Marissa Markelon wraps up the 2014 AMA WMX Championship with a 1-1 sweep at the Thor Winter Olympics.
Marissa Markelon came on strong when she needed to and claimed the 2014 AMA Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) with a clutch 1-1 performance at the eighth and final round of the series at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, November 29. The race was held in conjunction with the annual Thor Winter Olympics, which is held during Thanksgiving week.
Markelon came into the series finale two points behind defending WMx Champion Mackenzie Tricker, and five points ahead of Kylie Fasnacht. All three riders ran at the front of both of the motos over the weekend, but Markelon, was able to work her way past both riders in each moto for the 1-1 sweep.
“All three of us were running up front in the first moto, and I was able to take an inside line to pass Kylie,” Markelon said. “After that, I caught Mackenzie and I just rode smart, and when I had the chance I made the nicest pass I’ve ever made. I had the inside through the whoops, and I just put my front tire underneath her and made the pass.”
Markelon found herself behind Tricker in the second moto, but Tricker crashed at about the halfway mark, allowing Markelon to take over the lead. Markelon led Fasnacht to the finish for her second win of the day.
In the end, Markelon was first overall with two moto wins, while Fasnacht went 2-2 for second overall. Marissa Polencheck posted a 4-3 moto tally for third overall and Shelby Rolen went 5-4 for fourth. Tricker, who crashed twice in the second moto, went 3-6 for fifth overall.
In the final standings, Markelon finished with 270 points to claim the title, with Fasnacht finishing second in the standings with 259, one point ahead of Tricker, who finished third with 258.
“It feels amazing, especially after the season I’ve had,” said Markelon, who suffered a DNF in one moto in Texas, and then had transmission problems at the round in California. “I wasn’t even thinking about the championship at the start of the series, but then after I took two wins in New Jersey I knew I had a shot.”
AMA Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX)
Gatorback Cycle Park
Gainesville, Florida
Results: November 29, 2014 (Round 8 of 8)
Overall
1. Marissa Markelon-Kaw/1-1
2. Kylie Fasnacht-Suz/2-2
3. Marissa Polencheck-KTM/4-3
4. Shelby Rolen-Kaw/5-4
5. Mackenzie Tricker-Yam/3-6
6. Amanda Brown-Hon/6-5
7. Amanda Sokalski-Kaw/9-7
8. Amber Felicio-Hon/8-8
9. Madison Seguin-KTM/7-9
10. Cierra Busby-Yam/10-11
2014 WMX Final Point Standings (After 8 of 8 rounds)
1. Marissa Markelon-270
2. Kylie Fasnacht-259
3. Mackenzie Tricker-258
4. Shelby Rolen-186
5. Amber Felicio-166
6. Amanda Brown-160
7. Amanda Sokalski-118
8. Gladys Limbaugh-110
9. Christel Allen-78
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