Photos by Stephani
McIntyre
John Natalie wins Michigan motocross battle
May 20, 2005 – John Natalie (#13) aboard a Honda battled with Team Suzuki/Yoshimura's Doug Gust (#55) and won the seventh round of the ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship Motocross Series at the Red Bud Competition Park in Buchanan, Michigan, May 14-15.
Red
Bud saw record entries and one of the largest spectator crowds this year.
In the first moto, Gust pulled the holeshot and led the entire moto. Gust was riding smooth and in the groove with Natalie following in second. Natalie tried hard, but couldn't catch the hard-charging gust.
Team Suzuki/Yoshimura's Jeremiah Jones (#2) held on to third place after Kory Ellis (#53) aboard a Yamaha came on strong at the end of the moto to almost make a pass stick just before the finish line.
Jason Dunkelberger finished fifth, having another good race. He was chased by up-and-coming rookie Pat Brown, who finished sixth.
In the second moto, there was a Suzuki sandwich at the start, with Gust and Jones on each side of Natalie. Everyone knew this would be an exciting race.
Gust
pulled the holeshot again with Natalie in second. Natalie would have to find
a way to make the pass on Gust if he was to take the win. At the start line
before the race, Natalie’s new friend, 4-year-old Kyle Bartolini (right), said
to Natalie: “Never give up!” That must have been that little extra Natalie needed
to move into the lead.
Gust wanted the win as much as Natalie and was hot on Natalie every inch of the rest of the race. Corner to corner, jump to jump, the battle continued for 20 minutes plus in one of the hardest-fought races all year.
Ellis quickly moved into third place, followed closely by Honda rider Tim Farr (#4).
After the engines fell silent and the final results were tallied, Natalie took first place for the day, Gust finished second and Ellis made his first trip to the podium this year in third.