The 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship,Through four rounds the tale of the 450 and 250 classes couldn't be any more different and this weekend, the world's best riders head to the Mile High City and Lakewood, Colo., for the annual Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National from Thunder Valley Motocross Park on Saturday, June 26. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey appears to have a firm grasp on the 450 Class with a three-race winning streak while the talent-laden 250 Class continues to be unpredictable with four different winners through the first four events.
Last Saturday at the legendary Budds Creek Motocross Park, a stellar crowd filled the hillsides and the on-track action was as memorable as ever from top to bottom with four different riders standing atop the podium after the day's four motos. Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short ended a long drought from taking the checkered flag to grab the first moto win and carried it into a second consecutive runner-up effort in the overall results. Over the past few weeks, he has been one of the strongest, most consistent riders in the field, but one rider, Dungey, has been that much hotter.
Since grabbing his first career moto win at Freestone just over two weeks ago, Dungey has taken the checkered flag in five of the last six motos. As a result, he has captured the overall victory for three consecutive rounds and now the rookie has a firm hold of the premier class points lead with a 36-point advantage over reigning champion Chad Reed, who bounced back from the worst performance of his illustrious career to stand on the overall podium in third at Budds Creek.
With so many different winners and so much action throughout the field, it was hard to imagine that the 250 Class could become any more unpredictable, but at Budds Creek it did just that. With three different overall winners, four different moto victors and seven different lap leaders, one would think at some point the competition would settle and the top riders in the class would assume control, but at Budds Creek, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Dean Wilson became the fifth different rider to take a moto win and the fourth different rider to capture an overall in 2010. After letting his first career victory slip away at Freestone two rounds ago, Wilson rebounded with a stellar second moto effort to become the second rookie winner of the season, the third first-time winner in the class and the third international rider to take the overall win.
With the win, Wilson asserted himself as a title contender and moved solidly into third place in the 250 Class standings, behind fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammates and foreign-born riders Tyla Rattray, in second, and Christophe Pourcel, in first.
This weekend's Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National also marks the return of the MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship and will be sponsored by Able Planet. After a two-round break, the nation's fastest females return for round three of eight as DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha's Jessica Patterson sits atop the standings with an undefeated record thus far in 2010. Reigning two-time champion Ashley Fiolek is right on her heels and hopes that the Colorado track that has been good to her in year's past will be the turn-around point to her title defense.
As one of the newest tracks on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship schedule, Thunder Valley Motocross Park has served as one of the most challenging venues for teams and riders alike. The higher elevation creates a challenge in bike setup and becomes a true test of endurance for the riders. For the past two seasons, the facility has served as the first and only night race in motocross history, bringing a primetime feel to the most prestigious championship on the planet. This season, it returns to its daytime roots and the dry heat of the Midwest will keep everyone on their toes.
Track promoter David Clabaugh has worked tirelessly to create a track that will not only challenge the riders, but make for great racing and exceptional viewing for some of the country's most devoted motocross fans. Enlisting the help of motocross legend Mark Barnett to build the layout, Clabaugh is pulling out all the stops and thanks to the impressive hillside layout, there isn't a bad seat in the house.
The Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National kicks-off at 1 p.m. MST on Saturday, June 26. Same-day coverage of the premier 450 Class can be seen on SPEED at 11p.m. EST while next-day coverage of the 250 Class can be seen on Sunday at 12 noon EST. As always, live internet stream of the first motos of each class can be seen at www.allisports.com.
2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Results
Round 4 of 12 - MotoTees.com Budds Creek National
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (3-1)
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (1-5)
3. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (4-2)
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (5-4)
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (2-12)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (6-6)
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (7-7)
8. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (14-3)
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (8-8)
10. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (10-10)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 171
2. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 135
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 131
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 129
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 120
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 116
7. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 114
8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 81
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 81
10. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 81
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (4-1)
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (3-2)
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-3)
4. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-6)
5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (5-4)
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (6-5)
7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (7-8)
8. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha (9-10)
9. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (11-9)
10. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (10-13)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 169
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 144
3. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 143
4. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 121
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 120
6. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 120
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 109
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 106
9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 94
10. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 82
11. Tommy Searle, England, KTM, 60
WMX Class Standings (After 2 of 8 Rounds)
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha, 100
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 86
3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda, 77
4. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 65
5. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha, 56
6. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 51
7. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 48
8. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 46
9. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha, 44
10. Erica Cook, Natalia, Texas, Yamaha, 40
11. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Japan, Suzuki, 40
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