(N. Kingsville, OH) More than twenty pro riders vying for a spot into Sunday’s main event showed up at Pleasure Valley Raceway. Josh would have third pick of the gate due to his fast qualifying practice time. With the drop of the gate in moto one and twenty riders all racing to get to the first turn, both first and safe due to a short start and a bottle neck into a bridge, Josh was able to come out in seventh place. The track was very narrow and passing was difficult, but somehow Josh was able to make two passes on lap three to take over the 5th place position. He continued to produce some of the best lap times, rode steady and closed the gap between him and forth place, but time was running out and with the wave of the checkered flag it would be fifth place for moto one. Josh and Mark Baldwin were very happy with results and decided the only thing to change for moto two would be the tire settings.
This start would not be one of Josh’s notable holeshots but theatrical in the way Josh was clever enough to pull out of his mishap. As they all rounded the first turn, the #20 pushed to the outside and found himself headed for the cement barrier. Without skipping a beat, Josh somehow went up the embankment onto the cement wall nearly flipping, but was able to control his ATV and come out of the whole thing in eleventh place (one pro rider, who was behind Josh said; “Seeing Josh do that was worth coming to the race. That was awesome”). Now the work began and that is exactly what Josh did. He rode very smart and fast and started passing riders one after another and by half way through the moto was in seventh place. He battled with Can-Am rider Jeremy Lawson for two laps and by the two laps left flag made the pass stick to take over 6th place. Out front there was a heated battle going on between Honda rider, Joe Byrd, Suzuki rider, Dustin Wimmer and Kawasaki rider, Josh Creamer with the changing of places at every turn. On the last lap, last turn it was a Byrd, Creamer and Wimmer freight train and within six feet of the checkered flag Creamer hit the side of Byrd and they became locked up with each other, not able to untangle for some time. This is where Josh was able to get around them, capitalize on their misfortune, and take the third place podium finish.
** Tonight at 7:00 pm quad.transworld.net (This is a very exciting race – Don’t miss it!)
Thank You 2009 Sponsors: American Honda, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, JB Racing, Fly Racing, Dunlop, Rath Racing, Precision Racing Products, Hinson Clutch Components, Wiseco, DWT, Quad Tech, Fasst Co., Pro-Design, Works Connection, Honda Pro Oil & Chemicals, Honda Genuine Parts, Throttle Jockey, State 8, PowerMadd, RPM, Sidi, VP Race Fuels, Scott Goggle, Six Six One, CV 4 Products, Ancra.
Round Ten – RedBud MX Buchanan, MI
SERIES POINTS STANDINGS: (after 9 of 11 rounds)
1st – Dustin Wimmer – 335
2nd – Chad Wienen – 306
3rd – Joe Byrd – 304
4th – Doug Gust – 292
5th – Josh Upperman - 276
