 | | Veterans like Ryan Hughes and Mike Brown used to be atop the 125 (er, 250F) class | |
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When
you really sit back and take a good look at this year’s 2006 Toyota AMA
Motocross Series, nothing really stands out, does it? I mean, Makita
Suzuki’s
Ricky Carmichael leading the series in the 450F class by 20
points over Yamaha’s
Chad Reed isn’t really a surprise, nor is last
year’s 250F class runner-up, Red Bull KTM’s
Mike Alessi, leading the
250F class.
But if you take a closer look at the 250F class, there is something
that jumps out: This class is finally back to serving its purpose as a
class for the young, up-and-coming racers. At
High Point, I overheard
someone saying, “Isn’t it cool that the up-and-coming class actually
has up-and-comers?”
A few years ago, this class was basically a battle of veterans. Aside
from the domination of
James Stewart, I’m sure many of you remember the
Ryan Hughes and
Mike Brown era—two 30-something motocross veterans who
were ruling the then-125cc class. And then you have
Grant Langston, a
former World Champion who took a championship in 2003. And although he
and Brown are still in the 250F class, they’re not factors so far in
2006.
The
podium from
Budds Creek this past weekend contained
Ryan Villopoto,
Broc Hepler, and
Josh Grant. “Villopodium” is 17, Hepler is 19, and
Grant turns 20 today! So all three riders on the podium were teenagers.
And the title battle for at moment has shaped up between the rookie
Villopoto and the sophomore Alessi, with
Andrew Short, Grant, and Brett
Metcalfe—who are all looking for their first major pro titles—behind
them.
The 2005
Budds Creek National podium featured
Mike Brown, Ivan
Tedesco, and Grant. In 2004 it was Stewart, Hepler, and Brown, and in
2003 it was Stewart, Langston, and Tedesco. So there’s usually at least
one championship-proven veteran on the podium, if not more.
While
we’re seeing the 450F class dominated by veterans, the 250F class this
year has been a proving ground for the younger racers—the way it was
intended to be.
