It was bound to happen sooner or later, and the defending AMA Motocross Lites champion finally got his first overall win of the 2007 season at round four in Budds Creek, Maryland.

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Staying in tune with the rhythm of the 2007 season, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasakis are continuing their dominance in the Lites class, as both Villopoto and Townley finished 1-2 at Budds Creek, solidifying their stance atop the points standings. But what was unfolding behind them on the track made for some great racing.

The battle for third was between Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence, SoBe No Fear/Samsung Mobile Honda’s Josh Grant, and Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey. In both motos it was a slugfest between this trio of riders, with the veteran Grant getting the short end of the stick—his 4-5 relegating him to fifth overall.

Credit goes to all three of these riders, as they all kept the racing clean and safe. They did touch now and again, but nobody fell and nobody seemed upset. In some turns they were three-wide, and there in some turns one rider would go from fifth to third, then back to fifth.

Lawrence and Dungey were both equally impressive in their own rights—Lawrence’s staying power improving each weekend, as is Dungey’s speed and fitness. Also, keep in mind that this is the first time Dungey is laying his knobbies on most of these national tracks, which shows he is a very quick learner.

Toward the end of the second moto, Lawrence secured third place from Dungey, who crashed in a turn. Grant appeared to have aggravated his left shoulder or arm, but gutted out a few more laps to take fifth.

As for the points standings, this one will probably go down to the wire between these three. Dungey sits third with 150, Grant fourth with 146, and Lawrence is in fifth with 141.