The Run to the Finish

US Pro MX 2016

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Following its final break of the 2016 season, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is set for a captivating run to the finish. The final three weeks of the 12-round championship will kick off this Saturday, August 13, from one of the sport’s most iconic venues. Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York, has been hosting the world’s most prestigious championship since its inception in 1972 and this weekend’s anticipated 31st running of the Unadilla National will signify the next stop in RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing rider Ken Roczen’s quest for a second 450 Class title, while Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb seeks his first ever national crown in the 250 Class.

At the championship’s previous round from the picturesque Pacific Northwest in Washougal, Washington, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac continued his recent surge by capturing his second overall victory in the past three rounds. While the win for Tomac added to his building confidence at the most critical juncture in the season, it ultimately resulted in no change in the 450 Class standings thanks to a tie for the win with Roczen. As a result, 55 points sit between the longtime rivals with three rounds remaining.

Since breaking through for his first win of the season at Southwick one month ago Tomac has stepped up to become the only rider standing between Roczen and a second 450 Class title. He’s poised to add to his success this season and continue to take away from Roczen’s win share, but will face a steep challenge in trying to overcome a deficit that sits at more than two motos.

For Roczen his unparalleled consistency has put him in a position to race in the best interest of the championship. He’s yet to finish off the overall podium this season and while he does have the luxury of a healthy points lead, it would be no surprise to anyone to see him continue rack up wins and end any hopes Tomac has at catching him. The excitement of motocross surrounds its unpredictability and while Roczen can control his own destiny, with six motos remaining anything can still happen, which has been evident throughout the 2016 season. Neither Tomac nor Roczen have ever won a premier class race at Unadilla, but in the absence of defending champion and back-to-back winner Ryan Dungey a new rider will likely emerge to become the newest winner at the famed facility.

While Roczen and Tomac continue their battle atop the championship standings, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin will look to maintain his hold on third over Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia. Currently 39 points sit between the two and both have come on strong in recent weeks. Barcia’s return to his native New York could play into his favor this weekend, but the European style of the Unadilla layout could benefit Musquin, who has a 250 Class win to his credit.

Just over a month ago, the 250 Class title fight had a much different look than it currently has. Entering the halfway point of the season at RedBud over 4th of July weekend Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy sat atop the standings with a 12-point lead over Webb, closely followed by his Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha teammates Jeremy and Alex Martin. Now, as the championship nears its conclusion, Webb has not only seized control of the standings, but has also opened up a 51-point lead.

A streak of three consecutive wins gave Webb the momentum and confidence to make a run for his first national title. Since his first win at Tennesee five rounds ago Webb has failed to finish on the podium in a moto just once. On the flip side, the results from his three main rivals over that stretch have been sporadic, allowing Webb to outscore each of them by at least 47 points. At the most recent outing of the season at Washougal, Webb endured through his worst outing since the third round, scoring just 35 points, yet still finished third overall despite that. The only championship contender to gain any ground on Webb at Washougal was Alex Martin, who walked away with his second win of the season.

Despite his recent success, Alex Martin faces the biggest deficit of the three riders chasing Webb, sitting 55 points out of the lead. While a total of just four points separate Jeremy Martin in second, Savatgy in third, and Alex Martin in fourth, all three still must overcome their deficit to Webb that has now grown to more than two motos. All four riders have at least one overall win to their credit this season, meaning the final three rounds of the season should be as entertaining as the nine rounds leading up to this point.

 
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