Patterson Wins WMA Opener

May 14, 2007 9:42am | by: Bryan Stealey

Bend, OR (May 14, 2007) – Round one of the AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship presented by Kawasaki was held at Glen Helen Raceway Saturday, May 12th. Tallahasse, FL’s Jessica Patterson went 1-1 on her Honda of Houston/Bad Boy Power Drink machine.

In the first Moto, Alisa Nix got the holeshot and picked-up the Girlyz Clothing Holeshot Award. Patterson took over the lead from Nix mid way through the first lap. The battle for second was between Nix and Tarah Gieger. Gieger made the pass on lap 4 and gave chase to Patterson, but Patterson was well in the lead and took the checkers. Leah Cantrell rode a strong race on her Suzuki for 4th and Girlyz/Yamaha rider Sarah Whitmore finished 5th after coming back from a run-in with another rider in lap 2, where she had dropped back to 14th place.

Moto 2 started off with Gieger getting the holeshot and Patterson trailing close in second. Gieger and Patterson had a terrific battle, with both riders hammering the brutal Glen Helen track. Ultimately Patterson would make her move and go on to finish in first place. Team Green Kawasaki rider Elizabeth Bash held on to third early in the moto but eventually was passed by an inspired Katie McGuire and then Whitmore. Whitmore then moved past McGuire for third position for the moto and third place overall behind Patterson and Gieger.

Top 10 Results:
1 1 HON Jessica Patterson Tallahassee, FL 1 1
2 68 YAM Tarah Gieger Vero Beach, FL 2 2
3 4 YAM Sarah Whitmore Cheboygan, MI 5 3
4 2 YAM Alisa M. Nix Ukiah, CA 3 5
5 98 YAM Katie McGuire Lancaster, CA 7 4
6 33 KAW Elizabeth Bash Riverside, CA 6 6
7 322 SUZ Leah Cantrell Marietta, GA 4 9
8 5 HON Mariana Balbi Riverside, CA 8 7
9 105 KAW Tania Satchwell Rancho Cucamonga, CA 11 8
10 334 YAM Tatum Sik Temecula, CA 9 11

WMA is sponsored by Kawasaki, Girlyz, Honda Riders Club of America, VP Fuels, Dunlop Tires, Polisport, Powermadd, Alpinestars, Hitachi, Thor MX Gear and ZLT Racing.

Next Round: VP Round of the AMA/WMA Women’s National Championship Presented by Kawasaki will be Saturday, May 19, 2007 at the Hangtown MX National.

For additional information on race events and schedules, please visit www.wmaracing.com
or www.womensmotocrossassociation.com