Wienen Podiums at First AMA Race with Motoworks Can-Am Team
As the first race of the 2010 AMA ATV season went underway it looked like rain and mud were going to be a major problem as the forecast looked for heavy rainfall.
03.30.10 Pell City, Alabama As the first race of the 2010 AMA ATV season went underway it looked like rain and mud were going to be a major problem as the forecast looked for heavy rainfall.
In the Pro practice Sunday morning Wienen proved he could hold his own as he sat in second place in qualifying times.
Rain began to fall shortly before the pros stepped to the gate and even though it stopped just in time for the 30-second card to turn over, it came down heavy enough to make the track slick and misleading. With second gate pick for moto number one, Wienen was able to come out of the first turn in the top half of the pack. On the first lap, Wienen was in fifth place holding steady lap times and finishing the moto in fourth.
As the second gate dropped and the second pro moto began, Wienen once again found himself in the top half of the group, as he was 8th out of the first turn. He made his way up to sixth place as they rolled in the first lap and quickly found himself in fourth place at the beginning of the fifth lap passing both Nick DeNoble and first moto second place finish, Josh Upperman.
Wienens move into third place was a long lasting battle with Joe Byrd. Battling for more than five laps Byrd once again proved himself to be one of the most difficult riders to get around. Waiting patiently, Wienen finally made his move with two laps remaining and finished the moto in third place.
Rounding out the weekend with a second place finish overall, Wienen had the best beginning finish to his pro career to date. Expectations are high and Wienen states, You cant win the series at the first race but you sure can lose it! I am happy with my overall finish and am ready for Bowling Green to come shortly.
