Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Rattray Wins at Southwick for Second-Straight Year

Courtesy of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Racing

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Rattray Wins at Southwick for Second-Straight Year


CORONA, Calif.- Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray bounced back from a tough race at Unadilla to take the overall win with a 2-1 result at Round 10 of the AMA Motocross Championship series at MX 338 in Southwick, Mass. Teammate Dean Wilson finished just behind Rattray with a 3-2 result for second overall, stretching his points lead to 38 over second in the standings. Blake Baggett tackled the rain-soaked track both motos to finish fifth with a 9-6 moto score. Broc Tickle showed his speed as he finished fifth in the first moto and came from behind after a crash in the second moto to finish 12th for seventh overall.

Winner of the Southwick National last year, Rattray was faced with different conditions than before as rain soaked the track most of the day. The first moto had him close to the leader for the entire race, but was unable to make the pass. He came out stronger in the second moto, making the pass for the lead early and kept his Pro Circuit-backed Kawasaki KX250F out front until the end for his fourth overall win of the season.

“I’ve ridden in tracks like this my whole life and I am able to have that show a little bit when I come here,” said Rattray. “I wasn’t feeling super confident in the first race, but we made some set-up changes and I felt much better in the second race. The track got really rough during the second moto so I just tried to be smart and ride solid laps.”

Entering the race in Southwick, Wilson had a 25-point lead over second place in the championship standings. After two solid motos in the deep, rough sand, Wilson was able to extend his lead to 38 points with four motos remaining.

“I knew this would be a challenging track for me, but my main goal was to keep it on two wheels and stay up front,” said Wilson. “I didn’t win, but I accomplished those goals and was able to get a few more points in front of second place in the standings. We’ll try and keep it together for the final two rounds. It would be nice to finish out the season with another win.”

While Baggett wasn’t able to start at the front, he worked his way through the pack for two respectable finishes. Baggett made his normal push to the front in the first moto and despite coming into the mechanics area for fresh goggles, still earned ninth. He was ready to redeem himself in the second moto and was able to come from outside the top-15 to finish sixth for fifth overall.

“I am not really a fan of sand tracks and haven’t had much time riding on them,” said Baggett. “Coming through the pack normally isn’t too much of an issue for me, but this track was tough with all the sand roost and then it started to rain pretty hard in the first moto. I knew I couldn’t make it if I didn’t come in for goggles. Overall, I’m just happy to get through this race and I’m going to be ready to get another win.”

Tickle had been hoping to prove himself after bad luck at Unadilla and was able to do that in the first moto in Southwick. In the first moto, he got a mid-pack start and was able to push all the way up to fifth. While Tickle rode with the same tenacity in the second moto, he finished 12th after going down early in the race to finish the day seventh overall.

“I am really bummed with my second moto today because I felt like I was finally showing what I was capable of in the first moto,” said Tickle. “I need to get rid of this black cloud that’s following me. In the mean time, I am just going to have to stay positive and hope that everyone sees the heart I’m putting in each moto. I can say that I’ve never given up, which means something to me.”

The AMA Motocross Championship series is in its final stretch with two races to go as the series heads to Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. After 10 of 12 rounds, Wilson remains in the lead with 438 points, while Rattray moved back into second with 400 points. Baggett is in third with 398 points. Rattray moved into third with 353, while Tickle sit in seventh with 220.

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