Intensifying 450 Class Title Fight Resumes as Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Travels to Legendary Unadilla

After its final off week of the 2014 season the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, prepares for its stretch run to the respective titles in the 450 and 250 Classes. While Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen (450 Class) and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin (250 Class) continue to lead the way atop the standings, their challengers and the rest of the field in the series will look to close the gap at the Red Bull Unadilla National. Legendary Unadilla in New Berlin, New York, will host the 10th stop of the 12-round season this Saturday, August 9, and will also serve as the final round in 2014 to be featured on national network television on NBC.

 

Live broadcast coverage from Unadilla begins Saturday at 1 p.m. ET with the first motos of the 450 and 250 Classes on MAVTV, followed by a broadcast of the final 450 Class moto on NBC at 3 p.m. ET. The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will bookend an action-packed afternoon with live coverage of the final 250 Class moto at 4 p.m. ET.

 

Additionally, all the action can be seen as it happens online via live stream atProMotocross.com (first motos) and NBC Sports Live Extra (second motos).

 

At the previous stop of the championship from Washougal MX Park in the Pacific Northwest two weeks ago, the momentum in the 450 Class title fight took a major swing into Red Bull KTM Ryan Dungey’s favor as he looks to continue to close his deficit to teammate Roczen. Dungey raced to his third win of the summer and his second triumphant effort in the last three rounds, but more importantly his dominant 1-1 outing resulted in a 10-point gain on Roczen, who had arguably one of his worst races of the season with a pair of third-place moto finishes. Now just 14 points separate the KTM duo with six motos remaining.

 

Roczen versus Dungey is heating up at the right time.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

While Dungey appears to be hitting his stride at the season’s most critical point, a defining trait that has helped him become the second-winningest rider in the history of the sport, Roczen appears to be looking to get back into the groove that saw him win four of the first six races and six motos in that span. No doubt Dungey’s vast championship experience in the premier class will give him an edge over the rookie Roczen, who is still in search of his first national title on U.S. soil, but it’s been the German who’s been the most consistent rider in the entire series this season. With three rounds remaining, Roczen’s average finish is still an incredible 1.8, while Dungey has dropped his to 2.2 and continues to close. Additionally, Dungey has two Unadilla wins on his resume.

 

While the lead pair continues to duke it out, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac has fully embraced the role of spoiler. The other highly touted rookie in the 450 Class has only been racing since the fifth round of the season, but he’s been in the thick of the fight between Dungey and Roczen since making his premier class debut. After breaking through for his first career win at Spring Creek two rounds ago, Tomac knows the feeling of winning at the sport’s highest level and wants nothing more than to experience that as often as he can during the final few rounds. If either of the KTM riders are a casualty of this, as each have at moments already this season, so be it. As a result, Tomac plays arguably the biggest role in the outcome of the championship battle despite not being in contention for it. Despite that, Tomac has still had an impressive climb of his own in the standings, already sitting inside the top 10.

 

With his success, Tomac has been a thorn in the side of both KTM teammates.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

As the drama builds in the 450 Class, Martin still looks comfortably in control of the 250 Class despite having virtually no championship experience in his second year of competition. At Washougal he rode patiently, keeping himself out of trouble and not forcing the issue but still serving as a fixture up front en route to third overall. When all was said and done, what could be considered a conservative effort by Martin saw him lose just two points in the standings to his closest rivals, his Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha teammate Cooper Webb and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett.

 

Even with the field breathing down his neck, Martin (19) continues to ride with speed and patience.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

As the season enters its final stage, Martin carries a 43-point margin over Webb and a 54-point lead over Baggett. Very few points have been traded between this trio throughout the bulk of the season, but Martin’s incredible 5-0 start in motos, combined with some ups and downs by both Webb and Baggett, have put the Minnesota native into a comfortable position. Martin is in full control of his own destiny, as evidenced by his Washougal effort. He can afford to give up some ground to his contenders and still be in an enviable position heading into the final weekend of the season.

 

Although Martin’s advantage makes for an incredible challenge for Webb and Baggett to surmount, the sport of motocross still boasts an element of unpredictability that is hard to match in the sporting world. All three of these riders have found themselves on the ground at some point this summer and another instance of that could have a major impact in how this championship plays out. Martin may be in control, but both Webb and Baggett know they need to give it everything they have all the way until the final checkered flag falls.

 

Webb needs more wins to close the gap on his fellow sophomore teammate.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

Unadilla is arguably the most globally recognizable track in all of motocross. Its European style layout combined with American flair has made for some of the sport’s most iconic moments and it remains one of the country’s most prominent symbols of American motocross. While the track doesn’t feature any major changes this season, its sprawling nature nestled in the rolling hills of Central New York means high speed, big air and rough conditions. It’s a challenge unlike anywhere else in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

 

Baggett has been Martin’s biggest challenger this season, but hard luck has hurt his title hopes.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

Last year at Unadilla, Ryan Villopoto put himself in a position to clinch the 450 Class title by sweeping the day’s motos and earning his sixth win of the season. In the 250 Class, Tomac went 1-1 for his fifth win of the year and also moved into clinching position for that title.

 

Joining the fold in the 250 Class this weekend will be graduates of the Rocky Mountain AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, which took place last week in Tennessee. Many of the sport’s most promising young talent will make their professional debuts in hopes of making an impact and getting their careers off to a flying start. Leading this contingent will be AMA Horizon Award Winner RJ Hampshire, who won all six of the motos he entered en route to a pair of AMA National Championships. He will join the contingent of GEICO Honda riders. Another rider joining the professional ranks at Unadilla is two-time AMA National Champion Luke Renzland, who will ride under the CycleTrader.com/Rock River Yamaha tent.

 

Marvin Musquin became the fourth different 250 Class winner this season at Washougal.

Photo: Simon Cudby / Racer X

 

Action for the Red Bull Unadilla National on Saturday, August 9, begins at 8:30 a.m. ET with timed practice. Opening ceremonies get underway at 12:25 p.m. ET, with the first gate drop scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.

 

Previous Round Results

 

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship

Motosport.com Washougal National

Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Washington

July 26, 2014

Round 9 of 12

 

450 Class (Moto Finish)

  1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-1)
  2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (2-2)
  3. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM (3-3)
  4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Kawasaki (5-4)
  5. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (6-5)
  6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (7-6)
  7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (4-11)
  8. Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda (9-7)
  9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (8-8)
  10. Christian Craig, Plymouth, Minn., Honda (10-12)

450 Class Championship Standings

  1. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 407
  2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 393
  3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 330
  4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Kawasaki, 256
  5. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 226
  6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 218
  7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM, 218
  8. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 217
  9. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 212
  10. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 156

250 Class (Moto Finish)

  1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (1-1)
  2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (5-2)
  3. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (4-4)
  4. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha (3-5)
  5. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (7-3)
  6. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM (6-7)
  7. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (8-6)
  8. Christophe Pourcel, France, Yamaha (2-15)
  9. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (9-9)
  10. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda (11-10)

250 Class Championship Standings

  1. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 377
  2. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 334
  3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 323
  4. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 291
  5. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 274
  6. Christophe Pourcel, France, Yamaha, 274
  7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., KTM, 236
  8. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 212
  9. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 185
  10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 156

MX Sports Pro Racing

MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious professional motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road power sport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visitwww.mxsportsproracing.com.

 

Alli Sports

Alli Sports is a media, event and branded content company that specializes in action, adventure, and adrenaline based sports. Alli Properties include the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the Red Bull Signature Series and World of Adventure Sports presented by Go Pro. Alli Sports is a division of the NBC Sports Group. More information can be found at www.Allisports.com.

 

AMA Pro Racing        

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

 

Lucas Oil Products    

Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products, Inc is the world leader of High Performance Lubricants and Problem Solving Additives and produces and markets 272 unique formulations in thirty four countries around the globe and is growing country by country, market by market every year. Through innovative product research and development, along with progressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry.  Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit: www.lucasoil.com.

 

MAVTV

MAVTV is a television network with its roots deep in the automotive world.  With an unparalleled line-up of motorsports events and exclusive automotive reality shows, MAVTV is the answer for motor-heads from all walks of life.  But MAVTV is much more than a motorsports destination, with original action/adventure programming, live MMA and an unbelievable library of blockbuster movies – MAVTV is a network the whole family can enjoy.  A network by the people and for the people, made in America and American Real.  Visit: www.mavtv.com.

 

(Lucas Oil Pro Motocross PR)

Adam Sinclair