Is Joe Byrd back? "Let's hope so," said a triumphant Byrd after sweeping both motos to win Sunday's TriangleCycles.com ATV National at Birch Creek Motorsports, marking his first victory of the season. The event was Round 4 of the 2008 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Pro Championship.

Byrd (No. 7 Honda) traded the lead once with Dustin Wimmer (No. 191 Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper) before winning and the first moto, and ran away with the second moto. The two-time and defending AMA Pro Champion finished ahead of Wimmer, who notched his fourth consecutive podium. Jason Dunkelberger (No. 19 East Coast ATV/Honda) earned his first ATV Pro podium, finishing third.

"This track really worked for me this weekend," said Byrd, who was near the top of the timing charts all weekend. "We've been working hard this season, and we're going to keep doing what we're doing. The early part of the year was difficult; hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

"This will definitely build momentum going into the next race," added Byrd. "More importantly, it will raise the morale in the Byrd compound, making all of those 18-hour shifts meaningful."

With the victory, Byrd moves up four positions to third in points, 59 markers behind Wimmer. Doug Gust (No. 55 Team Rockstar, MSR, Suzuki, Yoshimura, Pro Taper) is second in the title chase, while John Natalie (No. 13 Can-Am) and Josh Creamer (No. 9 Team Monster Energy Drink/Kawasaki) are fourth and fifth, respectively.

The next race for the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Championship is scheduled for May 10-11 at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Ill.

Results of Sunday’s ITP/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship at Birch Creek Motorsports (Showing finishing position, rider, bike number, bike brand, hometown and moto finishing positions):

ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship points leaders: Wimmer 178, Gust 145, Byrd 119, Natalie 113, Creamer 104, Goodman 103, Wienen 92, Dunkelberger 82, Lawson 80, Arno 80.