Australia’s Chad Reed escaped serious injury in a scary crash during moto two at Spring Creek Motocross Park this weekend, in what was round seven of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

Reed won moto one to extend his points lead, however the TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing team owner/rider’s season looked to be in jeopardy when he was ejected from his bike mid-air on the first lap of moto two.

After battling back through the pack from dead last to 14th, Reed was able to seal fifth overall and maintain his points lead by six points.

“I hit some bumps and the front wheel just went out from under me,” said Reed. “The next thing I know, I’m flying through the air. I’m just happy to still be here. It’s all about the championship.

“I wasn’t about to lay down and let these guys gain 25 points, so I just went out there and rode my best and took my 14th.

“It’s always going to be a fight, and now it’s definitely going to be that way. I’m excited for the rest of the races.”

See footage of the film below beneath the race report.

Reed’s misfortune allowed defending champion Ryan Dungey to win his second overall of the season for Rockstar Makita Suzuki, marking his fourth straight overall at his home round in Millville.

As the gates dropped on the opening 450 Class moto, it was points leader Reed who grabbed the early lead in search of his fifth win of the year. Dungey and American Honda’s Trey Canard followed in tow.

The trio of riders ran fender-to-fender throughout the first three laps, before a mistake by Canard allowed Reed and Dungey to pull away.

As the laps wore on, Reed gradually began to extend his lead, eventually carrying it to the finish for his seventh moto win of the season.

In Moto 2, the three 450 Class title contenders in Reed, Dungey, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto moved up front early.

However, just after taking over the top spot, Reed lost control of his bike heading into the track’s largest jump and fell from mid-air in a frightening incident.

Villopoto assumed the lead, while Dungey moved into second. Reed managed to come away without serious injury, and made a remarkable return to action, resulting in a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

Villopoto proceeded to extend his advantage to over six seconds, however, as he came into lapped traffic, Dungey managed to trim the deficit to mere bike lengths.

On lap 13, Dungey worked his way alongside Villopoto and made a pass for the lead, while Villopoto went down trying to cut back underneath him in a sand turn. From there, Dungey extended his lead to post 2-1 moto scores on the day.

“I love coming back here,” said Dungey. “It’s my home track. As I went through the second moto, Ryan opened a gap. I knew it was hot, so I didn’t want to push it, but my laps were good.

“Then I saw my laps were getting better and better, and I was gaining on him. That’s when I knew I had to push, even if it hurt. I was able to get up there, make the pass, and grab the overall.”

Villopoto’s runner-up effort in the final moto landed him second on the overall podium (3-2), while Canard rounded things out in his 450 Class motocross debut in third (5-3).

“Ryan got beside me, and I squared up a right hander,” said Villopoto. “He had more momentum and got inside. I tried letting off, but didn’t soon enough and we both went it. I got into the powder and just fell over.

“Lappers were an issue, but Ryan was riding good – the guy to beat in that second moto.”

Dungey’s Australian teammate Brett Metcalfe scored sixth overall for the round with 6-5 finishes, remaining a solid fourth overall in the standings.

Australian rookie Tye Simmonds (JDR/J-Star/KTM) put forward his best performance of the year with 9-12 finishes for 12th overall, one position ahead of countryman Michael Byrne (BTOSports/BBMX Suzuki), who scored 13-13 finishes.

In the 250 Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, dominated in the final moto of the day to capture his third win of the summer.

The opening moto of the 250 Class featured a close, two-rider battle between Wilson and Rattray. After grabbing the lead prior to the completion of the first lap, Wilson looked to pull away from his teammate.

Once in second, Rattray continued to post quicker lap times than Wilson, and closed to within bike lengths of the lead, before lapped traffic distanced the duo.

On the final lap, Rattray put in a hard charge, closing in on Wilson’s rear fender as they crossed the finish, just a half-second apart.

In Moto 2, DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Kyle Cunningham fought his way into the lead early in the moto. However, Rattray made the pass just on the second lap, and proceeded to dominate the rest of the way to finish with 2-1 moto scores.

“It was definitely a good day for me,” said Rattray. “Having Dean there in the second moto made it tough. I just tried to focus on my lap times and stick to my plan. It’s still a long season, and a lot of points are available. But it’s going to come down to the wire.”

Wilson followed his teammate into second, but wasn’t able to close the gap in the final moto. His identical scores (1-2) tied him with Rattray in points for the day, but he missed out on his first overall win of the season by virtue of the second moto tiebreaker.

“The day was pretty good,” said Wilson. “I can’t complain. The first moto was good, but I was spent halfway through. The heat got to me. In the next moto, I tried to get a good start and I got behind Tyla.

“I was pretty tired though and I tried to make one last move, but it didn’t work. Sometimes consistency wins championships, but I definitely want to win a race.”

Fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett finished third (3-3).

Wilson continues to lead the championship standings, holding a 16-point lead over Rattray. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team also remains undefeated in the 2011 season.

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Women’s Motocross Championship hosted its fifth round of the season from Spring Creek.

DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson and American Honda’s Ashley Fiolek tied for the day in points, but Patterson’s second moto victory gave her the edge for the overall (2-1) over Fiolek (1-2).

Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Tarah Gieger finished third (3-3).

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads to the Pacific Northwest next weekend, for the Peterson CAT Washougal National. Washougal Motocross Park will host the lone stop in the region on Saturday, 23 July.

2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Round Seven – Spring Creek Motocross National

450 Class Results:
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-1)
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (3-2)
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (5-3)
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (4-4)
5. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (1-14)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (6-5)
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (8-6)
8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (7-9)
9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (12-7)
10. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda (11-10)

450 Class Championship Standings:
1. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda – 300
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 294
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 293
4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki – 209
5. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda – 193
6. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 173
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 156
8. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM – 151
9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 140
10. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Honda – 119

250 Class Results:
1. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (3-3)
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (4-4)
5. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (7-5)
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (6-9)
7. Wil Hahn, Wichita, Kan., Honda (9-8)
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (5-12)
9. Gannon Audette, Minneapolis, Minn., Yamaha (15-10)
10. Jason Anderson, Las Cruces, N.M., Suzuki (14-11)

250 Class Championship Standings:
1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki – 305
2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki – 289
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 284
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 199
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 190
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 170
7. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 152
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha – 145
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki – 128
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda – 122