Second only to a helmet, a good pair of boots is the next most important piece of dirtbike riding gear. Although the pros make it look easy, riding a dirtbike can be difficult, especially when the terrain intensifies, and that means your feet aren’t always going to be safe on the pegs. At some point, you’ll be putting your feet down or off the pegs for balance. They also might get caught and twisted in rocks or roots, or you might crash and get your leg pinned somewhere – these are all very common and to be expected occurrences while riding a dirtbike – and the best way to combat potential injury is to invest in the best boots you can afford.

Not all dirtbike boots are created equal. When you’re shopping for new riding boots, you’re looking for things like protection, quality, comfort and reliability. However, price is also an important factor. On the other hand, hospital visits aren’t cheap either. What money you think you might be saving initially in buying a cheap pair of boots, could cost you exponentially in other expenses down the road, and you don’t want that. Take care of what takes care of you – your ankles are important.

If you’re a tentative rider who wants to test the waters to see how much you like riding dirtbikes before investing in all the gear or if you’re on a tight budget, you might be hesitant to spend a lot of money. Motorcycling isn’t a cheap hobby, after all. There are plenty of entry- and mid-level boots out there to get you started. But if you’re riding regularly, or plan to, a higher quality, more protective and durable boot is what you should be considering. Not only will your feet, ankles and legs be better protected, but  the boots will last longer too, justifying the greater investment.

Below is a list of the best, top-of-the-line dirtbike riding boots money can buy, in alphabetical order.

Alpinestars Tech 10 Supervented

The Tech 10 is quite possibly the most popular and commonly used boot by all the pros and fast guys, and for good reason. It’s considered the benchmark and most technical boot in motocross and off-road. The one-piece co-injected foot chassis incorporates five different compounds in a single lightweight piece to offer strength while maintaining flexibility and structural integrity. The three self-aligning, high-impact aluminum buckles feature quick release and locking, and are easily replaceable.

In the protection department, the shin portion incorporates a unique blade system engineered to prevent frontal hyperextension and offer greater flex control. And in the rear, a contoured TPU calf protector plate offers impact resistance and incorporates Alpinestars’ innovative rear blade system, formed with hard shock-resistant polymer to protect the heel and featuring a rear hyperextension guard.

For 2020, Alpinestars introduced a new “Supervented” version which adds inlet ports and a ventilated shinplate, along with perforated padding and mesh sections to maximize airflow and release heat. The Tech 10 Supervented alsouses a new extended honeycomb-design sole for improved grip.

The Tech 10 Supervented has a new mesh inner bootie with a 3D Higher Spring insole and a biomechanical inner ankle brace, with medial and lateral torsion bars to control ankle and leg rotation, while allowing freedom of movement. These are just a few of the Tech 10’s features, the list goes on and on. The Tech 10s are one of our go-to choices for riding boots because they really do a great job in mitigating hyperextension (one of our biggest concerns), plus they’re super comfy. And hey, they look good too. For more details, visit Alpinestars’ website here.

Shop for the Alpinestars Tech 8 RS boots here

Alpinestars Tech 8 RS

The Tech 8 used to be Alpinestars’ premier off-road riding boot for years until the Tech 10 was released, and it still deserves a mention on this list. The Tech 8 RS isn’t as technically advanced as its Tech 10 successor, but it’s still a great option for someone looking for a more traditional type boot with a sewn-on sole. The Tech 8 has an anatomically profiled, high modulus polymer shin plate for superior impact and abrasion. Its high modulus calf plate is contoured to fit around the calf and lateral leg, and it connects with the shin plate to ensure all round protection and structural integrity. Additionally, it’s got a contoured, tempered steel shank that’s over injected inside the mid‐sole assembly for rider safety and support. One of our favorite features, though, is the replaceable TPU kickstarter protection insert located on the right boot – this drastically extends the life of the boot (in our experience). Visit Alpinestars’ website for all the details here.

Shop for the Alpinestars Tech 8 RS boots here

Fox Instinct

This is the boot champions Ryan Dungey and Ken Roczen wear, so you know it’s legit. It’s touted as one of, if not the most comfortable riding boots, but it’s also highly durable and packed with protective features. The Instinct boots have a patent pending hinge and buckle system that provides lateral support and locks out to stop motion before hyperextension, and the boot’s easy buckle system flexes fluidly for ease of movement and bike control. The Instinct has a slim construction and a proprietary Duratac burn guard compound on the inside of the boot that provides solid grip and durability. The Instinct boot also comes in an off-road variant featuring a sole with more aggressive tread. Visit Fox’s website here for more info.

Shop for the Fox Instinct boots here

Gaerne SG-12

The SG-12 is Gaerne’s (pronounced Gar-nay) premier off-road boot. It’s a more traditional-type boot like the Tech 8 with its sewn-on sole, but the SG-12 is densely packed with protective and performance features. The SG-12 is considered to be on the stiffer side of the spectrum, but don’t think that’s a bad thing. The way the boot works, you’ll barely even notice. We’ve been riding in the SG-12s for years now, as well as Tech 10s, which aren’t as stiff in comparison, and the Gaernes allow the rider full, unobstructed control of the motorcycle and its controls. They flex where they need to and don’t where they shouldn’t. The SG-12s feature a proprietary Dual Stage Pivot System, in which the first pivot is attached to the “razorback,” which provides a rigid component and offers strong lateral support while a glide plate keeps the upper portion in a firm, upright position. There are four lightweight alloy buckles that attach to an adjustable strap, and this system is our favorite and easiest to use on the market. The inner side of the boot has a “grip guard” to help you, well, grip the bike, and it acts as a heat resistant pad protecting your leg from the exhaust too. For more information with all the details, check out Gaerne’s website here.

Shop for the Gaerne SG-12 boots here

Sidi Crossfire 3 SRS

The Crossfire 3 is the most serviceable dirtbike riding boot on the market. No other model even comes close. You can order just about any part of the boot if it fails or needs replacing – a task accomplished with simple tools. The design uses hardware instead of stitching so virtually every part is replaceable, season after season. The Crossfire 3 is also an incredibly versatile boot in terms of adjustability to better fit a wider range of riders.

The boots also feature a Dual Flex system which not only limits lateral hyperflexion, but also features hard stops at the limit of the anatomically allowed range of motion that limit hyperextension of the ankle joint. The adjustability of the Dual Flex system enables the Crossfire 3 SRS boots to provide each rider with a personal fit no matter their body shape or whether or not knee braces are used (which we couldn’t ride without, once you ride with knee braces, you won’t want to go back). The Crossfire boot is the top choice of many off-road and enduro guys thanks to its slim profile and freer range of motion, but they do run on the slimmer side of the foot width spectrum.

The Crossfire 3 also comes in the “TA” variant, for riders who prefer the feel of a sewn-on sole, compared to the molded sole of the SRS. The Crossfire 3 TA is identical in features to the Crossfire 3 SRS Boot with the exception of the sole. The TA sole is suited for riders who find they walk in their boots a bit more, and whose sole is made of anti-skid rubber that can be replaced by a cobbler. This is just a small glimpse of what the Crossfire 3s offer, for the full breakdown head to Sidi’s website here.

Shop for the Sidi Crossfire 3 SRS boots here

TCX Comp Evo 2 Michelin

TCX is yet another Italian motorcycle boot company, and their premier boot is the Comp Evo 2 Michelin. It’s widely popular in Europe, less so here in America, but it’s a great boot nonetheless. Similar to Sidi and Gaerne, TCX’s Double Flex Control system provides flex while protecting against hyper-extension and offers a full range of motion of up to 18 degrees forwards and 15 degrees backward. The Michelin model sole uses special proprietary Michelin rubber, which claims to be more durable and wear resistant. Find out more at the TCX website
here.

Shop for the TCX Comp Evo 2 Michelin boots here

At the end of the day, any dirtbike riding boot is going to be better than a non-motorcycle specific boot. But we definitely suggest leaving as much room as you can in the budget for a high-quality boot. A $500-600 dollar pair of boots might sound expensive now, but that cost won’t be anything compared to a potential hospital bill. A more expensive boot offers more protection and better durability. You get what you pay for, plain and simple.

Now be safe and go out and have some fun!

This post was originally published July 18, 2018

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The post 6 Best Dirtbike Boots appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

If you’re anything like me when it comes to riding in the dirt, you’re willing to sacrifice a little comfort and user-friendliness in favor of higher performance and better handling. This was pretty much always the case for me as I’d ride my CRF450R both at the track and on the trails, or in the desert/woods/mountains/etc. At the motocross track in its intended environment, the CRF450R is a beast; out in the sticks, the R still rules. However, it definitely gives up certain advantages and conveniences to more trail-inspired bikes like the CRF450X. Fortunately, Honda has built a do-it-all bike for riders like us who don’t want to compromise performance and handling at the track for convenience on the trail – the 2019 Honda CRF450RX.

They say the third time’s the charm, right? Well, now in its third year of production, Honda has ironed out many wrinkles, and this could be the last bike you’ll buy for a long time. Honda’s 2019 CRF Collective introduced seven all-new or reinvigorated models to its lineup, and for 2019, the CRF450RX inherits the same performance-enhancing features as the CRF450R, including key updates for lighter weight, added power, and enhanced handling performance. It also gets some special touches that fine-tune it for enduro/off-road use. These tweaks include a bigger, 2.25-gallon fuel tank, a sidestand, an 18-inch rear wheel, one more tooth on the rear sprocket, a sealed drive chain, and dedicated closed-course off-road suspension settings.

That’s not all, though. Along with the R model, the RX gets an all-new chassis and swingarm designed to work together for improved traction and cornering, the engine features larger-diameter and longer head pipes for better throttle response and top-end pull, and new fuel-injection settings spray twice per cycle to better atomize the fuel. Both the R and the RX share the same 13.5:1 Unicam engine save for slightly different EFI mapping and ignition timing to better tune the power for off-road use. Additionally, there are three different maps to tailor the engine’s output characteristic. Map 1, or Standard, is your all-around power everywhere setting, whereas Map 2 (Smooth) mellows it out a little on the bottom for improved technical riding ability with everything left on top. Map 3 (Aggressive) is the hold-onto-your-hat setting where you better be paying attention, because things can get blurry in a hurry. All three are switchable on the fly.

On the track, Maps 1 and 3 are the ones I found myself using most comfortably. The hard-hitting power right off the bottom comes on strong from the get-go and keeps pulling with a super impressive overrev thanks to the new double-spray injector settings and longer header pipes. Utilizing the space gained by eliminating the kick starter and using a compact electric starter instead, the new exhaust features a larger pipe diameter and improved design at the branching location where it splits into its dual mufflers for increased power. Previously 31.8mm, the right and left pipes are now 35mm and 43mm, respectively. In addition, the total tube length (from exhaust port to muffler end) is up 98mm (3.9 inches) on the right and 187mm (7.4 inches) on the left. That’s quite a bit longer, and the difference is certainly felt with better throttle response and top-end pull when riding the 2019 RX back-to-back with the ’18.

The overrev on the 2019 450RX, simply put, is awesome. Just when you think you’ve run out of gear, the Honda isn’t done yet, and it keeps pulling even longer – surprisingly longer. When it finally does peter out, it does so without falling on its face. This translates to smoother, more efficient riding/racing. Out on the trail, the Smooth Map 2 is what I preferred mostly because the power delivery, especially off the bottom, allowed me to really finesse the bike over trickier, more technical terrain without any sort of herky-jerky on-off throttle response. As the revs climb, though, Map 2 still delivers the same arm-stretching pull the Standard and Aggressive maps provide, giving you the best of both worlds. The 2019 CRF450RX isn’t going to leave you wishing you had more power, that’s for sure.

To match the increase in engine performance, the CRF450RX’s whole chassis and handling department got a makeover, too, with changes to the frame for improved traction and cornering feel plus reduced weight being the main goals. The RX’s Next-Gen twin-spar aluminum frame positions the rear shock’s mounting point lower, which opens up the airbox area and contributes to a lower center of gravity. The frame’s lower members have also been made stiffer to work better with the redesigned swingarm, which is lighter than the 2018’s and has also been optimized in certain areas to improve flex characteristics in conjunction with the chassis as a whole. Where certain areas were stiffened up, others like the rear subframe, got some rigidity taken out to help maintain the bike’s overall balance and feel.

The CRF450RX uses 49mm conventional spring Showa bump sticks with low-friction oil and dedicated damping settings developed from JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger and Trevor Stewart in GNCC and WORCS competition. The rear shock is also graced with improved linkage geometry to work better with the all-new swingarm and mounting position within the frame. The top triple clamp features two handlebar mounting locations for moving the handlebar back and forth by 26mm (1 inch). When the handlebar risers are turned 180 degrees, the handlebar can be moved an additional 10mm from the base position, resulting in a total of four unique riding positions. That’s almost 1.5 inches you can move the bars forward or back. Being a taller rider at 6-foot-1, I moved the bars to the forward-most position and felt comfortable on the bike instantly. Opening up the rider triangle helps me get more leverage, but most importantly, it helps me feel more comfortable on the bike and gets rid of the see-saw riding effect of having the bars too close and feeling like they’re in my lap.

All together, the 2019 CRF450RX chassis worked and felt great from the start. The stock valving settings are firm and fast enough to handle jumping and track duty well, yet soft enough to provide plenty of cushion on the trail, too. Both the front fork and rear shock are fully adjustable to fine-tune to your preferences or riding conditions. Heavier and/or more aggressive riders could benefit from stiffer springs, but that’s nothing new – right, fellas?

Having the horsepower and handling to go fast is one thing, but it’s nothing if you can’t rein it all in. Fortunately, braking performance and feel have been looked at closely and benefit from increased 260mm front and 240mm rear rotors. Binding the larger front disc is a new, lighter two-pot caliper that uses a pair of 30mm and 27mm pistons, compared to identical 27mm pistons of years prior. The front brake line is also stiffer to prevent brake fade from expansion, maintain precise feel, and improve overall performance.

Other changes to the 2019 CRF450RX include newly shaped footpegs that are 20% lighter and shed mud more easily, redesigned fork protectors for more coverage, black rims which definitely enhance the look of the bike, in-mold graphics that are more resistant to abrasion or peeling from crashing, and a 15mm lower Renthal Fatbar handlebar for a more active riding position. All these changes equate to a better handling and looking bike.

As always, all the good can’t come without a little criticism, and my only real gripe with the 2019 Honda CRF450RX is with its fuel tank. While the bigger 2.25-gallon capacity is awesome and allows you some peace-of-mind to ride longer loops, it protrudes out just a little too far between your legs. Most of the time it’s not a big deal, but there were definitely times, like sticking my leg out in a corner, where I felt somewhat encumbered by it. Fortunately, there are aftermarket companies out there like IMS that make slimmer fuel tanks that hold just as much, if not more than the RX’s stock tank. Another small mention (and this is more of a suggestion than a nitpick) is perhaps adding a sixth gear for the guys who’ll ride the RX more off-road than at the track.

The post 2019 Honda CRF450RX First Ride Review 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
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The post Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Results: Washougal 2018 appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

I just spent last weekend riding Ol’ Faithful, my 2008 Honda CRF450R, up in Mammoth, California, on trails very similar to those I rode in Nevada City on the Alta Redshift EXR. Riding up in the Sierra Nevadas is an absolute must for any off-road or dual-sport rider, but it got me thinking… We were riding at a base altitude of about 7,880 feet before climbing up even higher into some of the area’s mountains and lookouts. As a result, Ol’ Faithful was starving for air and running out of steam on her top end.

2019 Alta Redshift EXR Dual-Sport First Ride Review

I knew this would be the case with my carburetor’s sea level jetting, but I’ve ridden up there without rejetting before, and the altitude’s effects weren’t so bad that the bike was unrideable, but there was definitely a noticeable loss in engine performance. If I lived there, or spent considerably more time, I’d certainly have the carb properly tuned, but for a weekend trip, I’d manage just fine. Some riders in our group weren’t so fortunate, as their bikes either ran like they inhaled a chipmunk, or just simply said, “nope.” I’d hate to drag my motorcycle all the way up to one of the most beautiful riding landscapes only to have it sit at camp all weekend long, while everyone else was out having the time of their lives.

I couldn’t help but think how the Alta EXR would have been completely unfazed by it – 50 horsepower and 42 lb-ft of torque at sea level is 50 horsepower and 42 lb-ft at 7,880+ feet, or any elevation for that matter. It’s certainly one of the EXR’s benefits. But not everyone lives at altitude – I get that – so maybe the Alta’s lack of need for tuning isn’t enough to sell you on it. But what about its lack of maintenance, other than keeping air in the tires, chain lubed, and battery charged? Or its instant power delivery at any speed? Are we getting any warmer? There’s really something sweet about being able to twist the throttle without ever worrying about bogging or stalling. Riding an Alta is unlike riding anything else – it’s stupid fun – and anyone who’s ridden one would most definitely agree – I’d bet my grandma on it.

2018 Alta Motors Redshift MX and MXR First Ride Review

Alta Motors HQ Tour Top 10

Still, it’s hard to justify spending $12,495 on a motorcycle that needs to find a power source after just 60 miles, or less. On the bright side, Alta claims the 2019 Redshift EXR with its new software takes only 1.5 hours to charge from fully dead on 240v, and 3 hours on 120v, which is twice as fast as the 2018 model. Additionally, whenever a new generation Alta comes out with improved mapping or system updates, a dealer can download those same settings and upload it to your bike to keep its current current.

Alta’s technology and their Redshifts are only getting better, at an almost exponential rate, and to top it off, their prices keep falling. In a couple years, these things are going to be the real deal, and range will no longer be a concern. But for now, unless you’re a top-level rider, you’ll probably run out of steam before the Alta does.

Alta Was First Electric to Qualify for Erzberg Rodeo Last June

Being able to legally ride the EXR on the street is another huge benefit. Whether connecting trails, commuting, running errands or riding right out of your driveway and up into the mountains/woods/desert or whatever, there’s no need to load and unload a pickup truck or trailer. If you haven’t had the opportunity to ride an Alta yet, we urge you to humor yourself and give it a shot. It’ll blow your mind.

The post 2019 Alta Redshift EXR Dual-Sport Video Review appeared first on Dirt Bikes.

Kids are the future – there’s no way around that one – and we live in a beautiful time where virtually anything is possible. As any parent knows though, especially ones with young children, kids are incredibly impressionable, often times influenced by not the most healthy or ideal things. Kids need solid values and morals instilled in them early on. Each year, fewer and fewer kids are getting involved with sports and other wholesome activities that help develop and strengthen both their bodies and minds. Instead, they’re inside staring at their phones, watching and listening to the latest crop of crappy songs that are passing as rap these days – and that’s a whole other issue with children in developing their self-confidence, as the Internet can be an detrimental place to their development.

One way to help prevent this from happening with your little ones is to get them into motorcycles. So, how early can you get them started? Well, there are kids as young as four out riding and racing motorcycles, and they’re definitely on the youngest side of the spectrum. So, it’s never too early to get started. Look at Tiger Woods – he had a golf club in his hands before he even knew how to walk, and we know how that turned out. The best way to get kids started on motorcycles is by getting young Junior or little Missy on something like a Strider balance bike. It’s not a motorcycle, rather, it’s a simple balance bicycle designed to teach young children how to steer and balance on two wheels, operated by foot propulsion only. Once they get these two-wheel fundamentals down, parents can add pedals to the Strider, and continue the development.

Other similar options to the Strider, but far more advanced and sophisticated, are the balance bikes from Stacyc. These bikes are battery powered and feature a throttle and brake lever. Stacyc offers two sizes: 12 inch and 16 inch, so there’s an option for any size child. The smaller 12eDRIVE model features 12-inch wheels and a 13-inch seat height, and the larger 16eDRIVE has 16-inch wheels and a 17-inch seat height. Both are lightweight, 17 and 19 pounds, respectively. The beauty of these Stacyc bikes is that they have four modes: a total freewheeling non-powered mode, just like the Strider, then low, medium and high power modes. Each mode has restrictions to how fast the bike will go, and they’re limited to 5/7/9 mph for the 12eDRIVE and 5/7.5/11 mph on the 16eDRIVE.

Your little future motorcyclist can graduate from one power mode to the next as they build valuable skills including how to operate the throttle and brakes. Not only will they be having fun, they’ll also be getting hours of hand-eye coordination, balance and outdoor exercise – better than staying inside and playing video games, no?

Once they’ve mastered the Stacyc, they can take the next step onto a real motorcycle. The next rung on the motorcycling ladder is a Yamaha PW50, a 49cc two-stroke motor paired with a fully automatic transmission. It’s as simple as twist and go. Parents can limit the amount of power via an adjustable throttle stop screw and, as your kids’ skills improve, increase the maximum speed. The PW50 has an 18.7-inch seat height and is shaft driven, so there’s virtually zero maintenance.

If perhaps your son or daughter is a little bit bigger or more advanced already, Yamaha offers the TT-R50E. It’s a little bit bigger than the PW50 with a 21.9-inch seat height, and it features a three-speed automatic clutch mated to its 49cc four-stroke motor. Kids can learn how to shift gears up and down without worrying about stalling, but if they do, the TT-R50E has an electric start to bring it back to life.

Both Honda and Suzuki offer almost virtually identical models with their CRF50F and DR-Z50 – the biggest difference being the color of their plastics. From there, Suzuki offers a DR-Z70, and then Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki jump in displacement to 110cc. These 110 models have slightly higher seat heights and four gears instead of three, but they are still automatically operated without the need for a clutch lever.

For kids and parents more interested in going the motocross route, there are a variety of options here too, although they are considerably more expensive given the higher quality, performance-oriented componentry found on these motorcycles. KTM offers its 50 SX, a 49cc two-stroke, with a single-speed automatic transmission and centrifugal clutch. It’s also got race-inspired long-travel WP suspension like its bigger siblings – this bike is made for true aspiring motocrossers.

Cobra is another manufacturer producing mini motocross bikes for kids. Although not as well known in the mainstream, Cobra has been making small, entry-level bikes for aspiring motocrossers since 1997. They offer several models of various sizes including the CX50 P3, CX50 JR, CX50 FEW, CX50 SR KING, and the CX65. They cost considerably more compared to the Japanese trail-oriented bikes, but they’re a lot faster and perform better, too.

If you’d prefer a Japanese bike, Kawasaki and Yamaha make the KX65 and YZ65. The KX65 has been around for a long time, and has been the starter motorcross bike for countless riders. The Yamaha, on the other hand, was just released this year.

As you can tell, there are a lot of options out there to get your kids started in riding dirtbikes, and there’s really no limit to how young they can be. The earlier you get them on a Strider, Stacyc or minibike, the sooner they’ll get better. On top of that, they might develop a lifelong passion for it. Riding motorcycles is a healthy and wholesome hobby, which can provide a lifetime of fun and memories. It’s also a great family activity. It may not the cheapest in the world, but hey, look at it this way – if your kid gets into motorcycles, they won’t have any money left to get into drugs. They’re going to have a blast, too. We can almost guarantee it.  

The post How Old Do You Have To Be To Ride A Dirtbike? 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.

You know the age-old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Well, that pretty much sums up the 2019 YZ450F because Yamaha’s big dog motocrosser was all new and completely revised for 2018. Last year’s model was a favorite amongst many riders of different levels and abilities – including yours truly – for various reasons, and the 2019 brings back all of the 2018’s strengths. However, Yamaha’s testers and engineers polished a couple areas and made a few tweaks this year that may sound trivial on paper but provide significant improvements in the actual riding experience.

To understand what makes the 2019 so much better than the 2018, we have to talk a little about the ’18 first. The YZ450F has never been criticized in the motor/power department. It provides some of the broadest, most usable power available – almost too much sometimes – and the same motor is carried over this year. The only differences are an improved electric starter that reduces engine drag and horsepower loss (as if it needed any more) and a blue valve cover. The motor has a great bottom end which doesn’t mind being lugged, but it’s also super snappy and spins up quickly with great over rev.

On most tracks, I get around just fine by keeping 450s mostly in second and third gear, and occasionally fourth on tracks with longer straights or bigger booters that require a little extra speed to clear, but I found the YZ450F allowed me to really ring the motor out further than I’m used to. The 2018 model features a 48-tooth rear sprocket, which I loved for the added over-rev speed, but at times, for me, felt a smidge too tall in some corners, as if I was just on the cusp of being between gears. Of course, this was nothing a little clutching couldn’t fix, but I’m lazy when it comes to riding 450s. I prefer to use their raw power to carry me through a turn.

We got to ride both the ’18 and ’19 back-to-back at Glen Helen to get a feel for the differences between the two, and the 2019’s 49-tooth sprocket truly made a noticeable difference. The same corners where I would possibly bog a little bit or have to drop a gear on the ’18, I could power right through with zero hiccups or hesitations on the ’19. This meant I could carry more corner speed and that I didn’t have to shift as soon because I was more often in the meat of the powerband. That one tooth increase, as trivial as it may sound, had a huge effect on the bike’s overall engine character, especially on the bottom end, and it lost almost nothing on top – nothing a rider of my ability would suffer from, anyhow.

As improved as the bike felt with just a simple sprocket change, the biggest revisions to the 2019 YZ450F come in the suspension and handling department. Unlike other manufacturers, Yamaha has always stuck with the tried and true spring forks – no split air forks here – and the KYB SSS fork is great in offering plush action in the choppy stuff, nice control and progressive feel throughout its travel and impressive bottoming resistance under both slap-down and g-out impacts.

As nice and plush as the suspension felt, the 2018 YZ450F was often criticized to be sprung on the softer side, which for most riders was rarely a problem a little tuning couldn’t fix, but it was much more noticeable for the faster guys. It tended to dive under heavy braking and then would seesaw rearward when getting back on the gas. This made it somewhat difficult to get a settled, level and composed feeling through the turns, especially in deeper ruts that require precise balance and throttle control to navigate. Yamaha took this into heavy consideration for 2019 and improved the suspension, making it stiffer with increased compression damping both front and rear, allowing the bike to ride higher in its stroke. Jumping from the 2018 to the 2019, you could definitely feel a difference, especially once the pace picked up. The 2019 YZ450F almost made the ’18 feel softer, like a trail bike, in comparison.

Speaking of softness, another aspect some riders noticed about the 2018 YZ450F was its soft seat, and for 2019, Yamaha has increased its density by 16%. Climbing off the ’18 and onto the ’19, it was the first thing you’d notice. Again, 16% might not seem like a huge difference on paper, but it’s something your gluteus maximus feels instantly. I never had a problem with the ’18 seat being too soft as I try to stand as much as possible unless I’m really pouring the coal through a turn, and I also ride my MX bikes off-road for hours on end at a time, so the extra plushness isn’t always a bad thing when you’re in the saddle all day.

On the track though, the stiffer seat definitely makes the bike feel more nimble in the sense that you’re sitting more on top of the bike rather than in it. Some riders said they would bottom out and feel the seat base or frame rails in a heavily compressed corner or while seat bouncing, but it never really bothered me enough to consider it a detriment. The stiffer seat also allows you to move around and slide up on the bike more freely, and you can really get up on the tank to weigh the front tire for quick turns.

Further aiding the rider in making quicker, more planted feeling turns are the redesigned front fork lugs, axle brackets and wheel collars. They’re larger for 2019 and the increased surface area contact zone between them offers added rigidity which provides better tracking and feeling on initial lean in. These are the types of refinements that as seemingly insignificant as them may sound, make the biggest differences in handling. It’s tweaks like these that factory teams are after – little things that make the bike handle better. According to Yamaha, the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F makes between 54-55 hp in stock form, and the factory race bike that Justin Barcia rides makes between 58 to 60 hp depending on the track – any more and the bike becomes un-rideable. If 5 additional ponies over stock is too much for guys like Bam Bam, then 55 hp is more than plenty for us mortals.

In fact, the day we rode the 2019 YZ450F at Glen Helen, it was pro day and the track was cut deep – deeper than what I’m typically used to – and the crew at GH is on top of keeping the track watered, which means certain areas can get slick. The YZ450F comes with three preconfigured engine maps: Linear Torque for hard pack conditions, Smooth Linear for slippery and Hard Hitting for loamy. I started off in Linear Torque (basically the middle ground) and felt pretty good, but sometimes the throttle felt just a little too peppy from completely off to on – especially on this rough track. If I didn’t come into a corner smoothly enough, a small unintentional bump of the throttle would lurch the bike forward, momentarily throwing me off my rhythm.

A quick trip back to the pits, and I could whip out my phone, open the Yamaha Power Tuner App and switch engine maps (which is free and available for both Apple and Android users). I bumped it down to the Smooth Linear map, where the initial hit off the bottom is subdued, and I was back on the track in minutes. No longer did I have any problems with a touchy twist grip over braking bumps into the chopped up corners. I felt more confident coming into them knowing I was able to get on the gas more smoothly without any herky-jerkiness. For shits and giggles I also tried the Hard Hitting map, and it’s just that. If I owned the 2019 YZ450F I don’t know if I’d ever use that map unless I was riding dunes in the desert. Like we mentioned earlier, the YZ450F has never been accused of being slow.

Using Wi-Fi to connect to the bike’s onboard CAN-bus network via a Communication Control Unit (CCU), the Yamaha Power Tuner App lets you do more than just select other maps. You can also custom tune your own by adjusting the air/fuel mixture and ignition timing maps to tweak engine performance for track conditions or even altitude – all within minutes, and it’s as simple as changing numbers in a mapping chart. The beauty of it, though, is that it’s educational for those with a little patience and desire to play around with it, and Yamaha has limited the parameters so that it’s virtually impossible to cause damage to your motor with a wildly radical map setting. Additionally, you can also record race log information, monitor a range of data such as maintenance and system diagnostics, engine run time, and more. The most useful perk for me would be knowing exactly how much time I have on the oil and when to change it, to keep up on all the maintenance intervals.

Overall, despite seemingly trivial tweaks here and there, the 2019 YZ450F is a night and day improvement over the ’18. With a one tooth bigger rear sprocket, its motor lays the power down even better than before, and the chassis’ refinements make the bike easier and more fun to ride. We all know riding a 450 can get rowdy, and these refinements help it be more forgiving, too. If you’re in the market for a new 450, the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F is definitely a bike to consider. It’s currently available in dealerships nationwide and will run you $9,299, but if you already have an ’18, you don’t need to trade up for a ’19 unless you have cash burning a hole in your pocket. Many of these improvements aside from the front fork lugs, axle brackets and wheel collars are all availabe through the aftermarket.

The post 2019 Yamaha YZ450F First Ride Review 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.