HILL & AUTOTRADER YOSHIMURA SUZUKI 6TH AT REDBUD

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

Team Suzuki Press Office – July 10.

Justin Hill #46 - 450 Class - 10-4 for 6th
Weston Peick #34 - 450 Class - 8-11 for 9th
Justin Bogle #19 - 450 Class -18-20 for 23rd
Jimmy Decotis #47 - 250 Class - 27-24 for 27th 


The Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team ventured to the world-renowned RedBud National in Buchanan, Michigan for round seven of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at the weekend. 

Justin Hill showed grit and determination in scoring a fourth-place finish in the second moto on the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450 – this coming one weekend after going to the hospital to receive stitches in his arm. Team-mate Weston Peick brilliantly worked through the pack to continue his streak of top-10 finishes this summer as Justin Bogle was quickest to the first turn yet again, and he’s figuring out the race pace in only his second race back from a broken upper arm. In the 250 class, Jimmy Decotis had very good speed on his Suzuki RM-Z250. Unfortunately, his day was undone by bad luck. 

Hill is enjoying himself in the 450 class. Riding the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450, Hill is taking advantage of the opportunity to race the 450 class this summer before he steps up full-time in 2019. Hill worked forward after a mid-pack start in the first moto to 10th place. He was quick off the gate in the second moto, starting inside the top-five and running smooth, consistent laps. He matched his career-best 450 moto finish with a fourth place. The 10-4 moto scores earned him sixth overall, and is now 11th in the overall points standings. 

Seven races through the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and Peick has yet to finish outside the top 10 overall. Peick put his head down and charged forward in both motos. His 8-11 moto scores were good enough for ninth place. “The Viking” is sixth in the 450 class points tally. 

Bogle has put his Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450 to the front of the pack in three of the last four motos. The Cushing, Oklahoma native’s starts have been excellent. After taking extensive time off from racing due to a broken upper arm, Bogle is putting the pieces of the puzzle together. He is sure to capitalise with trips to the podium in no time. A small tip-over while leading the second moto held “Captain” back, but he’s getting stronger in every moto. Bogle’s 18-20 moto scores put him 23rd for the weekend. 

Decotis has been working overtime in order to return to being a podium finisher after missing many months from a back injury. These things take time, but that’s not stopping “The Rippa” from going for broke on his Suzuki RM-Z250. Unfortunately, Decotis made several mistakes in both motos that kept him from reaching his goal. He ended up 27th overall. 

Justin Hill [450 Class, 10-4 for 6th Place]: 

“I only rode practice and the first moto at Southwick, and then took the entire week off from riding. Given the condition I was in with my arm, I chalked up the weekend as a win. I want to be on the podium, and I believe I can achieve that. I booked my flight for RedBud thinking that I was going to go to the signing, and that would be about it. I didn’t have feeling in my hand until Thursday. Practice didn’t go well in Michigan, because I had been off the bike for so long. Honestly, the suspension guys were the shining spot for me. Every motorcycle was getting thrashed on the bumps, but we made good changes all day. Johnny Oler and Ryo Okuda listened to what I had to say, and they made the necessary changes [to the suspension]. I was stoked to have them there to help. 

“The signing at Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was totally different. I think we should do more interactive things with the fans like they did at Zeigler Motorsports. There were several representatives from Autotrader, which was cool. It was great to see our sponsors, which doesn’t happen often, because we’re grinding for most of the year. It was a very entertaining and fun event.” 

Weston Peick [450 Class, 8-11 for 9th Place]: 

“We did some testing during the week and thought we were in a better spot. Then I got to RedBud and the track was extremely rough. I had a different thought on changing the suspension, and I personally went the wrong way for the first moto. We switched back to where we were in the beginning of the day for moto two. I’ll focus fine tuning the suspension during the off weekend. Other than that, I was under the weather after Southwick. I walked out of RedBud with finishes that I’m not happy with. I will regroup, get some more seat time in, and come to Millville ready to battle.” 

Justin Bogle [450 Class, 18-20 for 23rd Place]: 

“My day was basically the same as at Southwick. I struggled. At least I can still get starts. Had one good start but struggled through the motos. I felt better going into the second moto, but I fell on the first lap while in the front. I thought it would have been better. I worked my way back up. It was not ideal, but we’re making progress.” 

Jimmy Decotis [250 Class, 27-24 for 27th Place]: 

“I had a couple of bad starts and crashes. It’s hard to move forward when you’re constantly on the ground. Aside from that, the track was good. I heard they got rain on Wednesday, and watered it a lot on Friday. The track was very demanding. Southwick was hard, but RedBud was close to it. Overall, it was a fun track. Lines developed as the second moto came around. The fans were insane, as always. It was super cool, because they were cheering for every rider. I think RedBud will be a really cool event when the Motocross of Nations comes around.” 

Jeremy Albrecht [Team Manager]: 

"Like Southwick, RedBud was another one of those challenging tracks. They ripped it deep, which formed a ton of challenging ruts. The guys were night and day different between the first and second moto. Justin Bogle nailed the holeshot, which is a testament to how fast the RM-Z450 is. He had a bobble right before LaRocco's Leap, which set him back. Still, he's improving. Justin Hill dug deep and matched his best 450 moto, and that came after not knowing whether he was going to be able to race. Weston scored another top ten, but his setup was off. That held him back, but I expect him to return to the top five at Millville. 

"Our 250 rider, Jimmy Decotis, has the speed and stamina. Unfortunately, he had a bad crash in the first moto. He was better in the second moto but stalled the bike. That took the wind out of his sails." 

There will be a weekend break before the Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team resumes racing at round eight of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, held at the historic Spring Creek circuit in Millville, Minnesota on Saturday, July 21st. 

RedBud Image Gallery (BrownDogWilson): CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS 



Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.

Baggett Battles to 4th, Bloss 11th at RedBud MX | Team RMATV/MC-KTM-WPS Race Report

Courtesy of Rocky Mountain ATVMC

Payson, UT (July 9, 2018) – It was Independence Day weekend as round seven of the 2018 Pro Motocross Championship series visited RedBud MX in Buchannon, MI. With Bubba Burgers on the grill in the team pits, there was much to celebrate as Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS rider Blake Baggett kept on the gas for 4th overall, Benny Bloss earned his best moto-finish so far this season, and Dakota Alix held on strong for 14th.

Rider Report:

Photo Credit: Kardy Photos

Blake Baggett came in ready to fight as he put his KTM at the top of the chart for fastest qualifying time of the day. Using his excellent gate pick, Blake launched off the start in moto 1, leading the field into the first turn to grab the holeshot. He continued to lead until the end of lap one when he made a mistake and went down hard. After remounting the bike and stopping in the mechanic's area, the ASV supported rider put on a charge through the field, moving from last place all the way to the top five before taking 5th-place finish in the moto.

Blake used a good jump out of the gate in moto 2 to start the race inside the top five. He looked to be moving forward until he went down in one of the technical, deeply rutted sections of the track. Blake remounted, having fallen back to mid-pack, and put on another charge through the field that carried him all the way to 5th place at the finish. With his pair of 5th-place finishes, Blake earned 4th overall and continues to hold 5th in the championship points.

“It was an up-and-down day,” said Baggett. “I had the pace all day, we just had a few mishaps that kept us off the podium. We are still in this championship, so we’ll take this break to regroup and go after it at Spring Creek.”

Benny Bloss used a solid start in moto 1 to round the first turn inside the front of the pack. His choice of Dunlop sand tires proved to work in his favor, as he moved into the top three early in the race. He continued to charge, showing speed through the deep ruts and finishing 3rd, the best moto finish of his career.

Moto 2 had Benny working harder, as he ended the first lap outside the top ten. Bloss kept his speed and worked his way into the top ten before going down hard in the rutted corner before LaRocco’s Leap. He remounted the bike and worked back up to 23rd by the checkered flag, ending the day with 11th overall.

“I’m happy with my ride today,” said Bloss. “I rode well in the first moto, and it felt great to get my first podium moto-finish. It was unfortunate I went down in moto 2, as I feel we could have had a top-five day. We will take the week off to regroup and get ready for Spring Creek.”

Dakota Alix had a solid day in the 250MX class as he battled inside the top 15 at the start of moto 1. The Hinson Racing supported rider rode strong, hit his best lines, and finished 14th at the checkered flag. Another solid start in moto 2 had Dakota running in the top ten after lap one. He only slid back a few positions late in the race, holding steady to finish just outside the top ten in 12th place. His 14-12 score earned him 14th overall for the day.

Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS will now take a week off before heading to Spring Creek MX in Millville, MN, for round eight of the 2018 Pro Motocross Nationals.

RedBud MX Team Photo Gallery: CLICK HERE

Thank you to our 2018 sponsors:

Rocky Mountain ATV/MC | KTM | WPSFly Racing, Palmetto Motorsports, FMF Racing, Bubba Burger,, Engine Ice, Alpinestars, ODI, Scott, Galfer, Motorex, Acerbis, Seat Concepts, Decor Graphics, Sunstar, Regina Chains, WP Factory Services, Hinson Racing, DT-1, Dunlop, ASV, Motion Pro, Talon, Dubya,Excel, Loenbro Motosports, The W Training Facility, Garmin, SoCal SuperTrucks, Gear, Truck Central, Safety-Kleen, Hurly, ETS Fuels, Beta Tools, ProPegs, Xtrig, San Diego Powder and Protective Coatings

Follow the team on social media:
Instagram: @teamrmatvmc
Facebook: @teamrmatvmc
Twitter: @teamrmatvmc

Team Website: www.teamrmatvmc.com

Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.

NITRO CIRCUS REVS UP RESIDENT STAGE SHOW

Courtesy of Nitro Circus

LAS VEGAS (July 9, 2018) - Hot on the heels of Travis Pastrana's jaw-dropping tribute to Evel Knievel last night, Nitro Circus announces an all-new event that is sure to shake up Las Vegas. Known throughout the world for its spectacular arena and stadium live shows, Nitro Circus is creating its first-ever resident stage show to open at Bally's Las Vegas in Spring 2019. This electrifying all-new production will feature the world's most talented action sports athletes performing spectacular feats and unbelievable stunts in a fully choreographed, adrenaline-charged event. The innovative show will take over the Jubilee Theater, to be reimagined, redesigned and renamed the Nitro Circus Theater, offering guests an up close look at all the action. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 2018.

"I am so psyched about this show. It's going to be totally different from anything we've done and unlike anything ever staged before in action sports. Fans are going to have a blast with the show setup. If they were any closer they would be sitting on the bikes with the riders!" said action sports icon, and Nitro Circus ringleader, Travis Pastrana.

This show marks the first time that the biggest, most progressive tricks in freestyle motocross (FMX) and BMX will be seen in an intimate theater setting. It will also feature the best in skate, scooter and Nitro Circus' infamous contraptions. The interactive production, the first of its kind, will feature a specially built, multi-million dollar set which will give the audience a truly immersive experience. Using ramps that will stretch throughout the venue, incorporating a platform stage and even the side walls, athletes will perform in and around the audience, getting them closer to the action than ever before. Nitro Circus Theater will also feature video screen installations, inviting the audience into this action sports playground. As this exhilarating show proceeds, the set and scenery will change, taking the audience into different elements of the Nitro Circus experience. Each performance will be completely unique, with segments routinely updated so guests will never see the same show twice. It will also feature a side-splitting host and outrageously entertaining audience engagement that makes for a great family night, date night, guys or girls night out. With thrills, excitement and comedy, this show will be a 90-minute thrill ride that guests will never forget.

Nitro Circus, BASE Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment are teaming up to co-produce the show, which is created by Nitro Circus.

"We have been working on this project for several years in order to create a spectacular show that would showcase what Nitro Circus is all about to Las Vegas and to the world. We are so excited to be finally making that dream a reality," said Andy Edwards, President of Nitro Circus.

"We're so thrilled to bring Nitro Circus into the BASE Entertainment family in partnership with Caesars Entertainment," said Brian Becker, CEO of BASE Entertainment. "Fans from all over the world will be wowed by the amount of talent in this show and we're truly honored to bring it to Las Vegas and be a part of this one-of-a-kind experience."

"We are excited to partner with Nitro Circus and BASE Entertainment, having an opportunity to bring such a thrilling and unique show to Bally's Las Vegas," said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. "For the first time, guests will be able to see these action sports athletes up close and personal in an intimate setting where the stunts will be all the more impressive."

Created in 2010, the Nitro Circus live show has since traveled the globe, playing to sold-out stadiums on five continents and growing to become the most successful touring act ever in its category. With over three million tickets sold to date, as well as multiple film credits and television programming that has aired in over 60 countries Nitro Circus is at the forefront of action sports and entertainment. The brand also commands a massive social media audience, with more than 20 million engaged fans across its platforms.

Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in October 2018. For more information on Nitro Circus and to sign up for an exclusive presale offer, please visit NitroCircusVegas.com.

About NITRO CIRCUS

Nitro Circus, the world's biggest action sports entertainment brand, creates electrifying live events and unbelievable original content that at once exhilarates, captivates and inspires thrill-seeking fans worldwide.  Co-founded by global superstar Travis Pastrana in 2003, Nitro Circus has since grown into a multiplatform phenomenon producing hit television shows, critically acclaimed documentaries and innovative digital offerings. That success gave rise to the Nitro Circus Live tour. Created in 2010, Nitro Circus Live has traveled the globe, playing to sold-out stadiums on five continents. The company introduced an innovative breakthrough in 2016 with the debut of Nitro World Games, completely rebooting action sports competition in the process. With over three million tickets sold to date, television programming that has aired in over 60 countries, more than 20 million engaged fans across its social media platforms and a burgeoning consumer products business, Nitro Circus is at the forefront of action sports and entertainment. For more information visit www.nitrocircus.com.

About BASE Entertainment

BASE Entertainment develops, creates, and manages live entertainment productions and venues in North America and worldwide from offices in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston.  In addition to Nitro Circus, BASE's current productions in Las Vegas include Magic Mike Live Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Mat Franco - Magic Reinvented Nightly at The LINQ Hotel and Casino.  Past productions in Las Vegas include Absinthe, Rock of Ages,Million Dollar Quartet, Jersey Boys, Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular,Peepshow, Wayne Brady and Stomp Out loud, among others.  Current productions from BASE Hologram, a new division of BASE Entertainment which combines holographic film and AR technology with live performers and other production stagecraft to deliver worldwide touring concerts and theatricals/spectacles and museum and location-based residencies, including Roy Orbison - In Dreams, Callas In Concert, and Jack Horner's World of Dinosaurs.  BASE Entertainment's founders and partners include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger and Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Clarity Partners.  For more information please visit BASEentertainment.com.

About Bally's Las Vegas

Bally's Las Vegas is located on the center of the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip, across from Caesars Palace and next to Paris Las Vegas. The 44-acre resort consists of two 26-story hotel towers including the Jubilee Tower and offers more than 2,800 guestrooms, including 244 suites. Bally's Las Vegas features highly acclaimed restaurants including BLT Steak and Sea Thai, as well as the famous Sterling Brunch, a relaxing pool oasis, a lavish spa and casino space featuring a poker room, 1,500 slot machines and a first-class Race & Sports Book known for its stadium-style seating and abundance of high-definition television screens. Nitro Circus Theater will house the first-ever Nitro Circus stage show featuring spectacular feats and unbelievable stunts in an intimate theater setting. In the Windows Showroom, Las Vegas actor, singer, entertainer legend, Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton returns to the stage with his all-new and original production, "Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal." Bally's Las Vegas is operated by Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR). For more information, please visit ballyslasvegas.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find Bally's Las Vegas on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram.

Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.

Musquin Moves into Point Lead at RedBud with Second Straight Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Victory

Courtesy of MX Sports

Plessinger Takes Third 250 Class Win to Extend Championship Lead

BUCHANAN, Mich. (July 7, 2018) - The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, continued its famed Fourth of July tradition from RedBud MX with riders and teams sporting the red, white, and blue in honor of Independence Day weekend at the Red Bull RedBud National. The 450 Class saw Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Marvin Musquin take his second consecutive overall victory and move atop the championship point standings following a hard-luck afternoon for entering point leader and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha's Aaron Plessinger swept both motos for his third overall win of the season.

Marvin Musquin captured his second straight overall victory (2-1) and took possession of the red plate.

- Rich Shepard

The first 450 Class moto of the day began with RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM's Blake Baggett grabbing the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of reigning champion and defending RedBud winner Tomac. While sprinting on the opening lap, Baggett crashed, which allowed Tomac to move into the number-one position with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Phil Nicoletti and Phoenix Racing's Heath Harrison in tow. Musquin and Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing's Justin Barcia circulated the opening lap near the tail end of the field after a crash took down both riders in the second turn.

With a clear track out front, Tomac attacked the rough and rutted conditions and quickly began to distance himself from Nicoletti, who continued to ride strong in second. On Lap 3, Team Honda HRC's Ken Roczen made the move on both Harrison and Nicoletti to take control of second, shuffling Nicoletti back to third. RMATV/MC-WPS-KTM's Benny Bloss clawed his way through the front-runners as well and made a successful pass on Nicoletti for third on Lap 5.

As Tomac cleared the halfway point of the moto, he held a commanding lead over Roczen, who maintained a solid pace to control second. Despite a crash on the opening lap that left him buried in the pack, Musquin put on an incredible charge and quickly closed in on Bloss for third. On Lap 14, Musquin kept rolling and overtook Bloss for third.

With just three laps remaining and a lead of nearly 15 seconds, misfortune struck Tomac as he was seen pushing his bike off the side of the track and out of the moto. Tomac's trouble allowed Roczen to inherit the lead and take his first moto victory since 2016 by 10.9 seconds over Musquin. Third went to Bloss, who took the first moto podium of his career. Barcia also made an impressive recovery to finish fourth. Tomac was credited with 36^th place.

Ken Roczen emerged with the first moto victory and finished second overall (1-3).

- Rich Shepard

The final moto of the afternoon saw Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing's Justin Bogle capture the Motosport.com Holeshot by edging out Harrison and Roczen. The opening corners saw Musquin use aggressive riding to force his way by the front-runners and take over the lead. At the completion of the opening lap it was Musquin, Roczen and Barcia rounding out the top three, while Tomac was credited with 18^th after being forced to start on an outside gate due to his Moto 1 finish.

Musquin wasted no time in setting blistering lap times as he led the way out front and began to open a small cushion over Roczen, who kept Barcia behind him. Roczen continued to push his way forward and closed back in on Musquin, but each time he bridged the gap, the Frenchman managed to pull back out. 

There was no stopping Musquin, who kept a steady pace out front to capture his third moto victory of the season by 3.9 seconds over the field. Barcia pushed the entire 30-minutes-plus-two-laps to overtake Roczen on the final lap for second. Roczen crossed the finish line in third. Tomac overcame multiple crashes and a brief visit to the mechanics are to finish ninth, while first moto podium finisher Bloss could only muster 23^rd after a crash.

The second moto win gave Musquin the overall win (2-1), edging out Roczen (1-3) in second overall. Barcia's 4-2 scores were good enough to take the final step of the podium in third. Tomac earned the worst finish of his 450 Class career in 15^th (36-9).

It's the sixth 450 Class win of Musquin's career.

Justin Barcia's riding was impressive all day as he netted 4-2 moto scores for third overall.

- Rich Shepard

"I certainly didn't expect to leave RedBud with the points lead," said Musquin. "What a crazy day. I couldn't believe when I saw Eli [Tomac] off of the side of the track in the first moto. Consistency was key today, the track was tough, and I managed to leave here with two good moto results. The fans are insane here and it's amazing to get the win."

The 450 Class received a change in the point standings for the first time this season as Musquin's win lifted him to the top of the championship. Tomac, who entered the day with a 33-point advantage, now trails Musquin by three points. Barcia is third, 40 points out of the lead.

Eli Tomac finished 15th overall (36-9) and now trails Marvin Musquin by three points in the championship point standings.

- Rich Shepard

The opening 250 Class moto saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner emerge with the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM riders Shane McElrath and Alex Martin. As the 40-rider field charged through the opening corners, McElrath powered his way to the front with Forkner and Plessinger battling over second and third.

While McElrath controlled the race early, Forkner and Plessinger continued their fight for second, with Plessinger using LaRocco's Leap to jump past the Kawasaki rider. Plessinger consistently clicked off laps and began to distance himself from Forkner, while also closing in on the lead. He used the same move on LaRocco's Leap to seize the top spot from McElrath. Forkner soon followed into second.

With 10 minutes remaining, Forkner found himself gaining momentum as he moved onto the rear wheel of Plessinger in the hunt for the win. Just one lap later, Forkner made the pass, however, it would be short lived as Plessinger instantly retaliated with an aggressive pass that sent Forkner to the ground. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy and GEICO Honda's RJ Hampshire moved into second and third, respectively.

As Plessinger continued his impressive ride out front, Savatgy made a costly mistake through the sand rollers on Lap 12 that left the Kawasaki rider on the ground, which moved Hampshire to second and McElrath back to third. With just two laps remaining, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha's Dylan Ferrandis joined the battle for third and muscled his way around McElrath. 

Plessinger held on to take the checkered flag for his fifth moto win of the season by 10.2 seconds over Hampshire, who finished on the podium for the second time this season. Ferrandis completed the top three in third.

Aaron Plessinger swept both motos to take his third victory of the season.

- Rich Shepard

In the final 250 Class moto it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Mitchell Harrison who emerged with the Motosport.com Holeshot, followed by Plessinger and Savatgy. A pileup in the first corner collected several riders, including first moto runner-up Hampshire and McElrath. At the completion of the opening lap it was Plessinger in first, with Savatgy and Harrison in tow.

Plessinger controlled the pace out front, but the battle behind him raged as Savatgy pressed forward in an attempt to fight off of the pressure from teammate Forkner and the KTM-mounted Martin. As the trio closed in on the halfway point of the moto, all three were separated by less than a second and searching for a way past one another. Martin and Forkner worked tirelessly and eventually found their way around Savatgy, while Forkner continued his march to the front and blitzed by Martin for second.

As the checkered flag waved, Plessinger maintained his lead in the final laps to take his sixth moto win of the season by 5 seconds, sweeping both motos for the third time this season. Forkner rebounded from his first moto troubles to finish second, followed by Martin in third.

Alex Martin battled to second overall on the day (4-3) and maintains second in the championship.

- Rich Shepard

The 1-1 moto scores gave Plessinger his third win of the season and the fifth victory of his career. Martin used consistency to secure second overall (4-3), which edged out Ferrandis in third (3-4). 

"The last few races following Muddy Creek have been tough," said Plessinger. "My confidence took a bit of a hit with some of the issues I had, but the starts are super important and today we proved where we belong when we get starts. I like this track and I've never actually been on the podium here before, so this is cool with the Motocross of Nations coming up here in a few months."

Plessinger's victory extended his lead in the championship standings, which now sits at 35 points over Martin. Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha's Justin Cooper, who finished fifth overall (8-7), moved into third and trails Plessinger by 82 points. 

The strong riding continued for Dylan Ferrandis as he finished third overall (3-4).

- Rich Shepard

The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will take a break before returning to action on Saturday, July 21, with its annual visit to Millville, Minnesota, and Spring Creek MX Park. First motos of the La Crescent Wine & Spirit Spring Creek National can be seen live on MAVTV at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. The second motos will air via tape delay that same night on NBC Sports Network at 9 p.m. PT /.12 a.m. ET. Additionally, all of the action can be seen as it unfolds online via the "Pro Motocross Pass" on NBC Sports Gold.

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship

Red Bull RedBud National

RedBud MX - Buchanan, Michigan

July 7, 2018

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-1)
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda (1-3)
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (4-2)
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (5-5)
5. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Husqvarna (6-6)
6. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (10-4)
7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (7-7)
8. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki (11-8)
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki (8-11)
10. Jake Nicholls, United Kingdom, Honda (9-13)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM - 304
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki - 301
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha - 264
4. Ken Roczen, Germany, Honda - 246
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM - 232
6. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki - 193
7. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM - 176
8. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Suzuki - 172
9. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Honda - 101
10. Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki - 93

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM (4-3)
3. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha (3-4)
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (5-9)
5. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (8-7)
6. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (11-6)
7. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (35-2)
8. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Husqvarna (9-11)
9. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (2-40)
10. Mitchell Harrison, Brighton, Mich., Husqvarna (13-8)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha - 283
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., KTM - 248
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha - 201
4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM - 198
5. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki - 191
6. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda - 176
7. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda - 176
8. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda - 166
9. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM - 163
10. Dylan Ferrandis, France, Yamaha - 149

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

• Facebook: @americanmotocross
• Instagram: @promotocross
• Twitter: @ProMotocross
• YouTube: AmericanMotocross 

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, features the world's fastest outdoor motocross racers, racing aboard the best bikes each factory offers, on the roughest, toughest tracks in the world. The 12-rounds series begins at Hangtown in May and ends at Indiana's Ironman Raceway in August. It includes stops at the premier motocross racing facilities in America, with events in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, New York and Indiana. The pro riders race on Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is managed by MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road power sports event production. The series is televised on NBC, NBCSN and MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Sports Gold Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, MotoSport.com, Garmin, 100%, KTM, FMF, Deltran Battery Tender, Pirelli, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex, Alpinestars, KMC Wheels, MotionPro, VP Racing Fuels, Acerbis and Racer X.  More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com.  

  Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.

THOMAS COVINGTON FIFTH OVERALL AT THE GP OF ASIA

Courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR COLLECTS 34 VALUABLE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS IN SEMARANG With the Semarang track hosting round 13 of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Thomas Covington has secured a strong fifth overall in the MX2 category. Battling through an early fall in moto one, the FC 250 powered rider came back stronger to cross the line third in the final moto at the Indonesian track. The second consecutive stop of the 2018 series in Indonesia saw competitors faced with slick track conditions around the hard-packed Semarang track. Securing a strong fifth in the MX2 Qualifying Race, Thomas Covington entered the final motos aiming for a potential fourth consecutive podium result in the 250cc category. Victim of an early fall in moto one, the American put his head down to cross the line in seventh position. Getting a strong third in moto two, Covington remains sixth in the provisional 2018 MX2 World Championship standings. For Covington’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team partner Thomas Kjer-Olsen, the GP of Asia was one of mixed fortunes. Involved in the same moto one incident that saw both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team riders crash, Kjer-Olsen went on to claim 11th at the chequered flag. Improving to fourth in moto two, the young Dane earned seventh overall at the GP of Asia. Kjer-Olsen remains third in the provisional 2018 MX2 World Championship standings. In the MXGP category, two strong performances at the Samarang track allowed Max Anstie to wrap up the GP of Asia in sixth overall. Securing an 11th place result in moto one the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was able to show more of what he is capable of in the second moto. Claiming sixth in moto two, Max was just one-point outside a provisional top five overall result in Indonesia. Joining Anstie in the battle for a provisional top five overall result in the MXGP category was Gautier Paulin. Enjoying a steady moto one performance for fifth at the chequered flag, the Frenchman was racing in fifth position again in moto two but a crash late in the race forced him to settle for 11th at the line. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will return to action at the 13th round of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship in the Czech Republic on July 21/22. Thomas Covington: “I felt I had good speed this weekend and I took the battle for the overall podium down to the last laps in moto two. I got off to a good start in the opening race but a few corners later Olsen crashed right in front of me and I had nowhere to go. Picking myself up I pushed hard to cross the line in seventh place. Things were better in moto two and I quickly managed to put myself in second place. Pushing a bit too much in moto one following the crash I felt I was running out of energy at the last few laps of moto two, so I had to settle for third at the finish line. I am happy with fifth overall following what happened in moto one and I’m looking forward to returning to Europe now.” Thomas Kjer-Olsen: “It was an up and down weekend for us, but I am happy with my performance in the second moto. Getting a good start in the opening moto I ended up crashing after the landing of a jump and this made it all harder for me. As a result of the crash the front brake line was damaged, so I had to race the rest of the moto without a front brake. Things were better in the second moto. I quickly found myself in fourth position and then did my own race to finish in that same place. I tried my best this weekend and if it wasn’t for the crash in moto one my overall result could have been a lot better.” Max Anstie: “I’m quite pleased with my second moto. Conditions were slick and slippery and it was easy to make mistakes on this track. In moto one I struggled to get a good race pace but during the break we made some good improvements on the bike. I can’t thank enough my team and especially our mechanics who work hard in these overseas GPs. I felt good in the second moto and I managed to push for sixth at the line and sixth overall at the GP. It was a good way to end our trip to Indonesia and now I’m looking forward to going back to Europe.” Gautier Paulin: “Everything was working quite well for me this weekend but a crash in moto two did not let me get the results I expected. In moto one I had a good start and pushed hard for the rest of the race. Putting in some consistent lap times I finished moto one in fifth place and that was positive going into moto two. I got another good start in moto two and after a few small mistakes in the opening laps I was racing in fifth position. After a big jump the front washed out and I hit the ground. I got up and started again, doing the best I could. Luckily the crash only caused some muscle pain and we avoided any injury. Getting eighth overall is not what we hoped for, but I am confident we can come back stronger as the series heads back to Europe now.” Download high-res images from the MXGP of Asia here.  Results – 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 13  MXGP - Overall  1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 42; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 40… 6. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 27… 8. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 26… 18. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 10… 20. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 6; 21. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 6; 22. Andre Sondakh (Husqvarna) 2 MXGP - Race 1  1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 33:54.179; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 33:55.965; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 34:08.058… 5. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 34:14.783… 11. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 34:53.289… 16. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 34:49.931; 17. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:11.000; 18. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 35:17.426 MXGP - Race 2  1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 34:21.626; 2. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 34:27.163; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:32.937… 6. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 34:47.624… 11. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 35:03.752… 18. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:33.966… 20. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:26.025 MX2 - Overall  1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 47pts; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 40; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda) 38… 5. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 34… 7. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 28… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 24… 12. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 17; 13. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15; 14. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 15; 15. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 13… 18. Yoshua Pattipi (Husqvarna) 3 MX2 - Race 1  1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 17 laps, 34:59.013; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 35:03.150; 3. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 35:21.114… 7. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:56.183… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:13.146… 11. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:27.883; 12. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:42.137; 13. Muhammad Devintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 35:49.748; 14. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:10.957 MX2 - Race 2  1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 17 laps, 35:13.784; 2. Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda) 35:16.715; 3. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:18.868; 4. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:35.436… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:32.899… 12. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 36:01.271; 13. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:51.454; 14. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 35:55.861 Championship Standings – After Round 13  MXGP 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 583pts; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 559; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 447… 6. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 389… 12. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 212… 21. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 65… 28. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 15; 29. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 15; 29. Ander Valentin (Husqvarna) 8; 31. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 6; 32. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 6 MX2 1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 550pts; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 550; 3. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 422… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 331… 9. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 223… 12. Iker Larranaga (Husqvarna) 185… 18. Brent Van Doninck (Husqvarna) 116… 27. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 28; 28. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 24… 33. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 20… 36. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 15… 41. Yoshua Pattipi (Husqvarna) 8; 42. Dylan Walsh (Husqvarna) 6… 46. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 3; 47. Anthony Bourdon (Husqvarna) 3; 48. Andrea Zanotti (Husqvarna) 2

Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.

NICOLETTI IMPRESSES WITH 5TH AT REDBUD

Courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles

MOSIMAN AND HARRISON TOP-10 IN 250 CLASS

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Phil Nicoletti (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Phil Nicoletti (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Michael Mosiman (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Michael Mosiman (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Mitchell Harrison (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Mitchell Harrison (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jordan Bailey (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jordan Bailey (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Ryan Sipes (Photo: Simon Cudby)

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Ryan Sipes (Photo: Simon Cudby)

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team went to battle at the historic RedBud National, the seventh round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, in Buchanan, Mich. on Saturday. The team had a strong showing, with Phil Nicoletti earning fifth in the 450 class, and Michael Mosiman, Mitchell Harrison, Jordan Bailey, and Ryan Sipes finishing eighth, 10th, 12th, and 16th, respectively, in the 250 class.

Phil Nicoletti got a great start in the first 450 moto and quickly moved into third. He inherited the second-place spot after the leader went down, then went back to third the following lap. He fought hard for position and looked strong as he charged his way through the moto. He put on an impressive ride despite being shuffled back and crossed the finish line in sixth. He was mid-pack at the start of the second moto and came out of the first lap in eighth. He charged to sixth in the second lap and put on a strong ride to finish sixth. He went 6-6 for an impressive fifth overall on the day.

"It felt really great to get in the top-five," said Nicoletti. "It's been a long time coming, and we made great progress this week. The track was brutal, and it wasn't easy by any means. I ran in second for a long time in the first moto, but I'm not quite used to that pace. If I keep putting myself in that position I'll keep getting better. I'm happy with everything and I'm going to keep plugging away."

Michael Mosiman was mid-pack at the start of the first 250 moto and was riding in 14th by the second lap. He charged his way to 11th by the fifth lap, then continued to push as he made his way into the top-10 with eight minutes remaining. He held his ground and finished ninth despite going down twice in the race. He got a great start in the second moto and came out of the first lap in fourth. He was shuffled back to 12th then made one more pass to finish just outside the top-10 in 11th. He went 9-11 for eighth overall on the day.

"RedBud is in the books," said Mosiman. "There's definitely some positives to take away, but a lot of mistakes were made. My speed was good, but I need to be up there mixing it up with those guys. I got a good start in the second moto, but went down twice. I got ninth in the first moto, but crashed twice there, too. I'm going to keep striving and will enjoy the weekend off."

Mitchell Harrison went down at the start of the first 250 moto and had to work his way through the field. He was in 17th in lap 10 then made a late race charge to finish 13th despite crashing three times during the race. He pulled the holeshot in the second moto but got shuffled back to sixth by the end of the first lap. He was eighth around the halfway mark and stayed strong to finish eighth. The 13-18 finish gave him 10th overall on the day.

"I learned a lot this weekend," said Harrison. "I went down three times in the first moto and got tangled up with a few guys. I had a strong second half of the moto and came back to 13th. I ripped the holeshot in the second moto, but these guys are so fast and they got by me. I rode my own race and was strong in the second half and caught a few riders. If I can do the whole moto like I can in the second half I'll be right up there."

Jordan Bailey was mid-pack at the start of the first 250 moto and was just outside of the top-10 in the second lap. He held strong in 11th the majority of the race before finishing 12th. He was mid-pack at the start of the second moto and was riding strong in 12th. He moved up to 11th soon after then made two more passes for ninth after the halfway point. He put on a great ride and made one more pass to finish 10th. He finished 12-10 for 12th overall.

"RedBud lived up to its expectation," said Bailey. "The track was deep and the ruts were nasty. Practice was good for me. I finished 12th in the first moto, then finished 10th in the second moto. It's a step in the right direction. I'm going to keep building and will work on getting better results."

Ryan Sipes joined the team as a fill-in rider this week, and held his ground amongst the stacked field. He got a decent start in the first 250 moto and came out of the first lap mid-pack. He stayed consistent the remainder of the race to finish 16th. He got a good start in the second moto and was eighth by the end of the first lap, then put on a strong ride and finished 13th. The 16-13 finish gave him 16th overall.

"I was able to get pretty good starts both motos," said Sipes. "It took me awhile to get going in the first moto. I rode a lot better the second moto. I'm ok with 16-13 for only having two days on the bike. I haven't ridden a track this gnarly in years, so I'm good with it."

Next Race: July 21 - Spring Creek National - Millville, MN

RedBud National Results

250 Class
1. Aaron Plessinger (1,1)
2. Alex Martin (4,3)
3. Dylan Ferrandis (3,4)
4. Shane McElrath (5,9)
5. Justin Cooper (8,7)
6. Chase Sexton (11,6)
7. Austin Forkner (35,2)
8. Michael Mosiman - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - (9,11)
9. RJ Hampshire (2,40)
10. Mitchell Harrison - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (13,8)
...
12. Jordan Bailey - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (12,10)
…
16. Ryan Sipes - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (16,13)

450 Class
1. Marvin Musquin (2,1)
2. Ken Roczen (1,3)
3. Justin Barcia (4,2)
4. Blake Baggett (5,5)
5. Phil Nicoletti - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (6,6)
6. Justin Hill (10,4)
7. Cooper Webb (7,7)
8. Kyle Cunningham (11,8)
9. Weston Peick (8,11)
10. Jake Nichols (9,13)

250 Class Rider Point Standings
1. Aaron Plessinger - 283 points
2. Alex Martin - 248 points
3. Justin Cooper - 201 points
4. Shane McElrath - 198 points
5. Austin Forkner - 191 points
6. Jeremy Martin - 176 points
7. RJ Hampshire - 176 points
8. Chase Sexton - 166 points
9. Jordon Smith - 163 points
10. Dylan Ferrandis - 149 points
...
12. Michael Mosiman - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 119 points
13. Zach Osborne - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 105 points
…
15. Jordan Bailey - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 72 points
...
17. Mitchell Harrison - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 51 points

450 Class Rider Point Standings
1. Marvin Musquin - 304 points
2. Eli Tomac - 301 points
3. Justin Barcia - 264 points
4. Ken Roczen - 246 points
5. Blake Baggett - 232 points
6. Weston Peick - 193 points
7. Benny Bloss - 176 points
8. Phil Nicoletti - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 172 points
9. Cody Cooper - 101 points
10. Kyle Cunningham - 93 points