Can I get a Red Bud!!? Yes, sir, it is that time of year again. It’s fourth of July weekend, and in the world of motocross that can mean only one thing: time for round number six of the Lucas Oil 450 AMA Motocross Championship and the the Rockstar Energy Drink Red BudNational in Buchanan, Michigan. Since the first National was held at Red Bud back in 1974, it has been considered by many the premier motocross destination in the United States, and since 1978, has been the place where the motocross faithful celebrate the birth of the nation on the fourth of July weekend. With a gate full of roaring 450’s, a serious championship fight heating up, and throw in some local Red Bud crazies, there is sure to be plenty of fourth of July fireworks on and off the track this weekend.

Leading the way into Red Bud is the Two-Two Motosports/Honda rider Chad Reed. The 2009 Motocross Champion had been a man amongst boys in the first four rounds of the series, but found himself watching the boys ride away from him at Thunder Valley. Last weekend, Chad was in a tough spot with his comfort level at an all time low for 2011—and with two Ryans looking to prove a point. In the end, the veteran Australian warrior was able to salvage a solid 3-3 score for third overall and land on the box for the sixth-straight race in 2011. Chad showed in Lakewood that, even on his bad days, you can expect to see him on the box, and he was able to maintain a solid eight-point lead in the Championship. Now heading to a track Reedy has notoriously done well at, we will soon find out if last weekend was a fluke or if the tides have truly shifted in the Championship. If Reed can bounce back with a win at Red Bud,  he would put a huge dent in the confidence of both Ryans.

Ryan Villopoto - Red Budd National - 2011
RV2 heads to Red Bud trailing Reedy by only eight points in the Championship. Photo by Hoppenworld

The man that moved within striking distance in the Championship points of the number twenty-two in Lakewood was the Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto. For the second week in a row since the week off, Ryan showed us the speed and aggression that led him to three 250 motocross titles. At round five, the 2011 Supercross Champ was unstoppable in moto one and ran away with an easy win, but in moto two was edged out by the number one Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki of Ryan Dungey. Villopoto came into the 2011 as the favorite for the 2011 MX Championship for many experts and fans, and it is beginning to show why. With the series nearing the halfway mark and RV2 only eight points behind Reed, he may be right where he wants to be. It’s important that Ryan makes a solid statement this weekend at Red Bud and begins to show Dungey and Reed that there just may be a new sheriff in town.

The sheriff from the 2010 Motocross Championship might have something to say about that, though. The man carrying that incredibly heavy number one plate finally lifted it all the way to the top step of the podium at Thunder Valley. After running out of gas with a sure overall win at Freestone, Ryan Dungey spent two rounds struggling to find his way to the front of the pack. After his hard fought 2-1 score in Colorado for the overall win, Ryan scored his first overall and put those struggles in the past. In doing so, he also showed everyone that he can straight up put a whoopin’ on anyone at any time. If anyone needed a win at this point of the series, it was Ryan, and now that it’s behind him, the Championship is officially on. Ryan sits twenty-one points back and with fourteen motos still to be run—not enough to count the Minnesota man out of anything. Ryan flat out hauls the mail at Red Bud, so this could be one incredible three race war on Saturday.

Ryan Dungey - Red Budd National - 2011
Can RD1 make it two in a row at Red Bud and begin to close the twenty-one point gap on Reedy? Photo by Hoppenworld

Behind the top three, it’s been a long distance back to the rest of the pack. There have been flashes by riders like Brett Metcalfe, Kevin Windham, Mike Alessi, Christian Craig and a few others, but nothing that’s led us to believe that anyone is going to challenge the top three. Last weekend, we had a surprise appearance in the top five by someone who has one a national in the past: MotoConcepts/Yamaha’s Tommy Hahn. All season long, little mistakes and nagging injuries have plagued the very likable Texan, but it looks like he’s putting that behind him. Tommy came from fortieth to eleventh in moto one and from outside the top ten to fifth in moto two for a season’s best sixth in Lakewood. Tommy is a rider you can’t help but lean over the fence and root for, so we are hoping that Tommy’s appearances in the top five will not be a surprise for long.

We are also excited to get to see a lot more of Kevin Windham this summer. The Factory Honda “fill-in” rider announced via Twitter this week that we will see him at every round of the Outdoor Nationals. Seven more rounds of K’dub in poetic motion on a motocross track is a gift to the fans, so make sure you get out to a track near you to enjoy it. I know we’ve said it before, but it could very well be the last chance you get to see K’dub race Nationals. Thanks, K’dub, for doing what you do—and for how long you’ve done it.

Kevin Windham - K'dub - Red Budd National - 2011
Fans will be treated to seven more rounds of this in 2011. Photo by Hoppenworld

In the news this week, MotoConcepts/Yamaha picked up two privateers for the Nationals and put them in their semi. Jake Canada and Ben LaMay were both signed on to the team. Last week, Jake Canada debuted as a privateer in the 450 class and made an impression with a tenth overall. Ben LaMay has also gained some attention for scratching and fighting to solid top twenty performances all year. Congratulations and good luck to both of them.

An update on Trey Canard: we talked with Trey this week for “The Inside Story” interview. Check it out here. Trey is riding, but gave no date on his return. He simply said he is taking it day by day and will return when he’s 100%. We hope to see him back soon.

Enjoy your fourth of July weekend! And one more time: can I get a Red Bud!!?

Tommy Hahn - Red Budd National - 2011
Can Tommy improve on his fifth place in the last moto in Lakewood at Red Bud? Photo by Hoppenworld
450 Motocross Points After Five Rounds

1 22 Chad Reed 223 
2 2 Ryan Villopoto 215 
3 1 Ryan Dungey 202 
4 14 Kevin Windham 148 
5 18 David Millsaps 145 
6 24 Brett Metcalfe 144 
7 539 Ricky Dietrich 109 
8 29 Andrew Short 102 
9 32 Jacob Weimer 100 
10 144 Christian Craig 97 
Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.