Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey has won every second moto so far this year, and two out of three overalls, but what he hasn’t done so far is to have beaten Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel in a first moto. Pourcel has been completely dominant the first time out, and the big question mark involving the weather was answered in moto one at Freestone County Raceway in Wortham, Texas. It wasn’t as hot as it was last, year, but it was definitely hotter than it has been previously this year, and in the opening moto, Pourcel killed it, winning by damned near 20 seconds over Dungey.
However, in moto two, the 2006 MX2 World Champion started mid-pack and rounded the first turn in 12th while Dungey chased down Oklahoman Trey Canard, of the GEICO Powersports Honda team, out front. Pourcel could only recover for fourth in the moto while Dungey went on to win over Canard and his teammate Blake Wharton.
Pourcel’s stomach problems, stemming from his spinal-cord injury suffered in 2007, seem to be the culprit behind the consistency of the first-moto wins and second-moto losses on Pourcel’s part, and like Chad Reed in the 450cc class, he never complains about it, but rather just explains that it is an issue that he’s dealing with. There is a difference between a reason and an excuse, and he and Reed apparently have reasons. And with the way Dungey’s riding right now, it may take a digestive-system turn for the better for Pourcel to turn the tables on the Suzuki points leader.
