, proved he could still run with the
top ATV pros as he grabbed the holeshot and immediately pulled to a three-second
lead. Creamer held the lead the entire moto on his way to earning his first
moto victory in almost two years. Creamer was fourth at the start of moto two,
but moved up to second — passing Natalie — at one point before settling for
third. His 1-3 finishes were good for second overall and his first AMA series
Pro class podium since 2010, the year he won the pro title.
“BCS Performance
did a great job on the DS 450. I got the holeshot and checked out from there. I
didn’t get tired and I just stayed focused,” said Creamer. “I really felt good
out there. I’ve spent the last six weeks training and it really helped me to be
ready for this round. I am really happy to have finished on the podium and now
I am really excited for Red Bud. I want to thank all the fans out there for all
of their support. It was great to hear everyone when I was out there battling
it out. I wanted to come out here and get on the box this weekend and I did
that so I can’t complain.”
Natalie put in a
spirited ride in New York. After battling back from a horrible start in the
first moto, Natalie picked off several racers until he moved into third place
at the finish. He paired his third-place run with a hard-fought second-place
ride in moto two to earn third overall and keep alive his shot at another
national championship.
“There was some great racing today. I had
to spend a lot of energy in the first moto trying to work up. And for moto two,
I just gave it everything I had,” said Natalie. “I always want to win, but I
still finished on the podium and salvaged some points. There’s still four motos
left in the season and anything can happen so things could get real interesting
at Loretta’s.”
Hetrick, who posted the quickest time in the second timed qualifying session,
was in third at the start of moto one, but got bumped back to sixth on the
first lap. Hetrick recovered to eventually retake third place. However, he lost
one more spot at the end of the moto when his teammate Natalie got by in the
closing laps of the moto. Hetrick would finish in fourth. Hetrick also finished
fourth in moto two to finish fourth overall. However, his fourth-place ride
cushioned his lead for third place in the overall Pro class point standings.
The fourth Can-Am racer in the top 10 was Pelchat, who usually competes in the Courses VTT series in Canada. He posted 7-6
finishes in the motos to earn seventh overall aboard his DS 450.
Two rounds of the AMA ATV MX series remain. Red Bud Raceway in Buchannon,
Mich., will host round nine on July 28. The series finale is slated for August
11, at Loretta Lynn's in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2012 schedule, the ’12
contingency program and DS 450 amateur racer support program, please visit
www.can-amxteam.com.
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