Dungey and Baggett Win at Red Bull Budds Creek National

The points spread tightened up in both the 250 and 450 Class on Saturday as the 24^th Annual Red Bull Budds Creek National showcased ultra-competitive racing action for Round 5 of the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Reigning 450 Class champion Ryan Dungey captured his second overall victory of the season in the 450 Class. Blake Baggett returned to his winning ways from 2012 as the defending 250 Class champion secured his first overall victory of the season with a big win in Mechanicsville, Md. Saturday's win marked back-to-back Budds Creek victories for both riders in their respective classes.

 

Yoshimura Suzuki's James Stewart laid down the fastest lap of the day in the 450 Class, where he came into Moto 1 with the first choice of gate pick. However, it was Toyota/JGR/Yamaha's Justin Brayton and Smartop/MotoConcepts Racing's Mike Alessi who went head-to-head for the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot, which Alessi secured at the last second. From there, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto grabbed the early lead and immediately put a gap on the rest of the field.

 

Ryan Dungey has won back-to-back at Budds Creek in the 450 Class Courtesy: Simon Cudby

 

Villopoto and Dungey each controlled their own destiny heading into Moto 2 of the 450 Class, holding the first two positions from Moto 1. Alessi grabbed the holeshot in the second moto but Dungey immediately grabbed the early lead. Off the start Villopoto was just inside the top 10 but the points leader quickly made his way inside the top five with his sights set on Dungey. From there, Villopoto reached the second place position but Dungey had already put a sizeable gap on the second place rider.

Trey Canard secured his best overall finish of the season at Budds Creek Courtesy: Simon Cudby

"With more intensity and more guys out there this year, it keeps you on your feet and you really have to push it," said 450 Class winner Ryan Dungey. "I feel like we've made good progress with the bike, the last couple of weeks we've been doing a lot of testing and it was good to see everything pay off today."

 

Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda's Malcolm Stewart was able to secure a career best finish of third place in the second moto, finishing fourth overall with a score of (9-3) for the day. Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard finished fourth place behind Malcolm in the second moto, which was good enough for Canard to secure his first overall podium finish of the season with third place.

Blake Baggett secured his first overall victory of the season in the 250 Class Courtesy: Simon Cudby

GEICO Honda's Wil Hahn made a valiant return to Lucas Oil Pro Motocross after missing the first four rounds with a wrist injury, grabbing the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot in Moto 1 of the 250 Class. Hahn was joined by an onslaught of others right away, including FMF/Orange Brigade/KTM's Joey Savatgy, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's rookie Adam Cianciarulo and Rockstar Energy Racing's Jason Anderson.

 

However, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin, who has cemented the last two consecutive overall victories in the 250 Class, wasted little time getting out front in Moto 1. Musquin opened a gap on the rest of the field early on, while his teammate Ken Roczen spent the first few laps chasing Anderson and Hahn, as the three battled it out for second place. Defending 250 Class champion Blake Baggett began Moto 1 around the tenth place position where he quickly climbed his way to the front with a few laps to go. Baggett, Musquin and Roczen traded positions throughout the final laps, but it was Baggett who secured the moto win, followed by Musquin and then Roczen.

450 Class Podium: (left) Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Trey Canard Courtesy: Simon Cudby

In Moto 2 of the 250 Class, Hahn once again came out swinging with the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot and early lead. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Darryn Durham put in a season best ride in the second moto, leading the first half of the race. However, after beginning the race outside the top ten, Tomac eventually caught up to Durham and took over the lead late in the race. Tomac maintained his position out front, taking the Moto 2 win and second overall for the day.

 

Baggett held on for the second place finish in Moto 2 and his (1-2) moto score was good enough to give the defending champion his first overall win of the season in the 250 Class. Durham maintained the third place position to secure his first career podium finish in Moto 2. Musquin and Roczen both finished outside of the top five for the first time all season, giving them third and fourth place overall, respectively.

250 Class Podium: (left) Eli Tomac, Blake Baggett, Marvin Musquin Courtesy: Simon Cudby

Round 6 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to Southwick, Mass., for the Chaplin Kawasaki Moto-X 338 National on Saturday, June 29.

 

Red Bull Budds Creek National is Round 5 of 12

 

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-1)

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-2)

3. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda, (6-4)

4. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda (9-3)

5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (4-8)

6. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (7-7)

7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (10-5)

8. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki (8-10)

9. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (15-6)

10. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (12-9)   

 

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 240
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 224
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 179
4. Trey Canard, Oklahoma City, Okla., Honda, 153
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki,136

6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 122

7. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki, 95

8. Ryan Sipes, Elizabethtown, Ky., Suzuki, 95

9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 94

10. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki, 93 

 

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (1-2)

2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-1)

3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (2-7)

4. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (3-6)

5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (6-5)

6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (4-11)

7. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki (13-3)

8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (7-9)

9. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda (17-4)

10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (10-10)   

 

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 220
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 211

3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 199

4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 188
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda, 149
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 128

7. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 109

8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 107

9. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 104

10. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 99