A spectacular day of racing has come to an end at RedBud. Round 6 of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross saw a return to the top step for 250 Class points leader Jeremy Martin and a second consecutive win in the 450 Class from Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen.
250MX moto 2 report
On Fourth of July weekend, RedBud produced a Star Spangled Battle. Star Racing Yamaha teammates Cooper Webb and Jeremy Martin traded blows down to the final corner, with Webb landing the final knockout. Webb would win the battle (Moto2), but Martin won the war (1-2 for the overall).
It was Rockstar Energy KTM’s Joey Savatgy to the lead early in the moto, with GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle in tow. Savatgy, returning from injury, held on briefly before shuffling back to tenth. Bogle also had his troubles, crashing while leading, leaving the moto win to the Star boys.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett recent surge came to a close in Moto2. Following a horrid start, Baggett, like we’ve seen in the past, drove hard to the front. This time, though, two late small crashes cost him. Baggett would finish seventh.
Marvin Musquin, who may have had third in Moto1 if not for a late crash, picked up the pieces in Moto2 en route to third. Jason Anderson, Dean Wilson, Cole Seely, Baggett, Justin Hill, Alex Martin and Savatgy would be the top ten.
450MX moto 2 report
Ken Roczen had to work harder in the second 450 moto, but the result was the same—a dominating win. A 1-1 on the day for Roczen helped him extend his points lead over Ryan Dungey.
Roczen did secure the holshot, just edging Trey Canard—a much better start than his previous moto. Canard attacked back, and was able to reclaim the early lead. With Dungey in tow, Roczen tried to strike early and runaway. Canard resisted, though, giving Roczen troubles. Eventually Roczen was able to muscle past and make a pass stick at the 18-minute mark.
Dungey’s struggles continued in Moto2. He was never able to make a serious run at Roczen, and relinquished third to Eli Tomac. Dungey received a gift from Canard late, when Canard lost the front end after the ski jump, giving Dungey back third overall on the day.
Tomac would claim second with Dungey rounding out the podium. Canard, Andrew Short, Josh Grant, Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, Jusint Brayton and Fredrik Noren would round out the top ten.
250MX Moto 1 Report
Could Blake Baggett do it again? Could he come from way back and make a race deciding pass on the last lap? He came close. In the end, though, it was Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin picking up a much needed moto win. Martin has now won six motos on the year.
In his first race back after missing Muddy Creek with an elbow injury, GEICO Honda’s Matt Bisceglia would snag the Moto1 holeshot. Christophe Pourcel quickly snatched the lead, sending Bisceglia on a free-fall. He finished thirteenth.
Up front, Pourcel was mixing it up with Martin, who was looking for his first moto win since Moto1 at Thunder Valley. Pourcel made a costly mistake, dumping it in the corner, early in the moto. He would later crash again, ending his day early.
Meanwhile, Baggett was carving through the pack, making his typical late moto charge and with three to go had cut the Martin lead to just over two seconds. In almost a carbon copy to a week ago at Muddy Creek, where Baggett passed Martin’s teammate Cooper Webb (who finished a disappointing 14th in Moto1) in the final corner, it appeared he was ready to do the same. With under a lap left, Baggett was within a second. He tried to make a few attempts at Martin, but in the end it was too little, too late.
In a wild battle for third place, Jason Anderson was the beneficiary of late mistakes from Justin Bogle and Marvin Musquin to capture third. Musquin, Bogle, Alex Martin, Kyle Cunningham, Cole Seely, Dean Wilson and Justin Hill finished out the top ten.
450MX Moto 1 Report
Ryan Dungey couldn’t take advantage. Trey Canard couldn’t take advantage. James Stewart couldn’t take advantage. In a first moto which saw points leader Ken Roczen buried off the start, the lead pack failed to gain ground. In fact, they lost ground.
Rounding the first lap in around eighth, Roczen blasted to the front quickly. Helped by James Stewart and Josh Grant tangling and going down while running fourth and fifth, Roczen moved from eighth to third within moments. (Stewart was unable to finish the race due to bike problems. Grant bounced back to finish sixth.) He scrubbed hard passed Dungey for second and then capitalized on Canard's inability to do LaRocco’s Leap to take the lead. He was never challenged again.
Roczen went on to win by over four seconds to capture his second straight moto win.
Dungey, reeling from being unable to contain Roczen, was in prime position for second after passing Canard after he—for the second time—was unable to complete LaRocco’s Leap. Moments later, though, Dungey made a huge mistake in a corner— nearly laying it down—relinquishing second back to Canard. Dungey tried frantically to retake second down the stretch but was unable to make anything stick. Canard would hang onto second, with Dungey third.
In his second race back, Eli Tomac contested Dungey and Canard for moments, but had to settle for fourth. Andrew Short, Grant, Brett Metcalfe, Chad Reed, Malcolm Stewart and Justin Brayton would round out the top 10.
Practice Report
Another breezy, cool afternoon awaits for Round 6 of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross. The iconic RedBud facility in Buchanan, Michigan, has undergone a significant change—they’ve added a new triple. Aptly named the “Hammer of Thor” the 100’ triple offers fans a close resemblance to the famous LaRocco’s Leap.
“The goal of the track changes were aimed at improving the spectator experience by adding seating with some shade trees,” said RedBud MX’s Tim Ritchie in a recent press release. “So we updated the jumps a bit, throwing in a 70-foot double to 100’ triple (Hammer of Thor) and a 90’ table top with spectator access tunnel.”
In other news: Michigan’s own Nick Wey is back. Wey, with help from Traders Racing, is expected to race RedBud and next week at Budds Creek. Also returning is the now un-retired, well, maybe still retired, but racing, Christian Craig. Pitted under the GEICO Honda tent, Craig will be racing three of four rounds this summer. Finally, Ryan Sipes will be filling in for the injured Davi Millsaps under Rockstar Energy Racing KTM. Sipes will be under the tent for at least a few rounds, or possibly more depending on Millsaps’ return.
In the 450 Class, Red Bull KTM’s enters Round 6 sixteen points clear of teammate Ryan Dungey. And it would be Roczen with the fastest time in 450MX, with a 2:02.848 just edging GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac (2:03.131). James Stewart (2:03.502), Dungey (2:03.890) and Malcolm Stewart (2:04.141) would round out the top five.
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin holds a slim eight-point lead over teammate Cooper Webb in the 250 Class. But it has been a struggle for the points leader since winning five straight motos to begin the season. Martin—on a track somewhat similar to Millville, his home track—can regain control with a strong performance today. Martin (2:04.020) was a close second to Yamaha counterpart Christophe Pourcel (2:03.517) in practice. The surging Blake Baggett (2:04.589), Jason Anderson (2:04.736) and Marvin Musquin (2:04.838) would cap the top five.
First motos begin at 1:00 pm Eastern on MAVTV and Promotocross.com. NBC will pick up the second 450 moto beginning at 3:00 pm Eastern, with NBC Sports carrying the second 250 moto directly after.