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After a multi-week break in the WMX Championship series, the pro women racers returned to the motocross track for Round 6 at Southwick, Massachusetts. In Moto One, Honda Red Bull Racing rider Ashley Fiolek grabbed the holeshot and an early lead in the race. Unfortunately, for Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson, there was a seven-rider pileup and the series points leader went down in turn one. Up front, Fiolek was cruising followed by fellow-Honda rider, Tarah Geiger, and the green Kawasaki of Marissa Markelon. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Sara Price was running in fifth place with a hard-charging Patterson working her way through the pack to sixth.

For the "ump-teenth" time this season, Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Tarah Geiger stood on the third step of podium at a WMX national event. Photo courtesy of http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2126/Motorcycle-Photo-Gallery/2010-AMA-Womens-Motocross.aspx

With half the race to go in Moto One, Price and Moto Concepts Yamaha rider Mariana Balbi were battling for fourth place. Geiger would crash while running in second, but managed to recover and only lost one position. After battling her way through the field, Patterson moved into second with just a few laps remaining. The WMX series points leader was able to chisel away at Fiolek’s lead but was unable to catch the Red Bull rider. Fiolek would take the win in Moto One followed by Patterson, and Geiger rounding out the podium in third.  Price and Balbi took fourth and fifth respectively.

The always rough and tough Moto-X 338 track showed no mercy for the ladies as unexpected crashes and tough racing would be status quo for the rest of the day. Fiolek had another great start out of the gate in Moto Two to again take the holeshot and the early race lead. However, this time Patterson had a much better start and exited turn one on the rear wheel of Fiolek. In third was Warthog Racing’s Tatum Sik followed by the Troy Lee Designs Honda of Tarah Geiger. At the close of the opening lap, Patterson’s Yamaha rocketed past the Honda of Fiolek to take the lead. Fiolek pressured her rival for the lead back, but Patterson would pull away.

Once she was out front, Patterson put her Yamaha on cruise control and claimed a Moto Two victory ahead of Fiolek and Geiger. It would be Patterson’s fifth overall victory of the 2010 WMX season.  Fiolek would finish second in the moto and second overall for the Southwick national event. Geiger would post two solid third-place finishes for third overall at the famed Moto-X 338 track. For a better burn in your engine, insist upon E3 Performance Spark Plugs for your motorcycle, car or truck. Our patented technology will deliver the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology that you need to run out front.
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Home state rider Andrew Short led the early laps of Moto One in the 450cc class at the Thunder Valley National in round five of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship before he high-sided his factory Honda in the deep Lakewood, Colorado, ruts. Series points-leader, Ryan Dungey, inherited the lead and set the cruise control on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki. But, Dungey’s pace couldn’t hold off a late race charge by Josh Grant aboard his Toyota Yamaha.

New Zealand motocross racer Ben Townley finished second overall at Lakewood's Thunder Valley National. Townley has shown tons of speed this season aboard his Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda. Photo courtesy of www.troyleedesigns.com.

Grant would take the win with Dungey crossing the finish line second followed by Suzuki’s Tommy Hahn who had disposed of a hard charging Brett Metcalfe to claim third. Defending outdoor AMA Lucas Oil Pro MX national champion Chad Reed could only muster a 10th place in Moto One. The KTM 350cc rocket ship  of Mike Alessi didn’t appear to like the air at the mile-high Thunder Valley track as Alessi struggled to a 12th overall in Moto One.

The second moto looked to be a carbon copy of the first with Andrew Short controlling the early laps of the race. Unfortunately, Yamaha’s Josh Grant would crash in turn one after the start spoiling his chance for an overall MX victory. This moto, Suzuki’s Dungey would have to pick up his pace with a very fast Ben Townley aboard the TLD/Lucas Oil Honda breathing down his neck. Both riders passed Short to finish “one, two, three” respectively. Brett Metcalfe brought his Geico Powersports Honda home in fourth ahead of Jagermeister KTM rider Mike Alessi.

This was Dungey’s fourth win in a row and propelled the Rockstar rider to a 51 point lead in the championship. Australia’s Brett Metcalfe moved ahead of fellow compatriot Chad Reed for second place in the series standings after finishing third on the day at Lakewood. Alessi, Short, Grant and Townley are now separated by a single point each as they fight for fourth thru seventh. Next weekend, teams travel to Buchanan, Michigan, for the annual AMA outdoor motocross event at Red Bud MX.

Be sure to check E3 Spark Plugs’ blog for a wrap-up of all the racing action.