by Chase Stallo
Sign of the Lap Times: Thunder Valley
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 | 4:05 PM
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PrintMomentum: Force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events.
When round three of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship began under the somber skies of Thunder Valley, in Lakewood, Colorado, James Stewart had just reeled off four straight moto wins and was in control of the series. Meanwhile, Ryan Dungey, who had pressured Stewart unmercifully at Freestone, was trying to regain momentum.
Then this happened. A photographer crossed just seconds before Stewart came barreling down the track. Moments later, Stewart was on the ground, clutching to an injured wrist. Dungey would cruise to the moto victory, and later the overall, taking the upper hand.
Now we play the waiting game. Stewart tweeted earlier that everything looks fine, as of now, with his wrist but must undergo further tests. If Stewart is able to ride at High Point this weekend, the showdown continues. But he's already down and bunch of points. And if he can't come back, we all saw what Dungey did to the field once Stewart exited.
The 250 class continued to provide fireworks of its own at Thunder Valley. Justin Barcia made a last second pass on Ken Roczen in moto two to claim his first overall since 2009. Meanwhile, Blake Baggett continues to be superhuman down the stretch, and the aforementioned Roczen picked up his third straight third place finish to begin his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship career.
450 Class
Moto 1
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 38 | 2:06.779 | 2 | 2:07.172 | James Stewart |
| 2 | 1 | 2:07.193 | 3 | 2:09.702 | Ryan Dungey |
| 3 | 3 | 2:08.622 | 3 | 2:11.615 | Brett Metcalfe |
| 4 | 7 | 2:08.697 | 3 | 2:12.870 | Andrew Short |
| 5 | 4 | 2:09.042 | 3 | 2:11.963 | Mike Alessi |
| 6 | 33 | 2:09.061 | 2 | 2:11.568 | Tommy Hahn |
| 7 | 2 | 2:09.225 | 4 | 2:11.355 | Jake Weimer |
| 8 |
35 | 2:09.437 | 3 | 2:10.478 | Broc Tickle |
| 9 | 5 | 2:09.728 | 4 | 2:11.900 | Nico Izzi |
| 10 | 8 | 2:10.076 | 16 | 2:12.317 | Josh Grant |
Moto 2
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 1 | 2:09.289 | 3 | 2:11.295 | Ryan Dungey |
| 2 | 5 | 2:10.536 | 3 | 2:13.861 | Nico Izzi |
| 3 | 2 | 2:10.587 | 3 | 2:12.412 | Andrew Short |
| 4 | 4 | 2:10.601 | 5 | 2:13.308 | Jake Weimer |
| 5 | 3 | 2:11.023 | 5 | 2:12.355 | Broc Tickle |
| 6 | 9 | 2:11.304 | 2 | 2:13.152 | Mike Alessi |
| 7 | 10 | 2:12.191 | 15 | 2:14.486 | Brett Metcalfe |
| 8 |
7 | 2:13.024 | 5 | 2:14.621 | Michael Byrne |
| 9 | 6 | 2:13.060 | 9 | 2:14.439 | Justin Brayton |
| 10 | 14 | 2:13.179 | 5 | 2:16.070 | Les Smith |
Although Stewart would exit round three early, he was still able to set the fastest time of the day with a 2:06.779 early in the first moto. And if lap times are an indicator, which they typically are, we looked to be in for yet another duel between Stewart and Dungey, as Dungey was setting a pace pretty close to Stewart’s. But the way Stewart blitzed the field on those early laps, he might have just been gone for good in that moto.
Home town hero Andrew Short once again proved to be a stalwart in the thin, glorified air of Colorado. Short ran the fourth fastest lap time in the first moto and backed it up with the third fastest in moto two en route to his first overall podium of the year.
Dungey set the fastest lap in moto two en route to the overall.
Simon Cudby photo
250 Class
Moto 1
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 3 | 2:11.789 | 15 | 2:15.336 | Blake Baggett |
| 2 | 2 | 2:12.912 | 12 | 2:15.728 | Ken Roczen |
| 3 | 1 | 2:13.425 | 13 | 2:15.328 | Justin Barcia |
| 4 |
4 | 2:14.277 | 14 | 2:17.051 | Eli Tomac |
| 5 | 5 | 2:15.832 | 9 | 2:17.601 | Marvin Musquin |
| 6 |
9 | 2:16.875 | 16 | 2:19.701 | Kyle Cunningham |
| 7 | 7 | 2:17.355 | 14 | 2:19.299 | Jake Canada |
| 8 | 6 | 2:17.492 | 15 | 2:19.149 | Blake Wharton |
| 9 | 12 | 2:17.657 | 16 | 2:20.007 | Jason Anderson |
| 10 | 8 | 2:17.724 | 14 | 2:19.639 | Malcolm Stewart |
Moto 2
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 1 | 2:08.790 | 8 | 2;10.580 | Blake Baggett |
| 2 | 3 | 2:09.401 | 6 | 2:11.502 | Eli Tomac |
| 3 | 4 | 2:10.146 | 14 | 2:12.677 | Ken Roczen |
| 4 | 2 | 2:10.673 | 15 | 2:11.578 | Justin Barcia |
| 5 | 5 | 2:12.244 | 5 | 2:14.242 | Marvin Musquin |
| 6 | 9 | 2:13.107 | 6 | 2:15.930 | Blake Wharton |
| 7 |
7 | 2:13.201 | 5 | 2:14.681 | Wil Hahn |
| 8 |
6 | 2:13.259 | 5 | 2:14.438 | Malcolm Stewart |
| 9 |
8 | 2:13.282 | 4 | 2:15.908 | Ivan Tedesco |
| 10 |
11 | 2:14.106 | 4 | 2:16.731 | Jessy Nelson |
A very rare abnormality took place in the first 250 moto. After Mother Nature let loose a barrage of high winds and rain, delaying the start of the first moto, the track was unexpectedly better according to some riders. Yet, every 250 rider, excluding Marvin Musquin, set their fastest lap in the 12-16 range. But in the end it was still Blake Baggett leading the charge down the stretch as he laid down his fastest time on lap 15.
Malcolm Stewart was finally able to break out of his early season slump at Thunder Valley. Two top ten moto finishes, his first two of the season, lead to a sixth overall finish for the younger Stewart. Inconsistency has beleaguered Malcolm in the past, but Thunder Valley may prove to be a turning point. Only time will tell.
Barcia didn't set the fastest lap in either moto, but won the overall.
Simon Cudby photo
WMX Class
Moto 1
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 1 | 2:21.931 | 5 |
2:22.721 | Jessica Patterson |
| 2 | 2 | 2:22.128 | 6 |
2:22.662 | Ashley Fiolek |
| 3 | 3 | 2:23.228 | 2 |
2:26.108 | Tarah Gieger |
| 4 | 5 | 2:29.060 | 3 | 2:31.001 | Sara Pettersson |
| 5 | 7 | 2:29.128 | 3 |
2:33.002 | Sayaka Kaneshiro |
Moto 2
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 2 | 2:23.787 | 4 |
2:28.148 |
Tarah Gieger |
| 2 | 1 | 2:24.437 | 2 |
2:25.614 | Jessica Patterson |
| 3 | 3 | 2:24.916 |
2 |
2:28.395 | Sayaka Kaneshiro |
| 4 | 6 | 2:26.674 | 2 |
2:34.987 | Ashley Fiolek |
| 5 | 4 | 2:26.926 | 7 | 2:28.633 | Mariana Balbi |
Honda's Ashley Fiolek and Rockstar Suzuki's Jessica Patterson have had seemingly thousands of great duels in the past, but their first-moto showdown in Colorado might have been their best ever. They were never more than a few feet apart the entire way, with JP$ just edging out a win.
Due to the live TV schedule, the WMXers raced at the very end and the very begining of the day. All four 450 and 250 motos took place between their races, and the crazy weather touched down, too, so things were much different for moto two. Patterson and Fiolek both had their problems but Patterson managed to win anyway over Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda's Tarah Gieger -- although Gieger did provide an upset in the lap charts, setting the fastest time in moto two. Rain or shine, morning or night, Patterson figures out a way to bring it every week.
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Blake Baggett is a badass, the fastest lap time in moto 2 of all riders including 450s.
Definitely gotta give it to Baggett for getting the fastest lap of both moto 2's but Dungey looked like he was on cruise control starting in corner 2. I really hope Stewart makes it back for the rest of the season...
The lites class has always been close in times with 450s. Simply because you can keep a 250f pinned. Like when JS used to top RCs times with a 125. Its all about wrist volumes haha.
The track was in its best condition during the 2nd 250 moto...they went out and flattened all the deep ruts before the moto....usually 2nd moto times are slower as the track get rougher....1st 250 moto was a little sloppy obviously...
Compare all the top 2nd moto times- 450 and 250 were +14 seconds on the WMX moto. Those women are fast for sure, but that is huge. Yes, that is what she said.
Jake511 = funny.
By the lap time in the first moto, someone is going to claim #7 "Would've won it all".
It's going to happen in on of these posts. Wait for it....................
My take is: #7 was going approx. 4/10ths of a second too fast to complete (about) 16 laps
I'm a Dean Wilson/Ken Roczen fan but dayamm blake baggett is fast
James did win the first moto, he had the fastest average lap time.
James stewart will win the out door mx series....He's just that good !
@carlsbad......hey you s h i t-stirrer, why don't you Shut the f--k up??!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....a-hole!!
i agree, carlsbad & ride2 r full of s..t! Yes Dungey was on cruise control, of course he was, who's going to challenge him, he was out for a Sat ride after JS misfortune, don't have to push it or hang it out, the usual RD. Can only hope JS comes back to make the 450's worth watching, don't wanna watch the 5th - 40th best riders, I'll watch the 250's, thats where the real racing is now unless JS is in. Lets be honest here, would RD win with RV, JS, CR, TC in the whole series? I highly doubt it
Don't be so sure "tricky"! Dungey is extremely solid and steady. He may not have the banzai speed of RV and JS but he would have had the title last year without those 2 mechanicals.
Everybody sayin Dungey would of won if it wasn't for the mechanicals he had last year.I say Reed would of won if he hadn't had that huge crash at Millville.He was not the same after that crash.It really doesn't matter.What matters is who wins period.James crashed Dungey didn't.Dungey won.He was better cause he didn't crash.
Whats more inportant ,The fastest lap time or the fastest ave lap time?well the one thing that i can say is that you can lay down a fastest lap is great, but if you can't string a bunch of them together it doesn't mean crap.
I'll tell you what... I cant tell you how impressed I was with the 250 class. It was obvious how much power those guys were missing from their bikes. They were getting slammed on the big jumps and I was sure a few of them were going to end up with broken wheels, frames or forks. Huge hits and HUGE NADS!
We are definately watching the best small bore riders assembled in a very long time. It reminds me of the Mid Ohio GPs of days gone by. Its epic and I'm enjoying every second of it! This is one for the ages and can only hope they can make the transfer to the big boy class with their speed intact. Incredible.
Well, well, well. The peanut gallery has spoken.
VOR & Tricky are upset I called their game before they could unload their wisdom on us.
Listen up kids, Roger DeCoster (some old guy you've never heard of) CHOSE a kid from the intermediate class to represent a multi-billion dollar corporation as their champion in the pro class against all your heros (that are so fast, they beat him to the operating room, several times). As it turns out, he was right. As the first 450 rookie to sweep the class and EARNING three titles in two years (not counting his 250F SX & MXdN accolades), he's kinda good, whether you like it or not. Even better, he does this while being an excellent role-model, something some of you were / are sorely lacking.
As far as James Stewart is concerned, I have nothing but well-wishes for him. Having seen his behavior from the start of his professional career, I have chosen to support other racers. This is my choice. It's obvious most of James' supporters do not share the same "live and let live" mentality as I do and have called people that support other racers names like "racist", "stupid" and on occassion, much worse. That is your choice and indeed, it tells us a lot about the mentality of his devoted fans. The minds that I am responsible for making intelligent, unbiased and well-behaved will not be allowed to think behaviors such as his or his fans will be rewarded or even tolerated for that matter.
Lesson over, now go buy some Fox t-shirts at the mall and tell your friends how "pro-moto" you are.
Tricky you're dumb. Do you just think that RV CR and TC are that much faster. NOOOOOOOOOO, each of them have there moments and there days. They are all so close, it just depends on the start.
@V_O_R for the first time ever ,i agree TOTALLY with you. @carlsbad "listen up kids"(wtf) ."the peanut "gallery might have a few people in it that have been around the block a time or two.I was riding the track your named for when it was still grass and still ride. Some off us don't judge people on what "journalists" tell us or heresay since we have not stood in their shoes. RD5 is a nice kid and I like him and admire his abilty on a bike ,but as a role model...thats for everyone to decide on their own. And If your going to start stating record books ad JS7's as well... . Are you honestly judging his (havocs) fans by those on this site....I would think they comprise about .001 percent. I happen to be an RV fan but I don't think James is near the unacceptable person you would like to portray him as , and I believe MOST of his fans just admire how he can ride a bike and aren't as AFRAID of , or interested in his personal life as some.. Trickys comment was neither excessively rude or out of the question , just his opinion . Thanks though for the 'lesson' and straightening us ignorant rookies out. Now ...wheres todays KTM ad. As for calling people racist and stupid....if it acts like a duck and walks like a duck...its a duck.
green59, wat do u know about motx anyway? I probably forgot more about mx races than u know, And yes RV is faster than RD there how do u like the truth? Villopoto & Stewart are definately faster than Dungey when they are on their game, ya so JS crashes sometimes, so what, that just proves he's pushing it, I like the effort, If he doesn't crash he usually wins, & villo about the same, I didn't say RD was a bad rider I just don't like the lack of aggression in his riding, it's motox, it's war!
Well let's see- If Dungey wins this title then he has one Supercross title and two outdoor titles in 3 years on a 450- Villopoto has one supercross title and one outdoor title in four years on a 450. But yet if Villopoto was out there he would be schooling Dungey and Stewart?
I dont think so. Reed has two supercross title and one outdoor title in ten years -and he would be beating them too? I think you give those two guys way too much credit. I cant wait til it all comes down in 2013- Then we'll see whats what. Until then its just your biased opinion on here.
If only the outdoors went BEFORE supercross. As it is - all we get is the 'survivors'. Supercross is damn dangerous.
@ tonewall. You obviously do not agree with my opinions so, do not read my posts, that is the best I can offer you.
I appreciate an intelligent conversation / debate but, that so infrequently happens on posts regarding one of the racers named previously that I sometimes snap back when refrenced derogatorily. I'ts unfortunate you have taken umbrage but, my rights are the same as any other poster on here, I just happen to speak my mind from a viewpoint you disagree on.........or possibly it's the messenger and not the message you don't care for. Either way, it is neither an interest nor problem of mine.
As far as KTM ads go, I'm more than happy to editorialize for a brand that has given me trouble-free service and is a viable option to the J-brands. Don't like it? Don't read it, you have that right. If that's not good enough, there are a host of communist states that will welcome your "not allowed to talk about that" viewpoint. Enjoy.