Motocross
Photos: Glen Helen Lucas Oils AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Posted: 05/24/09
Round One of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Series is in the books, and it was a beauty. Marking the premier of what is essentially a brand new series, MXSports (the series new promoter) and Daytona Motorsports Group (DMG), dba AMA Pro Racing should be commended on a fine first effort. Of course there were a few hiccups throughout the jam-packed and action-filled day, but that’s to be expected - after all, this was their rookie event. Having said that, the race results were somewhat more predictable. Ricky Villo…. Err wait, strike that – RYAN Villopoto and his Monster Energy Kawasaki factory KX450F won both motos in the 450 class (no more “Motocross” class or “Lites”, either) going away, and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey won the overall in the 250’s via a 2-1 score. Read on for bits and pieces of the racing action, along with 50 nice images of the day’s action – including how all of the fresh blood in the 250 class did, not to mention the great battles that Villopoto had to endure to make his way to the front.
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Posted: 05/24/09
The Lites class podium enjoys a nice, cool late-afternoon podium ceremony. Sandwiching winner Ryan Dungey are 2006 FIM MX2 World Champion Christophe Pourcel and the current 2008 FIM MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray. That’s an impressive cadre of up and coming talent right there, folks, and getting them all on the same track at the same time – not to mention the plethora of similarly talented riders who finished just behind them – was quite a treat to witness. Throw in the fact that this was by all accounts the roughest Glen Helen track ever, and it was one heck of a show.
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Posted: 05/24/09
A big part of the show was the Mike Alessi Holeshot Clinic, which will likely take place during the start of each and every 450 class start this summer. It sure did here at The Glen, as Mike was out front and sprinting away for the lead both times he got on the track. He managed to put quite a gap on the field (15 seconds over 2nd place Josh Grant at one point in moto two), but lost the lead impressively both times. The first time he literally got stuck in a muddy rut-hole/quicksand filled corner on lap 2 of the first moto, getting back going again in 4th, and in the 2nd moto he was hunted down like a wild boar by the most cunning hunter on the track – Mr. Ryan Villopoto.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Also on the hunt all afternoon was Ryan Dungey, who is one of the few riders up front in the 250 class that doesn’t spend several days per week riding and testing at Glen Helen. Dungey worked through the pack in moto one to find himself in the lead, only to be passed by the passive Frenchman Christophe Pourcel. In moto two, Dungey was the one doing the passing of Frenchmen, as he worked his way past Pourcel, Barcia, Canard and Rattray before finally getting the lead and riding away. It was an impressive effort in an unbelievably talent-filled class, and Ryan looked genuinely proud of himself after the race.
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Posted: 05/24/09
This is the look of relief and sheer joy that was found on rookie Justin Barcia’s face following his nearly unbelievable ride in moto two. Making up for an equally impressive dropping of the anchor while leading the first go-round where he went from 1st to 9th in the span of only a few laps, Barcia was the rabbit out front for the bulk of moto two. He sprinted out to a lead that even Rattray and Dungey commented on during the press conference, as they both gave the kid credit for his speed early in both races. It was only those two riders who got past him this time, as Justin ended up 3rd for the moto and his first podium (in 2 tries) as a professional.
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Posted: 05/24/09
The start of 450 moto number one, as seen from atop the crest of the first turn. Inside of course is Alessi, but the surprise here is none other than 2001 AMA 125cc MX Champ and current WORCS points leader (we think?) Mike Brown. The Tennessee renaissance man started wayyyy on the outside and came around the pack like a madman, ending up almost even with Alessi here. He put in a great ride for the remainder of the race too, as did several other current WORCS competitiors (more pics of them later), ending up 7th overall.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Josh Grant – since we’re on the subject of great starts, then we must mention JGR/Toyota/Yamaha’s Grant, who was the first rider past Brownie in that first moto and was 2nd or 3rd in both races to the first turn. Grant was up front all day – from practice to the end of moto 2 – and led much of the first moto after Alessi’s mud-run. His 2nd moto was almost as impressive, as he ran 2nd for a long time before succumbing to RV’s relentless charge to end up 3rd, and 3rd overall.
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Posted: 05/24/09
More Brown, just because it was a remarkable and probably rejuvenating ride for the veteran, who received cheers from the crowd the entire length of the track during both motos.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Faster and more consistent than Brownie, and with a remarkable overall result, was Canidae Kawasaki rider Tommy Hahn. There’s never been a question on if the eldest Hahn possessed the necessary skills for a top finish, but this weekend he really seemed to turn it on and prove that he’ll be a solid 450 rider this summer.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Absolutely railing through the roughest, nastiest sand whoop corner in modern motocross was freshman AMA motocross series competitor Tommy Searle. Runner-up to Rattray in last year’s FIM MX2 World Championships, Searle’s been a popular international rider that’s long dreamt of coming to the US to race, and this weekend marked his introduction. The friendly Brit was impressive, that much is for sure, setting top-5 laptimes in qualifying and ending up 4th overall, he helped prove that the international contingent pretty much has the natives covered in this class.
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Posted: 05/24/09
More Barcia, seen here doing his best impression of a rabbit in front of a pack of rabid wolves. You can’t see any wolves here because he’s too far out front of them in the 2nd moto, hopping through the sand whoops like he was born to be there.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Haven’t had enough yet? OK, one more of Barcia Barcia BARCIA, in those same sandy moguls.
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Posted: 05/24/09
While this also obviously that same #151, we’ll use this shot to expose the sea of people that crammed the infield and grandstand area to enjoy the action. While arguably down in attendance a bit (which was arguably caused by holding the race on Saturday), there were plenty of fans on hand to enjoy the great racing, and a whole lot more sitting at home watching the same day, Hi-Def coverage on Speed, or seeing it broadcast live on the internet. This is a big step up, people, enjoy it!
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Posted: 05/24/09
Cutting back to the action, we’ll showcase Davi Millsaps. As the member of Red Bull Honda racing with the “most promise” of snagging a few wins this summer, Millsaps put in a respectable ride. In moto two he chased down his teammate Andrew Short and left him in the dust, fitting in nicely just behind Chad Reed to end up 5th. Of that group in front of him – RV, Alessi, Grant and Reed – it’s easy to envision Davi beating two of them and showing up on the podium on any given Saturday this summer.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Another 25% of that factory Honda team is a young lady named Ashley Fiolek, who’s brought more exposure to the sport of Woman’s motocross than all of the rest of the women racers in history. Fast, smart, and adorable, Fiolek completely spanked the field on this fine day, pulling enormous and, quite frankly, ridiculous holeshots on her genuinely factory Honda CRF250R, she stiff-armed comments that it was the bike doing all the work. “I got just as good of starts in Europe on a showroom bike, so it’s my practicing starts that gets me the holeshot, not the bike!” Ashley is the defending WMA champ, while also sitting 3rd in the FIM World Championship series.
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Posted: 05/24/09
Andrew Short was solid as expected. He’s such a staple in the top 5 that it’s almost a given that he’ll be there. This year he may have more trouble though, as the addition of a few guys named Chad Reed, Josh Grant and Ryan Villopoto will likely knock him back to more of a top-10’ish guy. That’s a testament more to the plethora of fresh talent than a cut on Shorty’s abilities on the track, as he’s shown here negotiationg one of the seemingly infinite ruts in the corner following the mechanic’s area.
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Photos: Glen Helen National Practice
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