The Glen Helen National and round number two of the 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships has come and gone. Both classes provided some surprising outcomes with Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin taking the overall in the 450 class with a 1-3 score, and Rockstar / Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne using a consistent 4-2 day to score his second overall win in a row.
With Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac having a rough day—2-19 score for 9th overall—Marvin left Glen Helen with the red plate and a 15-point lead in the 450MX championship. For Zach, his second straight overall win stretched his 250MX championship points lead to 21 over Monster Energy / Pro Circuit / Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo.
Joining Marvin on the 450MX podium was Rockstar / Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson (5-1) in second and Rocky Mountain ATV/MC / KTM’s Blake Baggett (8-2) in third. Finishing on the box with Osborne in the 250MX class was GEICO / Honda’s Jeremy Martin (1-7) in second overall and Star Racing / Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis (9-1) in third. Consistency was the name of the game at round two.
After the races were run and the points were added up, we gathered some post race quotes from a good portion of the top riders at Glen Helen.
Marvin Musquin: (1st in 450MX) “Yeah, obviously the goal is to try and win, especially after last weekend and getting second. Glen Helen is a unique track and to be able to win that first moto is incredible. I got the holeshot and rode pretty good—just consistent—and was able to grab my first ever win in the outdoors on the 450. In the second moto I really wanted to get a good start. I knew it was going to be tough. Rough and physically tough. Unfortunately—I was in the top ten—I was not in a good position to fight for the win. I was missing a little bit of speed in the beginning. Those guys, Blake [Baggett] and Jason [Anderson], were riding really well. I came back to third place and that’s all I could do in the second moto. I was behind and not far back and they were pushing. I just tried to be consistent, but to walk away from Glen Helen with the red plate and the first overall, it’s unbelievable.”
Zach Osborne: (1st in 250MX) “Today I woke up with a little bit of a sore throat, so I was a little concerned with how the day was going to go. I didn’t get the most ideal start in the first moto, but I came from 15th up to fourth. I really focused on my start in the second moto and tried to put it up front. I just rode a smart race in second and took the overall.”
Jason Anderson: (2nd in 450MX) “I was top-five in practice, and my weekend turned out pretty well. I had a couple tip overs in the first moto, but still worked my way up to fifth. I started toward the front in the second moto then worked my way through all the guys in front of me and was able to get my first 450 moto win.”
Jeremy Martin: (2nd in 250MX) “Things are good. We made some improvements from Hangtown. I hadn’t raced in a while—since Daytona. I was a little nervous. I thought we had the bike pretty good, and then we had to make some changes to the bike midweek leading up to Glen Helen here this weekend. The improvements were night and day better. I was able to ride more like me. It’s taken me a little bit to kind of learn the Honda. I was on the Yamaha for so long that I tried to kind of set my Honda up that way, but you can’t do that. It’s a completely different bike. I’ve definitely learned a lot this year as far as setting up and having an open mind. The body is healthy now. Last year I was so run down. My inflammation levels in my body were insanely high. My cortisol levels were through the roof. I was caffeine-dependent. I was a wreck. It wasn’t me last year. This year we’re fit, we’re healthy and I’m getting more comfortable on the bike, too. I had to change some things on how I ride for the Honda. We’ll keep getting better.”
Blake Baggett: (3rd in 450MX) “It was good to start out at the second round and end up on the box. The first moto didn’t go as planned by all means, but in the second moto I turned it around and had a pretty good day. I can’t ask for anything more than leading some laps. In that last one, Jason [Anderson] had a little more speed, but we had a pretty good pace and a pretty good gap.”
Dylan Ferrandis: (3rd in 250MX) “For sure last weekend was not what I expect at all. I was feeling good in the first moto, but I don’t want to burn out physically. I was just easy. I landed in a bad situation and had a big crash. I had a small concussion, but that was not the problem at all. The problem was my neck and my chest was really sore and stiff all the week and painful also. So, I rest today and make the protocol for the concussion test. I went to the hospital and take the test and everything was good. My brain was really good, no problem. The problem was really I was sore and painful from the top of my body. I put ice on it every day, I go to the doctor, my girlfriend helped me a lot and I did everything I can to have as good a recovery as possible.”
Adam Cianciarulo: (4th in 250MX) “Crashing on the first lap, just a few turns in was really frustrating. I’m in this for the title and I knew every position counted so I worked as hard as I could until the end. Moto 2 I was able to come out at the front, which made things a lot easier for that race. I know I’m capable of leading races so I just need to be patient because it will come.”
Cole Seely: (9th in 450MX) “It was a decent race overall, but I want to be able to stay up front with those guys. I know I have the speed, I just have to get back up to running the pace for the whole 30. With the injury it’s hard to be able to go hard all week and be able to come out on the weekend and keep the pace. We’re building so I’m confident we’ll be there soon.”
Joey Savatgy: (9th in 250MX) “I felt great today. I just need to keep my eye on the prize and not let any misfortune get me down. I’ll be focusing on the really good ride I had in Moto 1 and I was feeling good in Moto 2. Things happen, so it’s my job to keep a good outlook and come back swinging next weekend.”
Kyle Cunningham: (DNF & injured in 250MX) “Just wanted to give everyone an update after yesterday,” Kyle Cunningham said from Instagram. “After a crash in Moto 1 and the bike hitting me in my back left side I was rushed to the hospital with Doc being concerned about my kidney and spleen. Luckily after all of the tests both are ok. I have a hematoma in that area and probably some cartilage damage along with some ribs out of place. I’m pretty sore today but hoping to have therapy done this week and be racing at Colorado. At this point I’m not sure if that will happen but I’m going to do everything in my power to make that possible! Thank you to everyone for all of the love and text messages checking on me.”
Martin Davalos: (13th in 450MX) “Glen Helen is such a gnarly track. I feel like I’ve been fighting a little too much with myself. I just need to be a little more patient. I didn’t get a great start in the first moto, then was running in seventh in the second moto then fell back to ninth. Top-10 is always the goal, and I know I can run up there, I just need to put two good motos together. Next week is Colorado, and that’s my favorite round, so I’m really looking forward to that one.”
Austin Forkner: (13th in 250MX) “It was a bit of an up and down day. I felt good, but struggled here and there in that first moto and then we had the issue. I am glad we were able to come back in Moto 2 and prove our speed a little bit more. We have another weekend and another chance to show what we can do so I’m really looking forward to Colorado.”
Eli Tomac: (9th in 450MX) “It just wasn’t in the cards for us today. The team and I were in a good spot today and my bike felt great during qualifying, but just had some bad luck when the gate dropped. It’s a long season and we’ll be back next weekend.”
Alex Martin: (6th in 250MX) “I thought I could be up front with those guys, but my starts didn’t go to plan. They are really important on a track like this where everyone can get separated pretty quick. I think we’ll have something for next weekend.”
Dean Wilson: (4th in 450MX) “I finished sixth in the first moto. I got a little pumped up but then found my rhythm halfway through the race and ended up sixth – which wasn’t too bad. I had to come through the pack in my second moto and ended up seventh. I feel like I was capable to be on the podium, but I still got fourth overall so it’s good.”
Shane McElrath: (11th in 250MX) “We’re moving in the right direction and that’s what matters. After going 13th overall and then 11th, I’d love to be able to break in to the top-10 next weekend.”
Christian Craig: (12th in 450MX) [Injured in moto 2] “”Glen Helen was pretty positive for me overall. I felt awesome all day and was excited for the day in general and motivated more than ever to show where I belong. In the first moto I got a great start and was running third almost the entire moto until Eli [Tomac] got me. I finished fourth, which is my best finish in a 450 moto. I was pumped with how I rode and where my fitness was. Knowing I’m able to run up front with the best in our sport is a good boost to my confidence. The second moto started out great too. I pulled the holeshot, led four laps, and then was passed by [Blake] Baggett and [Jason] Anderson. They were charging hard but I kept with them for a while. Twenty minutes in, my front end tucked on a jump and I went down hard. I punched the dirt with my hand and ended up getting a ‘boxer break.’ Luckily the break isn’t nearly as bad as it could’ve been. I’ll be getting it plated on Monday and hope to be back on the bike within a couple weeks. Although my day ended with an injury, overall I’m pleased with my riding today and happy I was able to put my bike up front. I can’t thank the entire team enough for always being positive and supporting me through the good and bad. I’m looking forward to getting back out front!”
Sean Cantrell: (12th in 250MX) “Each week has been a learning experience and I have a great team that supports me no matter what. It makes you want to go out and have the best moto of the year when they encourage you. I’m looking forward to getting out to another round next weekend.”
Justin Hill: (18th in 250MX) “A little bummer in the first moto, but at least I was well rested for Moto 2 because I didn’t get a great start and had to work through the pack. I think I’ve been improving each week so now we have to get a handle on the starts because with 40 riders headed into the first turn, it’s a pretty big deal to get up front early.”
Michael Mosiman: (8th in 250MX) “The track was so rough here at Glen Helen. I managed to get two good starts. The key was to try and get on the line from your practice start because it was deep. I got caught up with Cantrell a little bit in the first moto, and we were stuck for a little bit. I got back up, kept moving forward, and made it up to eighth. I was stoked, and it was super cool to see all the fans and some of my friends cheering me on. It was an unreal experience. The track was so rough, and I had so many close calls so I’m glad I made it out in one piece. I’m pretty happy. It was my first top-10 and only my second race.”
Josh Grant: (10th in 450MX) “Today could have gone better. I started the day off with great qualifying times right behind Eli and followed it up with another podium finish in the first moto. I ran into some issues in Moto 2 and had to call it quits. We’re still in this as a team and I’m looking forward to bouncing back.”
Jimmy Decotis: (17th in 250MX) “These first two rounds have been tough for me. I’ve been struggling with a sickness since the week before Hangtown and feel my body is now just slowly starting to come around again. I qualified 11th and then I finished 11th in the first moto and we had a mechanical DNF in the second Moto. Everyone at GEICO Honda works so hard for me and we will bounce back at Colorado. Although 11th isn’t what I want it was a good building block for me in the outdoors. Can’t wait to get my body back to 100 percent.”
Cameron McAdoo: (35th in 250MX) “Glen Helen was a rough one for us. My bike broke in moto one, but in moto two I was finally up in the fight and feeling pretty good. About 25 minutes into the moto I hit neutral off the face of a jump that had some ruts and kickers which resulted in a pretty big crash ending my day. It was not fun! Glad I’m healthy and we will be out there fighting next weekend!”
