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With the close of entries to the Australian rounds of SPEA FIM Trial World Championship all of the World's best riders have signed up for the event.

The Pro class entry is headed by the current and 5 times outdoor Champion Toni Bou from Spain aboard his Montesa 4RT. Bou, who has dominated the championship in recent years, will be made to work for every point by 2 times outdoor Champion and compatriot Adam Raga on his GasGas. Raga beat Bou into first place in the first round of the 2012 Championship but failed to finish on the podium in the second.

Also fighting for the top podium position will be the experienced Spaniard Albert Cabestany and Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami. Sherco mounted Cabestany has finished both 2012 rounds in third whilst 2 time World Outdoor Champion Montesa mounted Fujinami can never be discounted in the huge granite rock terrain that the Mt Tarrengower event will present to the competitors.

Spaniard Jeroni Fajardo surprised some by his second place on Day 2 of the French round of the Championship showing that he is right at home after his switch to Beta for 2012 and will look to carry this form into the Australian event.

The English pair, and regular visitors to Australia, Michael Brown (Gas Gas) and James Dabill (Beta) are both former World Junior Champions and will be looking to push the more experienced riders off the podium.

Six Australians have entered and will compete in the Junior, Open International and Youth World Championship classes. Victorian rider Tim Coleman (Gas Gas), NSW rider Kyle Middleton (Gas Gas), Tasmanian Chris Bayles (Gas Gas) and Queenslander Boyd Willcocks (Gas Gas) will fight against the World's best Junior riders. New Zealand rider Jake Whitaker (Beta) has won the Australian Championship in 2010 and 2011 and is expected to do well in this class.

Heading the Australian contingent in the Youth class aboard their 125cc machines will be NSW rider Jonathan Chellas (Gas Gas) and Victorian Sam King (Beta). New Zealand rider Blake Fox (Gas Gas) will also be representing Oceania in this class.

The sole Australian Rider in the newly introduced Open International Class will be experienced West Australian rider Neil Price and multiple Australian Champion Kevin Zarczinski.

2012 SPEA FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS 3 & 4
MT TARRENGOWER, MALDON, VIC - MAY 26 & 27

ENTRY LIST

PRO CLASS
Tony Bou Spain Montesa
Adam Raga Spain Gas Gas
Takahisa Fujinami Japan Montesa
Albert Cabestany Spain Sherco
Jeroni Fajardo Spain Beta
Michael Brown England Gas Gas
Loris Gubian France Gas Gas
James Dabill England Beta
Jack Challoner England Beta
Matteo Grattarola Italy Gas Gas
Alexz Wigg England Gas Gas
Daniel Oliveras Spain Ossa
Pere Bollellas Spain Gas Gas

JUNIOR CLASS
Pol Tarres Spain JTG
Francesc Moret Spain Montesa
Benoit Dagnicourt France Beta
Alexandre Ferrer Spain Sherco
Boyd Willcocks Australia Gas Gas
Tim Coleman Australia Gas Gas
Chris Bayles Australia Gas Gas
Jack Sheppard England Beta
Jake Whitaker New Zealand Beta
Hakon Pedersen Norway Sherco
Jesus Martin Spain Gas Gas
Kyle Middleton Australia Gas Gas

OPEN INTERNATIONAL CLASS
Neil Price Australia Beta
Kevin Zarczinski Australia Sherco

YOUTH CLASS
Steven Coquelin France Gas Gas
Blake Fox New Zealand Gas Gas
Jonathan Chellas Australia Gas Gas
Ignacio Martin Spain Gas Gas
Sam King Australia Beta
John Haynes New Zealand Beta
Sverre Lundevold Norway Beta

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By Simon Makker www.motoonline.com.au Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Todd Waters became the first Australian to win a round of the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Sunday.

The 21-year-old topped an international field by taking two brilliant victories in the back-to-back races, before dicing with Carlton Dry Thor Honda Racing’s Brad Anderson in the final 30-minute race. He clinched the overall with a close second place, handing him a debut win for Suzuki.

Waters’ podium was his fourth in five rounds and he now sits second in the championship, just 21 points shy of leader Josh Coppins at the halfway point.

“It was a picture perfect day,” Waters explained. “I got three good starts, was in the top three for all of them. I holeshot the first moto and led from start to finish, then in the second moto I was up front again and made the pass halfway through.

“I had a ball riding with Brad in the final moto, dicing for the lead. I love this track and it’s one of my favourites, so it was good to come back and win.

“My fitness is great, I’ve been working really hard, so I’m just looking forward to this six-week break to redo my base fitness.”

Todd Waters raced to his first win of the season in MX1 for Motul Pirelli Suzuki. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

British champion Brad Anderson claimed second for Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing after winning the third and final moto of the round, keeping himself in title contention after a disappointing round in WA. Anderson finished second in moto one and fifth in moto two in the South Australia sand.

“I’ve struggled with arm-pump a lot this year,” Anderson revealed afterward. “It’s something I’m going to focus on over the break. The race format here is tougher than in the UK and it’s been a challenge adapting.

“The last race was great and I had a blast fighting with Todd for the win.”

Privateer standout Tye Simmonds put a second Honda on the podium with his third overall result – his second podium of the year. Simmonds went 5-2-4 over the day’s three races.

“I had a couple of crashes during the day, but I’m pretty happy with the result, especially the second place in moto two,” Simmonds said.

“We changed the clutch for the third moto and it made a big difference. We’ll keep chipping away and do a bit of work over the break and come back hard at Hervey Bay.”

Waters topped the MX1 podium from Brad Anderson and Tye Simmonds. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

CDR Yamaha’s Lawson Bopping finished the day in fourth overall, while Waters’ teammate Cody Cooper finished fifth for the second week in a row.

“I struggled with starts all day, but I rode well in the final race to claw my way back to third,” Bopping said. “I’ve struggled with the 30-minute motos all year, so that was a good confidence booster.

“I’m about to head to the U.S. and do some training there over the break, which I’m looking forward to.”

Waters’ teammate Cody Cooper rounded out the top five for the second weekend in a row, but was still less than impressed with his own performance.

“I’ve been working hard on my starts during the week, but it didn’t seem to help today,” Cooper mused. “I just couldn’t get the jump I wanted and had to kinda push uphill from there. It was a little frustrating today, to be honest.”

CDR Yamaha’s Coppins was sixth at Murray Bridge after a tangle with Jake Moss in the final moto saw him lose a stack of points in the points’ chase.

Prior to that, Coppins had finished third in moto one and sixth in moto two. The GP legend will now head to Europe during the mid-season break.

The Pirelli MX2 category saw Josh Cachia race to JDR/KTM Factory Racing’s first overall victory of the 2012 season.

Josh Cachia claimed his first win of the season at Murray Bridge in the MX2 ranks. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Cachia rode to fifth in the opening moto, before breaking through for a win in moto two, then he sealed the overall with a fighting second to conclude the round.

“In the first moto I rode solid, got stuck behind some people, but that’s racing,” Carpenter Rocks resident Cachia explained. “If you don’t get a good start you don’t get in clean air, so that was my fault. In moto two I sorted it out, got the holeshot and felt good.

“In the 30-minute moto, Boydy and I worked hard until the end, so it was sweet. I rode solid, so to come away with the #1 plate today feels good.”

DPH Motorsport Honda’s Cheyne Boyd claimed his second podium in a row with a well-deserved victory in the final moto, when he held off a fast-charging Cachia and Ford Dale for the win.

Boyd opened the round with a second in moto one, but a crash – and a resulting eighth in the second race dashed his hopes of victory.

“I don’t want to harp on the negative, but that crash in the second moto cost me the overall today,” Boyd reflected. “It was a small mistake that turned into a large crash and I just had to salvage as many points as I could.

“In the final moto I was chasing Cachia, but I knew he couldn’t hold that intensity up for a full half-hour, so I bided my time, then passed him late in the race.

“I can’t be happier with how both my fitness and my bike are at the moment. We’re building some nice momentum.”

Cachia won the MX2 overall ahead of Cheyne Boyd and Ford Dale. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

The final podium position in MX2 went to moto one winner Ford Dale. The Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing rider had Ben Townley in his corner throughout the weekend, but Dale suffered from a crash in moto two that left him circulating in 15th. Dale bounced back to third in the final moto and overall.

“I qualified on pole and Ben and I worked out a great gate pick,” Dale said. “That helped a lot with my first race, which I led from start to finish.

“In the second moto I made some bad choices in the opening lap and crashed twice, but I felt my speed in the final 30-minute race was right up there. I caught Josh and Boydy, but I just ran out of time.”

Series leader Luke Styke was fifth overall on the day behind MX Factory Honda’s Justin McDonald, who scored a season-best fourth.

McDonald was on track for his first podium of the year after a 4-4 result in the back-to-back races, but a horrendous start in the final saw him caught at the back of the pack and he dropped out of podium contention as a result.

Serco Yamaha Metal Mulisha Racing’s Styke had a disastrous first moto, but salvaged his round with a second and a fourth in the final moto. Despite a fifth place result he still carries a comfortable 32-point lead in the MX2 title fight.

Kayne Lamont became the first double winner of 2012 in the talent-filled MXD class. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Kiwi Kayne Lamont became the first two-time winner of the 2012 season in the Pirelli MX Development class.

The KTM rider was sixth in the first moto, but he bounced back to win moto two and finish second in the final moto to clinch the overall. Lamont now sits nine points behind series leader Dylan Long.

Long was a solid second wrapping up his day with victory in the final moto. Dylan Leary completed the podium, making for a 1-2-3 result for KTM.

Motul Pirelli Suzuki’s Jay Wilson finished fourth overall for the round, while GYTR Yamaha’s Sam Martin was fifth. First moto winner Joel Milesevic had to settle for sixth after suffering a mechanical in moto two, but he finished the weekend with third in moto three.

The Australian Motocross Championship now heads into a five-week break before returning for round six at Hervey Bay in Queensland on Sunday, 1 July.

The MXD class was won by Lamont, with Dylan Long second and Dylan Leary third. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round Five – Murray Bridge, SA

MX1 Overall Results:
1. Todd Waters 72
2. Brad Anderson 63
3. Tye Simmonds 56
4. Lawson Bopping 52
5. Cody Cooper 49
6. Josh Coppins 48
7. Daniel Reardon 40
8. Daniel McCoy 39
9. Dean Porter 33
10. Jay Marmont 30
11. Gordon Crockard 27
12. Tim Vare 25
13. Thomas Alexander 20
14. Calle Aspegren 20
15. Beau Ralston 16
16. Zak Newsome 15
17. Paul Humberston 15
18. Jake Moss 14
19. Aden de Jager 12
20. Dylan Peterson 7

MX2 Overall Results:
1. Josh Cachia 63
2. Cheyne Boyd 60
3. Ford Dale 53
4. Justin McDonald 49
5. Luke Styke 46
6. Scott Columb 45
7. Lewis Woods 39
8. Kade Mosig 39
9. Errol Willis 37
10. Nick Murray 33
11. Kirk Gibbs 30
12. Brock Winston 27
13. Luke Arbon 25
14. Adam Monea 25
15. Corey Lucas 20
16. Matt van Slooten 13
17. Peter Boyle 13
18. Tristen Cachia 11
19. Steve Duncanson 9
20. Callan Dickson 6

MXD Overall Results:
1. Kayne Lamont 62
2. Dylan Long 58
3. Dylan Leary 52
4. Jay Wilson 49
5. Sam Martin 47
6. Joel Milesevic 45
7. Jarrad Davis 34
8. Michael Crugnale 30
9. Mitch Budd 26
10. John Phillips 25
11. Shaun Redhead 22
12. Joe Gillespie 22
13. Ben George 20
14. Kale Makeham 19
15. Dion Picard 19
16. Jordan Bissaker 18
17. Dylan Wills 16
18. Lenny Magyar 15
19. Daniel Banks 14
20. Josh Melis 12

MX1 Championship (after 5 of 10 rounds):
1. Josh Coppins 301
2. Todd Waters 280
3. Brad Anderson 274
4. Lawson Bopping 255
5. Tye Simmonds 234
6. Cody Cooper 232
7. Jay Marmont 207
8. Jake Moss 171
9. Daniel McCoy 164
10. Daniel Reardon 147
11. Dean Porter 139
12. Calle Aspegren 112
13. Dylan Peterson 96
14. Ben Townley 75
15. Craig Anderson 64
16. Tim Vare 61
17. Gordon Crockard 59
18. Beau Ralston 58
19. Mike Phillips 50
20. Billy Mackenzie 44

MX2 Championship (after 5 of 10 rounds):
1. Luke Styke 306
2. Ford Dale 274
3. Cheyne Boyd 258
4. Josh Cachia 258
5. Kade Mosig 233
6. Kirk Gibbs 229
7. Adam Monea 215
8. Justin McDonald 192
9. Lewis Woods 173
10. Errol Willis 168
11. Scott Columb 168
12. Luke Arbon 121
13. Nick Murray 119
14. Brock Winston 99
15. Ryan Marmont 91
16. Geran Stapleton 84
17. Corey Lucas 45
18. Peter Boyle 35
19. Richard Egerton 34
20. David Birch 19

MXD Championship (after 4 of 9 rounds):
1. Dylan Long 201
2. Kayne Lamont 195
3. Samual Martin 195
4. Dylan Leary 193
5. Jay Wilson 159
6. Joel Milesevic 156
7. Kale Makeham 156
8. Mitch Norris 123
9. Mitch Budd 103
10. Dylan Wills 99
11. Jarrad Davis 88
12. Dion Picard 84
13. John Phillips 77
14. Wade Hunter 76
15. Joe Gillespie 67
16. Ben George 61
17. Michael Crugnale 54
18. Josh Melis 49
19. Rhys Hobson 43
20. Billy Jackson 43

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By Byron Wilson www.motorcycle-usa.com  Sunday, May 20, 2012

Factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo took the MotoGP win in wet conditions at Le Mans on Sunday. The Doctor, Valentino Rossi, battled his way to second place, taking his best finish of the season and best finish riding for Ducati. Rossi engaged in a fierce duel with Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner in the final laps of the race. The Italian rider made a pass in the final lap and held on to the checkers. Stoner rounded out the podium taking third.

Jorge Lorenzo scored a decisive victory in LeMans, taking the checkers by over nine seconds ahead of Valentino Rossi.

"It was really difficult to hold concentration today, in the dry it’s complicated but in the wet it’s even more," said Lorenzo. "The race feels much longer and you have to remember where the corners are slippery every lap. If you forget one you can crash very easily."

Lorenzo gained an early lead and proceeded to put a substantial gap between himself and Casey Stoner. The Australian remained in second place until the final moments of the race when Rossi made his definitive move for second.

The battle raged for third through the first half of the race between Rossi and Tech 3 Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso. The three traded positions numerous times until, with 11 laps remaining, Crutchlow slipped through a turn and came off his bike. He was able to pick up and return to the race, but could only manage to hold eighth to the checkers. Dovizioso and Rossi then went head to head for a podium finish until, with four laps to go, Dovizioso slipped and went down.
 
Free from the Tech 3 pressure, Rossi moved to close the gap on Stoner for second place. Both riders came upon a backmarker and Stoner was forced to slow just enough for the Italian to move up to within a second. Rossi remained on the Aussie’s back tire until the final lap of the race, where he was finally able to make a pass and make it stick. Rossi scored third place at Le Mans last year.

Rossi scored his best qualifying position of the season at Le Mans, allowing The Doctor to start and remain at the head of the pack. He rode masterfully in the wet conditions, taking second place from Casey Stoner in the final lap at Le Mans.

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa had a difficult day, falling back in the pack early on after briefly battling up front for third with Rossi and the Tech 3 team. Not known for his wet weather prowess, Pedrosa moved up to fourth after Crutchlow and Dovizioso went down. LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl suffered a crash earlier in the weekend but was able to hold steady in the main and score a top five finish, his best so far this season.

Rossi’s teammate Nicky Hayden equaled his best finish of the season in sixth place.

The track conditions were a deciding factor in Sunday’s race, confirming Rossi’s claim that the Ducati runs well in the wet, causing the Tech 3 team to lose position as well as keeping CRT rider Randy De Puniet of Power Electronics Aspar from starting with the field. The French rider lost control of his bike on the grid after the green flag went up and had to quickly switch to his other bike. Came Ioda Racing’s Danilo Petrucci led the CRT pack for a good portion of the race until sliding out with four laps remaining. The Ioda rider’s absence left the door open for James Ellison of Paul Bird Motorsports to take the highest ranking CRT place at the checkers, scoring 11th place. Rumored for replacement on the PBM squad, Ellison rebounds at Le Mans after failing to score a MotoGP point in the first three rounds and failing to finish the previous two races.
 
Lorenzo's victory knocks Stoner out of the points lead, taking the top spot by eight. Stoner now holds second, 17 points ahead of teammate Dani Pedrosa who remains in third place. Rossi’s performance moved him from ninth in points all the way up to sixth. Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso remain in fourth and fifth respectively.

MotoGP LeMans Results 2012:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
2. Valentino Rossi (Ducati)
3. Casey Stoner (Honda)
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda)
5. Stefan Bradl (Honda)
6. Nicky Hayden (Ducati)
7. Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha)
8. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha)
9. Hector Barbera (Ducati)
10. Alvaro Bautista (Honda)
11. James Ellison (ART)
12. Mattia Pasini (ART)
13. Aleix Esparagaro (ART)
14. Michele Pirro (FTR)
15. Yonny Hernandez (BQR)
16. Ben Spies (Yamaha)
17. Chris Vermeulen (Suter)
18. Ivan Silva (BQR)
NC Danilo Petrucci (Ioda)
NC Randy De Puniet (ART)
NC Karel Abraham (Ducati)

2012 MotoGP Championship Points:
1. Jorge Lorenzo, 90
2. Casey Stoner, 82
3. Dani Pedrosa, 65
4. Cal Crutchlow, 45
5. Andrea Dovizioso, 44
6. Valentino Rossi, 42
7. Stefan Bradl, 35
8. Alvaro Bautista, 35
9. Nicky Hayden, 33
10. Hector Barbera, 26

 

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Jason Weigandt www.racerxonline.com

Normally, the opener for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, represents a fresh start after a five-month run through Monster Energy Supercross. That fresh start scenario was totally apparent at the at the 2012 National MX opener at Hangtown, where Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett erased forgettable supercross seasons by dominating the proceedings en route to 1-1 overall wins.

 

 

Stewart’s much-anticipated full-time return to the series after a four-year absence included a late switch to a new team, Yoshimura Suzuki. Any thoughts that Stewart would have some outdoor rust on him, or wouldn’t be able to adapt to his new bike, were gone by the first lap of the first 450 moto. Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short grabbed the holeshot, but Stewart battled him and then made a pass halfway through the lap. From there, Bubba rode a solid race, made few mistakes, and went on to an unchallenged victory.

 

James Stewart's return to motocross went as well as it possibly could.

Stewart and Shorty battled for the holeshot in the first moto.
Simon Cudby photos

Behind Stewart a great battle raged between Short, JGRMX Toyota Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps and Stewart’s teammate Brett Metcalfe. Millsaps rode strong early and challenged Short for second repeatedly, but Metcalfe rolled up on them and eventually passed both for second. Then Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey appeared on the scene after a bad start. Dungey, the 2010 Series’ Champ, was on a roll and got around Short and then challenged Millsaps for third. But Millsaps responded, found new lines and ended up passing Metcalfe back for second. Dungey then got Metcalfe as well, but Millsaps got away to take second. Dungey, Metcalfe and Short rounded out the top five.

At one point Brett Metcalfe rallied to second and made it a Suzuki 1-2.

Davi Millsaps rode well in the moto and charged down the stretch to take second.

Ryan Dungey overcame a bad start to take third in moto one.
Simon Cudby photos

In the second moto, Mike Alessi grabbed a trademark holeshot on his MotoConcepts bike, but Dungey and Stewart were with him. The three traded lines early, and Dungey made a quick pass for the lead. Alessi responded and got Dungey back, though, and then Stewart made a pass on Dungey, also. Stewart then made the same pass on Alessi that Dungey had made, but he protected his line and prevented Alessi from getting him back. Then Dungey passed Alessi, and the hyped-up Stewart versus Dungey battle was on.

Dungey stayed close, the lead staying between just one or two seconds for most of the race. Then the duo hit lapped traffic, and Stewart was actually able to negotiate it better from the lead than Dungey was from second. Stewart got away, and that was the end of that battle. Dungey took second and Alessi completed a solid ride with third.

“(Today) went better than I thought,” said Stewart. “I thought I’d come and struggle a bit, which I did a little. This (season) is one of those things where you continue to build and we got a good start on it. I’m just here to enjoy it. I didn’t come to be the fastest; I came to learn the motorcycle. Everything is new. We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been away for a while, but I don’t realize how much I miss it till I’m gone.”

Moto two presented a Stewart Dungey duel.

Mike Alessi took seventh in moto one but bounced back in moto two. He holeshot and led.

Dungey got a better start in moto two and briefly took the lead from Alessi. Alessi got him back, though, and then Stewart got past both.

Dungey kept the heat on Stewart for much of the race, but Stewart handled lapped traffic better and stayed strong to the finish to complete a 1-1 day.

Andrew Short passed Metcalfe on the last lap for fourth in the moto.
Simon Cudby photos

Millsaps was up front early in the moto but had a few crashes knock him back. This left the overall podium battle between Alessi, Short and Metcalfe. On the last lap, Shorty made a pass on Metcalfe to take over fourth, which left all three riders in a tie on overall points. Alessi’s better second moto finish (7-3) gave him the tie breaker and third overall.

Meanwhile, more bad news for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team, which had already lost 2011 Series Champion Ryan Villopoto to a torn ACL. His replacement, Tyla Rattray, broke his hand in the first moto and was knocked out of competition for the day.

The hits kept coming for Kawasaki, as defending 250 Champion Dean Wilson retired from competition early in the first 250 moto. Wilson’s ailing shoulder just wouldn’t stay together, and he’s now out for the summer with shoulder surgery.

GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia grabbed the first 250 moto holeshot, with Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen behind him. Barcia and Roczen hooked up in a great duel for the lead, with Roczen making an impressive pass around the outside. Eventually, Barcia’s teammate Eli Tomac closed in from third to make it a three-rider battle, with Roczen’s teammate Marvin Musquin and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett in the mix as well.

Musquin is struggling with a hand injury (he had a new plate and screws installed to replace a damaged plate two weeks ago) and dropped back slightly. Then Baggett reached into his 2011 “El Chupacabra” bag of tricks and turned up the heat. He got past Tomac for third, then kept digging and digging until he caught the Roczen/Barcia battle for the lead on the last lap. Then, amazingly, he passed Barcia for second at the beginning of the lap, and then with about three corners to go, he struck, making the pass on Roczen to take the lead in dramatic fashion. Third to first on the last lap!

The 250 class blasts off.

Blake Baggett put together another of his patented come-from-behind charges.

Roczen and Barcia went at it in this moto.
Simon Cudby photos

Barcia and Roczen started moto two 1-2 again, but this time Tomac got caught in a first turn crash. Baggett started third and went for the lead pretty quickly. On the first lap, Roczen fell over while running second. This left Baggett second, and he eventually got past Barcia to take the lead and take off with a 1-1 result.

Roczen only lost a few spots with his early crash, and worked his way back forward. He got to third, and tried to run down Barcia, but came up short and settled for third.

“I just wanted to be on the box,” said Baggett. “(Sweeping the motos) is beyond what I came in expecting to do. Every weekend I don’t want to ask for too much. I want to be in the points one way or the other with two rounds to go. I couldn’t even tell you what was going on in the first moto. I honestly was just bouncing around. I knew in the second moto if I stayed on (Barcia’s) rear wheel I could make a pass. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it.”

After a rough SX season, the win felt good for team Baggett.

Roczen and Barcia rode well but they couldn't stop El Chupacabra.

Baggett won Hangtown last year. Can he turn this year's win into a title?
Simon Cudby photo

In am impressive fourth overall came Ivan Tedesco, who was making his return to the 250 class for the first time since winning the title in 2005. Hot Sauce rode well, with 6-4 scores putting him in fourth overall. Tedesco hadn’t even completed an outdoor moto since 2010!

Meanwhile, the Rockstar Suzuki team had a good race going in moto two, with Martin Davalos, Jason Anderson and Blake Wharton up front. Anderson looked set for a fourth-place finish until he stalled his bike late and dropped to ninth. This put Tedesco in fourth and Davalos fifth.

The WMX class kicked off their season as well. The first moto showed similar action to last year, with Ashley Fiolek grabbing the holeshot on her factory Honda and battling with Jessica Patterson before going on to get the win. Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Tarah Gieger was third. But all heck broke loose in moto two when both Fiolek and Patterson crashed early. This opened the door for a shocker, as little-known Australian Meghan Rutledge, on a Kawasaki, railed to the moto win. Patterson, meanwhile, had popped her shoulder out of the socket in her early crash, but somehow popped it back in, dug deep and rallied for second. That was enough to give the Rockstar Suzuki first overall with 2-2 scores—despite the busted shoulder!

Fiolek ripped two holeshots.

Patterson had a rough day. But grabbed a win!

The 250 podium.
Simon Cudby photo

250 Overall Results:
1. Blake Baggett 1-1
2. Justin Barcia 3-2
3. Ken Roczen 2-3
4. Ivan Tedesco 6-5
5. Eli Tomac 4-10
6. Martin Davalos 14-4
7. Kyle Cunningham 9-8
8. Jason Anderson 8-9
9. Marvin Musquin 5-14
10. Wil Hahn 7-13
11. Jake Canada 10-11
12. Blake Wharton 16-6
13. Travis Baker 15-12
14. Gareth Swanepoel 12-15
15. Justin Bogle 21-7
16. Jessy Nelson 13-17
17. Kyle Peters 11-30
18. Hunter Hewitt 17-16
19. AJ Catanzaro 18-18
20. Shane Sewell 19-19
21. Alex Martin 23-20
22. Killy Rusk 20-37
23. Dakota Tedder 24-25
24. Scott Champion 34-22
25. Tevin Tapia 39-21
26. Malcolm Stewart 25-39
27. Topher Ingall 35-31
28. Joey Peters 22-28
29. Zack Freeberg 26-35
30. Brad Nauditt 29-26
31. Travis Bell 30-32
32. Robert Noftz 28-34
33. Landen Powell 31-29
34. Steve Roman 32-33
35. Chris Plouffe 33-36
36. Dean Wilson 36-40
37. Phil Nicoletti 40-38
38. Johnny Jelderda 27-27
39. Preston Tilford 38-23
40. Jason Potter 37-34

The 450 podium.
Simon Cudby photo

450 Overall Results
1. James Stewart 1-1
2. Ryan Dungey 3-2
3. Mike Alessi 7-3
4. Andrew Short 5-4
5. Brett Metcalfe 4-5
6. Broc Tickle 6-7
7. Davi Millsaps 2-14
8. Jake Weimer 10-6
9. Josh Grant 9-8
10. Nico Izzi 11-10
11. Kyle Chisholm 13-9
12. Robby Kiniry 12-13
13. Jimmy Albertson 17-12
14. Tommy Hahn 8-27
15. Matt Lemoine 19-11
16. Vince Friese 15-18
17. Sean Collier 14-24
18. Ryan Sipes 25-15
19. Justin Brayton 24-16
20. Nick Wey 16-36
21. Kyle Regal 28-17
22. Michael Byrne 18-22
23. Derek Anderson 23-19
24. Kevin Rookstool 38-20
25. Ben LaMay 20-35
26. Billy Laninovich 21-23
27. Justin Sipes 27-21
28. Les Smith 22-28
29. Austin Howell 26-25
30. Sean Borkenhagen 32-26
31. Jason Thomas 30-29
32. Preston Mull 31-30
33. Michael Giese 34-31
34. Dalton Carlson 33-32
35. Dustin Pipes 29-37
36. Josh Greco 36-33
37. Blake Ballard 37-34
38. Dakota Kessler 35-38
39. Ryan Hughes 39-39
40. Tyla Rattray 40-40

 

The WMX podium.
Simon Cudby

WMX Overall
1. Jessica Patterson 2-2
2. Ashley Fiolek 1-5
3. Tarah Gieger 3-3
4. Meghan Rutledge 8-1
5. Sayaka Kaneshiro 5-4
6. Kasie Creson 6-6
7. Mariana Balbi 7-8
8. Sara Pettersson 11-9
9. Lindsey Palmer 10-11
10. Hailey Larson 9-13
11. Jacqueline Strong 14-10
12. Sara Price 4-31
13. Amanda Maheu 30-7
14. Alexah Pearson 19-12
15. Sade Allender 16-15
16. Amanda Brown 13-18
17. Taylor Miller 17-16
18. Sarah Whitmore 12-21
19. Brittany Marcotte 29-14
20. Jackie Ives 15-29

 

450 Class Championship Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 50

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 42

3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 34

4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 34

5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 34

6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 29

7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 29

8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 26

9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 25

10. Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha, 21

 

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 50

2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 42

3. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 42

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 31

5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 29

6. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki, 25

7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha, 25

8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 25

9. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 23

10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 22

 

WMX Class Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 44

2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 41

3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda, 40

4. Meghan Rutledge, New South Wales, Australia, Kawasaki, 38

5. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda, 34

6. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda, 30

7. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda, 27

8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM, 22

9. Lindsey Palmer, Conifer, Colo., Kawasaki, 21

10. Hailey Larson, Green Brae, Calif., Honda, 20

 

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