Washougal, Washington is the most picturesque round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Located along the Washougal River with views of Mt. Hood in the distance, this venue adds a little bit of character to the series. The views are not the only distinct difference, either. The dirt at Washougal is easily the hardest-packed that riders will see all summer. Many other rounds, like Hangtown or RedBud, have hauled in soft soil to make conditions more pliable and more loamy. Not so with Washougal. As the sun dries the PNW staple, the dirt gets harder and harder. In fact, it is likely the only track of the season where most (let’s see what Eli Tomac does) will put the scoop tire away for the weekend.

Further complicating Washougal are the shadows. Much of the racetrack is covered in a tree canopy. While beautiful to behold, the trees wreak havoc on rider vision via the transition from bright sunshine to dark, shadowed areas. To understand what the riders deal with, leave a well-lit room (as bright as possible) and then walk into a dark room. Now imagine doing that at 30mph and navigating ruts. The immediate lack of vision before your eyes can adjust is terrifying. The entire section leading up to the infamous whoops is a guessing game as to where the ruts are. There is a whole lot of “I hope this is the line” as riders weave through the tree-covered switchbacks. Distinctly Washougal but very difficult for riders to manage.

As for how to go fast at Washougal, mid-corner roll speed can’t be overstated. Ever wonder why Ryan Dungey beat Ryan Villopoto more here than his own home track? It’s because Dungey was a master of rolling through corners without brakes or throttle application. Villopoto wanted to accelerate hard mid-corner, leaning over the back of the bike to find traction. Washougal doesn’t reward aggression in this way. Villopoto would hammer the throttle and instead of propelling forward, his rear tire would struggle for traction on the hard Washougal clay. Was he still one of the very best? Of course. He could overcome it. But it wasn’t his best track when most assumed a “home” race would be. Washougal is simply not a racetrack that allowed Villopoto to use his strengths. Dungey’s usefulness of natural momentum gave him a big boost to his already dynamic speed. Not every track exposes strengths/weaknesses for all to see but Washougal absolutely does.