John Natalie opened the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motcross National Championship season winning two holeshots and one Moto to claim a second overall finish in Round 1 held at Aonia Pass Motocross Park in Washington, GA on Saturday.
Pretty good for the MotoSport-sponsored 38-year old who didn't win a Moto in 2013 until Round 3.
The 2011 ATV MX champion looked every bit the title contender after taking the holeshot in Moto 1. Natalie, who got a better pre-season start this year than the 2013 campaign, took fourth in Moto 1 which two-time defending champion Chad Wienen won. Natalie took the defensive approach for Moto 2 after taking the holeshot and led the entire race.
"We were able to pull the holeshot both motos," Natalie said. "I could definitely hear the bikes revving and running behind me that second Moto. I was riding defensive so I wasn't able to pull away like I wanted to, but was able to get the win. I knew there were four or five guys behind me so it slowed me down to try and ride defensively, making sure no one stuck a wheel in on me. And it worked out good to the finish."
Photos by Ken Hill
Natalie's (4-1) finish landed him in second overall behind Wienen who took first overall with a (1-2) finish. Natalie's two holeshot wins gives him four points for the SSi Decals Holeshot Championship.
Round 2 is the AMSOIL Spring National on April 5 at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, TN.
2014 Georgia National ATV MX Overall Results (Moto Finishes)
- Chad Wienen (1-2)
- John Natalie (4-1) - MotoSport rider
- Joel Hetrick (2-3)
- Josh Creamer (3-4)
- Thomas Brown (5-5)
- Jeffrey Rastrelli (7-6)
- Josh Upperman (6-7)
- Joe Byrd (9-9)
- Ronnie Higgerson (8-10)
- Casey Martin (12-8)
2014 Mtn. Dew ATV MX Championship Standings
- Chad Wienen (47)
- John Natalie (43) - MotoSport rider
- Joel Hetrick (42)
- Josh Creamer (38)
- Thomas Brown (32)
- Jeffrey Rastrelli (29)
- Josh Upperman (29)
- Joe Byrd (24)
- Ronnie Higgerson (24)
- Casey Martin (22)
