At the end of the 2005 Moose/ITP motocross season, Joe Byrd's hot charge toward the top concluded with a victory at his home track Loretta's. With a dominate finish last year, Byrd was hoping to contend for the title in 2006.
If the Glen Helen opener Feb. 5 is any indication, he could be on his way.
Byrd used a holeshot to his advantage in the second moto, beating all the 19 other pros around the Talledega Turn, Natalie would eventually pass Byrd, but after Natalie's seat popped off, Bryd regained the lead and the overall.
Doug Gust, riding on the new Suzuki/Yoshimura-prepped LT-R450, beat Natalie to the finish in the second moto. Gust's 4-2 day landed him third place aboard the all-new QuadRacer, while Natalie had to settle for second overall after going 1-3.
The other Suzuki rider, Jeremiah Jones, didn't have the weekend he or Suzuki planned on having. In moto 1 he was also a part of the infamous tangle and couldn't battle back into the top 5. In moto two, after passing for second place toward the end of the moto, his rear linkage broke on his LT-R450 and ended his race.
Byrd's third-place ride in the first moto, combined with first in the second moto, was enough for 30 points and the first round victory.
Tim Farr, who won at Glen Helen in 2005 after pulling two impressive holeshots, had to settle for 13th after dealing with mechanical issues. Farr's set popped off in moto 1 and had engine trouble, leaving him in 16th.
Yamaha's factory riders also had a frustrating day, as Travis Spader got tangled up in moto 1 and later had mechinical issues with his ATV that prevented him from charging. In the second moto, Spader had an issue with his heel guard.
Pat Brown's frustration in moto 1 was in the form of an errant rock, which damaged his electrical system. In moto 2 he had engine trouble, too. Kory Ellis was involved in a tangle in the first moto and later crashed. Moto 2 wasn't much better as a rock took out his front brakes.
Keith Little, back aboard a Honda this season, went 2-4 for fourth overall. Little looked fast from the gate drop in both motos.
Joe Haavisto, who is looking for a breakout year aboard his Honda, carried over a solid ride from the previous weekend's finish at the ITP/QuadCross for fifth overall at the Moose/ITP opener.
Other surprises included sophomore sensations Chad Weinen (13-7) in ninth and Jeremy Lawson (5-17) for 10th. Lawson's first moto caught many fan's and rider's attention as he cruised to fifth. Lawson wasn't given a LT-R450 in time for the opener and was riding his own Honda, even though Suzuki says he is a support rider.
The Moose/ITP MX Nationals continue Feb. 11-12, as the series visits Texas.
In Pro Am Unlimited, Josh Upperman continued his dominance in the class with an overall. Meanwhile, Matt White took advantage of the two separate race days now at the Nationals, winning Pro Production. White also raced in the Pro class on Sunday, finishing 11th.
For the Women's Sport class, Heather Byrd tallied 1-1 motos to finish ahead of Angela Butler (Moore). Jami Luburgh tallied third, while Michelle Reiser continued to nurse a painful knee, taking fourth.
Also, the Suzuki LT-R450 took over the all-new Stock class as media types tested the machine in a heated race. ATV Sport's test rider Cody Anderson took the overall with 1-1 finishes aboard the LT-R. Look for a full story on Anderson's impressions of the new Suzuki in a future issue of ATV Sport.
PRO 1. Joe Byrd, Honda, 3-1
2. John Natalie, Honda, 1-3
3. Doug Gust, Suzuki, 4-2
4. Keith Little, Honda, 2-4
5. Joe Haavisto, Honda, 9-5
6. Tavis Cain, Honda, 7-8
7. Jason Luburgh, Yamaha, 6-10
8. Jason Dunkleberger, Yamaha, 11-6
9. Chad Wienen, Honda, 13-7
10. Jeremy Lawson, Honda, 5-17
11. Matt White, Yamaha, 12-11
12. Kory Ellis, Yamaha, 10-14
13. Tim Farr, Honda, 16-9
14. Harold Goodman, Honda, 15-14
15. Patrick Brown, Yamaha, 18-13
16. Jeremiah Jones, Suzuki, 14-19
17. Travis Spader, Yamaha, 19-16
18. Dustin Wimmer, Honda, 17-18
19. Dana Creech, Yamaha, 8-DNS
20. Dustin Nelson, Yamaha, DNS-12
