Tim Ferry and Ben Townley School Washougal - In 1992, a young kid from Florida named Tim Ferry was announced as the AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year. A presumed portent of things to come for the kid from Palm Beach, It was the beginning of what would become a 15-plus-year-long Odyssey through the sport. Astonishingly, in a sport not regarded (not by any means) for its longevity, Ferry is still at it, and performing at unprecedented levels. That was proven on Sunday, July 29, 2007 when the Team Kawasaki rider — hired on by the lime green marquee at the last second from the modest Unbound Energy Honda team, For whom he had delivered into the top 10 year in 2006 — won his first AMA National in well over six years. In fact the last time Tim Ferry won a National was on May 13, 2001, when, by riding to 2-2 moto scores, won the opening round of that year’s series at Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino, California.

Then came the 2007 AMA National at Washougal, Washington, and, strangely, Ferry yet again used 2-2 moto scores to win his fist National since Glen Helen in 2001. All before over 26,000 fans, teeming through the thicket of evergreen tress so ubiquitous at Washougal, Ferry was the benefactor of a late second moto crash by teammate James Stewart. While Team Yamaha’s Grant Langston won the second moto by15.959 seconds over Ferry, Stewart’s crash, more or less, gifted the overall to the veteran Ferry, as Langston only placed fourth in the opening heat.

“I was doing the math as we were getting close to the end, but I still didn’t realize that I had won when we came off the track,” said a thrilled Ferry after the moto, now a scant seven points adrift from the erratic Stewart in the 2007 AMA Motocross class standings. “The point’s race is definitely something to think about now. I’ve never been in this position before, but I’m confident and looking forward to the final four races of the season.”

Second overall in the Pacific Northwest was Team Yamaha rider Grant Langston, his 4-1 combined moto total adding up to his best result of the season. Third fell to team Honda’s Andrew Short. Seemingly becoming stronger with each passing moto, Short has been the upstart of the 2007 AMA National Motocross Championship series. Fourth was claimed by Team SoBe/No Fear/Samsung/Honda’s Kevin Windham, while Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi rounded out the top five with 5-7 moto placings.

With just four rounds left to be run, Ferry, the consummate professional who placed third overall in the 2007 AMA Supercross Series, is now a mere seven points away from sharing the lead wit teammate Stewart in the AMA 450cc national Championship points race. Andrew Short, still very much in striking distance, is third with 275 points.

Eight rounds into the 2007 AMA Motocross Lites National Championship, the fight for the title between teammates Ben Townley and Ryan Villopoto is every bit as intense as the fight for the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship between McLaren teammates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. And just as international. While Washington State native Villopoto is the reigning National Championship in the Lites division, Townely, from New Zealand, won the 2004 MX2 World Championship and placed a dazzling third overall in the 2005 MX1 World Championship. The duo were tied on points leading into Washougal, yet Villopoto rode a masterful race in moto one, clearing out and defeating his teammate by 18.307 seconds. However, a dreadful start in moto two, forced Villopoto to race his way through the field, desperate to catch Townely who was way out front, running in the rarefied air of Position #1. Try as he might, Villopoto could only get back to third, his 1-3 good enough for the second step on the podium. Team Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey cashed in 3-2 moto finishes for third overall. Townley now leads Villopoto by two points, 357 to 355, in the AMA Motocross Lites standings.

Next stop for the cliffhanger of a series knows as the AMA National Motocross Championship: The Honda Spring Creek Pro National Presented by Unbound Energy and Scott USA at Millville, Minnesota on August 11-12.