It’s round ten of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships here at the famed Unadilla Valley Motocross park in New Berlin, New York. The series is winding down but the action (especially in the 250 Class) is hot and heavy! The spectators and racers were greeted with the typical low hanging fog as practice got under way but the weather is supposed to be perfect and with the rain that fell last night, the track should be superb by the time the motos get started.
After Southwick, Monster Pro Circuit’s Blake Baggett pulled out a lead in the points to almost a full moto over GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia. He’s got a bit of breathing room now but the battle for second between Barcia and his teammate Eli Tomac is very much on. The European-ish natural track here at Unadilla should also play right into the hands of riders like Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin.
In the 450 Class, it’s been a Ryan Dungey show as the Red Bull KTM rider has won seven straight overalls, but returning to action this weekend is Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart who captured the first two nationals this season before getting hurt. Stewart could potentially give Dungey his toughest challenge yet. MotoConcepts' Mike Alessi is also very fast on the ‘Dilla circuit and having a good year so look for the #800 at the front, especially off the starts.
As with most of the races, the second set of practices was faster than the first ones as the berms formed and the track dried out. And in that second practice, DNA/JWR Kawasaki’s Josh Grant set the fastest time and was the only rider in the 2:17’s. After him was Stewart only 1/100’s of a second behind him. Monster Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray was third and he was followed by returning to action Star Valli Rockstar Yamaha’s Nico Izzi and Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Christian Craig. After those riders came Dungey with a time just over a second from Grant’s. The top six are closely bunched!
In the 250’s it was indeed the Europeans of Musquin and Roczen who logged the top two times in the combined 250 practices. The two KTM riders were followed by Barcia, Baggett and Tomac so once again, the top five riders in points are the top five guys in qualifying.
450 Overall Qualifying Times
1 33 Josh Grant Kawasaki KX 450F 2:17.610
2 7 James Stewart Suzuki RMZ 450 2:17.673
3 28 Tyla Rattray Kawasaki KX 450F 2:18.062
4 50 Nico Izzi Yamaha YZ 450F 2:18.148
5 43 Christian Craig Honda CRF450R 2:18.579
6 5 Ryan Dungey KTM 450 SX-F 2:18.799
7 25 Broc Tickle Kawasaki KX 450F 2:18.859
8 800 Mike Alessi Suzuki RMZ 450 2:18.993
9 21 Jacob Weimer Kawasaki KX 450F 2:19.466
10 85 Robert Marshall KTM 450 SX-F 2:19.832
250 Qualifying Practice
1 38 Marvin Musquin KTM 250 SX-F 2:16.732 - 2:27.521
2 70 Ken Roczen KTM 250 SX-F 2:18.097 - 2:30.234
3 20 Justin Barcia Honda CRF250R 2:18.325 - 2:27.185
4 12 Blake Baggett Kawasaki KX 250F 2:18.960 - 2:29.783
5 17 Eli Tomac Honda CRF250R 2:20.208 - 2:26.784
6 30 Alex Martin Honda CRF250R 2:20.264 - 2:31.443
7 167 Zachary Bell Honda CRF250R 2:20.396 - 2:28.657
8 44 Jason Anderson Suzuki RMZ 250 2:20.396
9 49 Justin Bogle Honda CRF250R 2:20.639
10 53 Ryan Sipes Yamaha YZ 250F 2:20.770
