After a four-week break the WMX class returned to the Lucas Oil AMA Women’s Motocross Championship at the scenic Washougal Motocross track for the sixth round of the Championship. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ashley Fiolek came into the race with control of the 2009 championship with a 49-point lead after leaving the Thunder Valley MX National. However, Jessica Patterson (JP$), who sits in 2nd in points, came to the Northwest with new support of a Factory Connection supplied engine, carburetor, and ignition. With a track record of moto wins at Washougal, Patterson was able to break Fiolek’s overall win streak with a convincing 2 -1 finish for her first overall win of the season.

Moto 1 –

The Honda Red Bull Racing bike of Ashley Fiolek got the MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot followed by the Honda of Houston bike of Jessica Patterson. Patterson attempted to chase down Fiolek but just could not match the pace of the current points-leader. The Moto Concepts Honda of Mariana Balbi was able to secure 3rd place while the battle for fourth raged behind her with Muscle Milk MDK KTM’s Sarah Whitmore, and the new racer from Japan on the Geico Honda Haruna Masu - who showed great speed, and the Cernic’s Suzuki mounted Sherri Cruse. Cruse, who was plagued by some bad luck, got by Whitmore on the up hill step up but crashed in the next corner. Whitmore was able to chase down Masu and finished 4th while Cruse was able to remount and pass Masu in the last lap. Sara Price had a crash early on and worked her way back to 10th place.

Moto 2 –

There was quite a change up in the start of the second moto, which had the Japanese National Champion, Haruna Masu, grabbing the holeshot in front of Price, Fiolek, Balbi and Patterson. Masu held off Price for the first few laps before she made a mistake in the chicane section of the track and dropped back to 5th. The lead changed and the battle for top positions waged on. At one point Fiolek was in 4th but then Patterson made it by Price to take the lead. Fiolek amped up to pass Balbi and had her sights set on Price. Once by Price, Fiolek tried to catch Patterson but could not close the gap enough and Patterson got her second moto win and first overall of the year. Meanwhile, the fight for third place position got heated and Balbi made a pass on Price in the last lap of the race securing her place on the Washougal podium. This was the first race of the season that Fiolek has not secured the top overall position.

Results:
1. Jessica Patterson 2 - 1
2. Ashley Fiolek 1 - 2
3. Mariana Balbi 3 - 3
4. Haruna Masu 6 - 5
5. Sarah Whitmore 4 - 8
6. Sherri Cruse 5 – 7
7. Sara Price 10 - 4
8. Jacqueline Strong 8 - 6
9. Sayaka Kaneshiro 13 - 9
10. Ashley Boham 12 - 10

Points Standings after 6 rounds:
1. Ashley Fiolek 294
2. Jessica Patterson 245
3. Sherri Cruse 224
4. Vicki Golden 192
5. Sara Price 175
6. Elizabeth Bash 161
7. Sarah Whitmore 149
8. Mariana Balbi
9. Penni Cyrus 116
10. Tatum Sik 101

Next race for the WMX Class will be Round 7: Southwick, August 29th.