2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship ends this weekend at Lake Elsinore
Thursday 22 August: The 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship concludes this Saturday (SoCal time) with the 2nd Annual Red Bull Lake Elsinore National - Southern California's hotbed of Motocross.
Jen Kenyon - writes for MX Sports Pro Racing.
Following
11 rounds of grueling competition on the most challenging and demanding
tracks in the country, the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship,
sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will come to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday with the 2nd Annual Red Bull Lake Elsinore National in Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Although
the 250 and 450 Class titles have already been decided, there is still
plenty on the line as riders look to capture the final overall victory
of the season at Round 12. For Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey, a win at
Saturday's finale would allow the 2012 450 Class Champion to move into
second place in all-time race wins in the 450 Class, where he currently
sits tied with Bob Hannah at 27 career wins, three of which he earned in
2013. A fourth victory this season would also allow Dungey to maintain
an undefeated record at the Lake Elsinore National.
|
Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Southern California. Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Monster
Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto has put forth a dominant season,
winning 16 of the first 22 motos to clinch the 450 Class Championship
one round early. Villopoto has enjoyed seven overall wins through the
first 11 rounds this season, putting him in a three-way-tie with Mike
LaRocco and Gary Jones at 11 all-time career wins. Furthermore, an
overall victory at Saturday's Lake Elsinore National would put Villopoto
among the top 10 all-time race winners in the 450 Class.
|
Ryan Villopoto (2) already has the 450 Class title in hand. Courtesy: Matt Rice / AlliSports.com |
Team
Honda Muscle Milk riders Justin Barcia and Trey Canard, sitting third
and fourth place, respectively, in the championship standings, will each
look to become first-time winners at Saturday's finale. Barcia has
finished as high as second place overall in his first full season in the
450 Class, while Canard put forth a season-best finish of second place
at Round 9.
Recently
crowned 250 Class Champion, Eli Tomac, heads into the final round of
racing with considerable momentum as he enjoys an eight-moto winning
streak over the last four rounds. GEICO Honda's Tomac has been
especially dominant in the second half of the season where he quickly
gained valuable points over previous points leader Red Bull KTM's Ken
Roczen. Roczen holds seven moto wins so far this season and the German
World Champion will look to add two more to his record before the
season's end.
|
Ryan Dungey (1) and others will challenge RV for the final win of the season. Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Blake Baggett sits fourth in the
championship standings heading into the final round; where he currently
holds one overall win this season. In 2012, Baggett capped off his 250
Class championship-winning season by claiming the inaugural Lake
Elsinore National victory and the California native looks to make it
two-in-a-row this Saturday.
Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin sits just 15 points ahead of Baggett in
the championship standings with two overall victories to date.
|
Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin (25) and Ken Roczen (94) will vie for the final 250 Class victory
Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Located
in the hotbed of the motocross industry, and about an hour outside of
the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego, Lake Elsinore
Motorsports Park serves as an ideal location for fans of the sport
across the entire southern portion of the state. It's also well known to
students of the sport's history as the site of the Lake Elsinore Grand
Prix, which was featured prominently in the epic motorcycle racing
documentary film On Any Sunday back in 1971 - one year before the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship was born.
The
Marc Peters-designed venue is state-of-the-art in terms of motocross
and features multiple elevation changes, spectacular obstacles, and easy
access for the fans. The facility was designed with not only riders but
spectators in mind as well, with paved roads and walkways, lush
landscaping, camping amenities and designated areas at multiple
elevations for viewing.
Championship Standings
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 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
|