By Chase Stallo and Jason Weigandt
- If there was a tough man award for the day, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer would get it. After third in moto one, in the second 450 moto, Weimer took a rock to the chest so hard that he started coughing up blood--at one point he tried wiping his mouth with his glove over a jump and saw blood had completely saturated the glove. But he decided to keep pushing and actually even caught and passed DNA/Jeff Ward Racing's Josh Grant on the final lap to salvage fourth in the moto.
- “Mister Everything” Kevin Rookstool returned to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross at Budds Creek after missing the previous round at High Point. No, Kevin wasn’t injured, he was busy competing in round two of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross championship where he finished third overall. The one-week layoff didn’t seem to affect the Oregon native as he finished twenty-fourth overall via 20-34 moto scores.
Jake Weimer gutted out a fourth place finish in moto two.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
- Like most professional motocross racers from the state of Massachusetts, Robbie Marshall is known for his prowess on sandy terrain. The Stow, MA, native hasn’t had the greatest of success thus far in 2012, but was able to breakthrough and grab his first points of the season at Budds Creek with a 16th in moto two. Marshall would finish twentieth overall on the day.
- After scoring points in the first two motos of his career at Freestone, Canada’s own Cole Thompson had gone ice cold since. The privateer rookie was finally able to break his five moto scoreless drought at Budds Creek with a 14th in moto two.
- Through the first four rounds of the championship "Top" Jimmy Albertson has been, well…mediocre Jimmy. After an eleventh place finish in moto two at the opening round Albertson’s best finish has been a 15th—a far cry from his brilliant 2011 campaign. But Budds Creek may have provided a turning point for the BTOSports/Butler Brothers Suzuki pilot. Alberston finished a seasons best twelfth overall.
- Also riding to a seasons' best finish at Budds Creek was Toyota/JGR Yamaha’s Kyle Regal. Considered by many a pre-season top five rider, Regal has struggled making the quick adjustment to the Yamaha after riding a Honda and Kawasaki during supercross. At Budds Creek we finally saw the aggressive style that many had been waiting to see from Regal. The Michigan-born rider battled hard to finish ninth in the second moto, giving his thirteenth overall on the day.
Top Jimmy had his best finish of the season at Budds Creek.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
- One, if not the biggest, surprises in 2012 has been the resurgence of Rockstar Star-Valli Yamaha’s Nico Izzi. With three top five finishes through four rounds, Izzi’s stock has risen to new heights early in the season. But a big crash in the first practice at Budds Creek would keep Izzi grounded for round five. The two-week break could be just what the doctor ordered for Izzi.
- Izzi's Rockstar Star-Valli teammate Kyle Cunningham has had a rough go of it this year, and his nagging ankle injury appeared to be reinjured during the final 250 moto.
- It was a tough day for privateers Travis and Shane Sewell at Budds Creek. A hard crash in practice left Shane being driven from the track in an ambulance—there is no word on the extent of his injuries at this time. Meanwhile, Travis was running inside the top-ten when he had a big get off that would sideline him for the rest of the afternoon. Hopefully we will see both the Sewells on the gate when the series returns for their home race, the Red Bull RedBud National on July 7.
After missing all of Monster Energy Supercross and the first four rounds of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Gannon Audette made his 2012 debut at Budds Creek.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
- The short left-handed start at Budds Creek caused a few first turn pileups. But no team was more affected by it than Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki. In the first moto Hunter Hewitt was gobbled up, leaving the Texas native in last place. Hewitt would charge back to finish 25th. The bad luck continued for the Suzuki team as Blake Wharton was involved in the first turn melee in moto two. Wharton, who sat at least a half-lap back as he remounted, was able to slice through the pack to finish 18th.
- Speaking of the Rockstar Suzuki bunch, their riders have been in the center of many silly season rumors. We hear Martin Davalos is headed to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki next year, while Jason Anderson has re-upped with the Rockstar Suzuki squad to stay for 2013 and 2014. Blake Wharton is also under contract for another year with Suzuki. Davalos, meanwhile, is out of action at the moment due to a concussion.
- Budds Creek would mark the season debut for a pair of KTM riders. Munn Racing/Ankle Savers KTM’s Sean Hackley Jr., who’s been sidelined since a big crash at Houston supercross with a back and rib injury, returned to finish twenty-ninth overall via 23-35 moto scores. Finishing one spot behind Hackley in thirtieth, and also making his season debut, was Dragon Racing Fuels/AG/Cernics KTM’s Gannon Audette. Off the bike since a crash in practice at the opening round of the East Region Supercross Lites series left him with a broken wrist, Audette began his 2012 campaign with 31-28 moto scores.
Injuries continue to hinder Kyle Cunningham's 2012 season.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
- Former Team Green Kawasaki rider Jacob Hayes made his long-awaited professional motocross debut at Budds Creek. The amateur prodigy would finish thirty-fourth overall in his maiden vouge.
- After a rocky start to the 2012 season North Carolina native Ryan Zimmer would put together a seasons best performance at Budds Creek. Zimmer finished twenty-third overall with motos scores of 18-22. His eighteenth place finish in moto one would also mark a seasons best.
