Sneak Preview: Hangtown in Progress

After a dazzling opening day in southern California, the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads north this weekend for a visit to the oldest stop of the tour, the Hangtown Motocross Classic, presented by the Dirt Diggers at the Prairie City OHRV Park just east of Sacramento. The Dirt Diggers have been hard at work revamping the Hangtown circuit, with new soil, new rhythm sections and a whole new vibe as the world's best motocross racers come to town for their annual visit. Independent photographer James Saechao was on hand yesterday as title contender Mike Alessi of the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team came out for a local press function, along with Star Racing Yamaha's Broc Tickle, privateers Brad Kelly and Kramer Patterson, plus a few other riders.

"The track is ran counter-clockwise," Saechao told us. "The holeshot is to the left then right, over a little launch jump--it's the S-turn like last year for the holeshot--then up the hill to an off-cambered jump that's really cool, down the hill to a off-camber turn like last year, and then off into the valley."