The legendary Jeffrey Herlings has just reached a record 102 victories in the Spanish MXGP, riding atop the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine!

For those of you who don’t know, Herlings is one of the most talented and accomplished dirt bike racers of all time. He’s been dominating the sport for years, racking up wins and accolades left and right. And with this latest victory in Spain, he’s set a new record that cements his place as a true icon of motocross.

So what’s the story behind this incredible achievement? Well, it all started at the Spanish MXGP race, where Herlings was determined to come out on top. Despite facing some stiff competition, he managed to ride his KTM 450 SX-F to victory, thanks to his unmatched skill, technique, and speed.

Of course, this win didn’t come easy. Herlings had to work hard and push himself to the limit to secure the top spot on the podium. But his dedication and talent paid off in the end, allowing him to reach a truly historic milestone that will go down in the annals of dirt bike racing.

So what does this mean for dirt bike enthusiasts? For one thing, it’s a testament to the sheer excitement and thrill of motocross. Watching Herlings in action is like witnessing a true master at work, showcasing the raw power and adrenaline-fueled rush that makes this sport so incredible.

But it’s also a reminder that there’s always room for improvement and growth, even for the best of the best. Herlings didn’t reach this record by resting on his laurels; he had to constantly push himself and strive for excellence in order to achieve his goals.

So whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie just starting out, there’s always something to learn and aspire to in the world of dirt bike racing. And with riders like Herlings leading the way, there’s no telling what amazing feats and accomplishments lie ahead.

The post Jeffrey Herlings Sets a Record 102 Wins in MXGP appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

Leatt revealed its 2023 range of dirt bike riding gear, including jerseys, pants, gloves, and helmets.

The jersey and pant collection feature bold graphics and vibrant colors, though there are a selection of relatively subdued black and white options.

Naturally, Leatt’s tops are designed to fit neck braces, and its pants make use of its signature Internal Knee Brace System. All Leatt helmets include its 360° turbine technology to reduce rotational acceleration and linear g-forces. They also come with a free pair of Leatt Velocity goggles.

Begin Press Release

Leatt Announces 2023 Moto Range

Leatt® is thrilled to announce the launch of their new 2023 moto range – their sleekest, most stylish range to date. The new range includes a variety of unique designs in riding gear, helmets, and gloves, enabling you to go beyond in style in 2023! With the pandemic majorly restricting our freedom to move over the past two years, that is no longer the case; we are now able to go out again, explore, try new things, and go beyond what we did beforeon two wheels. With Leatt®, you can enjoy your time in the great outdoors.

THE 2023 RIDING GEAR COLLECTION

The Leatt® 2023 gear designs offer something for all riders, whether you are looking for bright vibrant colours or something more conservative, there is for sure a design you will like. The jerseys are light, have a breathable structure, and incorporates laser-cut ventilation to keep you cool while on the bike. Leatt® caters to all your fit needs with a variety of exceptionally comfortable materials, from tailored 360° stretch fits to 3D mesh materials that have a more relaxed fit. Elbows incorporate Brush Guard protection to help prevent snagging. All jerseys are made with comfort in mind to keep you focused on the task at hand while riding.

The pants are made from a light, breathable materials and were designed with durability at the forefront, as we all know, on the trails or at the track, riding pants need to be tough. All Leatt®s pants come with reinforced leather on the inner leg and the 5.5 has a multi-layered signature Internal Knee Brace System (IKS); this reduces wear and tear in the critical areas. If you are looking for something that offers, great quality, design, and value, the 3.5 ride kit is a jersey and pant packaged together. So get ready to get out there and enjoy the freedom of the outdoors. The 5.5, 4.5, and 3.5 ride kits will keep you looking stylish, ventilated, and protected.

THE 2023 HELMET COLLECTION

Leatt® continue to offer FREE Velocity goggles with all 9.5, 8.5 and 7.5 helmets. Stunning new designs including an additional 9.5 to give an option of stealth or white carbon. Protection is the foundation of Leatt®, which is why all helmets have 360° turbine technology, this features soft discs which are lined throughout the helmet constructed from an energy-absorption material and shape. This technology has two advantages; it reduces peak brain rotational acceleration of the head and brain by up to 40%. And secondly, it reduces peak brain acceleration by up to 30%. Both potentially help to reduce the risk of concussion and therefore helps improve the impact protection. The sleek helmet designs allow for excellent ventilation and are DOT & ECE certified – allowing you to enjoy the ride. The inner helmet liners are made with moisture-wicking, washable and breathable materials to keep you cool and the Pro-Fit modulating comfort liner stretches over your head to provide superior comfort and stability. Leatt®s helmets are also designed for optimal neck brace compatibility and comes paired with a FREE matching goggle and a visor extender.

THE 2023 GLOVE COLLECTION

The 2023 glove range will provide a choice that can provide, ultimate feel and protection. The 3.5 lite, 2.5 x-flow, and 1.5 GripR offer your hands unbeaten grip and feel on the bars in both dry and wet conditions. Our gloves incorporate a new stretch stitch thread for improved seam strength to avoid your fingers breaking through the tip of the finger as well as using the FormFit pattern that follows your fingers contour for better grip and comfort. The stretch material on the back of the hand offers excellent airflow and is lightweight. In addition, for those looking for more protection with its Impact gel for your knuckles, check out our 3.5 lite gloves.

With the exciting new range, Leatt® are excited to provide you with gear that will make you feel confident, so you can go beyond what you have before on two wheels. With the new designs of helmets, riding gear, and gloves, you will be looking styling while out on the track or the trails. Leatt® is proud to keep you protected so you can enjoy the outdoors safely.

The post 2023 Leatt Moto Range Revealed appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

AMA Hall of Famer and the first ever AMA 125cc National Motocross Champion Marty Smith and his wife, Nancy, have died in a dune buggy accident.

The Smiths were riding in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (a.k.a. the Glamis Dunes) when the dune buggy they were driving rolled over.

In a Facebook post, former motocross racer Lee Ramage said he and his wife Tammi were riding in the buggy with the Smiths when the accident happened. Ramage says he and his wife were unhurt and attended their friends, waiting for first responders to arrive.

Marty Smith won three national titles, the 1974 and 1975 125cc championships and the 1977 500cc championship. Smith won 18 career nationals, and was one of the few to win in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes, as well as in Trans AMA competition. Smith also won the 125cc U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross in 1975 and 1976.

Smith won all of his championships with Honda, and was a fixture in the company’s advertising with his trademark long flowing hair. In 1980, Smith began riding with Suzuki, retiring after the 1981 season.

The San Diego native was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2000. You can read more about his life on the Hall of Fame’s website.

Marty and Nancy Smith are survived by their three children, Jillyin, Brooke and Tyler.

The post Marty Smith: 1956-2020 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

Pro Motocross:

Musquin Wins at Unadilla for Third Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory

Ferrandis Takes Second Career 250 Class Win

NEW BERLIN, NY – August 11, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its return to racing following its final break of the season for the 10th round of the 2018 season, with the 33rd running of the Massey Ferguson Unadilla National from Unadilla Motorsports Park. In the 450 Class, Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin mastered the muddy conditions to emerge with his third victory of the season. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis swept both motos to take his second overall win of the season.

The first 450 Class moto got underway with TPJ Racing’s Dylan Merriam grabbing the Motosport.com Holeshot over RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett and Musquin. Almost instantly Musquin pressured Baggett and made the move into second, quickly followed by a pass on Merriam to takeover the race lead. Championship point leader Eli Tomac was credited with eighth on the opening lap aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Musquin was able to take full advantage of a clear track and set the pace early, allowing him to open a comfortable gap over his nearest competitor. Baggett inched onto the rear wheel of early race leader Merriam and made a successful pass for second, followed by Rockster Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Phil Nicoletti, who also found his way by Merriam for third. Just moments later, the New York native Nicoletti continued his march towards the front with a pass on Baggett for second.

As Musquin continued his impressive riding out front, Nicoletti used his mud experience to keep the KTM rider in sight. Tomac worked his way into fourth, but was forced to make a stop in the mechanics area for a goggle change, managing to lose only position in the process. The stop by Tomac proved to be a good decision as he started blitzing his way towards the front and around Baggett for third by the end of Lap 5.

The battle for the lead began to heat up as Tomac powered by Nicoletti for second on Lap 7 and was hot on the rear fender of championship rival Musquin. There was no stopping Tomac as he launched by Musquin to takeover the race lead. Similar to Tomac earlier in the moto, Musquin made the decision to stop for goggles and managed to maintain his hold on second.

Tomac was in a class of his own out front and continued to build on his lead throughout the remainder of the moto. He took the checkered flag 25.7 seconds over Musquin, who went unchallenged for second. Nicoletti rode to a hard-fought podium position in third.

The final 450 Class moto saw Musquin grab the Motosport.com Holeshot, but he was soon overtaken by Nicoletti, who wasted little time in sprinting to a lead. Tomac, who got off to a much better start in third, was shortly passed by Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia, but took back the position in the very next corner after Barcia lost traction and slid out. Nicoletti held a lead of nearly five seconds at the completion of the opening lap.

Nicoletti kept his home state crowd on their feet as he led the star-studded field around the slippery and deep rutted circuit. With racing lines beginning to take shape, Musquin found his stride and began his attack on Nicoletti for the lead. On Lap 3, Musquin carried his momentum around the outside of Nicoletti and into the lead, while Tomac also made the move on Nicoletti for second.

Despite the challenging conditions, Musquin was relentless out front as he continued to push the pace and extended his lead on Tomac with each passing lap. Nicoletti, who was riding strong in third, would soon feel the heat and get passed by the Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing duo of Cooper Webb and Barcia on Lap 7. Just one lap later, Barcia used an aggressive pass to overtake his teammate for third.

As the checkered flag waved, it was Musquin emerging with his with his fifth moto victory of the season by 30.9 seconds over Tomac. Third would go to Barcia, who overcame several crashes to land on the podium.

Musquin’s 2-1 moto scores gave him the overall victory and the advantage in a tiebreaker with Tomac thanks to his better second moto result. Tomac finished second overall (1-2) on the day, while Nicoletti earned a career best third overall (3-5).

“It’s nice to get the job done today and grab another overall victory,” said Musquin “I was a little bit disappointed that I let Eli [Tomac] get around me in that first moto after I had to stop for goggles, but it was nice to come out fired up for that last moto. We managed the points today in these difficult conditions and I’m still in the championship hunt, which is the most important thing.”

Tomac maintains a 15-point advantage over Musquin in the 450 Class standings with two rounds remaining. Barcia’s fourth overall (8-3) moved him into third and ahead of Team HRC Honda’s Ken Roczen. He sits 85 points behind Tomac.

The opening 250 Class moto saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Michael Mosiman capture his first Motosport.com Holeshot of the season ahead of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and Ferrandis. Behind Mosiman, the Frenchman Ferrandis stole second from Savatgy, who crashed out of third and allowed Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mitchell Harrison to inherit the position. Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger circulated the opening lap in fifth.

The rookie Mosiman rode like a man possessed at the head of the field and opened a small cushion over Ferrandis and Harrison in the opening laps. On Lap 5, Mosiman began to feel the pressure from Ferrandis, who was hot on his heels and searching for a way around. Shortly after, Mosiman crashed out of the lead and ultimately allowed Ferrandis to takeover the number one spot. Mosiman’s mistake put Harrison and Plessinger into a battle for second, with the upper hand going to Plessinger.

Ferrandis began to watch his lead diminish as his teammate Plessinger closed in, however, he would wick the pace back up and responded by pulling back away to build a commanding lead. Ferrandis was unstoppable en route to his third moto victory of the season with 35.5 seconds to spare on Plessinger. Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Shane McElrath made a late race charge to pass Harrison for the final podium position in third.

The deciding 250 Class moto saw GEICO Honda’s Cameron McAdoo emerge with the Motosport.com Holeshot over Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Jordon Smith and Harrison. First moto winner Ferrandis quickly entered the battle up front, while Plessinger started the race just outside of the top five.

With clear vision McAdoo was able to put the hammer down and sprint out to the early lead, leaving several riders behind him in the fight for second. On Lap 2, Smith tucked the front end of his KTM and found himself on the ground covered in mud. That same lap, Ferrandis relied on his pure aggression to muscle by Harrison for second, but Harrison responded and took back the position just corners later. On Lap 5, McAdoo would find himself under heavy pressure up front and eventually surrendered to both Harrison and Ferrandis.

As Harrison and Ferrandis paced each other out front, Plessinger picked his way through the ruts and made his way around McAdoo for third. Plessinger would set his sights on the lead duo and begin chipping away at their lead. A dramatic 10th lap saw Plessinger jump his way past Ferrandis for second and eventually into the lead as Harrison encountered lapped traffic and crashed out of the lead. Ferrandis and Savatgy followed in second and third.

With Plessinger grabbing the lead, Ferrandis refused to settle as he put his head down and went back after his teammate to pass him back one lap later. Ferrandis finished the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto strong and held on for his fourth moto victory of the season by 4.7 seconds over Plessinger. Third was claimed by Savatgy, who earned his second podium result of the season.

Ferrandis’ 1-1 sweep gave him the second overall victory of his career, edging out his teammate Plessinger in second (2-2). The final podium went to Harrison, who earned a season best third overall (4-4).

“It was really a big battle all day today,” said Ferrandis. “For me, the experience I have from Europe really helped today. I’m use to not having a sighting lap prior to the race. The dirt here is awesome when it’s raining and it was a really good racetrack. It’s not often that I have the chance to battle with Aaron [Plessinger], so today was special and it was nice to push one another for the win.”

Plessinger’s second place finish extended his lead to 78 points over Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Alex Martin, who finished seventh overall (10-7). Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper finished ninth overall (12-6) on the day and maintains third in the standings.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will continue next weekend for the penultimate round on Saturday, August 18, with its annual visit to the legendary Budds Creek Motocross Park in Maryland for the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National. First motos of the 11th round can be seen live on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. The second motos will air live on NBC Sports Network at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on NBC Sports Gold

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Massey Ferguson Unadilla National
Unadilla MX Park – New Berlin, New York
August 11, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-1)
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (3-5)
4. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (8-3)
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (5-6)
6. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (4-10)
7. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (7-7)
8. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (9-8)
9. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (16-4)
10. Toshiki Tomita, Japan, Honda (10-9)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 448
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 433
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 363
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 358
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 332
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 272
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 253
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna – 253
9. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 140
10. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Honda – 137

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (2-2)
3. Mitchell Harrison, Brighton, Mich., Husqvarna (12-7)
4. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki (8-3)
5. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (5-8)
6. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (3-14)
7. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (10-7)
8. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha (7-10)
9. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (12-6)
10. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Husqvarna (6-13)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 415
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 337
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 291
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 278
5. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha – 254
6. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 252
7. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 251
8. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 250
9. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki – 247
10. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 244

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

The post Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Results: Unadilla 2018 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

The season may be winding down, but the racing action is certainly heating up. Washougal is just one of those tracks; incredibly beautiful with awesome natural features built into the landscape which goes in and out of the Pacific Northwest’s giant trees – a bucket list track for any motocrosser. Eli Tomac charged to yet another 1-1 sweep to take the overall. The man was simply on a mission. Ken Roczen continues to kick ass despite his return from injury, and Marvin Musquin showed a lot of speed, but just not enough. Justin Bogle keeps ripping holeshots, but can’t seem to hold on for very long afterwards and ultimately drifts back into the pack.

The 250 class is a bunch of maniacs. These guys are the future stars and holy cow are they going fast. The 250 motos at Washougal were jumbled up a bit with Plessinger finishing 4-3 for first overall, Savatgy went 9-1 for second, and McElrath 1-9 for third. It was all over the place, but it was incredibly entertaining racing.

Pro Motocross:

Tomac Wins in Style at Washougal for Seventh
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory

Consistency Helps Plessinger Emerge with Third Straight 250 Class Win

WASHOUGAL, WA – July 29, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its lone visit to the Pacific Northwest for the ninth round of the 2018 season, with the 38th running of the Motosport.com Washougal National from Washougal MX Park. In the 450 Class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac put forth another impressive ride to sweep the motos and grab back-to-back victories. In the 250 Class, a wild afternoon of racing saw consistency help Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger emerge with his third straight win to open a commanding lead in the championship.

The first 450 Class moto got underway with Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Justin Bogle grabbing the Motosport.com Holeshot over his teammate Justin Hill. Behind them the Monster Energy Kawasaki tandem of Josh Grant and Eli Tomac battled for third, with Tomac taking the position. Hill immediately pressured Bogle for the lead while Tomac gave chase, while Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin moved into fourth.

Bogle was able to withstand the early threat from his teammate, which allowed Tomac to make the pass for second. Hill was then forced to deal with Musquin in a battle for third. It didn’t take long for Musquin to break into podium position and drop Hill to fourth. Out front, Tomac’s relentless pursuit of the lead paid off as he passed Bogle for the top spot and proceeded to quickly open a gap. A short time later Musquin found his way around Bogle for second. With a clear track Tomac was able to pull out to a three-second lead after just one lap.

With the lead duo distancing themselves from the field, the battle for third intensified. Hill was finally able to get by Bogle to take over third, and soon after that Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen moved into fourth. Hill briefly held off the former champ for the final podium spot, but Roczen worked his way around to seize control of third.

Tomac was in a class of his own out front and continued to build on his lead throughout the remainder of the moto. He took the checkered flag 11.6 seconds over Musquin, who went unchallenged for second. Roczen rode to an uneventful third-place finish, while Hill equaled his career-best result in fourth. Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia overcame a tip over on the opening lap to make a late pass for fifth.

The final 450 Class moto saw Bogle sweep Motosport.com Holeshots, but he was soon overtaken by Roczen, who wasted little time in sprinting to a lead. Hill got another strong start in third, followed by RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett and Musquin. Tomac started deep inside the top 10. The field jockeyed for position throughout the opening laps, with Hill getting around Bogle for second and Musquin around Baggett for fourth. The Frenchman then chased down and passed Bogle for third.

Roczen sat more than two seconds ahead of the field after the first full lap of the moto, and continued to push the pace in hopes of building a lead he could manage for the long haul. Behind him Tomac was picking up the pace as well and moved up from eighth to fifth. In an effort to catch Roczen, Musquin engaged in a heated battle with Hill for second and their back-and-forth worked to the benefit of Roczen, who moved out to an advantage of more than three seconds once Musquin finally got by Hill for second. Not long after that Tomac gained another spot as well, getting aggressive with Barcia to take over fourth. All this action took place within the first 10 minutes of the 30-minute-plus-two-laps moto.

Drama unfolded just before the halfway point of the moto as Hill crashed out of third, giving the spot to Tomac. However, Tomac went down a short time later as he looked to track down Musquin. The point leader gave up third to Barcia, but remounted quickly in front of Baggett to hold on to fourth. Tomac then went back to work to try and catch Barcia. He successfully did so and retook the position with 13 minutes to go. The pass put Tomac into a tie with Roczen for first in the overall classification, but the second moto tiebreaker weighed in the German’s favor. Tomac would need to erase an 11-second deficit on Musquin in order to take sole possession of first.

Roczen did what he had to do out front and continued to lay down the fastest laps on the track to build on his advantage over Musquin, but Tomac was on a mission in third. He posted the fastest times of the moto over back-to-back laps to take massive chunks out of Musquin’s advantage. His pace was multiple seconds faster than both riders ahead of him and soon enough Musquin was in his sights. Tomac wasted little time in applying pressure on his rival, but Musquin put up an impressive fight to hold him off. It was only a matter of time, however, and with four minutes to go Tomac took over second, and with it the overall win. However, he wasn’t finished.

With three laps to go less than two seconds separated Roczen and Tomac, and the defending champion made an attempt for the lead with a dive bomb down the track’s big hill. Roczen held him at bay, but just briefly. Tomac surged past Roczen as they took the two-lap board and immediately pulled away. He carried on to sweep the motos by 2.2 seconds over Roczen. Musquin followed in third.

It was the fifth 1-1 sweep of the season for Tomac and his seventh win of the summer. He now has 16 career wins and has won two of the last three years at Washougal. Roczen finished second overall (3-2) earning the tiebreaker of Musquin (2-3) following their identical moto scores.

“That was unbelievable. After the fall I thought maybe I could get to second, but I didn’t think I’d get the win. To make it happen is kind of crazy,” said Tomac. “Once I got going [after falling] I really had a great pace. I found some lines and just started cranking. The track allowed you to be aggressive, but you still had to toe the line, so it was importance to have that balance. This feels awesome.”

Tomac has moved out to a 15-point lead over Musquin in the 450 Class standings with three rounds remaining. Roczen moved into a tie with Barcia, who finished fourth, for third. They sit 71 points behind Tomac.

The opening 250 Class moto saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammates Joey Savatgy and Austin Forkner grab the early advantage, with Savatgy claiming the Motosport.com Holeshot. Behind them, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Jordon Smith slotted into third, while Plessinger started just outside the top five. After a torrid opening lap the field settled in, with Savatgy stabilizing a small gap on Forkner as Plessinger fought his way up to fourth and soon gave chase to Smith for third.

The top four started to distance themselves from the rest of the field and sat within two seconds of one another for several laps. Savatgy was able to open a gap, but Forkner fought back and was able to make an aggressive pass for the lead with just under 17 minutes remaining in the 30-minutes-plus-two-laps moto. The gap between the lead group ebbed and flowed, but Forkner upped his pace to stabilize a lead of just over a second on Savatgy.

With less than five minutes remaining the teammates found themselves within a bike length of one another as Savatgy mounted a late challenge. The Kawasaki duo was able to pull away from Smith, which set the stage for a head-to-head battle for the win. With two minutes to go Savatgy made it happen with an aggressive pass of his own to reclaim the lead. Forkner didn’t let up and fought back, but Savatgy fended him off. As they continued to fight, Smith closed back in from third. A few small bobbles by Forkner gave Savatgy the advantage he needed to race to his first moto win of the season by 1.9 seconds. Smith was third, with Plessinger fourth and GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton fifth.

The deciding 250 Class moto saw Plessinger emerge with the Motosport.com Holeshot over Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Shane McElrath, who made a run around Plessinger to seize the lead. Forkner slotted in third while Savatgy was mired deep in the field in 25th after going down. Forkner’s day came to an end on the first lap when he crashed while running third and was forced out of the moto. That gave third place to Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis.

With a clear track McElrath was able to put the hammer down and sprint out to a lead of more than three seconds on Plessinger mere minutes into the moto. As the leaders settled into their positions all eyes turned to Savatgy, who was going all out in an effort to salvage a spot on the overall podium, if not the overall win. The Kawasaki rider made aggressive moves through the field and was on the verge of top 10 just past the halfway point of the moto.

McElrath successfully managed a lead of about five seconds over Plessinger, but the point leader made a costly mistake by going down and dropping a spot to third behind Ferrandis. That gave McElrath a commanding 12-second lead over the field that he would not give up. McElrath cruised to the first moto win of his career, crossing the line 12.7 seconds ahead of Ferrandis, with Plessinger third. Savatgy left it all on the track with a ninth-place finish.

When the overall results were tallied, Plessinger’s 4-3 finishes just barely clinched his third straight victory by a single point over McElrath (9-1) and Savatgy (1-9), who finished in a tie for second with the tiebreaker going to McElrath by virtue of his better result in the second moto.

It’s the fifth win of the season for Plessinger and the seventh victory of his career. He’s also the ninth different 250 Class winner in the last nine races at Washougal, dating back to 2009.

“I definitely did not know I won. I had luck on my side in that one,” said Plessinger. “Shane [McElrath] was riding awesome. I got the start, passed me, and pulled away form me. That was that. Then I crashed and got behind Ferrandis and couldn’t get back by. That’s what happens. These guys are riding so good and you can’t afford to make a mistake, but somehow everything worked out for us today.”

The win added 10 points to Plessinger’s lead in the 250 Class standings, which now stands at a comfortable 59 points over Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Alex Martin, who finished sixth. More than a full race worth of points now sits between the top two with three rounds remaining.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will take its final break of the season before returning to action on Saturday, August 11, with its annual visit to famed Unadilla MX in upstate New York for the Massey Ferguson Unadilla National. First motos of the 10th round can be seen live on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. The second 450 Class moto will air live on NBC broadcast network at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET, while the final 250 Class moto can be seen via tape delay on NBC Sports Network at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on NBC Sports Gold.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Motosport.com Washougal National
Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Washington
July 28, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (3-2)
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-3)
4. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (5-4)
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (6-5)
6. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (8-7)
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (7-10)
8. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (12-6)
9. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki (11-8)
10. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (9-12)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 401
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 386
3. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 330
4. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 330
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 301
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 247
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 224
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna – 217
9. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki – 132
10. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 130

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (4-3)
2. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (9-1)
3. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki (1-9)
4. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (11-4)
5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (10-4)
6. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (8-6)
7. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (6-8)
8. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM (3-13)
9. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (5-10)
10. Mitchell Harrison, Brighton, Mich., Husqvarna (12-7)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 371
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 312
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 267
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 251
5. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 238
6. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 230
7. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 225
8. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 222
9. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki – 214
10. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha – 204

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

The post Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Results: Washougal 2018 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

After losing the championship points lead and red plate to Marvin Musquin during the last round at RedBud, Eli Tomac was determined to get it back. Ken Roczen continues to impress despite coming back from serious injuries that would have ended most other’s careers.

Pro Motocross:

Tomac Rebounds to Retake Point Lead at Spring Creek with Sixth Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory

Plessinger Takes Fourth 250 Class Win to Extend Championship Lead

MILLVILLE, MN – July 21, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, held its eighth round of the season at Spring Creek MX Park for the 36th annual La Crescent Wine & Spirit Spring Creek National. The premier 450 Class saw Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac take his sixth overall victory of the season and reclaim control of the championship point standings. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha rider and point leader Aaron Plessinger swept both motos to capture his second consecutive victory and fourth overall win of the season.

The first 450 Class moto of the day began with Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen grabbing the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin and Tomac. With a clear track ahead, Roczen dropped the hammer and opened a comfortable lead, while Musquin and Tomac completed the opening lap side-by-side.

Roczen pushed hard in the opening laps and stretched his lead to nearly five seconds over Musquin, who remained under attack from his championship rival Tomac. As Musquin crossed the scoring tower to start Lap 3, he grabbed a handful of throttle that caused his rear wheel to break traction, which ultimately allowed Tomac by into second. Once there, Tomac wasted no time pursuing the lead as he set the fastest lap times of the moto and quickly closed the gap on Roczen.

With the race nearing the halfway point, Roczen began to feel the pressure from the defending champion, but refused to surrender as he fended off Tomac’s every move. Every time that Tomac looked to make a run for the lead, Roczen found a way to pull back out. On Lap 6, Musquin made a mistake and went down while running third, which allowed RMATV/MC-KTM-WPS’s Blake Baggett to move into third. Musquin quickly remounted in fourth.

With six minutes remaining in the moto, the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic, which allowed Tomac to pull alongside Roczen through the famed sand whoops and take over the lead. Tomac steadily clicked off the final laps and went on to take his 10th moto win of the season by 13.1 seconds over Roczen. The final step of the podium went to Baggett, who scored his first podium result since Round 3 at Thunder Valley. Musquin was fourth.

The final moto of the afternoon saw Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Justin Bogle capture the Motosport.com Holeshot by edging out both Musquin and Roczen. With Bogle leading the way early, Musquin and Roczen were hot on his heels and simultaneously charged past him on the rough downhill, shuffling Bogle back to third. Tomac was credited with sixth place at the end of the opening lap.

Musquin set the pace and continued his charge out front, while Roczen gave chase and kept the distance at just under two seconds throughout the early stages of the moto. Baggett began his push towards the front by overtaking Bogle for third, however, it would be short lived as Tomac was on a tear and took the position from Baggett on Lap 3. Once into third, Tomac was seven seconds behind Musquin for the race lead.

While Musquin rode effortlessly out front, Roczen’s gap to Tomac shrank as the Kawasaki rider applied pressure in a bid for second. On Lap 11 Tomac got a strong drive and made an aggressive move up one of the hills to force his way past Roczen for second. Tomac was relentless in his pursuit of the lead and quickly started closing in on Musquin.

With just three laps remaining, Tomac latched onto the rear fender of Musquin and powered his way by on the uphill to become the new race leader. There was no stopping Tomac as he continued on a tear in the final laps to take his fourth moto sweep of the season by 6.9 seconds over Musquin. Roczen crossed the finish line in third.

The 1-1 moto scores gave Tomac his sixth overall win of the season, edging out Roczen’s (2-3) in second overall. Musquin’s 4-2 moto scores were good enough to take the final step of the overall podium in third.

It’s the 15th 450 Class win of Tomac’s career.

“I always feel comfortable here at Spring Creek and have had a lot of success here in the past,” said Tomac. “The dirt is very similar to what I train on back home in Colorado. I came into today with a lot of motivation following RedBud and I’m glad that we we’re able to apply that to the results here. The second moto was tough with me starting so far behind at the beginning, but I saw an opening with a few laps to go and just went for it.”

The 450 Class saw a change atop the point standings for the second consecutive race as Tomac’s win lifted him back atop the championship. Tomac, who entered the day three points out of the lead, now holds a seven-point advantage over Musquin. Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia is third, 55 points out of the lead.

The opening 250 Class moto saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy emerge with the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Jordon Smith and Savatgy’s Kawasaki teammate Austin Forkner. While setting the pace out front, Savatgy tucked the front end coming down one of the steep hills and found himself on the ground, allowing Smith to inherit the lead. At the completion of the opening lap it was Smith, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha rookie Justin Cooper, and Forkner.

While Smith controlled the race early, the battle for second and third began to heat up as Plessinger moved onto the rear wheel of Forkner and eventually made the pass stick on Lap 3. The march to the front continued for Plessinger, who instantly went after his teammate Cooper to take over second on Lap 4. Smith maintained a small gap at the head of the field, but Plessinger set his sights on the lead and started chipping away in an effort to reduce Smith’s advantage.

As the leaders approached Lap 5, Smith began to feel the pressure from Plessinger, who soon muscled his way past to become the new race leader. Just moments later the fight for third intensified as Forkner rejoined the fight for a podium position by passing Cooper for third. With Plessinger beginning to distance himself from the 40-rider field, Forkner continued his impressive charge and made an incredible pass around the outside of Smith on the downhill to seize control of second.

Plessinger carried on to take the checkered flag for his seventh moto win of the season by 7.5 seconds over Forkner, who earned his second consecutive runner-up moto score. Smith finished strong in third to take his first podium finish of the season. Championship runner-up and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider Alex Martin overcame a bad start to finish seventh.

In the final 250 Class moto it was Millville’s very own Martin who emerged with the Motosport.com Holeshot, followed by Plessinger and Cooper. As the leaders approached a steep downhill on the opening lap, Plessinger refused to back down as he blitzed his way down the inside of Martin to take the lead. When the star-studded field crossed the line on the opening lap, it was Plessinger, Martin, and Cooper out front.

While Plessinger looked to use the clear track to his advantage and keep his momentum rolling, Martin was using every inch of the track to search for fast lines in an attempt to keep the Yamaha rider within sight. As Plessinger reached the halfway point of the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto, he began to find his stride and opened a comfortable gap over Martin. With just five minutes remaining, Martin found himself under fire from Cooper as they engaged in the fight for second.

As the checkered flag waved, Plessinger remained unchallenged to take his fourth moto sweep of the season by 6.4 seconds. Martin rebounded from a slow start in the opening moto to finish second, followed by Cooper in third. First moto podium finishers Smith and Forkner finished seventh and 18th, respectively.

The 1-1 moto scores gave Plessinger his fourth overall win of the season and the sixth victory of his career. Cooper used consistency to secure second overall (4-3), which edged out Martin in third (7-2).

“It can’t get much better than the past few races,” said Plessinger. “I’m just really clicking with the team and the bike right now. Hopefully we can keep the momentum rolling and have another good run next weekend. Those couple of bad races in the middle of the season really motivated to get back on the top of my game.”

Plessinger’s victory extended his lead in the championship standings, which now sits at 49 points over Martin. Cooper maintains his hold on third and trails Plessinger by 94 points.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will continue next weekend on Saturday, July 28, with its annual visit to Washougal, Washington, and Washougal MX Park. First motos of the Motosport.com Washougal National can be seen live on MAVTV at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. The second motos will air via tape delay that same night on NBC Sports Network at 8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on NBC Sports Gold.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
La Crescent Wine & Spirit Spring Creek National
Spring Creek MX Park – Millville, Minnesota
July 21, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (2-3)
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (4-2)
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (3-4)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (5-5)
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (6-6)
7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (7-7)
8. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (10-7)
9. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (8-10)
10. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (11-8)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 351
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 344
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 296
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 288
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 270
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 223
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 199
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna – 196
9. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki – 114
10. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 107

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (4-3)
3. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (7-2)
4. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM (3-7)
5. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki (10-4)
6. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (8-5)
7. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (6-11)
8. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (2-18)
9. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha (9-9)
10. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (11-8)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 333
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 284
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 239
4. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 216
5. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 214
6. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 201
7. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 197
8. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 195
9. Joey Savatgy, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki – 177
10. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 176

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

The post Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Results: Millville 2018 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

We can’t remember a time when Josh Grant wasn’t recovering from some sort of injury. Some guys are just less fortunate in that regard than others, but that’s racing. We’re stoked to see JG33 mack on the starting grid.

Pro Motocross:

In a year in which the 450 Class has been ravaged by injuries, one factory rider is on the verge of a return. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Grant plans to line up at Washougal on July 28, the team announced on social media.

Grant broke his leg back in February at a supercross event. Although he tried to return for the start of the outdoor season, it was determined that he needed additional time to allow the injury to heal. By returning for Washougal, Grant will get to race the final four rounds of the season.

This is the fourth straight year that injuries have forced Grant to miss a significant chunk of the outdoor season, but prior to last year’s knee injury, he was one of the top riders in the field. In just six rounds of racing, Grant accumulated four moto podiums and six top-five moto finishes.

The post Josh Grant Set to Return From Injury at Washougal appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

Oh, how the tables have turned… They say persistence pays off and Marvin Musquin has been hounding Eli Tomac all year. After a pair of motos that resulted in Eli’s worst career 450 overall finish (15th), the Frenchman was able to overtake and surpass Tomac for not only the race win, but the red plate as well. We love Tomac just as much as the next guy, but watching him win weekend after weekend means the most interesting battle is usually for second. He’s got his work cut out for him now, and we can surely expect Eli to come back charging next race. Ken Roczen had a great race with a moto win and a second overall podium result. Justin Barcia finished in third.

The 250 class saw Aaron Plessinger sweep both motos, but not without a little excitement and close racing with Austin Forkner. Forkner passed Plessinger in moto 1, but Aaron passed him right back in an aggressive move which saw their lines come together, unfortunately putting Austin on the ground, but that’s racing. Alex Martin and Dylan Ferrandis both performed well and rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively.

Pro Motocross:

Musquin Moves into Point Lead at RedBud with Second Straight Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory

Plessinger Takes Third 250 Class Win to Extend Championship Lead

BUCHANAN, MI – July 8, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, continued its famed Fourth of July tradition from RedBud MX with riders and teams sporting the red, white, and blue in honor of Independence Day weekend at the Red Bull RedBud National. The 450 Class saw Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin take his second consecutive overall victory and move atop the championship point standings following a hard-luck afternoon for entering point leader and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger swept both motos for his third overall win of the season.

The first 450 Class moto of the day began with RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett grabbing the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of reigning champion and defending RedBud winner Tomac. While sprinting on the opening lap, Baggett crashed, which allowed Tomac to move into the number-one position with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Phil Nicoletti and Phoenix Racing’s Heath Harrison in tow. Musquin and Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia circulated the opening lap near the tail end of the field after a crash took down both riders in the second turn.

With a clear track out front, Tomac attacked the rough and rutted conditions and quickly began to distance himself from Nicoletti, who continued to ride strong in second. On Lap 3, Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen made the move on both Harrison and Nicoletti to take control of second, shuffling Nicoletti back to third. RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Benny Bloss clawed his way through the front-runners as well and made a successful pass on Nicoletti for third on Lap 5.

As Tomac cleared the halfway point of the moto, he held a commanding lead over Roczen, who maintained a solid pace to control second. Despite a crash on the opening lap that left him buried in the pack, Musquin put on an incredible charge and quickly closed in on Bloss for third. On Lap 14, Musquin kept rolling and overtook Bloss for third.

With just three laps remaining and a lead of nearly 15 seconds, misfortune struck Tomac as he was seen pushing his bike off the side of the track and out of the moto. Tomac’s trouble allowed Roczen to inherit the lead and take his first moto victory since 2016 by 10.9 seconds over Musquin. Third went to Bloss, who took the first moto podium of his career. Barcia also made an impressive recovery to finish fourth. Tomac was credited with 36th place.

The final moto of the afternoon saw Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Justin Bogle capture the Motosport.com Holeshot by edging out Harrison and Roczen. The opening corners saw Musquin use aggressive riding to force his way by the front-runners and take over the lead. At the completion of the opening lap it was Musquin, Roczen and Barcia rounding out the top three, while Tomac was credited with 18th after being forced to start on an outside gate due to his Moto 1 finish.

Musquin wasted no time in setting blistering lap times as he led the way out front and began to open a small cushion over Roczen, who kept Barcia behind him. Roczen continued to push his way forward and closed back in on Musquin, but each time he bridged the gap, the Frenchman managed to pull back out.

There was no stopping Musquin, who kept a steady pace out front to capture his third moto victory of the season by 3.9 seconds over the field. Barcia pushed the entire 30-minutes-plus-two-laps to overtake Roczen on the final lap for second. Roczen crossed the finish line in third. Tomac overcame multiple crashes and a brief visit to the mechanics are to finish ninth, while first moto podium finisher Bloss could only muster 23rd after a crash.

The second moto win gave Musquin the overall win (2-1), edging out Roczen (1-3) in second overall. Barcia’s 4-2 scores were good enough to take the final step of the podium in third. Tomac earned the worst finish of his 450 Class career in 15th (36-9).

It’s the sixth 450 Class win of Musquin’s career.

“I certainly didn’t expect to leave RedBud with the points lead,” said Musquin. “What a crazy day. I couldn’t believe when I saw Eli [Tomac] off of the side of the track in the first moto. Consistency was key today, the track was tough, and I managed to leave here with two good moto results. The fans are insane here and it’s amazing to get the win.”

The 450 Class received a change in the point standings for the first time this season as Musquin’s win lifted him to the top of the championship. Tomac, who entered the day with a 33-point advantage, now trails Musquin by three points. Barcia is third, 40 points out of the lead.

The opening 250 Class moto saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner emerge with the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM riders Shane McElrath and Alex Martin. As the 40-rider field charged through the opening corners, McElrath powered his way to the front with Forkner and Plessinger battling over second and third.

While McElrath controlled the race early, Forkner and Plessinger continued their fight for second, with Plessinger using LaRocco’s Leap to jump past the Kawasaki rider. Plessinger consistently clicked off laps and began to distance himself from Forkner, while also closing in on the lead. He used the same move on LaRocco’s Leap to seize the top spot from McElrath. Forkner soon followed into second.

With 10 minutes remaining, Forkner found himself gaining momentum as he moved onto the rear wheel of Plessinger in the hunt for the win. Just one lap later, Forkner made the pass, however, it would be short lived as Plessinger instantly retaliated with an aggressive pass that sent Forkner to the ground. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and GEICO Honda’s RJ Hampshire moved into second and third, respectively.

As Plessinger continued his impressive ride out front, Savatgy made a costly mistake through the sand rollers on Lap 12 that left the Kawasaki rider on the ground, which moved Hampshire to second and McElrath back to third. With just two laps remaining, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis joined the battle for third and muscled his way around McElrath.

Plessinger held on to take the checkered flag for his fifth moto win of the season by 10.2 seconds over Hampshire, who finished on the podium for the second time this season. Ferrandis completed the top three in third.

In the final 250 Class moto it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mitchell Harrison who emerged with the Motosport.com Holeshot, followed by Plessinger and Savatgy. A pileup in the first corner collected several riders, including first moto runner-up Hampshire and McElrath. At the completion of the opening lap it was Plessinger in first, with Savatgy and Harrison in tow.

Plessinger controlled the pace out front, but the battle behind him raged as Savatgy pressed forward in an attempt to fight off of the pressure from teammate Forkner and the KTM-mounted Martin. As the trio closed in on the halfway point of the moto, all three were separated by less than a second and searching for a way past one another. Martin and Forkner worked tirelessly and eventually found their way around Savatgy, while Forkner continued his march to the front and blitzed by Martin for second.

As the checkered flag waved, Plessinger maintained his lead in the final laps to take his sixth moto win of the season by 5 seconds, sweeping both motos for the third time this season. Forkner rebounded from his first moto troubles to finish second, followed by Martin in third.

The 1-1 moto scores gave Plessinger his third win of the season and the fifth victory of his career. Martin used consistency to secure second overall (4-3), which edged out Ferrandis in third (3-4).

“The last few races following Muddy Creek have been tough,” said Plessinger. “My confidence took a bit of a hit with some of the issues I had, but the starts are super important and today we proved where we belong when we get starts. I like this track and I’ve never actually been on the podium here before, so this is cool with the Motocross of Nations coming up here in a few months.”

Plessinger’s victory extended his lead in the championship standings, which now sits at 35 points over Martin. Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper, who finished fifth overall (8-7), moved into third and trails Plessinger by 82 points.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will take a break before returning to action on Saturday, July 21, with its annual visit to Millville, Minnesota, and Spring Creek MX Park. First motos of the La Crescent Wine & Spirit Spring Creek National can be seen live on MAVTV at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. The second motos will air via tape delay that same night on NBC Sports Network at 9 p.m. PT /.12 a.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on NBC Sports Gold.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Red Bull RedBud National
RedBud MX – Buchanan, Michigan
July 7, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (1-3)
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (4-2)
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (5-5)
5. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (6-6)
6. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (10-4)
7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (7-7)
8. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki (11-8)
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (8-11)
10. Jake Nicholls, United Kingdom, Honda (9-13)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 304
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 301
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 264
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 246
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 232
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 193
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 176
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Suzuki – 172
9. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Honda – 101
10. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 93

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (4-3)
3. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (3-4)
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (5-9)
5. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (8-7)
6. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (11-6)
7. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (35-2)
8. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Husqvarna (9-11)
9. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (2-40)
10. Mitchell Harrison, Brighton, Mich., Husqvarna (13-8)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 283
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 248
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 201
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 198
5. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 191
6. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 176
7. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 176
8. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 166
9. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 163
10. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha – 149

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

The post Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Results: RedBud 2018 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

Round Six of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Southwick witnessed a French sweep with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin taking the 450 overall and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis earning the 250 win as well as his first overall 250 career finish. Both Musquin and Ferrandis were able to win their second motos due to riders crashing in front of them, but that’s racing. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac was on fire all day with two come from behind motos, but the second moto saw him crash twice, allowing Marvin to pass by. Justin Barcia rode solid all day with a pair of thirds for third overall.

The 250 class was once again a frenzy with riders continually swapping positions and overall finishes. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit’s Austin Forkner went 1-20 for a seventh overall, but the three men standing on the podium at the end of the day were Dylan Ferrandis, Alex Martin and Shane McElrath.

Pro Motocross:

Musquin Emerges at Southwick for First Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory of the Season

Ferrandis Breaks Through for First Career 250 Class Win

SOUTHWICK, MA – June 30, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its annual return to America’s sandbox for the sixth round of the 2018 season – the Kubota Southwick National from The Wick 338. In the 450 Class, Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin emerged with his first victory of the season, ending Monster Energy Kawasaki Eli Tomac’s five race win streak. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis prevailed to take his first career win.

The first 450 moto of the day began with Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Justin Bogle making his season debut by taking the Motosport.com Holeshot with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett and Musquin in tow. The lead group quickly exchanged positions in the opening corners as Team Honda HRC rider Ken Roczen shot to the lead with Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia in pursuit. Championship point leader Tomac started just outside of the top-10.

Roczen’s early pace kept the 40-rider field at bay as he utilized his effortless style to find the smooth lines around the whooped out sand track. On Lap 5, Barcia found his stride and made an aggressive move to overtake Roczen for the lead. Just moments later, Musquin and Tomac followed Barcia by making their way around Roczen for second and third.

As Barcia pushed hard out front, he almost instantly began to feel the heat from Musquin and Tomac. On Lap 6, Musquin grabbed a handful of throttle and launched out of the sand pit to force his way into the lead with Tomac following just a few turns later. With a clear track ahead, Musquin and Tomac dropped the field as they set a blistering pace.

As Musquin and Tomac approached the white flag, Tomac pulled alongside the Frenchman as the two riders came together with Tomac coming out on top and taking over the lead. Musquin was determined to strike back and aired out a jump on the final lap, landing off of the side of the track and going down. Tomac crossed the checkered flag to take a hard-fought moto win, while Musquin recovered for second. Barcia completed the podium a distant third.

The final moto of the afternoon saw Bogle sweep the Motosport.com Holeshots, edging out the KTM duo of Musquin and Baggett. As the 40-rider field powered out of the first turn, Musquin pushed his way to the front by stealing the lead from Bogle, while Tomac made several passes on the opening lap to circulate in third.

While Musquin pushed hard at the head of the field, Tomac refused to give an inch as he blasted by to take the lead on Lap 2. Musquin instantly made an attempt to follow Tomac’s lines and keep him in sight, but the pace proved to be too quick as the defending champion pulled away. Bogle continued to show promise in his first race of the year, but was unable to hold off Roczen for third.

As Tomac built a commanding lead over Musquin, Barcia closed in on Roczen and made the pass stick. While riding alone out front, Tomac crashed entering a corner and found himself picking up his Kawasaki, remounting just ahead of Musquin. Just as Tomac looked to be rebuilding his lead, he crashed again on Lap 9 and allowed Musquin to take the lead. Tomac remounted in second, but was unable to retain the pace he displayed early.

Musquin maintained his lead until the checkered flag and captured his third moto victory of the season with 15.4 seconds to spare on Tomac. The final podium position went to Barcia who cruised to third.

The better second moto result gave Musquin the overall win (2-1) in a tiebreaker with Tomac (1-2). Barcia used consistency to complete the podium third overall (3-3).

It’s the fifth 450 Class win of Musquin’s career.

“The last three races I have been feeling great and pushing towards the lead and win,” said Musquin. “I felt good all day. The win does feel really good. We know what happened to Eli [Tomac] in the second moto, but a win is a win. My intensity wasn’t quite there, so I was just trying to be consistent and keep it on two wheels.”

Tomac maintained his lead in the 450 Class standings, which remains at 32 points over Musquin. Barcia is third, 65 points out of the lead.

The opening 250 Class moto saw Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Shane McElrath jump out of the gate to take the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Jimmy Decotis and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha rider Justin Cooper. The opening lap witnessed McElrath take off sprinting in an effort to open a cushion over Decotis and Cooper who battled bar-to-bar.

McElrath attacked the track with pure aggression during the early stages of the race and quickly pulled away, while Cooper began knocking on the door of the Massachusetts-native Decotis. With heavy pressure from the riders behind him, Cooper used an outside line to blast his way around Decotis, followed by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner, shuffling Decotis out of a podium position. Forkner continued his charge to the front and inched onto the rear tire of Cooper, eventually making the pass stick on Lap 5.

Out front, McElrath began to watch Forkner chip away at his advantage and within laps would find himself under heavy pressure in the battle for the lead. On Lap 9, Forkner overtook McElrath for the lead, while a crash by Cooper allowed Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Alex Martin to inherit third.

As Forkner had clear track out front, the battle for second began to intensify as McElrath was passed by his teammate Martin and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger. Forkner held off the hard charging Martin to take his first moto win of the season by 1.2 seconds. Plessinger completed the podium in third.

In the final 250 moto it was once again McElrath, who emerged with Motosport.com Holeshot, followed closely by GEICO Honda’s RJ Hampshire and Forkner. The intensity was high right from the start of the moto, which saw Forkner and Hampshire squeeze by McElrath for the top positions. McElrath struck back on Hampshire to retake control of second before the completion of the opening lap. Martin was credited with fourth on the opening lap, while championship point leader Plessinger started just inside of the top-10.

Forkner controlled the pace out front, but McElrath kept him within sight as he gave chase and worked tirelessly to keep his teammate Martin behind. The KTM teammates pulled side-by-side several times, and on Lap 7, Martin’s relentless efforts paid off as he muscles his way around the outside for second.

As the riders reached the halfway point of the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto, Forkner held the lead over Martin who began to close the gap. With just under five minutes remaining, Ferrandis mounted a charge and passed McElrath for third. As the battle for the lead tightened up, Martin dove to the inside of Forkner, making contact and sending both riders to the ground. The crash allowed Ferrandis to take the lead, followed by McElrath and Hampshire.

Ferrandis maintained his lead in the final laps and held off McElrath to take his second moto victory of the season by 0.8 of a second. Hampshire landed on the podium for the first time this season with an impressive third. Martin remounted to finish fourth, while Plessinger was seventh.

The 4-1 moto scores gave Ferrandis the overall victory and he became the fifth different rider to win an overall this season. Martin rebounded from his second moto mistake to finish runner-up (2-4), followed by McElrath who finished third overall (6-2).

Ferrandis became the 83rd different winner in 250 Class history.

“I’m so happy to finally get my first overall win today,” said Ferrandis. “I’ve been working really hard to come back from injury, and it’s always a battle, but I think that we’re finally getting back to where we belong. It’s really cool to see Marvin [Musquin] win today as well. I think that it’s something that’s very good for France and gives the fans something to cheer for.”

Plessinger ended up fifth overall (3-7), which was good enough to maintain his hold of the championship point lead. Martin’s runner-up finish cut six points out of Plessinger’s lead, which now sits at 23 points, and moved him to second in the championship. Jeremy Martin sits third, despite being unable to compete due to a season ending injury one week ago at the Tennessee National.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will continue next weekend, on Saturday, July 7, with its annual Fourth of July visit to Buchanan, Michigan, as legendary RedBud Motocross welcomes the world’s best riders. First motos of the Red Bull RedBud National can be seen live on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. The second 450 moto will air live on NBC at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET, while the second 250 moto will air via tape delay on NBC Sports Network at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on the NBC Sports Gold app.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Kubota Southwick National
The Wick 338 – Southwick, Massachusetts
June 30, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-1)
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (3-3)
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (4-4)
5. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (5-5)
6. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (6-6)
7. Lorenzo Locurcio, , Honda (7-7)
8. Cooper Webb, , Yamaha (8-9)
9. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (10-8)
10. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (9-11)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 289
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 257
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 224
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 201
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 200
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 170
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 156
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Suzuki – 142
9. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Honda – 85
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna – 73

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (4-1)
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (2-4)
3. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (6-2)
4. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (7-3)
5. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (3-7)
6. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha (8-8)
7. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (1-20)
8. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (5-14)
9. Mitchell Harrison, Brighton, Mich., Husqvarna (15-6)
10. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Husqvarna (10-11)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 233
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 210
3. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 176
4. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 174
5. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 170
6. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 160
7. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 154
8. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 151
9. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 141
10. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 128

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

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Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac does it yet again, and brings home another overall win, making it five in a row. This time, though, he did it in true champion fashion by climbing his way back up to third after a start that had him outside the top 20. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Justin Barcia rode the best we’ve seen him ride in a long time, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin clawed his way to a third overall, and Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen continues to ride solidly and impress.

The 250 class at Muddy Creek was nuts. Nobody could have predicted what would eventually happen. Shane McElrath, Dylan Ferrandis and Chase Sexton finished 1-2-3, and congrats to them on stellar performances and finishes, but Jeremy Martin’s mid-air collision with Justin Cooper in Moto 2 sent the GEICO Honda rider to the ground with a back injury. It’s a shame when stuff like this happens, or any injuries to riders for that matter, and Martin (a major title contender) will miss the rest of the season. Riders have been dropping like flies lately in both classes and we wish them all a speedy recovery and return to racing.

Pro Motocross:

Tomac Grabs Fifth Straight Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory with Tennessee National Triumph

Hometown Rider McElrath Breaks Through for First Career 250 Class Win

BLOUNTVILLE, TN – June 23, 2018 – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its lone visit to the motocross hotbed of the southeast on Saturday for the fifth round of the 2018 season – the 5th Annual Tennessee National from Muddy Creek Raceway. In the 450 Class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac remained unbeaten when it comes to overall victories, putting forth an impressive come-from-behind effort in the final moto to secure his fifth straight win. In the 250 Class, hometown rider Shane McElrath broke through for the first overall victory of his career aboard his Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM, following one of the wildest races in recent memory.

The first 450 Class moto of the day began with Tomac leading the field into the first corner, but as he pushed wide it allowed Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen to slip underneath and steal the Motosport.com Holeshot. Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Weston Peick slotted into third, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Phil Nicoletti and Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia right behind. As they jockeyed for position, Tomac’s primary challenger Marvin Musquin inadvertently got hit and his Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine fell over. He got back on the bike quickly and resumed deep in the field, completing the opening lap in 20th. Up front, Barcia stormed his way by Peick into third.

Roczen’s early pace in the lead put some initial distance between he and Tomac, but he slowed a bit, which brought the Kawasaki rider right onto his rear fender in search of alternate lines that would allow him to make a pass. Roczen successfully fended off the pressure for several laps, which ultimately allowed a hard-charging Barcia to close in from third. Tomac successfully made his way by Roczen with just under 20 minutes remaining in the moto and quickly distanced himself from the Honda rider. That then put Roczen into the clutches of Barcia, who went to work on the German and successfully took over second just a short time later.

Tomac continued to build on his lead, which eventually stabilized to just under 10 seconds. He easily rode to his eighth moto win in nine tries, crossing the line 7.9 seconds ahead of Barcia. Roczen maintained his hold on third, with RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett fourth and Musquin fighting his way back all the way to fifth.

The final moto of the afternoon saw Roczen sweep the Motosport.com Holeshots and extend his holeshot streak to three motos, while Barcia jumped into second and Musquin into third. Tomac got his worst start of the season and was mired back well outside the top 10, eventually completing the opening lap in 14th. Out front, Barcia seized the opportunity to challenge Roczen for the lead and successfully took the top spot from the German, who was forced to deal with Musquin, determined to rebound from a frustrating first moto.

The Frenchman wasted little time in getting by Roczen and then set his sights on Barcia out front. The Yamaha rider kept Musquin at bay for a couple laps, but the KTM rider was relentless and moved out front just over eight minutes into the moto. Once he had a clear track, Musquin was able to easily gap Barcia. Throughout the battle up front Tomac was climbing his way back into contention. He broke into the top 10 after just a couple laps and continued to storm past riders until he moved into the top five. At this point the overall win was within reach for the Kawasaki rider. He gained more points by passing Peick for fourth, and then erased a multi-second deficit on Roczen to not only break onto the podium, but also move atop the overall classification.

Even with the win in hand, Tomac still kept pushing. He stalked Barcia for several laps and gained more and more ground by running laps nearly two seconds quicker than his rival, but Barcia responded and forced Tomac to settle into third. Out front, Musquin maintained an insurmountable margin over the field and effectively rebounded from his misfortune in Moto 1 to earn his second win in the past three motos. Barcia followed in second, 3.5 seconds behind Musquin, while Tomac cruised home for third.

Tomac’s 3-1 results gave him a one-point advantage over Barcia (2-2) in the overall classification, while Musquin’s moto win gave him third overall (5-1).

It was the 14th win of Tomac’s career.

“I pushed to see if I could catch Justin [Barcia, at the end of Moto 2], but he was going fast enough that I didn’t need to force the issue. We knew we had the overall so there wasn’t a need to risk it,” said Tomac. “It was good to get another win and keep this momentum rolling. I knew Musquin, Barcia, and Roczen all got good starts and were up front, so my goal was to make enough passes to get the win, and that’s what we did.”

Tomac added to his lead in the 450 Class standings, which now sits at 32 points over Musquin. Barcia is third, 58 points out of the lead.

The opening 250 Class moto saw point leader and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha rider Aaron Plessinger do what he had to do and capture his first Motosport.com Holeshot of the season ahead of the Martin brothers, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Alex and GEICO Honda’s Jeremy. However, Plessinger gave up control of the lead when he tucked his front end and went down, handing the top spot to Alex while Jeremy followed in second. Plessinger got up and returned to action quickly, restarting just outside the top 10.

Alex was able to open a multiple bike length lead on his brother, with the leading siblings eventually separating themselves from Justin Cooper in third place aboard his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha. Cooper then came under pressure from McElrath and GEICO Honda’s RJ Hampshire. With a little more than 20 minutes left in the moto, Jeremy Martin capitalized on a mistake by Alex, who came up short on a jump, to dive on the inside and steal away the lead. Just a few laps later Alex made another mistake and crashed out of second, eventually reentering just outside the top 10.

Without the pressure from his brother, Jeremy enjoyed a comfortable margin out front over Cooper and McElrath, who settled into second and third, respectively. He maintained the advantage through to the finish, taking his second moto win of the season 5.9 seconds ahead of Cooper, while McElrath enjoyed his best moto result of the summer in third. Hampshire was fourth, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner rounded out the top five. Plessinger soldiered home in ninth, while Alex Martin followed in 12th.

When the gate dropped on the second moto it was Alex Martin who emerged with his third Motosport.com Holeshot of the season, followed closely by his teammate Sean Cantrell and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis. The Frenchman went on the attack quickly and took second away from Cantrell, who then got passed by his Troy Lee Designs teammate Jordon Smith for third. Not long after that Plessinger moved into fourth. While this battled unfolded up front, first moto winner Jeremy Martin and runner-up Justin Cooper came together in the air and crashed, which forced Martin to record a DNF while Cooper continued deep in the field.

With a clear track ahead of him Alex Martin was able to control the pace, but Ferrandis successfully kept him within reach and mirrored his lap times. At times Ferrandis applied heavy pressure, but Martin withstood the challenge and held onto the lead, successfully putting some distance between them in the middle portion of the moto. Behind them a slew of activity unfolded, first with Smith making a charge, only to fade and lose multiple positions. That allowed GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton to take over third, with Plessinger maintaining his hold on fourth. The rider to watch over the second half of the moto was McElrath, who battled his way forward from a ninth-place start to move into the top five, pass Plessinger for fourth, and then Sexton for third. Those moves were enough to put McElrath in control of his own destiny for the overall win.

After fending off another heavy challenge from Ferrandis, Martin effectively gave up his hopes of a moto win by crashing out of the lead right after he crossed the line to take the two-laps-to-go board. He remounted quickly in second, but had McElrath charging right behind. Ferrandis kept it on two wheels to become the fifth moto winner of the season, while McElrath made an aggressive last-lap pass on Martin to take second, 2.3 seconds back of the Frenchman. Martin followed with a frustrating third, a finish that took him off the overall podium.

McElrath’s consistent 3-2 finishes carried him to the overall win, while Ferrandis’ triumphant effort in Moto 2 vaulted him to the runner-up spot (11-1). Sexton earned the first overall podium result of his career in third (8-4).

McElrath became the 82nd different winner in 250 Class history.

“It’s crazy. We’ve been persistent, [and have] been pushing and pushing. I don’t know what to say,” exclaimed McElrath. “It was my best ride ever. It’s crazy what a difference it makes when you’re feeling good, and I was feeling good. I didn’t get a great start [in Moto 2], but I was able to make some passes, which isn’t like me. I knew I had to get Sexton [for the overall] so I just kept pushing and I was able to get him. Then I just continued to push and caught more guys. I was having so much fun.”

Plessinger ended up seventh overall (9-5), but given the adversity faced by his fellow contenders he maintained his hold of the point lead and actually added three points to that advantage. He sits 23 points ahead of Jeremy Martin, who ended up ninth overall (1-40) but didn’t lose a spot in the standings, while Alex Martin, who finished fourth (12-3), remains third.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will continued next weekend, on Saturday, June 30, with its annual visit to the sands of Southwick, Massachusetts, as legendary The Wick 338 welcomes the world’s best riders to New England. First motos of the Southwick National can be seen live on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Second motos will air via tape delay on NBC Sports Network at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the “Pro Motocross Pass” on the NBC Sports Gold app.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Tennessee National
Muddy Creek Raceway – Blountville, Tennessee
June 23, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (1-3)
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (2-2)
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (5-1)
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (3-4)
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (4-5)
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (6-6)
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (8-7)
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (7-9)
9. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (9-8)
10. Kyle Cunningham, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki (11-10)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 242
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 210
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 184
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda – 169
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 164
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 148
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 126
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna – 118
9. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Honda – 80
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna – 73

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (3-2)
2. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (11-1)
3. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (8-4)
4. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (12-3)
5. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM (7-6)
6. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (6-7)
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (9-5)
8. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (5-9)
9. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (1-40)
10. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (2-28)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 199
2. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 176
3. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM – 170
4. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 158
5. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 143
6. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 133
7. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM – 133
8. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda – 120
9. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 118
10. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 112

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross

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