(News Release)
Ryan Dungey (5) and Chad Reed (1) put on a show at RedBud and will look to do the same at Spring Creek this weekend. (Courtesy Steve Cox)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (July 12, 2010) – With the halfway point of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship officially here, the world’s fastest riders are refreshed and rejuvenated after a well-deserved off-week. Now on an impressive five-race winning streak, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey brings his 450 Class points lead to his home state of Minnesota for the Rockstar Energy Spring Creek National at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville this Saturday, July 17.
At the series’ last round, at Michigan’s legendary RedBud, the largest crowd of the season and the second live event on NBC Sports resulted in some of the best race action to date between premier-class stalwarts Dungey, reigning champion Chad Reed, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Ben Townley, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe. These five riders have been the most consistent throughout the first half of the season and, as a result, also occupy the top five positions in the championship standings.
After one of the most memorable first motos in series history, Dungey outlasted his rivals on the last lap to take the opening win, then dominated the day’s final moto (a recurring theme this year) to capture his third 1-1 sweep of the season.
Trey Canard became the fifth different winner in the 250 Class for 2010 with his first career win at RedBud. (Courtesy Steve Cox)
Hailing just a short drive from Millville, the Belle Plaine native will return home with more fanfare than ever before. The premier-class rookie is in the midst of arguably the most impressive inaugural campaign in the sport’s history, becoming just the second rookie to capture the AMA Supercross title and currently leading the 450 Class standings six races into the 2010 season. In acknowledgement of his achievements, the reigning Rider of the Year has also been nominated for an ESPN ESPY Award in the Best Male Action Sports Athlete category. On Wednesday evening, Dungey will attend the awards show in Los Angeles, alongside world-renowned athletes like Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Sidney Crosby, and Landon Donovan.
Also creating some buzz in the 450 Class is the return of fan favorite Kevin Windham. The beloved winner of two AMA Supercross events this season will be an integral part of the second half of the 2010 season, taking over at Honda Red Bull Racing for the injured Davi Millsaps. It’s been nearly a year since Windham competed in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, making a pair of special appearances late last season, but the 17-year veteran is excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to get out there and mix it up with his younger counterparts.
The WMX Class boasts back-to-back inaugural events with its first ever round at Spring Creek this weekend. (Courtesy Steve Cox)
Just as 250 Class points leader Christophe Pourcel appeared ready to take control of the extremely competitive division with his second overall victory of the season, the characteristic unpredictability of the deeply talented class shined through once again at RedBud. After two tough years of frustration and unfortunate injuries, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard finally broke through for his first AMA Motocross victory, becoming the fifth different winner in the 250 class through six rounds and the fourth first-time winner of the season.
It took an all-out effort from the Oklahoma native and 2008 AMA Supercross Lites East Region Champion, but after an impressive first moto, in which he charged from a bad start to finish fourth, Canard took advantage of some of his competitors’ misfortunes to take the second-moto victory and lock up his breakthrough win.
This weekend, what has become possibly the most competitive group of 250 Class riders in history returns to action at Spring Creek, and a first-time winner at the facility will stand atop the overall podium. With the vacancy left by 2009 champion and defending Millville 250 Class winner Dungey now on the 450, it will be up to Pourcel, Canard, and additional race winners Eli Tomac, Tyla Rattray, and Dean Wilson to battle with the rest of the 250 field.
Just one round after making its historic debut at RedBud, the MotorcycleUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship will hit the track at Spring Creek on Saturday for the first time. Current points leader Jessica Patterson and her DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha have been at the top of the class since the start of the season, but defending two-time champion Ashley Fiolek ended a season-long slump at RedBud by posting a 1-1 moto sweep to take her first win of the 2010 championship.
Media Day for the Rockstar Energy Spring Creek National takes place this Thursday at 1 p.m. Central. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider Matt Moss as well as the entire DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha team will be in attendance.
Spring Creek is one of the most popular tracks on the schedule for the world’s best. Its diverse mix of speed, airtime, and technicality make it one of the most challenging yet enjoyable tracks on the circuit. It boasts the longest start straight in the series and one of the most iconic sections of sand whoops in American motocross history. Spring Creek also features some incredible sightlines and the most intimate podium area in American motocross; the thousands in attendance have the chance to stand on the track, just a few feet away from the superstars of the sport. Plus, there is always the possibility of catching a glimpse of the infamous Whoop Monster.
The Rockstar Energy Spring Creek National airs with back-to-back same-day coverage this Saturday on SPEED. The exclusive broadcast of the 250 Class kicks off the two hours of excitement beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern, while the 450 Class follows at 9 p.m. As always, a live stream of the first motos of each class can be seen at www.allisports.com/motocross.
