By The Numbers
6
Moto wins over the last eight by Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac, who won the second 450 moto on Saturday in an incredible come-from-behind performance.
2nd
Finishing position of Blake Baggett in the second moto. It was his best moto finish all season.
28
Of 29 races between Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross that Weston Peick scored points. He’ll undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair torn tendons in his hand that he has been riding through all summer.
6
Motos in which privateer Kyle Cunningham has been unable to score points in 2018. However, he is still ninth in points through 11 rounds.
4
250 Class Lucas Oil Pro Motocross titles won by Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha in the last five years. Aaron Plessinger (2018) joins Jeremy Martin (2014-2015) and Cooper Webb (2016).
10
Times in 12 motos raced this year Cooper Webb has finished between seventh and ninth place. He went 8-7 at Budds Creek.
10th
Finishing position in the second 450 moto by privateer Dylan Merriam. It was his first top-ten moto finish since the second moto at Thunder Valley, round three of the championship.
4th
Finishing position in the first moto by Jason Anderson, who had missed the previous eight rounds due to a foot injury. Anderson did not line up for the second moto.
1st
Moto and overall win for RJ Hampshire in his career. He won the second moto at Budds Creek and the overall.
2nd
Finishing position by Chase Sexton in the second 250 moto, his best moto finish of the season.
3rd
Finishing position in the second 250 moto by Justin Cooper, his first moto podium since moto two at Spring Creek.
4
Straight top-five 250 moto finishes by Mitchell Harrison following a 4-5 day at Budds Creek.
1st
Moto this season Jordon Smith has failed to score a point in the 250 Class. He pulled out of the second moto on Saturday with a shoulder injury.
Roczen Kickstart
Something new for Ken Roczen on Saturday: He added a kickstart to his bike. Roczen said this when asked about it on the post-race press conference:
"Yeah, we did [add the kickstart]. We are going to do a lot of work. We have a lot of stuff set up for after the last race and, obviously, Nations. A bunch of testing to figure stuff out. Right now I felt more comfortable that way, so it helped me out this week for sure."
Musquin Crash
This is what we know: Marvin Musquin suffered a crash on Tuesday during a practice session. It obviously affected him on Saturday, as he didn’t look like himself down the stretch of the second moto. Musquin wasn’t forthcoming with details on the crash when asked about it in the post-race press conference, saying, “Yeah, on Tuesday. Nothing special. It happens, I was here. It was actually a good weekend. That first moto was actually pretty good with Kenny, and the second moto was just not enough. Like I said, still on the podium and good points.”
For now, we don’t have a ton of information. We’ll try and get more as the week goes along.
Injury News
Weston Peick
As we noted earlier, Weston Peick will miss the final round of the championship at Ironman, as he elected to undergo surgery on his hand to repair torn tendons, which he’s been riding with all summer. The team is also without Justin Bogle, who underwent surgery earlier this month. Justin Hill is questionable for the weekend with a knee injury.
“Budds Creek was the last round for me, because of my hand injury,” Peick said in a team statement. “The race didn’t go as well as I wanted it to. I didn’t get the best start in the first moto, but I worked my way up. The track was hard pack and bumpy, which took a toll on my hand. Honestly, it was one of my worst weekends for my hand issue. We made some changes to the bike for moto two, and they also prepped some of the track that was pretty gnarly rough. I got off to a sixth-place start and held there for half the race. I’m obviously not stoked, but given my hand situation, to pull off a top ten is good in my books. I am getting surgery on Tuesday to get my hand fixed. At this point, I’m not sure how long I’ll be off the bike.”
Jordon Smith
As we noted above, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM’s Jordon Smith retired early from the second moto early due to a shoulder injury. He announced on Instagram that he initially hurt the shoulder in the first 250 qualifying session on Saturday, then crashed twice in the second moto and said his shoulder was “too weak to finish.” He wrote on social media that he expected to race Ironman this weekend.
“Had a rough day today at Budds. My riding felt good but had a crash in the first practice that kind of tweaked my shoulder. Pushed through and finished a hard fought sixth in the first moto. Second moto I went down in the first turn and then again coming through the pack. The second one got my shoulder again and unfortunately it was too weak to finish the moto. Going to head back and get this thing ready to finish strong at Ironman!”
Falk Debut
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM rookie Mitchell Falk made his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross debut on Saturday in the 250 Class. Falk was running up front in the first moto before he had a big crash going down Henry Hill. He came back to finish 18th in the first moto and took 19th overall on the day following a 17th in moto two.
“Good to finally line up and get racing! Had positives from the weekend but made a couple mistakes that kept me from slightly better results,” he wrote on Instagram. “Goal is to better myself little by little! Huge thanks to the team and all the supporters.”
GIF of the Week
Plessinger fist-pumping his way to a title!
Video of the Week
Talking with the champ, his entire crew, and some rowdy fans.