WMX – Meghan Rutledge takes moto win on AMA debut

Australian Kawasaki rider Meghan Rutledge made a phenomenal USA Nationals debut at Hangtown last weekend, winning the second Women’s Motocross moto at the first round of the AMA series.

Never one to do anything by halves, Meghan Rutledge – the current Australian Women’s MX champion – wasted little time making her intentions known on the international stage. Meghan has quickly proven herself as a legitimate championship contender by taking a race win.

Meghan started her USA campaign on the right foot by qualifying her Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green-supplied Kawasaki in third place. She then secured a third-place start in the first moto before crashing on the second lap. She was forced to rejoin the race near the back of the field, however Meghan was able to claw her way back to 8th place.

Meghan secured another good start in the second moto, quickly finding herself in third. From there she fought hard all the way to a final lap sprint race where she clocked the fastest lap time of the race on her way to the win.

“I was so excited to race my first AMA race,” said Rutledge. “The track was prime and I just wanted to get out there and show them the Aussie way! I was happy to qualify in third and then it was time to get out there and get it done. I was disappointed to crash in the first race but I was happy with how I rode. I got a good start in the second moto and battled with Geiger for 3rd. Fiolek went down, then Patterson and the next thing I knew, I was winning an AMA race. Patterson was on a charge behind me and caught me with two laps to go. I held on though and took the win. It was the hardest race of my life but I did it”.

Meghan’s 8-1 results positioned her in fourth place for the round and series. Meghan is now looking forward to the second round of the 2012 AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Freestone Raceway, Texas this Saturday 26 May.

WMX Class Results and Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki (2-2) 44
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-5) 41
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-3) 40
4. Meghan Rutledge, NSW, Australia, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green (8-1) 38
5. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda (5-4) 34
6. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (6-6) 30
7. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda (7-8) 27
8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (11-9) 22
9. Lindsey Palmer, Conifer, Colo., Kawasaki (10-11) 21
10. Hailey Larson, Green Brae, Calif., Honda (9-13) 20