Prumm Wins WMA Opener

(May 14, 2006) Bend, Or -- Round one of the 2006 Hitachi AMA/WMA National Motocross Championship presented by Kawasaki was held this past Saturday, at the Glen Helen Raceway. The young rider from New Zealand, Katherine Prumm, went 1-1 in a very competitive class of WMA Pros. 

In Moto One Jessye Davis (Honda # 245) took the Sick Racing holeshot just ahead of Sherri Cruse (Zip Ty Yamaha #11). By the end of lap one Tarah Geiger (Richardson’s RV Yamaha #68) had moved into first. The racing was tight with several position changes throughout the top six. Going up hill, Gieger hit a rock and fell, dropping back many positions. Aubriana Dunn (Honda # 120) had the lead for several laps before Prumm (Kawasaki # 649) passed for first and led for the remainder of the moto. Brazilian racer, Mariana Balbi (Suzuki # 965), was steady in the front of the pack ultimately taking second. Sarah Whitmore (Yamaha # 4) made an aggressive pass in the final corner before the finish, barely edging Dunn out for third place. Davis took 5th, Gieger 6th, and Patterson 7th.

Team Green Kawasaki racer, Elizabeth Bash (#33) was near the front of the pack in the first turn, but into the next corner her front end washed out and she went down hard. She was attended to by medics and taken to a nearby hospital. She suffered a concussion, but otherwise is reported to be in good condition.

Moto Two saw Nix take the Sick Racing holeshot. Once again the racing was tight. Satchwell took over the lead by the end of lap one, but crashed in a rutted corner before the finish line and could not restart her bike. Nix then led for four laps with Prumm, Balbi, Patterson, Leah Cantrell (Suzuki # 322) and Whitmore behind her. Patterson put the charge on and by the checkers she was a close second to Prumm. Nix finished third, Cantrell 4th, Whitmore 5th, and Balbi 6th.

The overall went to Prumm, Whitmore got second, and Balbi third.
The first round of the WMA Championship showed signs of things come in this unpredictable season, where there are at least ten racers that could potentially win on any given Saturday.
WMA is sponsored by: Hitachi, Kawasaki, Sick Racing, Z1R Helmets, Honda, Scott USA, VP Fuels, Dunlop, Alpinestars, Thor, Northgate Auto and Pro Clean.

Top Ten Overall Results:
1   649   KAW      Katherine Prumm      New Zealand,           1  1
2   4       YAM       Sarah Whitmore        Cheboygan, MI         3 5
3  965    HON      Marian Balbi                Brazil                       2 6
4   1       HON      Jessica Patterson      Tallahasse, FL         7 2
5  322    SUZ       Leah Cantrell              Marietta, GA             8 4
6  245    HON      Jessye Davis              Sykesville, MD         5 8
7  120    HON      Aubriana Dunn            Murrieta, CA            4 9
8    2      YAM       Alisa Nix                      Ukiah, CA                11 3
9   68     YAM       Tarah Gieger              Vero Beach, FL        6 10
10 12     HON       Ashley Boham           Loveland, CO          10 11

Points Standings:
1 Katherine Prumm 50  
2 Marian Balbi 37  
3 Sarah Whitmore 36  
4 Jessica Patterson 36  
5 Leah Cantrell 31  
6 Aubriana Dunn 30  
7 Alisa Nix 30  
8 Jessye Davis 29  
9 Tarah Gieger 26  
10 Ashley Boham 21  
  Lindsey Scheltema 21  

Next race: Saturday, May 20th at Hangtown MX, Sacramento, CA.
Check the WMA website for race results Saturday wmaracing.com