Doug Gust Wins Ballance ATV Pro MX

April 13, 2008, 4:17pm

DOUG GUST WINS BLUEGRASS ATV NATIONAL

WIMMER AND NATALIE SCORE MOTO WINS

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (April 13, 2008) – Third-year Pro ATV rider Dustin Wimmer predicted his third consecutive victory this weekend at Ballance Moto X. His teammate Doug Gust, however, proved that experience trumps youthful exuberance as Gust won his first ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Pro ATV Championship Series race this season on Sunday.

Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) finished second in both motos, just behind Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) in Moto 1 and he followed Natalie (No. 13 Can-Am) in the second moto. Quebec's Jasmine Plante (No. 91 Yamaha) was second overall, handing Yamaha its first podium this season. Wimmer was third overall.

"When it's muddy like this, it's important to get out front," said Gust. "I'd rather be the rooster than the 'roostee.' I missed being on the podium a lot. I knew I had to get up here again. My Team Suzuki mechanics really got me out front and I have them to thank for this.

"It's going to be a great year," added Gust. "From here on in, we'll keep going forward."

Natalie won the Suspension Systems Holeshot Award in the first moto, while Gust netted the ATVRiders.com Holeshot Award in Moto 2. Interestingly, Natalie, who finished 17^th after leading much of the first moto, handed Can-Am it's first-ever ATV Motocross Series victory in Moto 2.

Chad Wienen (No. 44 Team Rockstar/MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) won the Ti Lube Fastest Qualifier Award.

The next race for the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA ATV Championship is scheduled for April 26-27 at Birch Creek MX in Danville, Va.

(Showing finishing position, rider, bike number, bike brand, hometown and moto finishing positions):

Doug Gust, 55, Suzuki, Salem, Wis., 2-2.
Jasmine Plante, 91, Yamaha, Notre Dame, Quebec, 6-3
Dustin Wimmer, 191, Suzuki, Center Valley, Pa., 1-12.
Josh Creamer, 9, Kawasaki, N. Stonington, Conn., 3-8.
Rocco Arno, Jr., Honda, Bridgeton, N.J., 9-4.
John Natalie, Can-Am, Houtzdale, Pa., 17-1.
Pat Brown, Yamaha, Pittstown, N.J., 10-7.
Russell Shumaker, Kawasaki, Bristol, Wis., 8-9.
Richard Pelchat, St. Romuald, Quebec, 15-5.
Sage Baker, Can-Am, Shasta Lake, Calif., 14-6.
Chad Wienen, Suzuki, Galena, Ill., 4-19.
John Ragon, Honda, Milan, Tenn., 12-11.
Harold Goodman, Honda, Brownstown, Mich., 7-16.
Keith Little, Kawasaki, Spruce Pine, Ala., 11-14.
Greg Gee, Can-Am, Simcoe, Ontario, 13-13
Cody Miller, Can-Am, Greenville, Texas, 5-20.
Josh Upperman, Honda, Louisville, Ohio, 18-10.
Joe Byrd, Honda, Union City, Tenn., 16-15.
Jeremy Lawson, Can-Am, Battletown, Ky., 19-17.
Jason Dunkelberger, Honda, Trevorton, Pa., 20-18.

ITP/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship points leaders: Wimmer 134, Gust 113, Wienen 89, Natalie 87, Creamer 81, Goodman 74, Byrd 69, Arno 60, Ragon 54, Shumaker 51.

Notebook:

ENTRIES ASTOUNDING...This weekend's event featured 743 entries, of which 27 were Pros.

NATALIE TACKLED...John Natalie (No. 13 Can-Am) hit a hole while leading the first moto and flipped his ATV over the embankment in Ballance Moto X's "NASCAR Turn." Though he was unhurt in the incident, he was a bit shaken: "Man, I felt like I was playing football out there. I fell off and I just slid across the grass and the mud."

SUCCESSFUL SHOWCASE...This weekend's race was the first of five "Showcase Events." Many fans took advantage of Can-Am's demo ride area, which utilized a modified cross-country and technical motocross track adjacent to the spectator viewing area. The event also featured outdoor expo exhibits and displays from community dealers and vendors, and other entertainment and activities.

THE MOOSE WAS LOOSE...Moose Racing hosted a dinner show on Saturday evening. The event was well attended by the competitors, who were served dinner by Moose Racing-sponsored riders.