Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

Baggett Returns to Top of 250 Class Podium with Fourth Win

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (August 11, 2012) – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its annual stop in New England on Saturday, hosting the ninth round of the season from Moto-X 338. Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., continued his dominance in the 450 Class, capturing his seventh consecutive win, but needed a pit stop in order to do so. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., raced to his fourth victory of the summer, extending his lead in the championship.

MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., grabbed the holeshot in the opening 450 Class moto, while Dungey quickly worked his way forward from a third-place start. The points leader paced his main championship rival for five laps before making a pass for the lead and pulling away for the moto win.

In Moto 2, Dungey once again found himself slotted behind Alessi, who captured the holeshot. This time, Dungey wasted no time taking over the top spot, crossing the line at the front of the field at the conclusion of the opening lap. After opening up a multi-second lead, Dungey tipped over on Lap 6, losing the lead to Alessi.

Just two laps later, Dungey passed Alessi again and eventually extended his advantage to over 10 seconds. Over the course of those laps, Dungey’s KTM team became aware that fuel had spilled from his gas tank in the earlier fall and for fear of running empty, determined Dungey would need to pull into the mechanic’s area to replenish the tank.

On Lap 13, Dungey pulled off the track to receive fuel, holding a 13-second advantage. After a quick exchange, he was back running, but had fallen to second behind Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, who passed Alessi just one lap prior. Dungey stayed close to Rattray for the final four laps, but was unable to pass him for the moto win. Nevertheless, by virtue of his 1-2 finish, Dungey claimed the overall win.

“I got a little bit of a lead and felt like I was in a groove,” explained Dungey. “Coming to the finish, my rear stepped to the right, hooked the jump, and made me cross rut. I tried to save it, but it took me right down. When I fell, I think I kicked the gas cap off. I got back into the lead, but I kept worrying if I had enough left.

“The TV footage allowed our guys to see what happened, which helped them decide to bring me in, which worked out because I wouldn’t have made another lap. I tried to catch (Tyla Rattray), but he’s a great sand rider. I’m bummed I made a mistake, but given the situation, things couldn’t have worked out better.”

Alessi’s 2-3 finishes landed him second overall, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle finished third (6-4) for his second career podium result.

Dungey’s lead in the 450 Class standings now sits at 85 points over Alessi, giving him the potential to capture the title at the next round.

In the 250 Class, GEICO Honda’s Zach Bell, of Cairo, Ga., turned heads in his professional debut by grabbing the opening moto holeshot and pulling away for an early lead. The 17-year-old rider paced the field for five laps before yielding to his teammate Eli Tomac, of Cortez, Colo., on Lap 6. Bell crashed moments later, while Tomac never looked back, winning by over 12 seconds.

In Moto 2, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Germany, made quick work of early leader, and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda rider, Jessy Nelson, of Paso Robles, Calif., and asserted himself out front. Behind him, Baggett positioned himself into second and began his pursuit of the lead, setting the stage for a moto-long battle between the familiar foes.

After leading for nearly the entire moto, Roczen came under fire from Baggett on Lap 15, with the Kawasaki rider making a tough pass, only to be passed again by Roczen just a few turns later. Then Tomac, who had fallen earlier in the race, caught the lead duo and made a quick pass on Baggett, only to crash in the next turn and fall back to third. On the following lap, Baggett made another move on Roczen, making the pass stick and carrying it through to the finish, tying Tomac in points for the day, but securing the second-moto tiebreaker (3-1).

“I got a good start in the second moto and rode the best I could,” said Baggett. “I made a mistake early, but I dug as deep as I could and made it happen. Ken and I went after each other, but we kept it clean. I really enjoyed racing with him.”

Tomac finished second (1-3), while Roczen rounded out the podium in third (4-2).

Baggett’s lead in the championship now sits at 24 points over GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Monroe, N.Y.

The Women’s Motocross Championship hosted its penultimate round on Saturday. Reigning champion Ashley Fiolek, of St. Augustine, Fla., captured her third consecutive victory (1-1) aboard her Team Honda Muscle Milk machine, setting the stage for a dramatic final round battle for the championship. Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Jessica Patterson, of Tallahassee, Fla., finished second (2-2), while Munn Racing KTM’s Sara Pettersson, of Sweden, finished third (4-4).

Currently, only 10 points separate the top three riders in the standings, with Patterson holding a five-point lead over Fiolek. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Tarah Gieger, of Puerto Rico, sits an additional five points behind in third.

The 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship travels to New Berlin, N.Y., next weekend for the 10th round of the season. The Red Bull Unadilla National commences next Saturday, August 18, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Moto-X 338 National
Moto-X 338 – Southwick Mass.
August 11, 2012
Round 9 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-2)
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (2-3)
3. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (6-4)
4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha (7-6)
5. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (20-1)
6. Mike Brown, Johnson City, Tenn., KTM (9-7)
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (8-8)
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (5-11)
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki (11-9)
10. Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Honda (3-35)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 430
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 345
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 290
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 273
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 253
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 195
7. Justin Brayton, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 185
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki, 159
9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 151
10. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 142

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (3-1)
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (1-3)
3. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (4-2)
4. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (2-5)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (7-4)
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM (6-7)
7. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (8-6)
8. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda (5-11)
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda (10-10)
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (12-12)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 400
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 376
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 368
4. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 345
5. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 294
6. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 230
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 197
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M, Suzuki, 181
9. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 170
10. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 156

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-1)
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki (2-2)
3. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (4-4)
4. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-5)
5. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda (7-3)
6. Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Honda (6-6)
7. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM (5-7)
8. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM (8-8)
9. Christina Older, Harner, S.C., KTM (10-9)
10. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (9-11)

WMX Class Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 280
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 275
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda, 270
4. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda, 227
5. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM, 209
6. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., KTM, 206
7. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda, 174
8. Alexah Pearson, Sacramento, Calif., KTM, 149
9. Sade Allender, Sanford, Maine, Honda, 148
10. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda, 137

Tickets for the 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.

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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.

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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.

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MotoGP wildcards Aaron Yates and Steve Rapp completed a successful test session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday in preparations for next weekend’s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix (Aug. 17-19). Read more.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the members of the U.S. team that will compete at the FIM Motocross of Nations Sept. 30-31 in Lommel, Belgium. The 2012 team will include Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett and GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia.

Perennial U.S. Team Manager and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Roger DeCoster will manage the team in its hunt for a record 23rd Motocross of Nations Championship.

“We will have Ryan in MX1. Blake, who has excellent support for the 250cc bike from Mitch [Payton], will be our MX2 rider, and Barcia will be our open class rider,” DeCoster said. “This is a great team. They have proven that they are solid riders, especially in the sand, and the Lommel track is a very deep sand track.”

Riders in the Motocross of Nations compete in either the MX1, which features 450cc bikes; the MX2 class, which includes 250cc motorcycles; or the open class.

Dungey, who returns for his fourth time to the Motocross of Nations, said he is thrilled for the opportunity.

“It’s a pleasure, and it’s an honor to represent my country at the Motocross of Nations,” said Dungey, who is leading the points for the 450cc Lucas Oil AMA Pro Racing Motocross Championship. “Blake has a year of experience [at the Motocross of Nations] and although it’s Barcia’s first year we do a great job of welcoming everybody. We’re not racing against each other. We are racing with each other for one goal, and that’s to win the Motocross of Nations. With Roger and the rest of the organizational team behind us, we have excellent support and all the support we need to win.”

Baggett said he’s confident in the U.S. team’s chances to win the title.

“I’m excited to go to Belgium and race,” said Baggett, who is leading the points in the 250cc class in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Racing Motocross Championship. “It will be cool and a life experience for sure. The atmosphere of this race is really big and crazy, but the best advice is what I got last year, just ride to your potential, race the track and don’t worry about the thousands of European fans and the competition you’ve never raced before. If we ride the best that we can, there should be no problems of winning it. We’ll just go over there and bring the trophy home.”

Barcia, who is stepping up to the 450cc bike to compete in the open class, said he is ready for the challenge and thrilled to be on the 2012 team.

“It’s a little bit shocking, really. It’s awesome,” said Barcia, who is currently second behind Baggett in the 250cc class championship standings. “I’ve always dreamed of racing for the U.S. at the Motocross of Nations, and it’s incredible. I’m speechless. To be picked for that team is just mind blowing. I’ll be riding a 450, and that will be exciting. I practice on the 450 a lot, and I ride the sand really well. I’ve matured a lot in the past year, and I’m ready.”

AMA Director of Supercross and AMA Pro Racing Relations Kevin Crowther said that the 2012 team is stacked from top to bottom.

“The AMA has an enormous amount of industry, fan and racer support for this effort,” Crowther said. “We are bringing an extremely talented team to Belgium, both in terms of the riders and the support crew behind the scenes. In addition to the on-bike talent, exceptional leaders such as Roger DeCoster, Mitch Payton, Chris Onstott, Jeff Canfield and Doc Bodner, and many more, really step up as part of the operational backbone for this event.”

For Belgium native DeCoster, the 2012 Motocross of Nations will be a homecoming in more ways than one. Lommel is the same track where the U.S. team, also managed by DeCoster, won its first Motocross of Nations title in 1981.

“That’s where we won the first time, 31 years ago,” DeCoster said. “That first team [of Donnie Hansen, Danny LaPorte, Johnny O'Mara and Chuck Sun] was one of the youngest in history, and we are returning with another extremely young team. This will be a great Motocross of Nations. Being on the same track where we won the first time makes it very special.”

The Motocross of Nations is one of the most high-profile motorsport events in the world. It features national teams competing for a combined score to determine the overall championship-winning country. The event emerged in post-war Europe in 1947 and has run uninterrupted since that time.

The United States is the reigning champion of the Motocross of Nations, winning in 2011 when the event was held in Saint D’Angely, France. The United States is also the all-time leader in Motocross of Nations overall victories with 22. Great Britain is second with 16.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

Click on photo for larger version.

Tim Morrissey (No. 854) looks to have gotten the holeshot on his Suzuki GS750E in this WERA Formula 1 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in April of 1985. Also getting away from the line in this combined race (Formula 1 and another unknown class) are Mike Treadway (No.88), Bob Newby (No. 350), an unknown rider No. 40, “Billy G” Patterson (No. 877), Kathleen Cobern (No. 60), Bob Woods (No.507), Roy Hare (No. 91), unknown rider No. 906, Bill McGuire (No. 47), Tim Knutson (No. 670), Dan Schmitt (No. 450), Ken Davis (No. 64), Steve Tayler (No. 49), Jim Knipp (No. 71), Eric Moe (No. 780), unknown rider No. 750 and Kevin Perry (No. 280). I don’t recall who won the race, but a good guess would probably be Jim Knipp (No. 71) on a Yamaha YZ500.

Tim Morrissey (No. 854) looks to have gotten the holeshot in front of a big pack of riders on his Suzuki GS750E in this WERA Formula 1 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park in April of 1985. (Larry Lawrence photo)