Photo: KTM Images
The 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship went to Mechanicsville, Maryland for the Budds Creek National, and for the third-straight week it was all orange at the front of the 450 Class. Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey dominated both of the 450 Class motos and left Budds Creek with a six-moto winning streak and a fast growing fifty-four point lead in the Championship. While the 450 Class was a yawner, the 250 Class once again put on a hell of a show. In the end, it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett getting his first overall since the opener at Hangtown—with a 2-1 score—and stretching his points lead to thirteen points.
In the first 450 moto, it was MuscleMilk/Honda’s Justin Brayton with the holeshot. Justin has struggled in 2012, so it was good to see the #10 up front, but it would not last as Ryan Dungey quickly took the lead and never looked back. Justin did, however, hang on for his best moto finish of the year with a fifth in moto one. After passing Justin for the lead, the #5 made his moto one win look like a stroll in the park and easily cruised to a forty-three second win. Ryan was blazing fast with an average lap time for moto one (2:02.497) that was faster than anyone’s fastest lap of the race, a feat that is simply amazing.
Finishing in second and scoring his best-ever moto finish in moto one was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle. Broc has really come alive in the 450 Class, and moto one at Budds Creek was a definite statement for the #25. After starting in fourth, he went around Brayton and then MotoConcepts’ Mike Alessi like they were tied to a pole and left them. From there, Broc rode a solid race all alone in second.
Behind Broc was the best race of the moto. From the beginning of moto one, Monster/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer was behind Alessi, and the two played a game of chess for the whole moto. Late in the race, it was beginning to look like Alessi had third locked up, but Jake made a late-race run at him and a mistake by the #800 in a rut allowed the #21 to sneak by. Jake went on to finish third with Mike a close fourth in moto one. With Jake and Mike battling for second in the points, it was a big pass for Weimer.
In the second 450 moto, it was Mr. Holeshot—Mike Alessi—with the holeshot and early lead, but unfortunately for Mike,he was instantly greeted by the #5 on his rear wheel. Mikey rode a 30-foot wide bike trying to keep Dungey at bay, but it was no use. The 2010 450 Motocross Champion was going to the front and nothing was going to stop him. Once around Mike, Dungey rode off into the sunset for another crushing win–this time by thirty-three seconds. Dungey is looking like an unstoppable machine at the moment.
Backing up his best-ever moto finish from moto one in moto two was Broc Tickle. Broc started in third and, after pressuring Alessi for a couple of laps, made a pass stick for second. The #25 has improved in every facet of his game but especially his fitness. Broc clicked off consistent laps from start to finish all day long and was easily the second best guy at Budds Creek. Alessi tried to make a late-race run on Broc but, in the end, barely held off a charging Jake Weimer to get third in moto two. Broc went on to finish with a 2-2 for second overall ahead of Mike Alessi’s 4-3 for third overall and Jake Weimer’s 3-4 for fourth.
Coming into Budds Creek, most of the hype for the 2012 Lucas Oil pro Motocross Championship surrounded the 250 Class and the four man dog fight at the front of the pack. With GEICO/Honda’s Eli Tomac becomming the first two-time winner for the 2012 season some thought he may have taken the reigns. At Budds Creek, though the #17 was never a factor for the win and thus reaffirmed that it is still anyone’s game.
In the first moto of the 250 Class, it was all Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia early on. The Red Bull/KTM pilot grabbed the early lead and, with GEICO/Honda’s Barcia in tow, threw down some blazing fast laps. The two checked out early and gapped Blake Baggett who was back in third, but with Baggett, you just know he will somehow close that gap late in the race.
Up front, Roczen looked in complete control for the first twenty minutes. Every time Barcia would climb up to his rear wheel, the German was able to respond with a charge of his own and pull a gap. That was until Baggett joined the party from way back and made it a three-horse race. With Baggett on his rear wheel, Barcia switched gears and immediately went after the #70 and, on lap twelve, took over the lead. The pass came right before the finish line jump, and Barcia put an exclamation point on the pass with a huge whip in Roczen’s face. Roczen, looking rattled, was quickly passed by Baggett as well.
At first, it looked like Barcia and Baggett were going to check out for their own little battle, but in the end, it was a three-way fight all the way to the checkered flag. Barcia held on to win his third-straight moto one with Baggett and Roczen right on his rear wheel. Finishing fourth and fifth were Red Bull/KTM’s Marvin Musquin and Eli Tomac. Tomac was in fourth early but had some issues and fell back to a full minute behind in fifth.
The beginning of 250 moto two saw Roczen grabbing the holeshot and sprinting out to a big early lead. With the memory of throwing last week’s win away fresh on his mind, Roczen went to work on trying to score his first AMA Motocross moto win. Kenny looked blazing fast and consistent, but as the race wore on, Baggett was getting faster and closing.
After a third place start and six laps spent trying to pass Kenny’s teammate Musquin, Baggett moved into second and put on his typical late-race charge to the front. With the clock winding down, Baggett turned the fastest laps of the race and quickly got his hooks into the #70’s rear wheel. About the time Baggett got to Kenny’s rear wheel, Kenny ran into a group of lappers. With lappers all around, Baggett made his move and secured the lead. From there, the #12 rode away from Roczen and went on to win moto two and the overall with a 2-1. Kenny looked very frustrated and fell back to finish fifteen seconds behind Baggett, but still held on for second. With his 3-2 score, Kenny scored his AMA Motocross career-best second overall.
Crossing the line in third and fourth were Eli Tomac and Marvin Musquin. Eli got a decent start in moto two, but never looked comfortable on the Budds Creek circuit. Despite not having the speed to challenge for the win, the #17 still salvaged decent points in the Championship with a 4-3 score for fourth overall. Musquin, who has desperately wanted to get into the mix with the top four, accomplished that with a 4-4 score but still walked away with fifth overall.
The man that finished third overall was the moto one winner Justin Barcia. After winning moto one, Bam Bam got a bad start in moto two and was not able to get any further forward than fifth. With a 1-5 score, he was able to secure the third spot on the box and now heads into the two week break with a thirteen-point deficit in the Championship to Blake Baggett.
450 Class Overall Full Budds Creek results
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-1) 2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (2-2) 3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (4-3) 4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-4) 5. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda (5-8) 6. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (8-6) 7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (10-5) 8. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha (9-7) 9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (6-10) 10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (7-11)
450 Class Points Standings Click here for full Championship Points
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 236 2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 182 3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 179 4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 154 5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 142 6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 134 7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 116 8. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 111 9. Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha, 95 10. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 93
250 Class Overall Results Full Budds Creek results
1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-1) 2. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (3-2) 3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (1-5) 4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-3) 5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (4-4) 6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki (7-6) 7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (6-7) 8. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda (13-8) 9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda (12-10) 10. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Honda (14-9)
250 Class Points Standings Click here for full Championship Points
1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 222 2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 209 3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 200 4. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 200 5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 153 6. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 130 7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki, 106 8. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 102 9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 99 10. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha, 96
