Racer X Online – Monday Conversation: Dean Wilson

Racer X Online – Monday Conversation: Dean Wilson

Pro Circuit – WILSON Wins Budds Creek

Wilson Wins First at Budds Creek

Corona, Calif. (June 22, 2010) Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson earned his first career AMA overall win as well as his first moto win at Budds Creek in Maryland. The 18-year-old rookie went 4-1 to claim his first victory just two weeks after nearly earning the win at Freestone. Tyla Rattray continued his string of podium finishes going 2-3 to finish third overall. The 250-class points leader Christophe Pourcel was fourth overall going 1-6. Jake Weimer went 21-7 to finish 12th overall.

Pourcel once again dominated qualifying as he earned the first gate pick for the fourth straight event. Wilson was fifth fastest, Rattray was ninth quick and Weimer was 11th in qualifying.

“I felt really good in the first moto,” said Pourcel. “I didn’t get a good start in the second moto and I ended up crashing really big. I am happy that I still have the points lead and just need to put together two good motos.”

In the first moto, Pourcel got a good start and led wire-to-wire to claim his fourth moto win of the season. Behind him, Rattray again got a good start crossing the line in fifth with Weimer just back in seventh. Weimer was running well until lap eight when he dropped back to 33rd in the order. He spent the last half of the moto clawing his way back up to 21st. Also moving up was Wilson who moved from 11th to sixth in 10 laps. Rattray rode a steady race slowly working his way into second.

“In the second moto, I thought I had the pass, but I just barely went off the track and that pushed me back a few seconds so I settled in for third,” said Rattray. “It was a pretty tough race with the humidity. I am definitely happy to be on the podium, just wish I could have made that pass.”

In the second moto it was Wilson who got the jump out of the gate, running second for two laps before making a pass for the lead. Wilson went on to lead the last 14 circuits to claim his first moto win, but he wasn’t sure if it was enough to clinch the overall. Pourcel, Rattray and Weimer were all running together fifth through seventh early in the race and the trio kept picking off spots. Rattray held the best lines as he worked his way up to third while Pourcel would finish sixth and Weimer seventh.

“The feeling of winning my first race was incredible, but I think it would be that much better if I would have known it at the checkered flag,” said Wilson. “It’s been a long time coming so it’s nice to finally get the monkey off my back and hopefully I can put some more wins together.”

Pourcel, Rattray and Wilson continue to hold down the top three spots in the championship standings, as the team now must prepare for the challenges of Thunder Valley, just outside of Denver.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Pourcel back on top in Jacksonville

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Pourcel back on top in Jacksonville.

Corona, Calif. (March 29, 2010) Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel must really like his adopted state of Florida as he claimed his second win of the season in the sunshine state this past Saturday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The victory also marked Pourcel’s fourth win in as many races in Florida.

For the sixth straight week, Pourcel set the fastest time in qualifying practice giving him first gate pick in the second heat race. In his heat race, Pourcel easily handled the difficult track to take his fifth heat win of the season.

“I’m not really thinking about the championship at this point,” said Pourcel. “I just want to come to every race ready to win. I have missed the win the last two races and it feels really good to get back up here again.”

In the main event Pourcel crossed the line third on the first lap and patiently bided his time before making a move for second on the sixth lap and then just one lap later taking the lead. The French rider than began to pull away from the field before a mistake sent him to the ground. Fortunately, he had a large enough cushion to get back on his Kawasaki KXä250F, keep the lead and ultimately bring home the win extending his points lead to eight markers.

Dean Wilson was unable to race in Jacksonville as he continues to face immigration issues coming back from Toronto. With the off-weekend for Easter this week, both Wilson and Tyla Rattray should be able to race in two weeks at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Puts Two on the Podium at Daytona

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Puts Two on the Podium at Daytona

Corona, Calif. (March 8, 2010)  The Daytona supercross is always a special event and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rose to the occasion on Saturday night with Christophe Pourcel taking his third straight win and Dean Wilson earning his first career podium after finishing third.

The rich history and tradition of the Daytona supercross isnt lost on Pourcel who has now won twice at the Worlds Center of Racing.

This is a very important race, said Pourcel. It is one you hear about all around the world and I am so happy to win at Daytona again. This is probably the biggest race on the schedule. Ive won three races this year and I need to stay on my game to finish with the championship.

During qualifying practice, the track was changed between the first and second sessions with Pourcel posting the fastest overall time in the second session while Wilson used his time from the first practice to qualify second. In the first heat, Wilson didnt get a great start and moved up from tenth to fourth in the short 6-lap race. In the second heat, Pourcel had little trouble getting his third heat race win of the season.

Getting on the podium feels so great, said Wilson. Chris gave me some advice this weekend and it paid off for me. He told be to pace myself better and I was able to charge late in the race to get the last podium spot.

In the main event, Pourcel crossed the line after the first lap in third and steadily made his way to the lead on lap six. Pourcel rode a smooth race through the remaining nine laps to win by more than two seconds. Wilson was right behind Pourcel on the first lap and he rode in fourth until lap 12 when he made his move to the podium. The late charge saw him get to the rear wheel of the second place rider, but there wasnt enough laps left and Wilson settled for third.

The team now heads to Wilsons adopted country of Canada for the fourth round of the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Region season. Pourcel holds a strong points lead with Wilson sitting in third position in the standings. Saturdays race will be at the Rogers Center in Toronto with live coverage on SPEED beginning at 7:30 pm ET.