COLUMBUS – Following a break from competition over the past two weekends, the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship returned to action on Saturday for its ninth round of the season. The Rockstar Energy Unadilla National hosted a tremendous crowd at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center, as Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., grabbed his second win of the season to extend his lead in the 450 Class standings. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, of Scotland, helped seal a perfect day for Kawasaki, sweeping both motos for his first victory of the summer.

After taking over the top spot in the championship for the first time this summer at the previous round, Villopoto entered the day with a scant one-point lead over Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn. With the Unadilla round falling on his birthday, Villopoto was looking to make a statement, and began the day by topping the time sheet in practice. In Moto 1, he relied on a strong start to move into second behind American Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Monroe, N.Y. After pacing his rookie counterpart for nearly half the moto, Villopoto made the move for the lead on Lap 7, and never looked back.