Jeffrey Herlings stole the show at the finale. Photo by: CJ Zimmerman
The 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship went to Ironman MX in Crawforsville, IN. for the final round, and the fans were witness to arguably the best ride in the history of the sport by a foreign invader. Red Bull / KTM’s Dutchman, Jeffrey Herlings, surprised everyone when he signed up for the Lucas Oil Pro MX finale, and he blew everyone away with a perfect 1-1 day in the 450 class.
Another headline at the finale, Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac locked down his first ever 450 championship with a very conservative 5-6 for sixth overall on the day. It was a huge accomplishment for the #3 in his fourth year in the 450 class. He will now head to the USGP next weekend to avenge his loss to Herlings with the pressure of a title behind him and a large well deserved bonus check in the bank.
In the 250 class, Rockstar / Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne capped off his 2017 250 AMA Motocross National Championship with a 1-1, and his fifth overall win of the year. The race was officially Zach’s last 250 outdoor race of his career—next year he will race 250’s in SX and 450’s outdoors. Zach will now take a couple weeks off before heading to England to represent Team USA in the 2017 MXoN at Matterley Basin.
With the 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in the record books, we gathered a few post race quotes from the season finale, and the 2017 Ironman National.
Eli Tomac: (450 Champ) “It’s pretty unbelievable. It’s going to take a little more time to sink in, but it has been a long time coming! We have had to overcome a lot together and I just came in ready and fired up to get it done for the entire Kawasaki team. That was not easy at all. I went back after the first moto and thought ‘is it really going like this?’ I think I let my ego get the best of me in the first moto and needed to take it all in before the second moto. We went out there and did what we needed to do. This [championship] has been a long time coming and it feels amazing to finally accomplish it. I’m kind of at a loss for words right now.”
Jeffrey Herlings: (1st in 450) “Welcome to America! I came, I saw and I conquered. (laughs) I had a bit of luck in the second moto, but I had some bad luck too. I crashed in the first turn and I had to come back all the way from dead last. I showed everybody that I was the fastest guy on the track every time I went out. I’m very happy with the result, and I’m looking forward to next weekend [USGP]. I can’t believe we did it. The first time out we won. I’m pretty thankful, and I’m very happy. I can’t believe how good American fans are and how good the tracks are. The tracks are so badass!”
Zach Osborne: (1st in 250) “Yeah, really I couldn’t have dreamed it up much better. I was hoping that’s how it would go—you know, easy day and not have to battle my face off in the back in both motos. For sure, it was just a nice day and a nice way to finish off my 250 outdoor career, also put a stamp on my championship win.”
Marvin Musquin: (2nd in 450) “Indiana was great. I was a little off in practice but I made some great progress in the motos. I was closing in on Jeffrey in the first moto and it was a good feeling. It would have been tough to pass him because he was fast and had good lines. I still finished second, which is good. Then I was leading in the second moto and, unfortunately, made a mistake with two laps to go. I came up short and lost control of the bike then went down. It was a bummer because I really wanted that overall, but I still showed people that my riding was good. Second overall is still great. The goal today was to get second in the championship and that’s what I did. I won four overalls and many motos this outdoor season – so that was a big step for me this year. Thanks to the whole Red Bull KTM team for their effort. I never gave up, even with injury, so I’m proud of that.”
Adam Cianciarulo: (2nd in 250) “Overall, it was a great weekend and phenomenal season. I was off at the beginning of the season, but we turned it around near the end and won some motos and an overall. It feels great to finish a full season healthy and in the Top 3 in points. I can’t wait for Anaheim 1.”
Mitch Payton: (PC Team Manager) “This year was good,” said Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team Manager and Owner, Mitch Payton. “We had some amazing talent under the tent this year and I believe it showed on the track. We picked up a couple wins indoors and outdoors, including a West Coast Supercross Championship and really showcased what the 2017 KX250F is capable of. I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for us and Kawasaki.”
Blake Baggett: ( in 450) “I just tried to get good starts. I know that Marvin has been on a role lately and he’s gonna be there. I knew that was the case, so I tried to ride my best and just be there. I just came up a little bit short. I gave it my all this season and I wasn’t able to get it done. I’m proud of myself for being able to grind it out through the [thumb] injury, and keep pushing. And also, take it to the last moto.”
Colt Nichols: (1st in 250) “It was awesome to cap it off like that [with a podium]. I’ve wanted to do that all year and I feel like we’ve been so close. Especially at the beginning of the year—we came out on fire. Once we went back east, things weren’t going the way we wanted it. Whether it be during the week or on weekends, everything was kind of rocky there for a while. We figured some stuff out with the bike that was huge, and the last two weekends have been better for me. This weekend I thought, you know what, I’m going to go leave it all on the line and see what happens. I went 3-4, got to battle with some really good guy and that’s where I think I should of been all year.”
Cole Seely: (4th in 450) “It would have been nice to cap off the season with a podium, but everyone was super quick today and I’m happy to have been able to run up front in the last race. This season was another grueling one with lots of riders having injuries so it’s good to be healthy when it’s all said and done. For how terrible today started, it ended up pretty good. I’ve been fighting a sickness for the past couple days and today it decided to kick up a notch, so I woke up feeling like I may not even be able to race. In practice I just went out and tried to lay down at least one fast lap before pulling off because I felt so weak and out of it. My time got me into ninth, which wasn’t great by any means but good enough. In the races, I just got off to two good starts, gave it my all, and tried to ignore how I was feeling. I felt pretty good once I was out there and it ended up being an awesome day with two fourths. I was really trying to hang on to top-five in points, so I’m happy with that and think it was a great way to end the season.
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Justin Hill: (11th in 250) “Today went well. My qualifying times were good and my body felt great all day. I was shooting for a Top 10 finish, but 11th isn’t bad at all. I appreciate the whole team for sticking behind me this year and I am looking forward to having some fun next weekend at the MXGP of USA.”
Christian Craig: ( in 450) “Today went pretty decent. I qualified well and just went into the motos wanting to finish the season strong. I’ve had a couple weekends of mediocre results where I could’ve done so much better but just wasn’t making it happen. I really wanted to go in there and show I could be up front. In the first moto, I was dicing my way through people when I had problem with my clutch midway through and couldn’t use it for a while. It ended up coming back toward the end so I just pushed through to ninth. I got a worse start in the second moto but tried to just give it my all. It was the last one of the year so I wanted to end in a good position, and I’m happy with seventh. I don’t think 9-7 for eighth overall is where I want to be—I want to be top-five—but it is what it is and I gave it my all. I know what I need to work on in this off-season.”
Sean Cantrell: (8th in 250) “If there is a way you should go out for the season it is with a season best finish. It was a long time coming and I’m so happy to keep the team inside the top 10. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned over the past 12 races and I feel like it all came together for a solid day.”
Cooper Webb: (5th in 450) “Solid day at Ironman yesterday. Qualified 5th and went 6-5 for 5th overall. Glad to end the season with a good result, and very excited to swing my leg over the 2018 bike this weekend at the MXGP. Thanks everyone for all the support for this up and down season
Chase Sexton: (6th in 250) “Ironman was a really fun track!. Started off the day with P3 in qualifying which was good! First moto got off to a great start and felt really good on the bike and I was third until a lap and a half to go. Then a lapper slowed down right in the main line which ultimately put me in the ground. Second moto got another good start and was running fifth most of the moto until my teammate and I got together which moved me back to sixth. Ended up sixth overall on the day, but I finally got to show what I had being out front. Had a blast running with the top guys!”
Dean Wilson: (10th in 450) “I came into the day pretty under the weather and sick. I didn’t have any energy and felt really depleted, which made it one of the hardest races I’ve ever done. I still got fourth overall in points, and I’m looking forward to having a great off-season and coming back strong. My goal was 29 races, and I did that. I definitely want to step my speed up. Right now I’m going to focus on getting some rest so I can have a great Motocross Of Nations.”
Jeremy Martin: (4th in 250) “I felt pretty solid on my GEICO Honda at Ironman Raceway. Went 8-3 for fourth overall. Probably would have ended up on the box overall if it wasn’t for AC and I getting together.
RJ Hamshire: (7th in 250) First practice I was P1 which I’ve never done before so that was cool. Second practice wasn’t so hot and went back to sixth. We made changes after that practice on the bike and went the wrong way for that first moto. I got caught up in that second turn crash and then it took me about six laps to get going. I just felt all over the place. Ended up working all the way to seventh with sixth right there and then I went down with two to go. Threw away some spots there. That was something we haven’t done since I’ve been back racing so I was kind of bummed on that. Second moto had another bad start but worked up to fifth. Felt way better on the bike after we went back to where we started the day. I’m happy with the progress we made this outdoor season and really looking forward to the GP this weekend then a productive off season.”
