WALNUT, Ill. (June 18, 2018) – The stage was set this past Saturday at Sunset Ridge MX as round six of the 2018 ATV Motocross Championship (ATVMX) presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship, series fired off the gate with high temperatures and humidity that were almost unbearable. This track is called home by Chad Wienen, and history here has shown he has a winning record. However, Rockford Fosgate/Ti-Lube/Honda’s Joel Hetrick had other plans. As racing began, you could tell it was going to be a thriller to see which racer could put together a race that brought them out on top and to the center of the box.
As moto one got underway it was Baldwin/Jeff Rastrelli Land Grading/Ford Brothers Racing Honda’s Jeffrey Rastrelli claimed the SSi Decals Holeshot Award. Rastrelli toughed it out through the first moto after injuring himself in a practice crash last week. Both Hetrick and Wienen Motorsports/Yamaha/Maxxis’ Chad Wienen were looking to get around him and into the lead. Wienen made the moves and claimed the lead and the race was on as Hetrick powered his way into second.
The gap between the leaders grew shorter quickly and soon they were pulling a sizable gap over the rest of the AMA Pro ATV field. Hetrick was pressuring Wienen, but his challenge for the lead would come late in the moto after following the leader for some time and picking up some lines he could use to his advantage not only in this moto but in the second as well.
As the laps were adding up and the was clock ticking down as Hetrick made his move and took the lead. Wienen mounted a charge but the pace was intense, and the moto would end with Hetrick taking the win as Wienen tried to save some energy for a showdown in the second moto.
When the gate dropped for moto two, it was looking to be just as exciting as the first moto. Hetrick got a good start, taking the SSi Decals Holeshot Award and eagerly stepping up the pace to try and keep this moto under his control. Wienen had a mid-pack start and would spend the first lap getting through traffic before he could make a run at the leader. Brown was running in second, and for several laps the Yamaha mounted duo would test each other through every turn and over every jump.
Wienen would finally take the position away from Brown, however, the opportunity to run down Hetrick was fading fast. With energy spent and time running short, Hetrick would claim the moto two win with Wienen and Brown finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Wienen said, “I felt a lot stronger in moto two, but I took longer to get going and that cost me.” The win by Hetrick gives him command of the Pro points battle by three as we head into the later parts of the season.
ATVMX returns on Saturday, July 7th for the Unadilla ATV Motocross National in New Berlin, New York.