Josh Grant makes an unexpected early return to racing and nearly pulls off a top-10 finish with two injured ankles. Christian Craig has his best professional finish, and the rain held off until just the right time.
JGRMX Toyota/Yamaha Budd's Creek Results
DAVID EVANS
Aug 24, 2009
Contact: David Evans
JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha Team Media Relations
(704) 293-3745
JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha Budd’s Creek Results
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (August 24, 2009) – With his eye fixed firmly on a top-three finish in the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship Series Josh Grant, determined to push through the pain of ankle injuries sustained at X Games 15 was an unexpected last minute entry for round ten of the series at Budd’s Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md.
In the first moto Grant started the race in fifth position moving into fourth on lap three, only to slide out and have to re-mount and start a charge from 17th. Nursing his broken right ankle Grant moved up to eighth on lap 14 and was attempting to make a last lap pass into seventh when he fell in a treacherous rhythm section. Without being able to train or ride for several weeks the heat and humidity had taken a toll on the rookie, but he gathered himself up, re-started his YZ450F and finished the moto in 13th place. Grant decided not race the second moto. Grant’s 13-37 finishes gave him 18th overall on the day. Grant is not expected to race the last two rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship but will be healed and fully prepared for the AMA Supercross Series starting in Jan.
After qualifying third in practice Cody Cooper started the first moto in third position and remained there for the first five laps, after which he made some small mistakes that had him finish the moto in 16th. Christian Craig, substituting for Josh Grant, had difficulty from the start and finished 30th. In the second moto, Cooper started the race in tenth, moved inside the top-10, and ended the moto in 11th. Cooper’s 16-11 scores gave him 13th overall. Christian Craig, in only his second professional race started to feel comfortable at the sport’s highest level in moto two, and earned an impressive 13th place finish. Christian’s 30-13 finishes credited him with 17th overall.
After 10 of 12 rounds the series points standings are:
1. Chad Reed 434 6. Thomas Hahn 229
2. Andrew Short 330 7. Justin Brayton 201
3. Ivan Tedesco 322 8. Cody Cooper 176
4. Josh Grant 280 9. Nick Wey 176
5. Michael Byrne 276 10. Jimmy Albertson 150
Round 11 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will be on August 29 at Moto-X-338 in Southwick, Mass. The first motos of both the 250 and 450 Classes will air live on www.allisports.com beginning at 1:00 p.m. (EST). The second 450 moto will be broadcast on SPEED at 9:00 p.m. (EST). 