MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (July 24, 2013) – Last round at the Peterson Cat Washougal National, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto capitalized on a 2-1 moto split over Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey to capture the 450 Class win in his home state of Washington. This Saturday, July 27, Dungey will face Villopoto on his home turf for the Red Bull Spring Creek National in Millville, Minn. for Round 9 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
The popular Spring Creek MX Park has been challenging the world’s best riders for more than three decades and this season’s 31st Annual National will feature a full day of live television coverage across FUEL TV, NBC and NBC Sports Network, as well as live coverage of all four motos on Allisports.com.
Spring Creek MX Park is home to the longest start in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
With 12 of the 16 moto-wins thus far, Villopoto has proven to be the dominant force in the 450 Class this season. However, reigning 450 Class Champion Ryan Dungey is Villopoto’s primary challenger with three overall wins and the runner-up position in the 450 Class championship standings through the first eight rounds.The Minnesota native has had much success at Spring Creek, where he hasn’t lost since 2008 when he was a competitor in the 250 Class. This Saturday Dungey will attempt to keep his five-year winning streak alive in front of his hometown fans, friends and family at the Red Bull Spring Creek National.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart is coming off two consecutive podium finishes, allowing the 2008 450 Class Champion to climb one position into fourth place in the championship standings. Stewart is a four-time winner at Spring Creek, with his most recent win coming in 2008 in the 450 Class, following a three-race winning streak in the 250 Class from 2002-04. Stewart has yet to claim an overall win in the 450 Class this season but the Florida native looks to carry his previous momentum onto the center of the podium in the sandy hills of Spring Creek.
Ryan Villopoto (2) leads the way in the 450 Class but Ryan Dungey (1) hasn’t lost at Spring Creek in five years Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
The 250 Class continues to produce exceptional competition this season as GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac brought the championship battle to within one point of Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen after a 1-1 sweep last round. Through eight rounds, Tomac holds the most victories of the season with three, surpassing Roczen’s two overall wins. As the 2012 250 Class winner at Spring Creek, Tomac will look for his second consecutive win this Saturday in Minnesota.
Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin returned to the podium last round with a third place finish at Washougal. Musquin joins Roczen and Tomac this season in earning multiple victories in the 250 Class, as the Frenchmen holds two overall wins thus far. And then there’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, who sits fourth overall in the championship standings with one victory to date. Last round, Baggett was in the running to capture a second place finish in Moto 1 but a mechanical issue ultimately kept the defending 250 Class Champion from earning any points in the moto. Baggett will attempt to secure his first ever win at Spring Creek amongst an ultra-competitive 250 Class lineup.
Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen leads the 250 Class by only one point heading into Round 9 Courtesy: Simon Cudby |
Spring Creek has been a staple of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship since hosting its first National back in 1983. Since then, it has become an anticipated stop on the schedule thanks to its challenging layout that features a healthy assortment of obstacles, as well as multiple dramatic elevation changes. Millville is home to three of the sport’s most iconic features, including the longest start in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, the “Holy Schmit” jump – named for late local legend Donny Schmit – and the infamous sand whoops that are often the site of where a race is won or lost.
The Red Bull Spring Creek National will feature live broadcast coverage on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern with the 450 and 250 Class opening motos on FUEL TV. Moto 2 of the 450 Class will air live on NBC at 3 p.m., followed by Moto 2 of the 250 Class live on NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. Additionally, all four motos can be seen live on Allisports.com.
Previous Round Results and Current Point Standings
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Peterson CAT Washougal National
Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Mich.
July 20, 2013
Round 8 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-2)
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (3-3)
4. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki (10-4)
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, (7-6)
6. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (6-9)
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, (5-10)
8. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda (9-7)
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (13-5)
10. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (4-17)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 380
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 338
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 271
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 224
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 219
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 170
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM, 164
8. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki, 160
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 159
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 158
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (1-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (2-2)
3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (3-4)
4. Justin Bogle, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (4-6)
5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (5-7)
6. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda (14-3)
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (11-5)
8. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki (7-9)
9. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (9-10)
10. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (6-16)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 356
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 355
3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 298
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 260
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda, 239
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 202
7. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 178
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 177
9. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 171
10. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 159