by Aaron Hansel
Bench Racing Ammo: The Four Horsemen
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 | 9:40 AM
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PrintTo say that the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki and GEICO Powersports Honda squads are good would be a huge understatement. In fact, no other team has won an overall in the 250 Class of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship since Ryan Dungey went 1-5 on a Suzuki for the overall at Washougal in 2009. Red Bull KTM, however has been making a solid push to break the red and green stranglehold that has been gripping the series for so long. They have yet to take an overall or win a moto, but they’ve been close several times with Ken Roczen, and while wins and points are definitely the two most important stats, it’s always interesting and informative to see how racers stack up against one another in other categories. Let’s take a look at the stats from the top four in points through the first five rounds of Lucas Oil Motocross. For perspective, we’ve also included 2011 National Champion Dean Wilson’s stats for the same time period last year.
| Rider | Points | Overalls | Moto Wins | Avg. Finish | Laps Led | Holeshots | Avg. Qual |
| Blake Baggett | 222 | 2 | 4 | 2.1 | 27 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Justin Barcia | 209 | 1 | 3 | 2.7 | 52 | 1 | 2.9 |
| Eli Tomac | 200 | 2 | 3 | 3.4 | 27 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Ken Roczen | 200 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 1 | 3.2 |
| Dean Wilson (2011) | 214 | 0 | 3 | 2.6 | 43 | 1 | 3.4 |
If you took a look these stats without looking at the point standings, you’d probably have a hard time figuring out who was in the lead. With the series nearly half over, you’d expect the points leader to have a definitive edge in the stats department, but a look at the numbers reveals just how competitive the 250 Class truly is. Baggett, who currently has a 13-point lead, is tied with Tomac for the fewest laps led out of the top four. Interestingly enough, Roczen, who has yet to win a moto, has led nearly twice as many laps as Baggett and Tomac. Barcia, who has won fewer overalls than both Baggett and Tomac, has led the most! And how about the fact that neither Baggett nor Tomac have holeshot a single moto so far? If the first five rounds are any indication we could be in for quite a summer in the 250 Class.
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The 250 class is incredibly exciting to watch this year.
Great story. thats stuff I can really get into. Focus on those types and put the stewart watch in the trash, and those like it. Again great story !!!
Hammer, you just had to go and bring up Stewart in a story that didn't even mention him!
Each member of the Fab Four has his own style and personality. Blazin Blake seems laid back, easy with a smile, while carrying a quiet confidence. He just knows he can get er done!! Barcia looks determined, ready to get on with it, could Stanton's traits be rubbing off JB1? If so, the racing will only get more intense as the races wind down. Tomac has grown up and is living up to expectations. He has the speed to dominate a race, but Eli's maturity may hold the key to the title, as he has managed good finishes on days his starts let him down. Kenny Roc has good starts, a smooth style and the speed to lead races. I think the KTM Wonder Boy is mentally strong, as he seems to be dealing well with his late race falters. When he does win one of these races, he will become a stronger competitor, as knowing you can win is better than thinking you can.
We are lucky because the great racing of the 250 class does not end there. The Candy Man, Marvin Musquin has ran up front and had top five finishes as his hand healed, he will be better after the break. As will Wilbur, Little Hahn has been getting better each week, showing why Geico has faith in him. His teammate, JB2 will be returning soon and we have seen Bogle's talent on an outdoor track, think Pala last year. Surprising a few, Jason Anderson is showing you can do what you set your mind to, it just takes work and determination an a solid team like Rockstar Suzuki behind you. His teammate, Blake Wharton, has had a tough year so far, but it will get better as the rust continues to fall off after sitting out last years outdoors to heal up. Rounding out the list is the Vet Ivan Tedesco, he may not be up front, but he has great skills and this experience will help Hot Sauce next January, when he climbs back on the 450 to race supercross for HH.
As fans, we are being treated to some of the best racing ever in the 250 class, a BIG THUMBS UP to all the guys who are putting on a great show in the Great Outdoors!!!!
Damn BD25. Quite the article haha
Ad Durham and Deano and it would be one long summer
I am thoroughly enjoying the racing in the lites class this year. I think maturity has a lot to do with the successes of the top 4 guys. Barcia is riding and acting with much more maturity than past years. Baggett seems focused, determined and confident. Tomac, as stated, has kept his head down and made the best of his bad days. Roczen has kept his attitude positive in the wake of some huge disappointments. All of these traits point to a much higher level of maturity than we have seen in past years. On the other hand, I certainly hope when Justin Bogle returns, he too has matured a bit. His actions have shown a lack of maturity and an arrogance that is surprising for someone so new to professional racing. His crash with Malcolm Stewart and subsequent smack, his actions when he tried to make a poorly executed pass over a jump and took out himself and another rider, then blamed the other rider, his storming off the track and leaving his bike there after a practice crash, and his latest bonehead move - retweeting the advertising jingle of The General Auto Insurance (A direct competitor here in So. Calif. of his sponsor Geico) lead me to believe this young man has a LOT of growing up to do.
Definately right, bogle has some growig up to do but how about barcia? his antics scream spoiled brat, from the incident w/ greg aranda in bercy, to his run in with lance vincent. I used to be a fan now i'm a barcia hater. Tomac and roczen seem to have the best attitudes of the fab 4. I still cant believe marvin musquin wont leave KTM for pc kawi
Sorry, my comments were longer than the article, I some times get carried away when I start to write..The class is so deep, it is hard to believe it could have been more competitive, but Mr Wilson would have added to the mix, shame he got hurt as he is even better outdoors than in the confines of a stadium. Durham would have been up there challenging the leaders also. He was finding comfort and confidence on Mitch's PC 250 which tends to put one up front. Look for more great racing for this class, and don't be surprised if a rider who sits out side the top ten right now, starts to find himself closer to the top five as the year rolls on..aahhh the Great Outdoors!!
@OrganDoner - I agree. Barcia's behavior in the past has been inexcusable. The Lance Vincent incident should have led to a suspension. However, I think the two incidents you mention were critical in bringing about a change in Barcia's attitude and actions. While I realize they were both fairly recent, I think most would agree that since the Vincent incident (for which I'm sure Barcia got an ass-scorching), Barcia's attitude and actions have been much more professional. Even his riding has been more respectful. Hopefully, when Bogle returns, he will have had the same type of change of heart.
Already a great 250 season,would have been even better if Wilson, Durhum and Bogle were there.
Interesting (to me) note on Wilson: won't score any points towards a number this year - IF the AMA made you run what you earned he would have to run his area code #.
Wilson earned a permanent number by winning the nationals last year, he picked #15.I think these guys are nuts not taking an available single digit number. 6 and 8 are available and both Canard and Wilson passed on them.(Canard because 41 was his dad's number,that's cool) But that single digit is more intimidating when other riders see it coming they know who it is,but can't always tell as quick with a two or three digit.Plus if you got it flaunt it.
I think or saw an article, can't quite remember that Wilson was waiting for Mike Brown to retire so he can get #3. He said he wants that number.I could be wrong.
@ Graz11, that could be the reason.I don't think Brown has raced yet this year,I think he will have to score 25 points to keep that #3
I agree the 250 class is the show in witch i have been saying for sometime now .There is no if or buts about the fact it will come right down to the end.I think at this point we have look at the tracks left in the series and witch ones fit the riders the best.So we will have our opinions on that .i just hope the big guns stay healthy to the end of the season and let the chips fall where they may.But my money is on Barcia!!!!!
I think Mitch Payton's talent goes far beyond building bikes. He has a fantastic eye for talent and has had relatively little trouble from his employees. GEICO is fairly new to the "top tier" of teams in terms of infrastructure, equipment and personnel. They may be having some growing pains with Barcia and Bogle but, I'm guessing after awhile at the top, they will begin to behave as an elite team should and the individual outbursts / incidents will probably lessen because as they continue to do better, more will be expected from them.
I don't think anyone working under DeCoster is going to give anything less than 100% and if I had to wage dollars on it, I would've guessed that Musquin would've been the one to show attitude as, it seems to be a comon trait among the French racers but, to his credit, he's been very low-key and laid back it would seem.
Also, let's not forget that these are KIDS that don't know much of anything else besides going fast on a bike. I don't think they're practicing social intracasies along with whoops and starts.
KTM would seem to have set up a championship 250 team with Roczen and Musquin. Perhaps they need Herlings and Van Horebeek as well in the USA ........
Just for the record mitch wanted justin to ride for him so bad that he was willing to pay him more money than he has ever paid anyone,yes anyone!!!!.honda locked up justin for a long time.Hello why do you think justin is already riding for factory honda.
What is the likelihood of Pro Circuit gettng shut out in 2012? Baggett!
not good ,but he won't win it all.
Yes Mr-Mx, I've seen that show before as well. Someone once said (about Mitch) "give him a couple of years and he will give you a career". Maybe he knows a thing or two, eh? He has taken risks on French (moody) racers and come up big......several times.
I'd like to see the parity in the 250F class that was once there before (1983 comes to mind). With lots of money and a little luck, Yamaha and Suzuki could field teams with the wherewithal to compete at the PC / GEICO levels and we'll all be the better for it.
@ Claxton, IF they were, that would be a giant motivator for them.........pretty big feather in the cap for whoever did the shutting as well.