Langston patience wins the Open championship
Published: 10th September 2007
Author: Pondo
Langston patience wins the Open championship thriller whilst Villopoto blitzs Townley in the small-bore class. Grant Langston seals his first title on the big bikes with an overall at Glen Helen - BT gave it a go on the 250F, but Villopoto just blew him out of the water…
Only two riders had a chance at the AMA Motocross Lites class this weekend - Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley have been neck-and-neck for almost the whole series, with RV finally starting to eke out a gap as the championship came to California for the final instalment. When the gate dropped for moto one, it was BT who headed the field, but unfortunately for him, Villopotato was right with him - Kiwi Townley led for almost fourteen minutes before a mistake gave ’Poto a chance to get by, and that was all he needed. Townley fought back, but Villopoto is the reigning champion with good reason; the Pro Circuit youngster withstood the pressure and held on for a comfortable win, and realistically sealing the title. Ben would need a win and for Ryan not to finish moto two for the crown to come his way - he did his part by taking the holeshot and clearing off for the win, but Villopoto made his way into second early doors and hung on with ease to seal his second title on the bounce. Brett Metcalfe took third overall to make it a Pro Circuit podium sweep.
For a change, the Open class was wide-open coming into the season finale - four riders had a realistic chance at taking the title in the first season of the post-Ricky era, the first time that both championships have been up for grabs this late on. GP visitor Mike Brown was neck-and-neck off the start with fellow holeshot specialist Mike Alessi - all the players were there with Short and Ferry behind Windham in fourth and fifth, but it seemed like red-plate holder Grant Langston might have choked as he gated eighth - the South African made his way into sixth, but seemed unable to make any more progress. At the twenty minute mark, however, Langston pulled the trigger and began charging forward, just as everyone else started to tire - Windham and Ferry both fell, and the factory Yamaha star put a move on everyone else for the moto win. K-Dub came out firing in moto two, passing Alessi for the lead early on and clearing off for the moto win, whilst, Mikey made a good fist of giving Grant some opposition - the two swapped places in second for Langston settled for third, enough for both the overall and the championship. Alessi’s brace of seconds gave him second in the championship, whilst both Short and Ferry closed out the season poorly - des Nations-bound Ferry, who looked a shoe-in for the title just a few weeks ago, could only garner fourth.
