Round 5 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship this weekend
Southern Maryland's Budds Creek MX Park will host the world's best riders for Round 5 of the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Taking place in Mechanicsville, Md., just an hour outside of the nation's capital, the 23rd Annual Red Bull Budds Creek National will set the stage for two of the most highly contested championships in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross history. Current points leader and 2011 champion Ryan Villopoto will go head-to-head with reigning champ Ryan Dungey in the 450 Class, while Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac will both attempt to become the second repeat winner in the 250 Class as Marvin Musquin looks to secure his third consecutive win at Budds Creek.
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Villopoto captured his third overall victory of the season at High Point Raceway with a clean sweep in the 450 Class, giving the points leader a total of seven moto wins to date. Villopoto's successful season has given him considerable momentum heading into Round 5 this weekend, where he looks to extend his points lead at Budds Creek. The only rider to beat Villopoto this season is Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey, who sits in a close second place in the championship standings. Dungey secured the overall win in Tennessee with a big win in Moto 2. That, paired with a third place in the first moto, allowed Dungey to trump Villopoto's score of (1-4) for the day. Winning at Budds Creek isn't a new concept for the Minnesota native, as he took the win in 2010 and 2012. Additionally, Dungey is the only rider to finish on the podium in all eight motos thus far, and will look for his second win of 2013 at Budds Creek.
In his first full season in the 450 Class, Team Honda Muscle Milk's Justin Barcia is holding his own amongst the sport's most decorated racers. Barcia's highlight of the season was at Round 3 where he battled with Villopoto and Dungey in both motos, ultimately finishing second overall. Barcia currently sits third in the championship standings with a consistent string of top five finishes. Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard trails his teammate Barcia in the points, holding fourth place ahead of Smartop/MotoConcepts Racing's Mike Alessi. Last round, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Tyla Rattray earned his first career podium in the 450 Class with a pair of fourth place finishes. Rattray, a previous winner at Budds Creek in the 250 Class, looks to contest for another podium finish this weekend in the 450 Class. Through the first four rounds of 250 Class competition, three different riders have stood atop the podium. Last round in Pennsylvania, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin became the first repeat winner in the 250 Class, besting his teammate Ken Roczen for the overall victory. However, it wasn't until Moto 2 at High Point that Musquin secured his first career moto win in the U.S.
Roczen has been the most dominant rider in the 250 Class this season, holding five of the eight moto wins, as well as the points lead heading into Round 5. But in addition to his teammate Musquin, Roczen has several riders on his heels in the chase for a championship. GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac sits in second place in the championship standings, only five points behind Roczen and seven points ahead of Musquin. Tomac captured the overall victory in his home state of Colorado and then went on to secure his second moto win the next week in Tennessee, proving that he will be a championship contender alongside the Red Bull KTM duo this season. Currently in the midst of its third decade of motocross competition, Budds Creek is one of the most renowned tracks on the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship schedule. Sitting in the shadow of the nation's capital, it is a popular stop for riders and fans alike thanks to its stellar sight lines, thrilling elevation changes, and challenging terrain. The facility has produced some of the most memorable moments in American Motocross since hosting its first national in 1989. The Red Bull Budds Creek National will be the first of three rounds of the championship broadcast exclusively on NBC. The national network television exposure will bring the action into millions of homes, allowing viewers to see the world's best do battle. 450 Class Championship Standings 1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 193 6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 104 7. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki, 95 8. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki, 79 9. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki, 69
250 Class Championship Standings 1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 185 3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 163 4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 141 7. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 90 8. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 89 9. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 88 10. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 81 |
