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Miki Keller

Women’s Motocross Association

(541) 223-8375                                                                                                                      

www.wmaracing.com                                     

                                                                                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Patterson Increases Points Lead With Win at Washougal
Round 5 WMA Championship Results

Photo:  Steve Bonnau

Bend, OR (July 30, 2007) – Jessica Patterson went 1-1 at round five of the AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship presented by Kawasaki held at Washougal MX, Washougal, WA. With one round to go the Honda /Bad Boy Energy Drink/ Fox Racing rider leads the championship with 16 points over Etnies/Answer/Yamaha’s Tarah Gieger.

Moto one started earlier in the day than normal and as part of Washougal’s amateur program in a classic Northwest drizzle. The WMA Pros took off from the AMA Pro start and Zip Ty Racing/Yamaha rider Sherri Cruse pulled the Girlyz holeshot. Cruse was followed by Patterson, Gieger, FMF’s Ashley Boham, Kawasaki/Thor Tania Satchwell and Thor’s Vanessa Florentino. Patterson and Gieger got by Cruse in a corner and looked like the two would battle, but halfway into the first lap Gieger slid out in a corner letting Satchwell by. Satchwell passed both her and Cruse. Patterson had a big gap on Satchwell and looked she would run away with the moto but Satchwell was determined. She gained on Patterson in the woods section of the track each lap. Then Patterson would make up some time on horsepower hill. By lap six Tania was close enough to strike. Patterson made a small bobble in the whoops and Satchwell passed her. Patterson soon reclaimed her lead and the two stayed tight to the checkers with Patterson taking the win. Mariana Balbi finished a very solid 3^rd having closed the gap considerably on first and second. Elizabeth Bash finished 4^th, and 18-year-old Cruse finished 5^th.

Moto two came after the AMA Pro Racing’s mens last chance qualifier and the weather conditions had changed to sunny sunnier skies. Team Green Kawasaki/MSR rider Elizabeth Bash held it on for the Girlyz holeshot but Patterson rapidly moved into first and began to gain ground on the rest of the pack that included Bash, Satchwell, Balbi, and Gieger. Satchwell got by Balbi when she crashed in a bermed corner. Satchwell was able to fend off Gieger for a while but Gieger was on a mission. Once she passed Satchwell she set her sights on Patterson. Gieger was on Patterson’s rear wheel for the last few laps of the moto giving the Washougal fans a great race to watch. Patterson finished 1, Gieger 2^nd, Satchwell 3^rd for second overall and Cruse 4^th for a third overall and her first WMA Pro Podium.

Photo:  Steve Bonnau

The weekend was a record breaker for women’s amateur sign ups at an AMA/WMA National Motocross. Twenty-one riders filled the gate in the girls mini class with Cassidy Bragg of Ariel, WA winning. There were forty-four in the Women’s C class with Rachel Sorenson of Cedar Fort, Utah taking top honors and thirty eight in the Women’s B with Kasie Creson taking the overall and maintaining her lead in the WMA Amateur Championship.

Photo:  Steve Bonnau

Top Ten Pro Results:

1          1          HON     Jessica Patterson          Tallahassee, FL                         1-1
2          105       KAW    Tania Satchwell             Rancho Cucamonga, CA            2-3
3          10         YAM     Sherri Cruse                  Bakersfield, CA                        5-4
4          33         KAW    Elizabeth Bash              Riverside, CA                            4-5
5          5          HON     Mariana Balbi                Brazil                                        3-6
6          68         YAM     Tarah Gieger                  Vero Beach, FL                        8-2
7          75         HON     Vanessa Florentino        Edgewood, NM                          6-7
8          12         HON     Ashley Boham               Loveland, CO                             7-9
9          627       HON     Lindsey Jelitto               Falcon, CO                                9-10
10         678       SUZ      Sayaka Kaneshiro          Osaka, Japan                          11-11 

Top Ten Points Standings:

WMA is sponsored by Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A, Girlyz Clothing Co, Honda Riders Club of America, Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, RAM Rick Albert Machinery Hyundai Dealership, VP Fuels, Dunlop Tires, Polisport, Powermadd, Alpinestars, Hitachi, Thor MX Gear and ZLT Racing.

Final Round: Aug 25^th at Steel City Raceway, Delmont, PA

For additional information on race events and schedules, please visit www.wmaracing.com or www.womensmxassociation.com