Ryan Villopoto and Eli Tomac clinch 2013 Championships
Sunday 18 August: At the inaugural Built Ford Tough Utah National (Round 11 of 12) there were title triumphs in a historic day at Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah.
Over
21,000 fans were on hand to witness a historic day at Miller
Motorsports Park for Saturday's Built Ford Tough Utah National, where
two champions were crowned at the inaugural event in Tooele, Utah. By
virtue of a 1-1 moto sweep, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto
captured his second career 450 Class Championship, while GEICO Honda's
Eli Tomac clinched his first ever 250 Class title at Round 11 of the
2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Villopoto
began the day with his third consecutive Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot
in Moto 1 of the 450 Class, immediately putting a gap on the rest of
the field. Toyota/JGR/Yamaha's Justin Brayton jumped into the second
place position early on, with Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey and Yoshimura
Suzuki's James Stewart close in tow. Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey
Canard made his way into third, where he maintained a comfortable
position throughout the first moto.
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The inaugural Built Ford Tough Utah National showcased a historic day of racing for the fans
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Villopoto and Dungey finished first and second respectively in Moto 1, thus extending the championship chase into Moto 2.
Rockstar
Energy Racing's Ryan Sipes captured the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot
in Moto 2 but it was Villopoto who commanded the early lead. Dungey
stuck close behind as the 2012 450 Class Champion attempted to keep his
title hopes alive at the penultimate round. However, Villopoto set a
pace that couldn't be matched, finishing eleven seconds ahead of Dungey
in Moto 2.
Canard put forth a strong performance at the inaugural event, claiming third overall with a pair of third place finishes.
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Ryan Villopoto wrapped up the 450 Class Championship at the penultimate round
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Villopoto's nearly flawless performance at the Utah National was enough
to clinch the 2013 championship and become only the eleventh rider in
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross to win more than a single 450 Class
Championship. Furthermore, Villopoto's second title carries the
Washington native to a total of five Lucas Oil Pro Motocross
Championships across the 250 and 450 Classes.
"It
is gnarly to be at this level of racing but you just take it year by
year and race by race. There's really no time to sit down and look at it
as how many races do we need to win," Villopoto commented regarding his
career number of championships. "The thing that keeps us going as
racers is definitely winning. Yeah, winning is fun but during the week
it's tough."
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450 Class podium: (left) Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto, (right) Trey Canard
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
In
the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Martin Davalos
grabbed the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot in Moto 1 but the GEICO Honda
teammates of Zach Osborne, Justin Bogle and Wil Hahn surrounded the
leader right away. Osborne briefly took over the lead before 250 Class
points leader Eli Tomac made his move to the front.
Rookie
Adam Cianciarulo inserted his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki into
the brigade of Hondas early on where he maintained the second place
position for a majority of the race. Reigning 250 Class Champion Blake
Baggett began Moto 1 outside the top ten but the Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki rider caught and eventually passed his teammate for the
second place position. Cianciarulo held on to capture a career best
finish of third place in Moto 1, followed by Tomac's closest title
challenger, Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen.
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Adam Cianciarulo (292) went 3-9 for a standout rookie performance in the 250 Class
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Heading into Moto 2, the 250 Class Championship was still up for grabs
as Tomac and Roczen went head-to-head for valuable points. GEICO Honda's
Justin Bogle grabbed the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot and the early
lead until Roczen took it over on Lap 7. Tomac came from behind to apply
pressure on Roczen before the points leader eventually took over the
lead position.
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250 Class podium: (left) Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, (right) Blake Baggett
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Although
Tomac had the upper hand on Roczen in Moto 2, the championship wasn't
completely determined until Baggett entered the second place battle with
Roczen late in the race. Baggett's last-lap pass on Roczen was enough
to give Tomac the edge he needed to secure the 250 Class Championship
with a 1-1 sweep at the penultimate round.
"I
didn't really know I had the championship wrapped up, I was just going
with the flow," Tomac said after Moto 2. "I didn't really think it was
going to happen today, I am sort of in shock right now. I think it will
sink in more after I get some rest, right now I'm pretty tired and just
out of energy."
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The GEICO Honda team celebrates Eli Tomac's first 250 Class Championship
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Baggett captured second overall with a consistent 2-2 moto score, while Roczen came in third with 4-3 finishes.
The 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season finale will take place next Saturday, August 24 in Lake Elsinore, Calif., with the Red Bull Lake Elsinore National.
450 Class (Moto Finish)
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-1)
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-2)
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (3-3)
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (5-5)
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (6-7)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (11-4)
- Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki (8-6)
- Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (12-8)
- Matt Goerke, Sun City, Calif., KTM (9-11)
- Ben LaMay, Wasilla, Ala., Yamaha (13-10)
450 Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 513
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 463
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 375
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 303
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 289
- Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki, 244
- Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM, 238
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 216
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 208
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 204
250 Class (Moto Finish)
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (1-1)
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-2)
- Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (4-3)
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (3-9)
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (9-4)
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki (8-5)
- Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (5-8)
- Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha (7-7)
- Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda (6-10)
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (10-14)
250 Class Championship Standings
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 505
- Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 454
- Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 388
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 373
- Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda, 322
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 268
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 264
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 256
- Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 217
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 214
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