A fast field of contenders will continue their battle at the 46th Annual GoPro Hangtown Motocross Classic.
Last weekend’s 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship-opening Red Bull Glen Helen National in San Bernardino, California, kicked off the 2014 outdoor motocross season in fine fashion as Minnesota natives Ryan Dungey and Jeremy Martin secured season-opening victories in the 450cc and 250cc classes respectively. Round two of the 12-race championship is scheduled to take place this weekend in Sacramento, California.
Dungey will wear the coveted red number plate background to indicate his points lead in the 450cc class, while Martin will sport the 250cc class version when the tour heads to Prairie City OHV Park for the 46th running of the GoPro Hangtown Motocross Classic. Saturday, May 31.
Dungey can expect a host of challengers to step up and battle for the overall win, and he need look no farther for a arrival than right across his Red Bull KTM pit stall, as teammate and 450cc class rookie Ken Roczen has already proved to be a contender. After finishing second in the first moto at Glen Helen by just .4 of a second, Roczen led the majority of the second moto before Dungey, a two-time 450cc class champion, made a last-lap pass for the moto and overall win. Roczen left Glen Helen second overall and second in the series points standings.
Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX veteran Josh Grant also showed that he has what it takes to win, as he led the first 450cc moto at Glen Helen from start to finish. He has also been very strong at past Hangtown races—he made his professional debut there in 2004.
Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s newest member, Brett Metcalfe, who is filling in for the injured 450 Class Champion, Ryan Villopoto, secured a solid fourth overall in the 450cc class at Glen Helen. Metcalfe, the reigning Canadian Motocross Champion, is definitely a contender this season, and he is looking forward to improving upon his Glen Helen results at Hangtown.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart finished just outside the top five at the season opener, where he experienced a minor crash in the first moto, but Stewart had set a goal of leaving Glen Helen with a solid points tally under his belt, and he accomplished that goal. Stewart, a former AMA 450cc Champion, is expected to ratchet up his game as the series wears on, and he cannot be counted out of the championship as long as he stays healthy.
Speaking of healthy, TwoTwo Motorsports/Discount Tire Racing Kawasaki’s Chad Reed rejoined the AMA supercross/motocross circus at Glen Helen after recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during supercross season. A former 450cc Champion, Reed is easing himself back into competition, and hopes to mitigate early points damage by putting solid rides as he continues to get stronger.
In the 250cc class, the Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha duo of Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb surprised the field with impressive performances at the Glen Helen National. Martin swept the class, grabbing both moto wins. Webb finished as a consistent runner-up, marking the first one-two finish for Yamaha in a 250cc National since 1998. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Red Bull/Honda’s Cole Seely who claimed the final podium position at the opener. Seely made a big statement that he is ready to compete for the 250 Class title this season, and he hopes to break through with his first outdoor overall win of the year at Hangtown.
In addition to the Yamaha duo, the 250cc class has a strong field of talent competing for the championship. Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson, who grabbed third place in Moto 1 at Glen Helen, put his KTM in the mix early, but he experienced mechanical issues in the second moto. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, who also claimed a third-place moto finish. Baggett is a former 250cc Champion and knows what it takes to get the job done through 12 rounds.
For additional information on the series, visit www.promotocross.com.
Your Privacy Choices