Courtesy of MX Sports
Spearheads Exceptionally Deep Field of 450 Class Talent Set for Summer-Long Battle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 12, 2015) – This Saturday the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will begin its summer-long journey to crown a 450 Class champion with the 47th
edition of the GoPro Hangtown Motocross Classic, in the shadow of the
California State Capital of Sacramento. Leading the premier class into
action and carrying the number one plate for the first time in his U.S.
career will be Ken Roczen, the series’ first ever German champion in 43
years, aboard his new RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory
Racing machine.
One year ago, Roczen engaged in a spirited and captivating battle
with his then Red Bull KTM teammate Ryan Dungey that went all the way
down to the final lap of the season. Roczen outlasted his more
experienced, multiple title-winning rival to earn a historic
championship. During the offseason, he made a surprise departure from
KTM to join the budding RCH Racing effort co-owned by 10-time Lucas Oil
Pro Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael and freestyle motocross pioneer
Carey Hart. A full factory-backed team, RCH Racing had made consistent
gains since its inception in 2013 but the addition of Roczen gives it
the bona fide star it needs in order to establish itself as a title
contender. With five overall wins to his credit last season, Roczen
brings tremendous accolades to the team and was able to earn a pair of
wins with RCH during this past supercross season before bowing out with
injury and focusing on his title defense this summer.
While Roczen enters the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross
Championship with a strong chance at repeating, he’ll be up against what
is one of the deepest and most talented 450 Class fields in series
history. Sitting atop Roczen’s list of threats to take away his title is
a familiar foe in Dungey. Following his third runner-up finish in five
seasons of premier class competition, with titles coming in the
remaining to years, Dungey brings in added momentum to the 2015 Pro
Motocross season thanks to his second career supercross title. He’s
established himself as one of the most consistent riders to ever throw a
leg over a bike and he already sits second both on the all-time wins
list (31) and all-time career podiums (55). Never finishing worse than
second in a 450 Class season, Dungey should be right there yet again
when the season draws to a close.
Another rider expected to make his presence felt in the battle for
the championship is second-year premier class rider Eli Tomac. The GEICO
Honda rider showed impressive speed last season despite missing the
first four rounds with an injury and was able break through for victory
at Spring Creek en route to a fifth-place finish in the final standings.
For 2015 Tomac is at full health heading into the Nationals and is
coming off a breakout supercross campaign in which he earned three wins
and finished second in the championship. Confidence is high for the
Colorado native and he looks to have every bit of speed and endurance to
challenge Roczen and Dungey on a weekly basis.
A third former 450 Class titleholder that enters the 2015 season a
little under the radar is Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad
Reed. The Australian veteran is the most successful international rider
of all time and is one of three former premier class champions in the
field. As a result of being the oldest rider in the field, at age 33,
Reed seemingly always enters any championship as a bit of an underdog.
And almost always, Reed responds in a successful manner. This past
supercross season, the veteran took a convincing win just prior to
turning 33 and although he hasn’t won a Lucas Oil Pro Motocross
Championship race since 2011, Reed is as confident as ever that he’ll be
a factor in the title fight. Adding to his title hopes is the addition
of a teammate for the first time under Reed’s own TwoTwo Motorsports
banner in Josh Grant. The California native won the season opening moto a
year ago and is a 450 Class winner, back in 2009. He looks poised for a
strong season alongside his owner/teammate.
The Joe Gibbs Racing owned Autotrader.com/Toyota/Yamaha effort brings
perhaps its most formidable effort into the 2015 season. Since bursting
onto the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship scene in 2009, Justin
Barcia has proven to be one of the most exciting riders in the sport.
His fearless and aggressive approach will always result in thrilling
competition and after enduring a lengthy injury in supercross, Barcia
and JGRMX have high hopes for a memorable summer. Complementing Barcia
is Weston Peick, perhaps the most improved rider in the premier class
thus far in 2015. Peick’s first opportunity aboard a factory motorcycle
resulted in his most successful supercross season and now he has his
sights set squarely on making his presence felt at the Nationals. The
competitiveness of each of its two riders could be beneficial to the
overall success of JGRMX this summer.
Justin Brayton was forced to miss some time during supercross but is
completely healthy coming into the Pro Motocross season for
BTOsports.com KTM. His presence will be important for the team, which
will begin the summer without veteran Andrew Short, who suffered a knee
injury late in supercross and hopes to return a few rounds in. Another
rider under similar circumstances is Trey Canard, a title contender for
Team Honda HRC. Last season Canard broke through to become a consistent
front-runner and even took the first win of his career at the season
finale in Utah to solidify third in the final standings. A broken arm
suffered in supercross has put Canard in an uncertain position as the
Nationals get underway, but his return appears to be imminent.
Lining up alongside Roczen under the RCH Racing tent is Broc Tickle.
Just a few years ago Tickle enjoyed a career season in the 450 Class,
finishing fifth, and he remains one of many riders that are expected to
be a fixture inside the top 10 each week. Last season the Michigan
native was forced to miss the summer with a serious back injury that
left his future in uncertainty. Fortunately, Tickle has fully recovered
and hasn’t appeared to lose any of the speed that has made him one of
the premier class’ most dependable riders. The added confidence
surrounding RCH has already benefitted Tickle’s efforts and he’ll be a
strong complement to Roczen throughout the season.
While the collection of experienced 450 Class riders is as deep as
ever, the addition of the strongest rookie class in recent memory is
adding to the anticipation heading into Hangtown. Former 250 Class
champion Dean Wilson will unfortunately miss the summer for Red Bull KTM
with a knee injury, but three other riders are each capable of
challenging for wins. Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett is a former
250 Class titleholder in his own right, and his penchant for the
motocross discipline has some considering what he might be able to
accomplish this season. The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is no
stranger to rookie 450 Class riders finding success and Baggett could be
the next in line.
Additionally, Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely will bring the most
momentum of any rookie into the season thanks to a stellar supercross
campaign in which he won one race and finished third at season’s end.
Although he’s still in search of his first career Nationals win, Seely
is already comfortable aboard the big bike. Completing the rookie trio
is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, who will
be the lead rider for the manufacturer’s anticipated return to the
series. Anderson has shown impressive speed aboard the new motorcycle
and has plenty of talent to put Husqvarna back onto the Pro Motocross
podium.
Even though the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season has yet
to begin, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has already made the
biggest splash with the signing of Frenchman veteran Christophe Pourcel.
While he’s never raced a full season of 450 Class competition, Pourcel
has considerable experience in the 250 Class and has made a name for
himself with his unique European style and innate ability to lay down a
fast lap. He’s one of the most intriguing players for what is shaping up
to be a memorable 2015 season.
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship begins on May 16 with the
Hangtown Motocross Classic near Sacramento, California. Tickets for the
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship are available at www.ProMotocross.com.
For additional information, please visit ProMotocross.com.
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Lucas Oil Pro Motocross ChampionshipThe 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, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, New
York, Indiana and Utah. 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
televised on NBC, NBCSN and MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.
Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull,
GoPro, Bud Light, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, Kawasaki,
MotoSport, Utah Sports Commission, FRAM, KTM, Oakley, FMF, Deltran
Battery Tender, Dunlop, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex and
MotionPro. More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com.
MX Sports Pro RacingMX Sports Pro Racing manages and
produces the world's most prestigious professional motocross series -
the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
The industry leader in off road power sport 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.
AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier
professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a
full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle
disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
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