For Immediate Release - June 2-3, 2007
The Baldwin Motorsports/Kawasaki team went to Oklahoma this past weekend for the third round of the WPSA ATV Tour. The race was scheduled as a double header event, but heavy storms the week of the race caused the promoters to make the difficult decision to move the double header to the next race in London, Kentucky. The WPSA ATV Series has a three moto format. The first two races are used to determine qualifying position and the main event determines the final finishing order.
Baldwin Motorsports/Kawasaki's Mark Kendall started the weekend off in the Pro-Am first qualifier on Saturday. Kendall got off to a fourth place start behind Gee, Miller, and Williams. Kendall was pressuring Miller and Williams and Gee began to pull away. On the third lap, Miller and Willams pushed each other over a berm and Kendall moved into second. Kendall made a good charge on Gee and narrowed his lead to about five seconds.
Kendall pulled the holeshot in the second qualifier ahead of Miller. The two quickly pulled away from the rest of the pack. On the fourth lap as they headed past the mechanics area, Miller got a good drive on the uphill and ducked under Kendall to make the pass. Kendall passed Miller back on the very next turn to regain the lead. Half-way through the white flap lap, a caution flag came out. The two were not able to jump the step-up under the caution so both riders went up the face of the jump side by side. Miller was on the inside of the next turn and took over the lead from Kendall about three turns from the finish. Kendall charged, but was unable to pass him back before the checkered flag. Third was no where in sight.
Sunday's Pro-Am main event hole shot went to Gee. Miller, Hakala, and Kendall followed. The top four went around the first turn bumper to bumper. The race was a real nail bitter. There was no room for error by any of the riders as they stayed this close the entire race. Their positions never changed in the eight lap race. The top four pulled away from the rest of the class like it was only a four man race. Kendall had the two fastest lap times of all 20 riders in the race, but had to settle for fourth overall.
WPSA Round 3 Super Quad Pro-Am 450 Results:
Kendall is currently in fourth place in the overall series points only 3 points out of third (Hakala) and twelve points behind the leaders (Gee and Miller).
Baldwin Motorsports/Kawasaki's Josh Upperman had a strong ride this past weekend as well. The Pro rookie finished fourth in the first Pro qualifier behind Suzuki's Dustin Wimmer and Honda's Keith Little and Harold Goodman. Upperman rode strong and passed Suzuki's Chad Weinen to earn his finish. Yamaha's Pat Brown won the other Pro first round qualifier on Saturday.
Brown won the first of the second round Pro qualifiers ahead of Wimmer and Upperman. Upperman put forth another impressive ride as he finished third ahead of last year's WPSA Champion, Doug Gust, and Wienen once again. Honda's John Natalie won the other second round qualifier.
As the gates dropped for the Pro main event, Upperman was involved in another first corner pile-up with Kawasaki's Josh Creamer, Yamaha's Travis Spader, and Lost Creek Suzuki's Jason Dunkleberger. Little grabbed the holeshot, but Wimmer took over the lead on the first lap and never looked back. Natalie went on to pass Little to take over the second position. Upperman rode hard and worked his way back up to eleventh place at the checkers.
Upperman is currently in tenth place in the series points. Wimmer is leading the series followed by Gust, Little, Wienen, and Natalie.
WPSA Round 3 Super Quad Pro 450 Results:
The race will be televised on ESPN2 July 7 at 12:00 PM ET.
Special thanks to the 2007 team sponsors: Kawasaki, Baldwin Motorsports, Farr Racing Enterprises, BKT, PEP, DID, JB Racing, Sunline, SixSixOne, Sidi, Troy Lee Designs,PowerMadd, Rath Racing, Douglas Wheel, Scott Goggles, Quad Tech, Updog, Kames Sports Center, Wiseco Piston, Precision Racing Products, Hinson Racing, IMS, and State 8 Motorcycle and ATV.
NEXT STOP: WPSA ATV Tour - Rounds 4 and 5 - London, KY - June 16-17
