Sign of the (Lap) Times: Pala
The rough, sandy, power-robbing circuit at Pala gave 450cc bikes a big advantage at the season finale, as our Motion Pro Sign of the (Lap) Times chart indicates below. The 450s were much faster than the 250s on this track.
As always, staying consistent counts for just as much as laying down the fastest lap--as proof, only once in the four 250/450 motos did the rider wth the fastest lap actually take the moto win.
Check it out
450 Moto 1
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Rider |
| 1 | 1 | 2.16.640 | 5 | Ryan Dungey |
| 2 | 2 | 2:17.761 | 2 | Brett Metcalfe |
| 3 | 3 | 2:18.224 | 2 | Andrew Short |
| 4 | 4 | 2:18.734 | 3 | Ryan Sipes |
| 5 | 6 | 2:19.330 | 6 | Ben Townley |
| 6 | 5 | 2:19.417 | 5 | Kyle Regal |
| 7 | 9 | 2:19.535 | 3 | Kyle Chisholm |
| 8 | 7 | 2:20.859 | 4 | Kevin Windham |
| 9 | 8 | 2.21.042 | 2 | Mike Alessi |
| 10 | 10 | 2:21.182 | 5 | Matt Goerke |
450 Moto 2
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Rider |
| 1 | 3 | 2.20.064 | 3 | Brett Metcalfe |
| 2 | 1 | 2:20.170 | 3 | Ryan Dungey |
| 3 | 2 | 2:20.246 | 3 | Andrew Short |
| 4 | 5 | 2:20.822 | 2 | Kyle Chisholm |
| 5 | 4 | 2:21.088 | 2 | Ben Townley |
| 6 | 14 | 2:21.177 | 2 | Kyle Regal |
| 7 | 7 | 2:21.825 | 3 | Justin Brayton |
| 8 | 6 | 2:22.190 | 2 | Ryan Sipes |
| 9 | 10 | 2.23.856 | 3 | Dan Reardon |
| 10 | 8 | 2:23.887 | 3 | Kevin Windham |
Metty had the speed and starts, but a second-moto crash took away another sure shot at an overall win.
Simon Cudby
Ryan Dungey won moto one and logged the fastest lap, but in moto two, Bret Metcalfe got out front early and started checking out. He logged the fastest lap of the race and may have had the stuff to finally deliver his first career AMA overall win. Until he crashed. Bummer. Dungey took the win in that one, too.
250 Moto 1
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Rider |
| 1 | 2 | 2:19.164 | 5 | Tyla Rattray |
| 2 | 31 | 2:19.627 | 4 | Christophe Pourcel |
| 3 | 1 | 2:19.713 | 5 | Dean Wilson |
| 4 | 4 | 2:19.960 | 4 | Trey Canard |
| 5 | 3 | 2:20.006 | 3 | Cole Seely |
| 6 | 8 | 2:21.395 | 5 | Eli Tomac |
| 7 | 6 | 2:21.915 | 5 | Justin Barcia |
| 8 | 5 | 2:21.930 | 4 | Broc Tickle |
| 9 | 7 | 2.32.284 | 4 | Wil Hahn |
| 10 | 32 | 2:22.337 | 3 | Blake Wharton |
250 Moto 2
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Rider |
| 1 | 3 | 2:21.920 | 4 | Trey Canard |
| 2 | 2 | 2:22.232 | 4 | Tyla Rattray |
| 3 | 1 | 2:22.559 | 4 | Dean Wilson |
| 4 | 4 | 2:23.669 | 3 | Eli Tomac |
| 5 | 5 | 2:24.519 | 4 | Justin Barcia |
| 6 | 6 | 2:24.763 | 2 | Martin Davalos |
| 7 | 10 | 2:24.962 | 4 | Darryn Durham |
| 8 | 9 | 2:25.907 | 5 | Broc Tickle |
| 9 | 8 | 2.26.138 | 8 | Gareth Swanepoel |
| 10 | 11 | 2:27.037 | 3 | Cole Seely |
Tyla Rattray was quick on this track.
Simon Cudby photo
Tyla Rattray logged the fastest 250 race lap time of the day, and also logged a faster lap than his teammate Dean Wilson in both motos, but Styla also ended up only second overall. Wilson grabbed two holeshots and ran smart solid races to go 1-1 on the day.
Trey Canard was fastest in moto two, but backed it down and settled for points down the stretch.
