Coming into round nine of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota, on Saturday, the eyes of the partisan crowd were on home state favorite Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, who has won the event for the past five consecutive years. But when the smoke cleared on the 31st running of the race, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart captured his first overall win of the 2013 season. Meanwhile, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac took over the 250cc series points lead with brilliant 1-1- moto performances in Millville to back up his previous perfect sweep during round eight at Washougal.
450cc
In Moto 1 of the 450cc class, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia grabbed the early lead, followed by his teammate Trey Canard. Dungey got off to a decent start but made a couple mistakes and would slip back to as far as 11th place in the early going. Things were even worse for series points leader Ryan Villopoto, who crashed his Monster Energy Kawasaki on the opening lap and was mired in 28th place.
Stewart was off to clean start, however, and he ran third, behind Canard and Barcia, off the start before quickly passing the Honda duo for the lead. Canard eventually passed Barcia for second and closed in on Stewart, but Stewaret held on for the moto win. Canard finished second, while Barcia and Toyota/JGR/Yamaha’s Josh Grant finished third and fourth. Villopoto salvaged his bad start with a fifth-place finish ahead of Dungey.
Stewart looked great again at the start of Moto 2, as he carried grabbed the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot and led Dungey early in the moto. The pair battled for the lead, but it was ultimately Dungey who settled into the front position.
As Dungey got away from Stewart, the battle for the runner-up position between Canard and Stewart was significant, as it would likely determine the 450cc class overall winner. Canard was able to best Stewart for second place in Moto 2. But Stewart’s 1-3 moto score was enough to top Canard’s 2-2 finishes en route to his first overall victory of the season.
“Things just came together today but it was probably the hardest two motos I’ve ridden since last year,” Stewart said. “We’re just building for next year, so any little bit helps. I want to finish this thing [season] and get a couple more wins to carry the momentum into next season.”
Dungey maintained the lead through the end of Moto 2, finishing 5-1 to salvage third place overall for the day. Villopoto finished fifth overall with a moto score of 4-6 for the day, despite a valiant comeback effort in both motos. Round 9 marks the first time this season that Villopoto hasn’t finished atop the overall podium, but the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider maintains the 450 Class points lead heading into the tenth round.
250cc
GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn grabbed the Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot in Moto 1 of the 250 Class, where he led the opening lap. Millville native Jeremy Martin got off to a second place start and settled in behind Hahn, with GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle and Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen battling back and forth behind MYPLASH/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Martin. Roczen eventually passed Bogle, and then Martin, for the second position, but then Roczen suffered a hard crash on lap five that forced him to retire from the moto.
Martin moved past Hahn to take over the lead in front of his hometown friends and family, but the hard-charging Eli Tomac caught Martin and took over the lead, which he would maintain to the finish. Martin held off the rest of the pack to earn a career-best second-place finish at a National.
Hahn came out swinfing again in Moto 2, grabbing his second straight Motorcycle Superstore Holeshot of the day, but Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett and Roczen passed Hahn early and took turns leading the race. Once again, Tomac came from behind and engaged the lead battle about halfway through Moto 2. Tomac eventually moved past Roczen for the lead, where he maintained his position to capture his second moto win of the day and fourth consecutive moto win this season. Roczen finished second in Moto 2, posting a moto score of 35-2 to salvage ninth overall for the day.
Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin proved that consistency pays off as he captured a pair of fourth place finishes to capture second overall for the day. Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson captured a career best third overall with 3-5 finishes for the day Hometown favorite Martin put in an impressive ride to finish fourth overall for the day with a 2-7 moto score.
Tomac’s 1-1 sweep at Spring Creek was enough to wrestle the series points lead away from Roczen
Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship heads to New Berlin, NY for the Built Ford Tough Unadilla National on Saturday, August 10.
Spring Creek MX Park
Millville, MN
Results:July 27, 2013
Round 9 of 12
450cc
1. James Stewart-Suz/1-3
2. Trey Canard-Hon/2-2
3. Ryan Dungey-KTM/5-1
4. Justin Barcia-Hon/3-5
5. Ryan Villopoto-Kaw/6-4
6. Andrew Short-KTM/7-8
7. Mike Alessi-Suz/11-6
8. Chad Reed-Hon/10-7
9. Jake Weimer-Kaw/9-9
10. Broc Tickle-Suz/8-10
450cc Series Points Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto-413
2. Ryan Dungey-379
3. Justin Barcia-307
4. James Stewart-Suzuki, 269
5. Trey Canard-263
6. Mike Alessi-195
7. Andrew Short-191
8. Jake Weimer-184
9. Broc Tickle-183
10. Josh Grant-176
250cc
1. Eli Tomac-Hon/1-1
2. Marvin Musquin-KTM/4-4
3. Jason Anderson-Suz/3-5
4. Jeremy Martin-Yam/2-7
5. Blake Baggett-Kaw/6-3
6. Justin Bogle-Kaw/5-6
7. Wil Hahn-Hon/8-8
8. Justin Hill-Kaw/7-11
9. Ken Roczen-KTM/35-2
10. Zach Osborne-Hon/11-9
250cc Series Points Standings
1. Eli Tomac-405
2. Ken Roczen-378
3. Marvin Musquin-334
4. Blake Baggett-295
5. Zach Osborne-261
6. Jason Anderson-238
7. Justin Bogle-209
8. Jeremy Martin-207
9. Kyle Cunningham-183
10. Cooper Webb-170
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