KAWASAKI VICTORIOUS AT STEEL CITY: TEDESCO, LANGSTON, VILLAPOTO ALL LOOKING GOOD!
Filed under: MX News
Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco was his team’s top finisher at the Steel City Motocross Nationals on Sunday. The popular rider from Murrieta, Calif., finished fifth in the first moto and third in the second …
Kawasaki 9/5/2005
Tedesco, Langston & Villopoto each make the top ten in 125
Delmont, Pa. (Sept. 4, 2005) Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco was his team’s top finisher at the Steel City Motocross Nationals on Sunday. The popular rider from Murrieta, Calif., finished fifth in the first moto and third in the second, earning a third-place overall finish at round eleven of the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship.
In the first moto, Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Matt Walker got an outstanding start after he launched his KX™250F out of the gate into third with teammate Grant Langston trailing back in tenth. As the race progressed Langston advanced five positions while Tedesco moved up from 15th into fifth. Rookie teammate Ryan Villopoto proved his abilities again and advanced from 16th into seventh. As the checkered flag dropped Langston crossed the line in third with Walker in fourth and Tedesco in fifth. Villopoto held his position to finish seventh and Paul Carpenter finished 21st.
In the second moto, it was Villopoto’s turn to shine as he rounded the first turn in second with Tedesco back in fourth and charging for the lead. As the first two laps were completed, Tedesco moved up into third and immediately began to gain ground on the leaders. Langston advanced twelve positions by the halfway point while Walker advanced one position from ninth. Paul Carpenter started in 24th and advanced to 17th before the white flag came out. As the final lap was completed, Tedesco finished in third with Villopoto in sixth, Langston in eighth and Carpenter in 17th. Walker was forced to pull off the track on lap 12.
When the dust finally settled on the day, Tedesco was credited at third overall with his 5-3 finish. Langston was 3-8, for fourth overall and Villopoto 7-6, for fifth overall, his best finish after starting his pro career only one race earlier.
With their top ten overall finishes this weekend Tedesco further extended his lead in the overall 125 point standings to 35 points out of second with Langston in fifth, Walker in ninth and Carpenter rounding out the top ten as Team Monster/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki continues to be the top-ranked team in AMA 125 competition.
In the first moto, Team Kawasaki rider Michael Byrne started in fourth and only dropped two positions over the course of the event to finish sixth. The affable Australian’s consistency continued straight into the second moto as he started in ninth and advanced into sixth before the checkered flag dropped. Byrne was credited with sixth overall for the weekend.
Team Kawasaki rider James Stewart did not compete at Spring Creek this weekend after Kawasaki and Stewart determined that the best option would be for Stewart to refrain from riding for the remainder of the motocross season. The team decided it would be best for Stewart to focus on rehabilitation and training for the upcoming U.S. Open and the 2006 Suprcross and Motocross season.
Team Kawasaki and Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki move on to round 12, Sept. 10-11, at Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino, Calif.
