Race Report - Southwick
Brendan Lutes
- August 29 2009
- 48 comments
Page One: Lites Class/Page Two: Motocross Class/Page Three: WMA
Words and Photos by Brendan Lutes
With the Motocross class title already wrapped up by Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, and the Lites title closer than ever, the penultimate round of the 2009 Lucas Oils AMA Motocross Championships went down at the famous Motocross 338 facility in Southwick, Massachusetts. Under cloudy skies and constant steady rain, both classes produced surprises in the form of first-time winners.
In the Lites class, Geico Powersports/Honda’s Justin Barcia took home the overall ahead of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray, while Barcia’s teammate Brett Metcalfe finished third. On top of the podium in the Motocross class was Factory Yamaha fill-in Matt Goerke with Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Michael Byrne in second and Southwick’s own John Dowd completing the podium.
LITES CLASS
With the championship on the line and a slim nine-point lead going into this weekend’s race, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel needed to finish in front of Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey. Unfortunately for the French rider, however, bad luck struck in both motos, causing him to DNF the first moto and crash in the first turn in the second, ultimately finishing 18th overall after climbing his way back up from near last position in the final moto. In the championship chase, Dungey took over the red plate after turning in two consistent rides despite going down in the first turn of the second moto. Dungey’s impressive 2-4 performance was enough to give him a 17-point lead going into the final round next weekend.
As for the rest of the field, Justin Barcia found himself on top of the podium for the first time in his young career after chasing down and passing Dungey in the first moto. Then after getting hung up on the gate in the second moto, Barcia managed to work his way up to third—good enough for the overall victory. Taking the second moto win, however, was MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray who led the moto from start to finish, securing the runner-up position in the overall finishing order. The final position on the overall podium went to Barcia’s teammate Brett Metcalfe. Metty turned in two very consistent finishes in both motos, going 4-2 for third overall.
OVERALL RESULTS:
1. Justin Barcia (Hon) 1-3
2. Tyla Rattray (Kaw) 6-1
3. Brett Metcalfe (Hon) 4-2
4. Ryan Dungey (Suz) 2-4
5. Taylor Futrell (Hon) 7-7
6. Tommy Searle (KTM) 9-6
7. Blake Wharton (Hon) 3-15
8. Broc Tickle (Yam) 8-13
9. Jake Weimer (Kaw) 13-9
10. Blake Baggett (Kaw) 15-8
11. PJ Larsen (Kaw) 10-14
12. Ryan Sipes (KTM) 25-5
13. Austin Stroupe (Kaw) 5-29
14. Vince Freise (Hon) 11-16
15. Steve Clarke (Suz) 16-12
16. Scott Champion (Hon) 12-17
17. Alex Martin (Hon) 20-10
18. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw) 27-11
19. Wil Hahn (KTM) 14-34
20. Spencer Dally (Hon) 18-20
2009 Lucas Oils AMA Motocross Lites Championship (After 11 of 12 rounds):
1. Ryan Dungey (459)
2. Christophe Pourcel (442)
3. Brett Metcalfe (352)
4. Jake Weimer (322)
5. Justin Barcia (312)
6. Tommy Searle (309)
7. Broc Tickle (263)
8. Blake Wharton (240)
9. Tyle Rattray (236)
10. Kyle Cunningham (174)
Thanks heaps for this indeed!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website Super Piano Links 
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August 30th, 2009 at 4:29 am
poor reed that crash was ugly
August 30th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Its in the bag for Dungey, just ride it out. Awesome ride from Taylor Futrell, showin em how we do it in NC. Awesome ride from john dowd also. Also good job to Goerke, although Stewart fans won't accept it bc Reed crashes out. they will want an asterisk. Oh wait, no they won't bc they only wanna criticize Reed with stuff like that.
August 30th, 2009 at 5:44 am
sweet race…..
August 30th, 2009 at 5:59 am
i guess pro circuit makes the best bikes as long as they run! at least pourcel can blame his first moto on the bike
August 30th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Kudos to Goerke, Dowd, Barcia, Moss, Reed, and Dungey not to Michael Byrne!!! He need to finish ahead the 44 years old veteran John Dowd in the second moto to take his first ever AMA win in 9 years and he just maintain his third place, for what??????. Oz Pro Open in first 450 moto: 1. Reed, 2. Moss, 3. Byrne….. 4. Reardon, 5. Cooper? sorry for my bad English. Ha ha ha ha!!!, en appelle ça un gros coup de pied dans l’arrière train! voila ce qui arrive à ceux qui veulent jouer les prodiges ! ce n’était pas pro circuit mais pro biscuit ! (et le "Jack, let Pourcel bye" en 2ème manche n’a pas marcher !) ou le frenchy roulais sur une motobécane ! l’année prochaine se sera au tour du jeune Justin Barcia de botter le déjà vieux Pourcel ! ha ha ha ha !!!
August 30th, 2009 at 6:45 am
John Dowd has been dishin out a$$ whoopins at southwick for a long time. You can't knock Byrner for 3rd. Dowd could ride that place with his eyes closed, possibly even backwards on his bike. As for the rest of your comment, i have no f***in clue.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Oh i got it, after a google translation. But yes i agree that Justin Barcia will "put the boot" to Pourcel next year. But i question why you knock a rider "the only rider" from your country.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Little boy, I’m not American, I’m not French but I can’t speak four languages, and you? little asshole! who do you think you are? little shit! I knock out you with one slap lazy bastard!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Picture 25 why does Wharton have 2 mufflers and Barcia has 1?
August 30th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Awesome ride by Dowdy,how do you think the top ten guy's felt when a 44yr old blast's past them like there standing still.simply Awesome!
August 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Taylor futrell is on is way to being on the podium
August 30th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
i saw i think christian craig in the 1st moto, he banged into JYD twice in front of us lol dowd was looking around like wtf man these kids are nuts.. this was probly the best race we have had all ear, maybe for a few years i think. Pourcel was ridding pretty well, the only thing that would have made the day better was if he finished moto1 and kept the series tight..
Barcia, Goerke, Dowd, Byrne and everyone else.. great work guys, new england appreciates it!
also, heavy rain the night before + a steady misty rain all day on the race, makes for just about a perfect southwick. This is the only wick nat that ive gone to where i wasnt feeling like taking a nap in between motos from the heat. 68 and overcast. Perfect day of mx, id have to say!
very nice photo coverage too, TWMX
August 30th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
isnt pourcel riding 450's next year, same as dungey?
August 30th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
your a joke. crawl back into your hole. fag
August 30th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
the team has been switching between the 1 and 2 muffler setup all year. nothing out of place. 2010 crf250 r going back to a single muffler setup
August 30th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
HAHAHAHAH!!!!!! Come on down to NC buddy. Hit me up on here when you get here, and i will meet you. I will show you what being raised on corn bread and chicken is all about. As for who d I think i am. By the time i get done with you, you will think i'm god cause you will be begging for forgiveness.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
For sure. hes gonna be in the hunt next year. Kinda surprising, bc him and Broc Tickle were pretty evenly matched before Tickle went pro. NC is starting to produce some good racers. Futrell, Tickle, Stroupe, and mike mcdade is up and coming also.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
For someone who claims to be so educated, you sure are ignorant. Getting into a smack talking match with a kid on a keyboard? Do better by yourself, Bro.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Robby Marshall is going to be a force to be reckon with at Southwick for years to come, and so will Jimmy Decotis(once he gets some more experience in the professional races). These two rip up the new england tracks at nesc races as well as John Dowd and a shoutout to Josh Clark who went 19-17 in his first professional race of his career. Great job new england riders
August 30th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
what?
August 30th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
why is it that some of the gieco hondas have singles and some have dual exhaust. ive been wondering all season?
August 31st, 2009 at 1:22 am
Its the riders choice, Wharton likes the dual and Barcia likes the single. They all have the option to run a kit vs production forks and they all run production aswell.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:52 am
They're probably riding two different year bikes…Barcia on the 2010 and Wharton on the 2009 possibly.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:26 am
someone needs to give robby marshall a factory ride
August 31st, 2009 at 3:20 am
all i have to say is!?! does baria remind anybody of some other young rider's(i.e the goat ,stewart).ANY WAY the sands at the wick made for some great racing .hey even the director's and the camramen didn't know where and who or what part of the track to watch because there was many battles going on. my hats off to speed tv for giving us what we love and showing the rest of the world the great sport of MOTOCROSS!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 3:31 am
no 2010 havent been released. and the riders have a choice to run single or dual.
but john dowd really surprised me
and keep your eyes open for blake baggett he will be running with the top runners if he gets a start!
August 31st, 2009 at 6:12 am
Finally JB151 gets that win! he so earned it!
Dungey just needs to keep it on 2 wheels now…maybe barcia will play a factor in the last round.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:44 am
Robby Marshall does deserve a Factory Ride. He got a 10th at Unidilla, then goes 5-7 for a 5th over all at wick. Keep in mind he had the fastest lap in the First Moto 2:11.5 compared to Reed's fastest 2:13.6 … Considering Marshall did this on a completely stock bike, give him a factory motor and see what he can do with these guys !!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 6:53 am
Not so sure about that. Just doing good at one track don't do it. I know a kid that can run with a class riders at his dads practice track, but you take him somewhere else and he can't compete in the d class. Not to knock John Dowd, but i don't think he could do what he did on any other trck on the circuit.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:56 am
Completely stock? I highly doubt that. He atleast had suspension mods, and i'm sure that was'nt a stock motor. And he probably rides those tracks more in a year than most of the other riders do in a lifetime. Take him to Glen Helen and see how he fares.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
he also beat james stewarts fastest laptime ever at the wick on a stock bike…… Its hard to argue that the kid has a ton of talent.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
and the motor was completely stock they had a loaner bike loaner factory connection suspension. I'm pretty confident he could do top ten at glen helen aswell
August 31st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Do you have an opinion about the eleven round of the national outdoor or you are just here for read and criticize the other posts? you probably need more education than me, sister … I see the video recap, amazing track and rough condition, great performance from Barcia, dominate the track like he did is exceptional for his age and limited experience in AMA Pro, the second moto win is more classic with an experimented world champion (and sand specialist) …. But John Dowd is certainly the most amazing rider here; he’s younger than Ron Lechien! (AMA MX and AMA Supercross class main events winner in 1983!!!) … Sorry for my bad and limited English
August 31st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
umm TIM if i remember correctly bubba absolutely demolished the competition on a 125 two stroke his rookie year, barcia has been impressive but nowhere close to the level that stewart was on his rookie year. Something is leading me to believe that his riding style will never adapt to a 450 as well. A) becuase he is way to small and scrawny, B) He revs his bike to the moon and back, and C) he looks like hes going to kill himself on a 250f when on a 450 he will kill himself in a heartbeat with all of that extra power… BUTTTT anything is possible
September 1st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Alright Dowd! I am a 45 year old MX nut, so I think its great when old guys still tear it up. I see all kinds of fast senior riders at my local track, which proves you don't have to stop just because you age.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Most likely Robby's bike had very little done to it. Most of the year I have seen him on a bone stock bike. He's even had the stock pipe on it. He's never ridden Unadilla much and he came from 25th to 10th. The kids deserving of a factory ride and with one i think he will show what he's got.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
huge shout out to all the new england riders. dowdy, marshall, decotis, clark, sottile and morrison showin how we do it here in the northeast.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Have you ever seen that guy called THE GOAT. He is not a big guy, but rode the wheels off the 450. And Stewart was'nt racing against the same level of competition his rookie year.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 am
well you see… the thing about the man they call the Goat is that he was in such good shape and he had a very strong body. He was the most dedicated person in our sport and may be the most dedicated ever. He was so strong and i somehow dont see a scrawny Barcia becoming that strong. As for Stewarts competition level his rookie year i dont remember exactly who he raced against but im pretty sure he came in and took that championship right out of Mike Browns hands when he was at the peak or near the peak of his career.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
yes the goat was small but he had something that nobody else will every has. He has a drive to win that in unnatainable. Barcia will never be as strong mentally and physically as carmichael was. Nobody every will, thats why he is going to be the GOAT forever. He was a truely amazing rider and to all who watched him race should greatly apreciate what they got to see now that he is gone. Stewart raced guys like Mike Brown(when he was in his prime), matt walker (in his prime), nathan ramsay, ivan tedesco, ryan hughes ( in his prime). You cannot tell me he didnt have hard competition when you had all of these guys out there who have won multiple races and champioships. And for a final thought Barcia will be very very fast no doubt in my mind, but i want to see how well he keeps off the ground and stays away from injuries with that riding style he has. It seems very unlikely he wont be hurt the way he rides in supercross.
September 5th, 2009 at 2:33 am
why does barcia have one pipe an wharton has 2? maybe decided to ride the 010?
September 6th, 2009 at 2:11 am
speed tv covrage sucks who wants to see Rattray for 10 mins all by himself???
September 20th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
Nice post! GA is also my biggest earning. However, it