After a tentative start to his 2010 AMA motocross championship campaign, Tyla Rattray has flamed up and seemingly booked season tickets on the podium for the series. After a week's worth of settling into his paternal duties, the South African was up and away again for the penultimate round of the series at Steel City, Pennsylvania. The qualifying session did not entirely come up roses, as Tyla only posted the 10th fastest time, but anyone that knows him, pretty much realizes that this is the thin end of the wedge and that his race days tend to get better as they go along.

Tyla surged off the line for a clear holeshotin race one, but quickly gave up the lead to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate, Christophe Pourcel. Pourcel and Trey Canard are locked in a titanic battle for the title, and this translated into a very exciting duel on the track. Tyla had a ringside seat in third position as this battle developed, and he held on to the third place, whilst up in front, Canard pipped Pourcel by less than a second.

In the second heat, Tyla had far less clear blue sky ahead of him as got away in fifth position. He did not impede Pourcel as the series leader came through from an even worse start, but to compensate, Tyla made a few passes of his own to claim fourth position in the race. His third - and fourth place finishes in the heats respectively netted Tyla enough points to be called to the podium yet again for third overall. He also did good business in the championship standings. He is still in third position, having drawn a few pointsfurther clear from teammate Dean Wilson. With one round left to go, he still has a mathematical chance to bag the title, although it is fair to state that only the most extraordinary set of circumstances will cause this to happen.

The swords are drawn for the final round of the series next weekend at Pala Raceway. The battle between Pourcel and Dungey hinges on a mere seven points difference, with Tyla 41 points off the lead and 34 adrift of second position. There are still 50 points on the table, so one can imagine that the last event of the series will not exactly be a tea-and-scones-whilst-discussing-knitting-patterns affair.

RESULTS

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (1-9)
2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (7-3)
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (3-4)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 443
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 436
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 402
4. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 387
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 317
6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 296
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 285
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 259
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 229
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 195

FRANK HOPPEN + CAMERA = PINSHARP IMAGES THAT LEAP OUT AT YOU

Reporting by Tinus Nel