Ryan Villopoto and Eli Tomac clinch 2013 ChampionshipsOver 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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
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)
450 Class Championship Standings
250 Class (Moto Finish)
250 Class Championship Standings
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