John Dowd Earns Top Ten Finish At 2012 Southwick Outdoor Motocross National

John Dowd’s top ten finish in Moto 1 at the 2012 Southwick outdoor motocross national, proves that veteran racers can still be extremely fast competitors. The 47 year old earned a 14th place overall finish at Southwick, after a top ten finish in moto 1. Following a recent break for the Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals, the pro outdoor motocross series was back in action at Southwick’s Moto-X 338 sand track. As always conditions were tough… with rain, heat and deep sand. Dowd’s 10th place finish in Moto 1 was just one of the many events to steal the show and keep race fans entertained.  Newcomer Zach Bell surprised everyone with a brilliant holeshot in moto one of the lites class. Southwick was Zach Bell’s first professional race and he almost made it to the podium on his first attempt. The recent graduate won the 250A class at last week’s Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals, and he also earned the ‘Horizon Award’. Shocking everyone, Bell had a five second lead in the first half of the lites race, until he finally was passed by teammate Eli Tomac. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, Bell crashed in a turn and was sidelined for moto two. Alex Martin and Jessy Nelson also turned heads, as ‘new name’ racers with solid rides in the lites class. Another new name, Robert Marshall, was all smiles with his top 5 finish in moto 1 in the 450 class, aboard his Munn Racing KTM.

Blake Baggett proved he is still the one to beat as a second moto win gave him the overall lites win and further advanced his overall points lead. Baggett seems primed to take home the 2012 Lites Outdoor Title. Ryan Dungey continued his dominance too, by taking the overall win in the 450 class, and almost certainly locking in his 2012 outdoor championship title. Dungey did however have his first mishap in a longtime, crashing over a jump in moto 2 and quickly racing back to his pit crew to fix his gas cap and get some gas… allowing him to still pull off the overall. Mike Alessi fought hard but admitted that it will be nearly impossible to catch Dungey in the points chase. The pro women’s circuit was back in action at Southwick, with Ashley Fiolek  commanding a 1-1 overall finish, building momentum over rival Jessica Patterson. Next week the series heads to Unadilla, an incredible track that is sure to bring more exciting motocross action. Cheers, Chronic MX.