Canard puts the pressure on, Windham wins
After Ryan Dungey won the outdoor title in Southwick last week, veteran Kevin Windham (1-2) took the victory in Steel City yesterday. A striking victory for K-Dub, who only entered the Nationals from the seventh round to replace Davi Millsaps at Red Bull-Honda. The finals of the AMA Nationals are scheduled for next weekend in Pala, California.
Windham held off Metcalfe in the first heat and was second in heat two to Dungey. The Rockstar-Suzuki star dropped out with technical problems in the first moto. Australian Metcalfe came second thanks to a second and third place. Bercy winner Justin Brayton (5-4) scored his first ever podium finish.
“I can feel it,” Windham laughed afterwards. “But it is a fantastic feeling to win again. Every time I win now it feels very special. It's hard to say if I'll ever get an opportunity like this again.”
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda (1-2)
2. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (2-3)
3. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (5-4)
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (4-5)
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (7-7)
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (40-1)
7. Nick Paluzzi, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (10-8)
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (14-6)
9. Robert Kiniry, Syracuse, N.Y., Suzuki (9-11)
10. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (3-37)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 493
2. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 356
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 351
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 301
5. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 291
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 260
7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 238
8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 211
9.Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 204
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki, 201
Duel Canard – Pourcel on the cut screen
Thanks to four victories in a row from Red Bud, Trey Canard (GEICO-Honda) had already caught up with Christophe Pourcel (Pro Circuit-Kawasaki). In Steel City, Canard and Pourcel made it a direct duel. Despite heavy pressure from Pourcel, (3-4) took the podium again. Gareth Swanepoel finished 12th in Steel City.
Canard: “I really clicked in Red Bud. I just have to keep driving as fast as I can. Speculating about 'what' and 'if' doesn't help me one bit. That's why I just have to approach the decisive race like any other race.”
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (1-1)
2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (3-4)
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (4-5)
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (7-8)
6. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (10-6)
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (9-7)
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (5-11)
9. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (17-3)
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda (8-10)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 443
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 436
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 402
4. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 387
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 317
6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 296
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 285
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 259
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 229
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki 195
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