250 Words: Bookends for Barcia
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 | 11:20 AM
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PrintOn May 23rd, 2009, Justin Barcia made his highly-anticipated professional motocross debut. At the opener for the 2009 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, he made an immediate impact, grabbing the lead on the first lap and pulling away. The super-aggressive rookie had speed, but all of that hard riding made him tired. He faded back to ninth at the end of the first moto. In moto two, he bounced back for a solid third, holding off eventual champion 2009 250 Champio Ryan Dungey and 2008 MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray for most of the way.
With one pro national under his belt, Barcia already had a ton of laps led and a podium moto finish. The sky was the limit.
On Saturday, September, 8th, 2012, Barcia's 250 motocross career came to an end. His performance in his final moto was similar to his run in his debut--he got out front early and pegged his GEICO Honda CRF250R to the rev limiter. Eventual champion Blake Baggett nearly ran him down, but Barcia hung on to take the moto win. After that great debut four seaons ago, no one would have been surprise to hear Barcia would end his 250 days with a moto win. But in between, Barcia didn't quite deliver the results that debut seemed to preview.
He delivered one overall win during that 2009 rookie season, at Southwick, but went winless in 2010 and 2011. In fact, his 2011 season went so poorly that he was almost immediately out of championship contention, making him available for a mid-season call up to the 450 class. He delivered much better results there. Similar to his 250 debut, Barcia grabbed the immediate early lead in his first 450 race (at Unadilla) before getting passed by the eventual 450 champion, Ryan Villopoto. In his 450 finale last year at Pala, he went to an even higher level. He nearly won the final moto of the season, leading the whole way until getting passed by Dungey with just two laps to go.
"It was a disaster year after year after year this this class," said Barcia Saturday at Elsinore. "This year, it was just experience and stuff. And working with Jeff Stanton, I've given him credit before, we've worked on a lot of things, and it just works."
After leading his first-ever 250 MX moto in 2009...
...Barcia rides into the sunset with a moto win. But in between, he delivered just three overall victories.
Cudby photos
Barcia's 2012 250 season was much better, as he delivered overall wins at Colorado and Washougal, and stayed in championship contention right until the end. "This year, I learned a lot," he says. "I think I had some of my worst races at the tracks I probably should have done the best at. Honestly, I think I put too much pressure on myself at those races. But all in all it was a really good year."
He also won his second-straight Lites East Championship in Monster Energy Supercross. Still, he ends his time on a 250 outdoors with just three overall wins in four seasons. After that sparking Glen Helen debut, it seemed like he was destined for so much more--perhaps his time in the 450 division will go that much better.
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What?! Four seasons in the Lites class...and there are some guys bashing Roczen`s rookie performance?!
Best year yet but it was his starts that kept him in it cuz Baggett and Tomac are much faster!!
Roczen is not a rookie he did almost 2 years in G.P.s! Calling him a rookie is like getting the flu between motos LMMFAO!
JGBVR - He is a rookie in the 250 class and is only 17 yrs old. It's his first year racing in this class here in the US. Just like Barcia will be a rookie in the 450 class next year.
Maybe you should get the flu, look in the mirror and than laugh YFAO
Roczen was a "World Champion" coming over here.
Vetrider19- come on pal, Kroc is no rookie. he crushed everyone last year as a 'World Champ' and we were told he was going to the same over here.
And if RV ever ends up racing the GP's, please dont call him a rookie...
Why does Roczen keep getting those Hitler hair cuts. I know he is from Germany but geez!
There is something about holding a world championship title that does in fact wipe out all chances of having even an ounce of rookie in you. Seriously, have you ever read the words "And the rookie world champion is having yet another good ride today". Um , hello? He is , however, in a forein land, learning a new lifestyle and fitting in pretty good. And now that he has been here a full year, this should be the end of that. Done-can't use it anymore. And with that, go Kroc, show us what you have.
Not a HUGE Barcia fan, but I was a little disappointed he didnt pull out an outdoor title since there was so much hype...the past 2 seasons Bam Bam has kind of turned into an ass..great rider..but something is missing and it showed this year........ Personally, although he had some good results on the 450 outdoor last year....I am not sure we will see that same success indoors..Lots of guys who dominantly won lites SX titles have come up to the 450 and not performed..... .I am interested to see how he does at MXoN before I am convinced, or maybe the MEC will be a better determining factor.....
K-ROC - Not a rookie....it is silly.....Nelson - Rookie.... Bell - Rookie......
I would like to give a shout out to all the riders in the 250 class for giving us fans a very memorable year of racing. Only one rider was crowned champion, Blazin Blake Baggett, and he was a deserving champion, but it was all of you who made the series spectacular! Barcia was relentless and rode great all year. Tomac was incredible at times with his speed and strength. Roczen and Musquin both deserve our respect for coming over here and competing so admirably, while so far from their homes, a truly difficult task. We saw great racing at every round, all through the pack, Wharton, Hahn, Nelson, Anderson, Stewart, Bogle, Martin and many others gave it their all while on the track. Many debuted after Loretta's and proved they have done their homework and belong among the elite, Bell and Martin just to name two. We also saw perhaps the greatest show of sportsmanship of the year, when Micheal McDade dropped his own bike, to help Will Hahn who was trapped under and being burned by his Honda .The 250 class was just that, CLASS, from top to bottom this year. To each and every one of you, THANKS, for putting it all on the line every weekend, we fans appreciate all the hard work you have put in!! So to all who participated in the 250 class A BIG THUMBS UP!!!!!
BD25 Very well said. Id like to add that had Barcia been a little bit like his old self and roughed Bagget up a bit, good chance he could of been champion. I like the nicer Barcia and Bagget deserved the title. Amazing sportsmanship and amazing racing this year. Rocky and Marvwinkle, awesome job! I hope you both stay a while. Tomac blew me away at times. He is going to crush some souls next year.
Roczen is the only true rookie to ever ride the 250 class and that can be proven, only a noob can catch a cold between motos.
@BD25- thumbs up to you for your words! The 250 class gave us a great summer of racing. Hopefully next year we will see the same with the fo fiddy class!
Sorry Vetrider19 your rite every one else is wrong. You old jacka$$ go look in a mirror at your smelly old balls!! you suck.
He's the next generation and he'll be a threat for wins and titles immediately.
Is it possible that a 250 / 450-class rookie can win it all? Dungey & McGrath say "yes".
Bring the drama Bam-Bam.
I hate when people just throw numbers out there. Ken Roczen, born April 29, 1994 yet he is 17? He turned 18 in the spring, which kinda changes that whole perspective. He'll be 19 before the SX series is over next year. Regardless of his age, you don't come from World Champ to "rookie". When he gets on a 450, he'll be a 450 rookie. When he entered his first 250 AMA race, he was reigning World Champ and should have been the favorite at that race, only problem being that a bunch of U.S. riders were there. Will he ever get an AMA MX title or will he follow the lead of Tyla Rattray and Ben Townley and be really fast former World Champs who never pulled it off?
@jgbvr.....that last comment truly made me laugh out loud ...so wrong but so funny....i'm glad someone also doesn't take this column quite so serious...@cbad ....today I agree 100%...Barcia will be trouble from the git go....and I just have a feeling Rattray will pick up his pace at some point and get in the mix also.....thoughts and prayers for all those who gave their lives saving others and all those lost on 9/11...
im a fan of all these top 250 guys . they all are super talented and seem like good people . besides that they all are into the best sport ever
jgbvr - You are a total pus.y- If you live anywhere near Indiana I'd like to meet you and punch you square in the face - You had behide Forum Post - Unveil yourself you hairless, ball less prick
jgbvr you are a dolt! For one Roczen did not "almost do 2 years." He hit the gp's midway through 2009, did the whole series in 2010 and 2011. He may not be a 250 rookie, but he is a rookie to the US series and all the tracks and weather that are completely different than the GP's. This fact gives the other riders such as Barcia, Bagget and Tomac an advantage. If these four, including Musquin raced a complete series on all the GP tracks the results would be much different. I'm not saying it's a guaranteed win, but the Americans would not win as many races there as they did here this season. Just my 2 cents.
bdrvr40, Americans go to Europe once a year to race and experience strange and different tracks, weather, and adaptation. Now how does that turn out for them?
Claxton. If you read my comment I never said they wouldn't win a moto, just that I doubt they would win many or the championship their first year. Also the MX des Nations is a one off race and team effort. How did Baggett do that race? Dungey and RV won the Des Nations for the Americans that year, not Bagget. My earlier post wasn't about them. It was about the 250 riders and Blake as good as he is, got his a** handed to him by Roczen and a few other 250 riders. He dealt with the same things that one race that Roczen and Musquin dealt with this whole season. I was just saying given a whole season learning the new tracks on the GP circuit against equaly talented riders who know the tracks, Bagget, Tomac and Barcia would not do as well. Not slamming any of them because I think that anyone who lines up to any professional race is damn fast, no matter U.S. nationals, GP's or the Amateurs for that matter.
buffoonery!!! Rookie is simply stating its their inaugural season in a particular class and championship. Not that it is thier first ever pro-race, although that too can be used to describe a rookie. Just as next year it will be Barcia's "rookie season" in the 450 class/AMA pro motocross championship. Should never see this argument again
I am tired of hearing people use the tracks as an excuse, Roczen lead Many moto's some till the last lap, and had lap times at the top or near the top all year. The New tracks are not the problem, Baggett, Tomac and barcia are just a bit stronger.
Hey allthetruth,Indiana sucks!!! And im harry as hell so blow me. what ARE U ALL PISSY ABOUT ANYWAYS? U GIRL ,KEEP TO UR SELF I WASNT TALKING TO U!
I think Roczen's problems were twofold.
1) I think he had some acclimation issues as far as being a kid in the U.S. for the first time (season-wise) and might've had a little "Hollywood fever".
2) The heat is something a euro cannot replicate to prepare for. Leading motos and then fading is indicitive of heat issues.
The tracks won't be an issue next year, the KTM 250F will have a new motor and he'll have been here for a full season so, no excuses.
@mxlunatic That's funny. I thought I was the only one who saw "Hitler youth" when he showed up with his hair buzzed on the sides.
And to all the sensitive types no I'm not saying he's a Nazi. Just making an observation.
I think that Roczen thought he was gonna win the title easily, which was not the case. I expected much more, at least 4-5 moto wins, while for the title I thought it was another Wilson vs Bagget battle. We'll see next year, he will prepare it in a better way for sure. Every year has a different story, just look at Tomac version 2011 and Tomac version 2012, nothing is for granted.