Rider Files

Robby Braunscheidel (No. 665) races his Kawasaki GPz550 ahead of a pack of other novice racers in a WERA C Production race at Grattan Raceway In July of 1984. This was a seriously talented class of novice riders; several went on to be successful in the expert ranks. The race featured quiet a mix of bikes. Braunscheidel leads the Yamaha RZ500 of Kenneth Davis (No. 654), Dan Thomson (No. 237) on his Yamaha RZ350, Dave Barnard (No. 511) on another GPz550 and in the background Neil Tolhurst on his RZ350. Davis used the power of his RZ500 to top this group of riders at the checkered flag.

Robby Braunscheidel (No. 665) and his Kawasaki GPz550 leads the Yamaha RZ500 of Kenneth Davis (No. 654), Dan Thomson (No. 237) on his Yamaha RZ350, Dave Barnard (No. 511) on another GPz550 and in the background Neil Tolhurst on his RZ350. This was a WERA C Production Novice race in July of 1984. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

Dungey, Baggett, and Patterson Sit Atop Respective Championship Standings

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (July 3, 2012) –

RedBud will mark the halfway point of the 2012 season. (Courtesy Andrew Fredrickson)

The world’s best riders are ready to resume the heavily-contested competition for the second half of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. This Saturday, the series reaches the halfway point with its sixth round and annual Independence Day Weekend tradition at the Red Bull RedBud National from Buchanan, Mich.

The famed RedBud facility will host its 38th Lucas Oil Pro Motocross National on Saturday with exclusive network television coverage of the final 450 Class moto on NBC, in addition to extended coverage on both FUEL TV and NBC Sports Network.

At the championship’s previous stop at Budds Creek, in Maryland, on June 16, current 450 Class points leader, and Red Bull KTM rider, Ryan Dungey continued his winning ways. The 2010 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 450 Class Champion swept each moto in his most dominant effort of the summer to extend his winning streak to six motos and secure his third consecutive overall victory.

Ryan Dungey is looking for his fourth straight victory this season. (Courtesy Carl Stone)

With his 17th-career win, Dungey extended his championship lead to 54 points, which gives him a full one-race advantage over the field. He is a former winner at RedBud, back in 2010, and also claimed a runner-up finish at the track one year ago giving him a pair of podium results in two career 450 Class starts.

With Dungey leading the way, MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer will resume their battle for second place in the championship standings, but considerable attention will also be given to the return of Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, who confirmed via Twitter (@js7) that he will be back in action on Saturday after missing Budds Creek.

Last season at RedBud, Chad Reed raced to his fourth win in six races, fending off the challenges of Dungey, in second, and Ryan Villopoto, in third.

After four different riders stood atop the podium through the first four rounds of the 250 Class season, repeat winners have emerged victorious over the past two rounds. Current championship leader Blake Baggett joined GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac at Budds Creek as the only other rider with two victories. After finishing second in the opening moto, Baggett took advantage of the opportunity to win Moto 2, doing just that to solidify the win and extend his lead in the standings to 13 points.

250 Class points leader Blake Baggett will look for back-to-back RedBud wins. (Courtesy Carl Stone)

Behind Baggett, a tightly-contested battle is ensuing for second between three riders. GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia holds a nine-point cushion over his teammate Tomac and Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, who are tied for third. In all, only 22 points separate these four riders who have established themselves as mainstays on the podium.

Last season at RedBud, Baggett put forth one of his most impressive outings of the season, fending off the all-out efforts of his teammates Dean Wilson and Tyla Rattray en route to the victory.

After a one-round break, the Women’s Motocross Championship will also be back in action at RedBud. After securing her third overall win of the season at the previous stop from High Point, Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Jessica Patterson is beginning to hit her stride. The six-time champion holds a 33-point lead over the field and will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday.

Jessica Patterson is aiming for her third consecutive victory this season in the WMX Class. (Courtesy Simon Cudby)

Last season at RedBud, reigning WMX Class Champion, and Michigan native, Ashley Fiolek rode her Team Honda Muscle Milk machine to a 1-1 moto sweep. Fiolek was forced to sit out at High Point due to injury, but is expected to return to action this weekend, aiming for a second win this season in front of the hometown crowd.

Nearly four decades into being a staple of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, RedBud has become one of the most popular stops on the circuit for both riders and fans thanks to its eclectic mix of high speed, dramatic elevation changes, highly-technical obstacles, and big air – particularly legendary LaRocco’s Leap. RedBud is also an Independence Day Weekend tradition in the sport, and with an extremely strong motocross following throughout the Great Lakes region, it has become one of the most special motorsports events in the United States.

The Red Bull RedBud National will be the second of back-to-back network television broadcasts on NBC. The national exposure will bring the action into millions of homes, allowing viewers across the country to see the world’s best do battle on one of the sport’s most iconic tracks.

Coverage from RedBud begins on Saturday, July 7, with live first moto coverage of the 450 and 250 Classes on FUEL TV, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both motos will also be streamed live on AlliSports.com. Live second moto coverage of the 250 Class can be seen on NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. Eastern, while the final moto of the 450 Class will air on Sunday, July 8, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

Previous Round Results and Current Standings

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Red Bull Budds Creek National
Budds Creek MX Park – Mechanicsville, Md.
June 16, 2012
Round 5 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-1)
2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (4-3)
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-4)
5. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda (5-8)
6. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (8-6)
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (10-5)
8. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha (9-7)
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (6-10)
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (7-11)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 236
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 182
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 179
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 154
5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 142
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 134
7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 116
8. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 111
9. Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha, 95
10. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 93

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (3-2)
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (1-5)
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-3)
5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (4-4)
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki (7-6)
7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (6-7)
8. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda (13-8)
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda (12-10)
10. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Honda (14-9)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 222
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 209
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 200
4. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 200
5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 153
6. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 130
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki, 106
8. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 102
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 99
10. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha, 96

Women’s Motocross Championship
High Point Raceway – Mt. Morris, Pa.
June 9, 2012
Round 4 of 8

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki (2-1)
2. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (1-5)
3. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda (5-2)
4. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda (4-3)
5. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (3-6)
6. Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM (7-4)
7. Marissa Markelon, Ansonia, Conn., Yamaha (6-7)
8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (9-8)
9. Amanda Brown, Baltimore, Md., Honda (8-11)
10. Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Honda (11-9)

WMX Class Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 188
2. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda, 155
3. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda, 137
4. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda, 126
5. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 125
6. Jacqueline Strong, Cottonwood, Ariz., KTM, 114
7. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda, 110
8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM, 101
9. Meghan Rutledge, New South Wales, Australia, Kawasaki, 78
10. Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Honda, 74

Tickets for all remaining rounds of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship can be found at www.allisports.com.

For additional information please visit AlliSports.com/motocross also, “like” the American Motocross Facebook page, “follow” @AmericanMX on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and information on the latest Lucas Oil Motocross news and developments.

For media information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please contact MX Sports Pro Racing via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world’s most prestigious motocross series – the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli Sports
Alli Sports, is an action sports lifestyle brand whose mission is to connect fans with athletes and brands through best in class events, media, and authentic branded products. Alli Sports includes: the Dew Tour, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Signature Series; Alli Media, which creates, produces, and distributes original content; Alli RideShop, an online retailer carrying top skate and BMX consumer products; and Alli MotoShop an online retailer carrying top moto consumer products. Alli Sports is owned by NBC Sports. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.

NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January of 2011, the broad reach and storied history of NBC Sports united with Comcast’s 24/7 ability to super-serve fans to create the NBC Sports Group. The new sports media company consists of an array of broadcast television, cable television and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports & Olympics, Golf Channel, Versus, 11 SportNets (regional sports networks) and their respective websites. Together, the new combined assets of the NBC Sports Group possess an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the Olympics, NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, IndyCar, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Wimbledon, French Open, Tour de France and Kentucky Derby.

FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports including UFC, surfing, motocross, snowboarding and more. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. With more hours of UFC coverage than any other network, FUEL TV is the place to be for live fights, weigh-ins, prelims, pre- and post-fight coverage, specials and events you won’t see anywhere else. See why adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 36 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4 FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the “Official Motor Oil of the Pro Motocross Championship.” Visit www.LucasOil.com.

They don’t make ‘em like E.J. Potter anymore. A lot of people might have dreamed about building bikes with muscle car or jet engines, but it was Potter, a drag racing daredevil who was dubbed the Michigan Madman, who actually built these beasts. And perhaps even more impressive was the fact he had the cojones to actually put a leg over his creations and race them down drag strips at record-breaking speeds. Read more.

Gilbert Johnson (No. 819) leads a tight battle for third in the WERA A Superbike Novice final at Grattan Raceway in July of 1984. Johnson, riding a Kawasaki KZ1000, leads Gerald Pocisk on the No. 444 Suzuki GS700E and Ned Hart on his No. 229 Honda VR750. Hart got around the other two to score third. Pocisk was fourth and Johnson took fifth.

Gilbert Johnson, riding a Kawasaki KZ1000, leads Gerald Pocisk on the No. 444 Suzuki GS700E and Ned Hart on his No. 229 Honda VR750 during a WERA A Superbike Novice race in July of 1984. Hart got around the other two to score the podium spot. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Yamaha Factory Racing riders Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo move to Sachsenring this week for the Grand Prix of Germany, the second of three consecutive race weekends. Championship leader Lorenzo will be looking to make up for last weekend’s disastrous Assen TT. He was taken out on the first corner on lap one of the race, destroying his 25 point advantage over Casey Stoner and leaving him with a sprained ankle. Lorenzo has yet to take a victory at the Sachsenring circuit but has finished in second place for the last three consecutive years. Read more.

Bridgestone investigating tyre-issues after Assen race
Following an eventful Iveco TT Assen where some riders suffered issues with their rear tyre, Bridgestone has said it will commence a full investigation to get to the root of the problem. Read more.

Injured Lorenzo makes up with Bautista ahead of Sachsenring
Following the incident at last weekend’s Iveco TT Assen, which saw Álvaro Bautista take out Jorge Lorenzo in the first turn, Lorenzo has been declared race-fit for the next round and has sought to diffuse the harsh comments aimed at his compatriot. Read more.

Pasini brings home best result yet at Assen
The seventh race of the MotoGP™ class for the 2012 season saw Speed Master’s Mattia Pasini record his best premier-class result yet on board his ART machine. Read more.