Second 450 Moto

It was never going to be anyone but Eli Tomac or Ken Roczen taking the overall in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross' return to Southwick. The two titans of the class squaring off in a epic second moto in the sand.

It was Justin Bogle taking the holeshot with Christophe Pourcel and Roczen in tow. Bogle went down early after colliding with Pourcel. He got back up in 36th, charged back inside the top twenty, but later pulled out of the moto.

Roczen, like we’ve seen so many times this year, was first to the front. But Tomac wasn’t far behind. The two put a substantial gap on third early—pushing their lead to more than a minute over third at the end.

Tomac, pushing the outer edge of the track to the limits, took over the lead on lap 6. Unlike the first moto, when Tomac took off to a huge lead, Roczen stuck to his rear fender. On lap 8, Tomac laid it down in the deep sand, allowing Roczen to briefly retake the lead. Fortunately for Tomac he was able to quickly get up and move back into the lead. His gap never reach more for than a few seconds, as Roczen continued to push throughout the moto.

But for every move Roczen had, Tomac answered. Roczen made a final push near the end of the moto, but couldn’t make anyting stick. It’s the first time Roczen's lost an overall since Round 2 at Glen Helen. It’s also the first round all year Roczen hasn’t at least won one moto. The overall is the first for Tomac in 2016.

Justin Barcia and Marvin Musquin were in a battle for third overall early. The two traded a few passes, before Barcia took Musquin high, with the KTM rider going down. Barcia took third for his first overall podium of the year. Musquin finished seventh (fourth overall).

Weston Peick had his best moto finish of the year in fourth. Christophe Pourcel, Benny Bloss ( a season-high for the rookie), Musquin, Broc Tickle, Justin Brayton and Phil Nicoletti would round out the top ten.  

Quick Notes

Holeshot: Justin Bogle
Margin of Victory: 2.2 for Tomac
Fastest Lap: Tomac, 2:07.221
Podium: 1.) Eli Tomac; 2.) Ken Roczen; 3.) Justin Barcia

First 250 Moto

Twelve and a half seconds. That was the deficit Cooper Webb faced at the beginning of the third lap in the first 250 moto at Southwick. Shane McElrath, who is now becoming a fixture up front, was the early leader over a pair of Star Yamahas—Jeremy Martin and Aaron Plessinger. It appeared Webb would struggle just to get in the top five, rather less challenge for the win. The points leader had a different thought.

It was Plessinger that would make the first move, passing his teammate and then pressuring McElrath. Something changed for Martin, though, as he quickly bounced back and by lap 5 took over the lead. McElrath would continue to get shuffled back and eventually finished 13th.

The early surprise of the moto was Arnaud Tonus, who’s struggled with illness and injury since coming to the U.S. a year ago. Today was different, as Tonus worked his way into second. He would eventually finish third—his first podium since Washougal a year ago.

The real charge was coming from Webb. On lap 11 (of 16) Webb was 8.1 second back of the leader. By the final lap, he had cut it to less than three seconds. Webb made a last-ditch effort, closing to 1.3, but ran out of time. Still, it was a successful moto in regards to the championship, as second place Joey Savatgy couldn’t work through the pack and finished tenth.

Back to the winner. This was an important moto for Jeremy Martin, who lost a bundle of points due to a mechanical at High Point. Martin looked like the two-time champion he is in the second moto at RedBud last weekend, but made a mistake and went down. The moto win was the first for Martin since Thunder Valley (first moto).

Plessinger would hold on for fourth over Austin Forkner, Mitchell Oldenburg (whose bike was smoking early in the moto, but held on), Alex Martin (who came back from fourteenth after lap 1), Zach Osborne, Adam Cianciarulo and Joey Savatgy.

Quick Notes

Holeshot: Jeremy Martin
Margin of Victory: 1.3 second for Jeremy Martin
Fastest Lap: Webb, 2:11.515
Podium: 1.) Jeremy Martin; 2.) Cooper Webb; 3.) Arnaud Tonus

First 450 Moto

The streak is over. Ken Roczen, who’s seemed unbeatable through six rounds of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, has lost for the first time (and only second time all season) in the last nine motos.

The moto began like many we’ve seen all season from Roczen. He started around sixth, but quickly moved into third by the end of the first lap. But this time he had company, as Eli Tomac was doing the same, the two finally meeting at the front behind early leader Justin Bogle.

Bogle did his best, fighting Roczen at each and every turn. Tomac struck first, passing Roczen briefly for second on lap 4. Roczen would regain second, and a lap later pass Bogle for the lead. Tomac quickly got around as well, and began pressuring Roczen for the lead. When Tomac finally did get the advantage—on lap 6—he never looked back. Tomac built a 10 second lead by lap 9 and ran away to the first moto win—his first of 2016. Tomac won the moto by 24.318 seconds.

Roczen would hold on for second, his worst finish since a mechanical in the first moto at Glen Helen relegated him to fourth. Marvin Musquin made a late push for second, but ran out of time. He finished third. Bogle took fourth, followed by Christophe Pourcel.

The results sheet won’t tell Justin Barcia’s story, the fastest qualifier from the morning, for the moto. Barcia rounded the first lap in 24th, but fought back to take sixth. An impressive run from the JGR Yamaha rider.

Barcia’s teammate, Weston Peick, took seventh ahead of rookie Benny Bloss and Justin Brayton. Broc Tickle, who’s coming off back-to-back podiums, rounded the first lap in 21st. He would rebound to finish tenth.

Blake Baggett, Tyler Bowers, Fredrick Noren were just a few names that got caught up in a first turn pileup. Bowers finished 17th, Noren 20th and Baggett 24th.

Quick Notes

Holeshot: Justin Bogle
Margin of Victory: 24.318 seconds, for Tomac
Fastest Lap: Tomac, 2:05.750
Podium: 1.) Eli Tomac; 2.) Ken Roczen; 3.) Marvin Musquin

Injury Update

Yoshimura Suzuki's Blake Baggett will race today after going down hard in the second 450 practice.

Consolation Race

Matt Bisceglia is headed home early after crashing while leading the 450 Consolation Race. Tyler Bowers won in a come-from-behind effort. Ronnie Stewart, Matthew Babbitt and Travis Marsh finished top four to qualify for the motos.

Cody VanBuskirk, Sean Ballard, Henry Miller and Patrick Delowery advanced through the 250 Consolation Race.

Second Practice

The track is developing into what we’ll see in the motos this afternoon. The second practice sessions were much slower than the first. Justin Barcia’s fastest lap was nearly four seconds slower than his first. As was Eli Tomac’s. Ken Roczen’s was three seconds off his first session pace. Tomac would set the fastest time in the second session, but Barcia’s 2:02.939 holds up as the fastest time.

Tim Tremblay, who set the fastest time in the first B session and fourth fastest time overall, was nearly ten seconds slower in the second session. Robby Marshall, second in the first B session and fifth overall, was nearly seven seconds off his first session pace.

Rider	First Session	Second Session
1. Justin Barcia	2:02.939	2:06.760
2. Eli Tomac	2:02.999	2:06.533
3. Ken Roczen	2:03.690	2:06.906
4.  Tim Tremblay	2:04.062	2:14.520
5. Robby Marshall	2:04.624	2:11.021
6. Dakota Tedder	2:04.766	2:16.205

Some big names are headed to the 450 Consolation Race (LCQ). Yoshimura Suzuki’s Matt Bisceglia (40th), Jesse Wentland (43rd) and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Tyler Bowers (47th) are all faced with qualifying through the LCQ.

Top Ten Qualifying
1. Justin Barcia
2. Eli Tomac
3. Ken Roczen
4. Tim Tremblay
5. Robby Marshall
6. Dakota Tedder
7. Phil Nicoletti
8. Blake Baggett
9. Fredrik Noren
10. Shane Kelleher

For the first time in his young career, Austin Forkner will get the first gate pick. The rookies first session time, which he set on the final lap, of 2:04.970 topped Joey Savatgy (2:05.341) and Mitchell Oldenburg (2:05.952).

Savatgy is recovering from a huge crash last week in the second moto at RedBud. Steve Matthes is reporting that Savatgy registered 17.4Gs on his crash last week—jumped 102 feet at 49.9 MPH—per the guys at LitPro.

Points leader Cooper Webb holds on to fourth with the Martin brothers (Jeremy in fifth, Alex sixth) trailing.

In two-stroke news, Gared Steinke is IN. He qualified an impressive twenty-third.

Top Ten Qualifying
1. Austin Forkner
2. Joey Savatgy
3. Mitchell Oldenburg
4. Cooper Webb
5. Jeremy Martin
6. Alex Martin
7. Shane McElrath
8. Arnaud Tonus
9. RJ Hampshire
10. Adam Cianciarulo

First Practice

You think the 450 B session (which went off first today at Southwick) had an advantage? Tim Tremblay led the first session with a 2:04.062, putting him fourth overall ahead of factory riders such as Blake Baggett, Marvin Musquin, Weston Peick, Christophe Pourcel and many more. Local Robby Marshall (who is riding a two-stroke) took advantage as well, as he sits fifth fastest after the first session.

Justin Barcia is first after the session (which should hold up) over Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac.

Combined First Session

Rider	Time	Session
1. Justin Barcia	2:02.939	First
2. Eli Tomac	2:02.999	First
3. Ken Roczen	2:03.690	First
4. Tim Tremblay	2:04.062	Second
5. Robby Marshall	2:04.624	Second
6. Dakota Tedder	2:04.766	Second
7. Phil Nicoletti	2:04.932	First
8. Blake Baggett	2:04.948	First
9. Fredrik Noren	2:05.344	First
10. Shane Kelleher	2:05.384	Second

First 450 Session Times

The first 250 session was a mad dash to the finish. It appeared Mitchell Oldenburg was going to sneak in and capture the fastest time at the end of the session, but on the final lap Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rookie Austin Forkner laid down a 2:04.970 to capture to top time. Joey Savatgy was second, with Oldenburg, Cooper Weeb, Jeremy Martin, Alex Martin, Shane McElrath, Arnaud Tonus, RJ Hampshire and Adam Cianciarulo rounding the top ten. Local favorite Jimmy Decotis was eleventh.

Morning Report

Welcome back, Southwick! Lucas Oil Pro Motocross returns to re-vamped, and renamed, The Wick 338. Brought back to life by local legends Keith Johnson and John Dowd (who help run the day-to-day operations), and Mike Grondahl, the founder of Planet Fitness, who now leases the facility from the American Legion, the facility will host a round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross for the first time since 2013..

Tucked away inside the center of the town, Southwick has always played well to the locals. John Dowd dethroned the GOAT, Ricky Carmichael, here in 1998 after he beat Carmichael straight up in the second moto (after winning the first as the GOAT’s bike expired in the Southwick sand). Southwick eventually became property of Carmichael’s rein, like most tracks on the circuit, as he won here eight consecutive years from 2000-2007.

Dowd would make history again here in 2009, becoming the oldest rider to finish on the podium, when at 44, he finished third behind Matt Goerke and Michael Byrne. Today will be no different, as GEICO Honda’s Jimmy Decotis, who is from right up the road in Peabody, returns after undergoing arm pump surgery following supercross. Jason Brooks is another name that’s been thrown around. And don’t forget about Robby Marshall, who is riding a two-stroke in the 450 Class.

In injury news, Jordon Smith is a late scratch after tweaking a shoulder injury earlier this week. According to the team the injury doesn’t appear to be serious enough to keep him for an extended period, but he is out this weekend. His GEICO Honda teammate Tristan Charboneau was hoping to return from a broken collarbone, but he isn’t quite ready and is shooting for next week at Millville. Matt Bisceglia is back with Yoshimura Suzuki, as James Stewart is out for this weekend. For a full rundown of who’s in and who’s out, check out our Injury Report.

For the first time since 2005, the track will run counter-clockwise (or the original way) and Ken Roczen is hoping to continue his hot start to the season. Following a 1-1 performance at RedBud last weekend, Roczen is now 53 points clear of Eli Tomac and has won five of six overalls (including four straight).

The 250 Class is much closer, as Cooper Webb holds an 11 point advantage over Joey Savatgy. Webb, who is coming off his first career 1-1, seems to be cleared the wrist injury that slowed him earlier this year and is clicking on all cylinders.