MICROBILT/PRBC SUZUKI’S STEWART QUALIFIES FOR HIS EIGHTH NATIONAL

Courtesy of MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki

KENNESAW, GA. (August 23, 2016) – Team MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki’s Ronnie Stewart qualified for his eighth Lucas Oil Pro Motocross National of 2016 Saturday at Budds Creek, Maryland. After a decent qualifying session Stewart was on track for another solid outing before he was hit with some tough luck – a crash in the first moto and a bent brake rotor in the second kept Stewart from finishing either race.

Stewart’s qualifying runs have been on an upward trend of late and such was the case at Budds Creek where he qualified his MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki RM-Z450 comfortably into the national, 24^th out of 89 riders.

“I was loving the track,” Stewart said. “And I had a lot of family and friends there rooting me on, as well as clients, so that was fun.”

After a solid start to the first moto, Eli Tomac went down in front of Stewart and in the process of trying to avoid him Stewart also crashed. After the fall Stewart said Tomac performed one of the most sportsmanlike acts he’s ever witnessed.

“I was trying to avoid Eli and his bike and I ended up getting crossed up and going down,” Stewart explained. “My bike ended up on top of me with the engine still revving and the spinning rear tire digging into my leg. I waved at Eli, just hoping he’d hit my bike’s kill switch. I wasn’t expecting him to take the time and exert the energy to get the bike off me, but it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. He picked up the bike off of me, I couldn’t believe it. That was awesome of him to do that.”

In the second moto Stewart and another rider made hard contact and even though Stewart didn’t go down this time, the impact bent his front brake rotor forcing him to retire.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get to do much racing,” Stewart concluded. “But we made the show and were there to meet the clients and fans. A tough weekend, but that’s racing. I’m happy to have one more race next weekend.”

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship resumes this coming Saturday for the season finale at the Ironman National in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Live coverage begins at 10:00 am Eastern on www.promotocross.com. The motos can also be viewed on MAVTV and NBCSN.

Keep up with Team MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki via social media via:
 

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TeamMicroBiltPRBC/),
 

Twitter (https://twitter.com/teammbprbc)
 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/teammicrobiltprbc/)
 

And by using and searching for the hashtag #teammicrobiltprbc.

About MicroBilt: MicroBilt is the single source and preferred provider of decision critical information for over 35 years that responsibly assists businesses in reducing risk and managing their business. MicroBilt offers the business owner simple, cost-effective solutions and a wide selection of data products for fraud prevention, consumer financing, debt collection and background screening.

About PRBC: PRBC is the world's largest non-traditional credit bureau and allows users to prove their financial responsibility and gives members credit for their utilities, phone/cable, rent, insurance and other bills. The payment histories for these are utilized to create a free PRBC Score.

Thanks to Our Sponsors: MicroBilt, PRBC (Payment Reporting Builds Credit), Liberty Elevator Corporation, H & S Enterprises, Inc., ISC Racers Tape, Hellbound Racing, Factory Connection, Novik Gloves, Rekluse, Bel-Ray, Pirelli, Strikt Gear, Vortex, FMF, MGX Unlimited, Works Connection, SDG Seats, Motostuff.com, Scott Motorsports, 6D Helmets and Motion Pro.

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ROCZEN & RCH SUZUKI WIN AMA MOTOCROSS TITLE!

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

RCH Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen clinched the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship one race early with another dominant 1-1 effort in Saturday’s Budds Creek National aboard his RM-Z450 to collect his 18th moto win and eighth overall victory of the season.

The RCH Soaring Eagle/ Jimmy John’s/ Suzuki Factory Racing rider had the mettle to close the deal with a race to spare, giving team owners Carey Hart and Ricky Carmichael their first championship since forming RCH four years ago.

Roczen was the class of the field all weekend. The two-time Pro Motocross Champion was fastest in both of Saturday morning’s timed qualifying sessions and when the gate dropped for the first moto, he grabbed the holeshot and never looked back. Roczen stretched his lead to just over 16 seconds, practically making it a foregone conclusion that he’d be on top of the box after the first premier class race of the day.

The second moto was much like the first for Roczen and although he just missed grabbing his second holeshot of the day, the rider of the #94 Suzuki RM-Z450 made quick work of the competition and showed the way after just a few corners. For the remainder of the day, he remained on task but his 20-plus second margin of victory put an exclamation point on his second series title.

Said Roczen: “Our weekend was amazing. I got the holeshot in the first moto and won that one. In the second moto, I didn’t get the greatest start but I snuck around the inside and was able to get to the lead pretty quickly. Clinching the championship with a 1-1 performance on the day, you can’t ask for anything better. It’s truly amazing. I tried not to talk a whole lot about it during the week. Obviously, there was a lot going on leading into this race. I was thinking about accomplishing this big awesome milestone and we finally made it happen. I tried to put it out of my head and just race.”

Despite much of the gossip in the paddock area questioning Roczen’s decision to leave a factory team following his 2014 Pro Motocross championship, the 22-year-old German’s decision was clearly validated with a dominant 2016 campaign.

“I have the best program out there,” Roczen continued. “Any title is amazing but I had a lot of 1-1 performances this year and that makes it a little sweeter than the first one. We didn’t have that great of a season last year. We solved all the problems we had and that’s what makes this title so sweet. I didn’t quit on them and they didn’t quit on me. I’ve got to give it up to everyone at RCH, because we are having so much fun together. We have a saying in Germany that the first one is easy and the second one is the hardest one. There’s nothing more I can ask for than what we’ve accomplished this year. We communicated so well and it was so much fun. The way we work together and what we’ve done to make sure we have the best bike has made a huge difference. I have myself prepared and this year has been amazing. We changed some things, definitely for the better and wrapped-up a title. It’s a dream come true.”

Roczen came into Round 11 with a 63-point advantage over second-place Eli Tomac, and while he didn’t necessarily need a win to lock up the championship, he dominated much as he has all year by leading every lap. Ultimately, Roczen took control early in both motos and never looked back.

At the same time, Carmichael becomes the first former professional rider to earn championship honours as a team owner. This season also marks the first time a privately-owned team has won a 450 Class outdoor championship.

“Several years ago when I asked Carey (Hart) if he’d be interested in coming together in a race team, our goals from day one were winning races and championships,” commented Carmichael. “It’s definitely a very happy moment for us. I’m really happy for Ken Roczen. He’s been fabulous on the bike all season. All the team members from RCH Soaring Eagle/ Jimmy John’s/ Suzuki Factory Racing have been fabulous. They’ve put in a lot of hard work at the track and in the race shop. I’m also very thankful to the group at Yoshimura for the motors they build. They make great power and that’s been a big part of our success. I’m really happy for Carey. He’s put his heart and soul into this race team and to see it all come to fruition is incredibly gratifying.”

The curtain rings down on the 2016 outdoor season Saturday when the teams and riders of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship return to Crawfordsville for the 12th and final race of the year.
  

 



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Newly Crowned Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champions Roczen and Webb Chase Season Ending Triumphs at Ironman National

Courtesy of MX Sports


MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (August 22, 2016) – Following championship-clinching outings this past weekend, newly crowned 450 Class Champion Ken Roczen and 250 Class Champion Cooper Webb lead the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, into its final round of the 2016 season. The Third Annual Ironman National from Crawfordsville, Indiana’s Ironman Raceway brings the world’s most prestigious championship back to the motorsports crazed Indianapolis area this Saturday, August 27, with both Roczen and Webb seeking to cap off their memorable summers with one final victory.

Broadcast Coverage of the Ironman National:First Motos (250 & 450 Class) – LIVE on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ETSecond Motos (250 & 450 Class) – NBC Sports Network Tape Delay at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ETLIVE Coverage can also be streamed via ProMotocross.com and NBC Sports App.Ironman Highlight Show – September 1 at 11 p.m. PT / 2 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

Race Highlights from the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National

RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing rider Roczen has been nothing short of dominant throughout the 2016 season. In 22 motos he has claimed 21 podium finishes, highlighted by 18 victories that ultimately vaulted him to eight overall wins and his second 450 Class title in three seasons. After starting the summer with a convincing win at the opening round from Hangtown the German rider never looked back, becoming just the third rider over the past 10 seasons to lead the championship standings wire-to-wire. Last weekend at Budds Creek, Roczen put his Suzuki out front on the opening lap in both motos and pulled away from the field to record his eighth moto sweep of the summer. It was more than enough to clinch the title one round early, giving Suzuki its first premier class championship since Ryan Dungey in 2010 and making the RCH Racing effort the first privately-owned 450 Class effort to win a Pro Motocross title.
Roczen entered the 2016 season with just six career overall wins. After earning five wins during his championship-winning 2014 campaign Roczen claimed just one victory last season, equaling the lowest win total during a title defense in series history. This season he rebounded in resounding fashion, clearly establishing himself as the rider to beat from the opening gate drop and continuing that torrid pace throughout the summer as many of his biggest challengers bowed out with injury. If not for a freak issue with his suspension at Glen Helen, which relegated him to a fourth-place finish, Roczen could very well have top three finishes in every moto this season. It’s been a banner year all around for Roczen and the RCH Racing effort, but its not over yet as they chase one final triumph in Crawfordsville.

After clinching his second 450 Class title this past weekend, Roczen will look to end a dominant 2016 season with his ninth victory of the summer.Photo: Simon Cudby 

While it’s been one of the single-most-dominant seasons in history for Roczen, it hasn’t come without some heavy pressure from Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac. One year after a heartbreaking crash ended his hopes of a title and left him with a pair of severely injured shoulders, Tomac has returned to elite form. He’s earned two wins this season and has been Roczen’s most consistent threat, particularly after defending champion Ryan Dungey was forced out of action with injury. Although it took him a few rounds to dial in his new Kawasaki and develop a consistency that has been bettered by only Roczen, Tomac soon got to the form that made him a dominant force at the start of the championship last season. He’s finished off the podium just five times in 22 motos, highlighted by a streak of 13 straight top-three finishes that came to an end this past weekend. With the runner-up spot in the championship locked up, Tomac heads to Ironman looking to cap off the year with a third win.
The battle for third in the final 450 Class standings will come down to the final round on Saturday afternoon, but it won’t take much for Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin to secure the position. Currently, the 450 Class rookie holds a 49-point lead over Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia, who finished third in the championship last season. Musquin will simply need to score just a single point at Ironman Raceway on Saturday, meaning a finish of 20^th or better in a single moto. Musquin has finished outside the top 20 just once this season and has stepped up in the absence of teammate Dungey to keep KTM at the forefront. For Barcia, he has virtually nothing to lose, sitting almost 100 points clear of fifth in the standings, which will surely add some excitement to the action on the track. He enters the finale fresh off his best result of the season and would like nothing more than to wrap up a summer filled with mixed results and emotions with a victory.

Tomac will look to cap off his runner-up finish in the championship with a third victory.Photo: Simon Cudby

Through the first half of the season in the 250 Class, Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha rider Webb went virtually unnoticed as he soldiered his way through a wrist injury that put his entire season in question. He quietly put himself in contention, even taking a moto win at Glen Helen, but never seriously factored into the battle for the overall. By the time the championship left the fourth round at High Point, Webb faced a 20-point deficit in the standings as Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy continued to assert himself as the rider to beat. However, once Webb was able to break through for his first overall win of the season at his home race from Tennessee’s Muddy Creek Raceway, the tides started to shift.
Over the ensuing four rounds Webb went on a tear, capturing three straight wins and missing out on a fourth consecutive victory only by virtue of a tiebreaker. Over that stretch of eight motos he took five wins, finishing no worse than second. As Webb surged to the top of the championship standings Savatgy suddenly struggled to stay in the hunt for podiums and quickly lost touch in the title fight. By the time the season reached its final break in action after Washougal, Webb had turned a 20-point deficit to a 51-point lead and was well on his way to the title.
This past weekend at Budds Creek, Webb was forced to endure through one of his toughest outings of the season as he looked to clinch the title. He crashed twice on the opening lap of the first moto and narrowly escaped another crash to start the second moto, each relegating him deep in the field. However, true to his nature this season Webb stormed through the field and to post 6-3 results, securing his first career national title. The ability to battle through the pack has defined Webb’s 2016 season, and in a lot of ways has defined the early part of his career. His undeterred spirit means he’s able to turn virtually any negative on the track into a positive and it’s why he’s passing an average of nearly five riders per moto. At Budds Creek alone, Webb improved a total of 20 positions from his starting spot in Moto 1 and 14 positions in Moto 2. His confidence this season has been unwavering, carrying him to a dominant second half of the season that resulted in a hard fought, well-earned title.

Webb will enjoy a victory lap of sorts at Ironman after clinching his first title with a resilient effort.
Photo: Simon Cudby

Behind Webb, the battle for the runner-up spot in the championship will come down to Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Alex Martin and Savatgy. Currently, Martin sits 23 points clear of Savatgy and is guaranteed to finish no worse than third, capping off a breakout year for the veteran in which he finally became an overall winner in his eighth full season of competition. It’s been a breakout season for Savatgy as well, controlling the championship throughout the first half of the season and earning a trio of overall wins. While he’s had to endure through a difficult second half, Savatgy has continued to make his presence felt and has fought valiantly to put himself in a position to earn another championship podium result. While rookie teammate Austin Forkner does head to Ironman with a chance a taking over third, currently sitting 31 points back, Savatgy is sure to leverage his experience and determination to end the season on a high note on Saturday. This trio of riders each enters the season finale with their own respective motivation, which will play out in a captivating battle on the track.

Martin has a career-best runner-up finish in the championship within reach, looking to put Star Yamaha 1-2 in the final standings.Photo: Simon Cudby

Event Schedule
Ironman NationalRound 12: Lucas Oil Pro Motocross ChampionshipAugust 27, 2016 – Crawfordsville, Indiana
Race Day Schedule: 
5:30 a.m. PT / 8:30 a.m. ET - Practice & Qualifying
9:30 p.m. PT / 12:30 p.m. ET - Opening Ceremonies
10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET - First Motos (250 Class & 450 Class)
12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET - Second Motos (250 Class & 450 Class)
Broadcast Schedule:
August 27 - 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET (LIVE) - MAVTV - First Motos (250 & 450 Class)August 27 - 3:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. ET - NBCSN - Second Motos (250 & 450 Class)
September 1 - 11:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 a.m. ET - NBC Sports - Network Highlight Show
**BOLD indicates live broadcast.***All times subject to change.
Previous Round Results 
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National
Budds Creek Motocross Park – Mechanicsville, Maryland
August 20, 2016
Round 11 of 12
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki (1-1)
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (3-3)
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (2-4)
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (6-2)
5. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (4-6)
6. Dean Wilson, Scotland, KTM (5-5)
7. Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda (8-7)
8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (7-9)
9. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (11-10)
10. Anthony Rodriguez, Venezuela, Kawasaki (10-11) 

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki – 534
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 458
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 365
4. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 316
5. Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna – 217
6. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 204
7. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha – 201
8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 189
9. Justin Brayton Fort Dodge, Iowa, KTM – 173
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki – 171 

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna (4-1)
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (1-4)
3. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (5-2)
4. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (2-5)
5. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (6-3)
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (8-6)
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (10-7)
8. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM (11-10)
9. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (3-34)
10. Chris Alldredge, Powell Butte, Ore., Kawasaki (12-11)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 457
2. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 384
3. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 361
4. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 331
5. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 321
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 313
7. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna – 296
8. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki – 235
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 215
10. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, Kawasaki – 213

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.
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 Live Extra.  Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull, GoPro, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Superstore, FRAM, KTM, Oakley, FMF, Deltran Battery Tender, Pirelli, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex, ProGrip, EBC Brakes, KMC Wheels, MotionPro, VP Racing Fuels, Acerbis and Racer X.  More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com. 


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YOSHIMURA SUZUKI’S BISCEGLIA 11TH AT BUDDS CREEK

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

Matthew Bisceglia continued his strong comeback from injury on Saturday at the Budds Creek Pro Motocross National aboard the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450. The 450 class rookie qualified sixth, a career high, then garnered the power of the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 to take the holeshot in the second moto. In the end blistered hands kept Bisceglia from reaching his full potential at Budds Creek and he finished the day 11th overall with 9-12 moto results.

Bisceglia was in just his second week on his comeback trail from rib injuries sustained at Southwick and his gathering of experience on the 450 began to pay dividends with a strong sixth-place qualifying run. He hustled the Yoshimura factory machine around the hilly Budds Creek track in a time of 2:05.851.

All the hard work put in by Bisceglia and the Yoshimura team to earn a great gate pick went for naught when Bisceglia crashed in the first turn of the opening moto. Undaunted, he picked-up his bike and proceeded to turn in one of the most outstanding charges of the season, riding from last to ninth by the chequered flag.

Perhaps inspired by his brilliant rally in moto one, Bisceglia launched perfectly out of the gate at the start of the second moto and let the power of his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 do the rest as he scored the coveted holeshot.

Unfortunately, the downside of only being back on the bike for a little over a week meant that his hands hadn’t yet built-up calluses from hours of riding and they blistered badly by the second moto, making it tough for him to hold on and he was forced to reduce his pace, but still managed 12th that moto to earn him the 11th overall.

“It was a bit of a tough day,” said Bisceglia after the national. “I qualified sixth, which is the best I’ve qualified so far this year. I got a good start in the first moto, but crashed in the first corner. I went from last to ninth. Then I got the holeshot in the second moto and was still riding good up until maybe the halfway point. Then I struggled with my hands. They’re just super raw and I couldn’t even hold on, but there were positives from the day.

“I’m looking forward to next weekend. My Suzuki is working so great and hopefully I can get these hands a little bit tougher before the race and just be able to go and finish the motos strong. It’s the last race of the year and hopefully we can go out with a strong result.”

The Pro Motocross Championship concludes this coming Saturday at the Ironman National, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. 



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SCOTT Sports Budds Creek Race Report

Courtesy of Scott Sports

Salt Lake City, UT | August 22, 2016 – Round 11 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship took place at Budds Creek Saturday afternoon. Adam Cianciarulo pulled the holeshot in both 250 motos and saw his best finish of the year in Moto 1, with a second place finish. Justin Barcia also delivered on Saturday grabbing second overall in the 450 class. Here is a look at how our top racers fared individually;

JUSTIN BARCIA | 3-3, 2nd overall

AUSTIN FORKNER | 5-2, 3rd overall

ADAM CIANCIARULO | 2-5, 4th overall

PHIL NICOLETTI | 4-6, 5th overall

ANDREW SHORT | 7-9, 8th overall

BENNY BLOSS | 11-10, 9th overall

JOEY SAVATGY | 3-34, 9th overall

CHRIS ALLDREDGE | 12-11, 10th overall

450 Point Standings 1. Ken Roczen – 534 2. Eli Tomac – 458 3. Marvin Musquin – 365 4. Justin Barcia – 316 5. Christophe Pourcel – 217 6. Benny Bloss – 204 7. Phil Nicoletti – 201 8. Andrew Short – 189 9. Justin Brayton – 173 10. Broc Tickle – 171 250 Point Standings 1. Cooper Webb – 457 2. Alex Martin – 384 3. Joey Savatgy – 361 4. Austin Forkner – 331 5. Jeremy Martin – 321 6. Aaron Plessinger – 313 7. Zach Osborne – 296 8. Adam Cianciarulo – 235 9. Mitchell Oldenburg – 215 10. Arnaud Tonus – 213

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Noren Seventh at Budds Creek National

Courtesy of Honda Racing Cooperation

AMA Pro Motocross 2016   Round 11 Noren Seventh at Budds Creek National The AMA Pro Motocross Championship’s Budds Creek National saw Team Honda HRC’s Fredrik Noren score a solid seventh-overall result with 8-7 moto finishes during his second race of the year aboard the factory CRF450R. In moto one, Noren hit a downed rider’s bike in the first turn, shuffling him back to a mid-pack. He swiftly began working his way forward, completing the first lap in 12th. By the halfway mark, he had moved into eighth, which is where he finished. When the gate dropped in moto two, Noren launched to a top-10 start and then advanced to eighth during the early stages of the race. He improved one more spot before the checkered flag, finishing seventh. NOTES During the week before race day, Team Honda HRC announced that they have extended their contract with Cole Seely for an additional two years. Seely’s mechanic Rich Simmons is also excited to be continuing his relationship with Honda. “I feel really good about Cole re-signing with Honda,” he said. “This year was a step in the right direction with the team. Cole is continuing to build his fitness, and we have a new bike that I’m excited about. My expectation for the next couple years is to be in the title hunt for supercross and for Cole to continue to build in motocross and be top-three.” During the morning’s timed qualifying practice period, Noren was eighth-fastest with a 2:06.104 lap time, posted in the second session. Next weekend, Team Honda HRC heads to Indiana’s Ironman MX for the final round of the 2016 AMA Pro Motocross series. Including AMA Supercross, it will be the team’s 30th race of the year.   THE FOCUS: Supporting Jessy Nelson Last weekend’s second 250 moto of the Unadilla National was red-flagged after Jessy Nelson went down in a corner and his bike fell on top of him. Nelson was injured in the incident and has been hospitalized since then, with limited sensation in his legs. The Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation has been working directly with Nelson’s doctors. Nelson underwent surgery last Wednesday and everything went according to plan, but it is still too early to know the extent of his injuries. Nelson is currently a member of the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM team, and he rode a Honda CRF250R when that squad was Honda-mounted. He also spent the majority of his amateur career as a Red Rider, and on race day at Budds Creek, Fredrik Noren’s factory Honda HRC CRF450R wore a custom “One Love” sticker on its fender in support of Nelson. “It’s a huge bummer,” said Cole Seely’s mechanic Rich Simmons, who worked with Nelson during his 2012 rookie season and is close with the family. “Things can change so quickly and everyone in this sport needs to think about that. Nobody deserves to have that happen, but Jessy is a good kid and a great friend. He’s an athlete and he knows how to fight, so that’s what he’ll be doing.” Everyone at American Honda sends thoughts and condolences to the Nelson family. Road 2 Recovery has set up a special page where fans can donate to help offset the medical costs that will accrue.

Fredrik Noren  39 I don’t think today went great. I felt pretty stiff all day and didn’t ride how I normally should. I struggled in practice and both motos, just not being able to find a flow. I qualified eighth, which is okay but I want to be better for sure. I had a little hiccup in the beginning of the first moto and had to come through the pack, but I was able to get to eighth. I had a much better start in the second moto but just kind of ran by myself a lot of the race. There’s some stuff I need to work on for sure but it was an okay day. Seventh overall isn’t something to be unhappy about, but I still want to be better.

Dan Betley Team Manager I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed in the results. We were expecting better. Freddie came together with another rider off the start of the first moto and was probably 20th the first lap. His charge to the front was good because he ended up making it to eighth. The second moto he got a top-10 start and just kind of stalled out I think; he didn’t have it for the full race. We’re going to put our heads down for one more race and then call it a season.

Rich Simmons Mechanic (Fredrik Noren) Today didn’t go exactly how we wanted, but it was still okay. Freddie is consistent; it seems like where he qualifies, he finishes. He didn’t seem comfortable all day, so we pretty much made changes every time he went out. I think he was fighting the track more than anything.

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Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship to Show Military Appreciation at GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National

Courtesy of MX Sports

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship to Show Military Appreciation at GEICO Motorcycle 

Budds Creek National 

Series and GEICO Team Up to Provide 100 Tickets to Service Members and Families 

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (August 17, 2016) – The penultimate round of the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, this Saturday, August 20, will serve as an opportunity for the world’s most prestigious motocross series to show its appreciation for our nation’s military members.

Sitting in the shadow of Washington, D.C., and just a short drive from Joint Base Andrews, the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National in Mechanicsville, Maryland, provides a fitting setting to recognize the sacrifices of service veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and event title sponsor GEICO are teaming up to provide 100 FREE tickets to members of the military, providing a VIP experience at the GEICO Military Hospitality tent that features food, refreshment, and premier viewing of the action on the track.

The ability for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship to provide tickets directly to members of the military is a result of the longstanding partnership between the series and the Veterans Ticket Foundation (VetTix), a national non-profit, non-governmental 501c(3) tax-exempt organization. Entering the fifth year of this partnership, Pro Motocross provides 50 military tickets to every round of the championship through VetTix.org, with an even greater push alongside GEICO for Budds Creek, recognizing the strong military presence in the surrounding area of the track.

In addition to providing FREE access to members of the military this weekend, Pro Motocross and series sponsor Lucas Oil have teamed up to organize a special run on the Budds Creek track on the eve of the National, this Friday, August 19 at 5 p.m. ET. Lucas Oil Girls Carrie Bolling and Nicole Cesa will host the event that is open for all interested parties. Participants are encouraged to provide donations, with all proceeds benefitting the Veteran Motocross Foundation (VetMX), a grass-roots initiative to empower veterans adjusting to civilian life through the enrichment of learning to ride motocross. After the run, participants will meet at the Lucas Oil First Class Zone at Budds Creek for a pre-race auction featuring rider memorabilia and other great items. All auction proceeds will also benefit VetMX.

Join us Saturday, August 20, as we show our appreciation for our nation’s military members.

The GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National commences this Saturday, August 20, with practice and qualifying beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Motos for both the 450 Class and 250 Class kick off at 1 p.m. ET as both RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb look to clinch their respective championships.
For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

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 Live Extra.  Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull, GoPro, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Superstore, FRAM, KTM, Oakley, FMF, Deltran Battery Tender, Pirelli, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex, ProGrip, EBC Brakes, KMC Wheels, MotionPro, VP Racing Fuels, Acerbis and Racer X.  More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com.

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Roczen and Webb Seek Title Clinches as Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Returns to Budds Creek for Penultimate Round

Courtesy of MX Sports

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (August 16, 2016) - With just two rounds remaining for the 2016 season, both the 450 Class and 250 Class titles have the opportunity to be clinched this Saturday, August 20, as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, makes its annual visit to Budds Creek Motocross Park. The legendary Southern Maryland facility, located in Mechanicsville, sits in the shadow of the nation's capital of Washington, D.C., adding another layer of excitement to the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National, where RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's/Suzuki Factory Racing's Ken Roczen and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Cooper Webb will each look to secure their respective championships.

Broadcast Coverage of the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National:First Motos (250 & 450 Class) - LIVE on MAVTV at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ETTape Delayed Second Motos - August 21 at 8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NetworkLIVE Coverage can also be streamed via ProMotocross.com and NBC Sports App.Budds Creek Highlight Show - August 26 at 11 p.m. PT / 2 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network 

Race Highlights from the Unadilla NationalLast weekend at Unadilla in Central New York, Roczen returned to his dominant ways, putting his Suzuki at the front of the field early in both 450 Class motos before pulling away from the field. Roczen's innate ability to get to the front on the opening lap and sprint out to a healthy lead shortly thereafter has been the trademark of his 2016 campaign and was emphasized even more at Unadilla when factoring arguably the most challenging track conditions of the entire season. Roczen made it look easy, taking the checkered flag by more than 13 seconds in the first moto and the largest winning margin of the season in Moto 2 at more than 52 seconds. The dominant outing gave Roczen his seventh overall win of the season, in which he's swept the motos every time.

Now, with just two rounds and four motos remaining, the German rider has the chance to not only clinch his second 450 Class title in three seasons and once again hoist the Edison Dye Cup, but become the just the third rider over the past decade to lead the championship from start to finish, joining James Stewart (2008) and Ryan Villopoto (2013). Roczen has undoubtedly been the most consistent rider in the championship this summer and while Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac has been a thorn in Roczen's side throughout the second half of the season, the 2014 titleholder has never faltered, even as an alarmingly large contingent of elite riders continued to bow out of action due to injury. It's been one of the most incredibly dominant championship performances in history at a time when the level of competition is higher than it's ever been before in 45 years of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

Roczen carries a 63-point lead into Budds Creek, a track he has never won at before, with Tomac as the lone rider remaining with a mathematical shot at the title. In order to clinch the championship Roczen will need to complete Saturday's motos with a minimum lead of 50 points. As a result, should Tomac sweep the motos at Budds Creek, Roczen will need to accumulate a total of 37 points across both motos in order to secure the number one plate. In 20 motos this season, Roczen has failed to finish on the podium just once, following an issue with his front suspension in the opening moto of the second round this season from Glen Helen. If he continues that podium trend on Saturday, Roczen will walk away with another championship.
A pair of podium finishes for Roczen at Budds Creek will
clinch his second career 450 Class title.
Photo: Simon Cudby
For Tomac his mission at Budds Creek is simple - go out and win. We've seen splashes of dominance from the Kawasaki rider this season, but he'll need one of his best outings of the season and a season-worst effort from Roczen to take the title fight to the final round. Nevertheless, Tomac is guaranteed to give it his all on Saturday, the same way he has all season. He'll control what he can and allow the points to unfold as they will. Like Roczen, Tomac has never won at Budds Creek, which sets the stage for an exciting showdown this weekend.

With 49 points sitting between he and Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha's Justin Barcia, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin will look to clinch the third and final spot on the championship podium this weekend. Simply finishing ahead of Barcia in both motos will secure a third-place finish for the Frenchman in his rookie season, but Barcia enters Budds Creek as the defending race winner and would like nothing more than to defend that victory and keep his hopes of back-to-back third-place finishes in the championship alive.
Only Tomac can mathematically prevent Roczen clinching the championship this weekend.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Over in the 250 Class, Webb enters Budds Creek in a more comfortable position than his fellow points leader Roczen, giving him an even better shot at lifting the Gary Jones Cup on Saturday afternoon. At Unadilla, Webb's impressive 1-1 win came on an afternoon where each of his closest championship rivals endured through their own misfortune. As has been the case in several of his triumphant outings this season, Webb stalked the early leader before making a strong push over the second half of the moto, taking over the lead and carrying on to the win. In the final moto at Unadilla Webb took the lead away from Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rookie Austin Forkner just one lap prior to a red flag condition that ultimately ended the race just past the 24-minute mark of the 30-minute plus two-lap moto. It was Webb's fourth win of the season and his second sweep of the motos, which proved to be a major windfall in the championship standings.

While Webb was celebrating arguably his most successful outing of the season, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Alex Martin were left wondering what could have been. Both Savatgy and Alex Martin were dealt some adversity at Unadilla, with Martin experiencing trouble on the opening lap of Moto 1 that dropped him to the tail end of the field. He would make a spirited run to 13^th, but after posting the fastest lap of practice his hopes of victory were dashed. For Savatgy, a strong runner-up finish in Moto 1 was complemented by a DNF in Moto 2 after he began feeling ill. When the overall results were tallied, Martin was seventh (13-5) while Savatgy was 10^th (2-32), with both riders giving up more than a moto's worth of points to Webb. Their hard luck, combined with the announcement mere days before the race from defending back-to-back champion Jeremy Martin in which he stated he'd miss the remainder of the season with injury, meant Webb's victory was more impactful than any previous result.
Just a pair of top-10 finishes at Budds Creek is all Webb needs to clinch his first career national title.Photo: Simon Cudby
Heading into Budds Creek, Webb carries an 81-point lead over both Savatgy and Alex Martin, who currently sit tied for second. Webb will need to finish Saturday's race with a minimum advantage of 50 points in the standings in order to clinch his first career national championship, meaning he'll need to score just 19 total points should either Savatgy or Martin sweep the motos. A pair of top 10 finishes by Webb would ensure that, and he's finished no worse than eighth in a moto all season. All three of these riders will chase their first career win at Budds Creek, where Martin just missed out on his first career victory last season via a tiebreaker.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, both Savatgy and Martin are locks to complete the championship podium, resulting in career-best season for Martin no matter how things shake out. After finishing third in the championship last season, Savatgy would like nothing more than to improve one position.
Savatgy and Martin sit tied for second in the championship as both fight to keep their title hopes alive.
Photo: Simon Cudby

Event Schedule
GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek NationalRound 11: Lucas Oil Pro Motocross ChampionshipAugust 20, 2016 - Mechanicsville, Maryland
Race Day Schedule: 
5:30 a.m. PT / 8:30 a.m. ET - Practice & Qualifying
9:30 p.m. PT / 12:30 p.m. ET - Opening Ceremonies
10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET - First Motos (250 Class & 450 Class)
12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET - Second Motos (250 Class & 450 Class)
Broadcast Schedule:
August 20 - 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET (LIVE) - MAVTV - First Motos (250 & 450 Class)August 21 - 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET - NBCSN - Second Motos (250 & 450 Class)
August 26 - 11:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 a.m. ET - NBC Sports Network - Highlight Show
**BOLD indicates live broadcast.***All times subject to change.
Previous Round Results
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Unadilla National
Unadilla MX - New Berlin, New York
August 13, 2016
Round 10 of 12
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki (1-1)
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (3-2)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (2-3)
4. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (7-4)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (4-7)
6. Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda (6-6)
7. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (5-9)
8. Dean Wilson, Scotland, KTM (11-5)
9. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (8-8)
10. Matt Bisceglia, Tualatin, Ore., Suzuki (9-10) 

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki - 484
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki - 421
3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM - 325
4. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha - 276
5. Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna - 217
6. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM - 183
7. Justin Brayton Fort Dodge, Iowa, KTM - 173
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki - 171
9. Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha - 168
10. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM - 163 

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (1-1)
2. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (3-3)
3. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (7-2)
4. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (5-4)
5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (9-6)
6. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM (8-9)
7. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (13-5)
8. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Husqvarna (11-8)
9. Tristan Charboneau, Tenino, Wash., Honda (10-10)
10. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (2-32) 

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha - 422
2. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki - 341
3. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha - 341
4. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha - 321
5. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki - 293
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha - 285
7. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna - 253
8. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki - 197
9. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, Kawasaki - 195
10. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM - 190 

For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and LIKE the Pro Motocross Facebook page and follow @ProMotocross on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news. 
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 Live Extra.  Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull, GoPro, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Superstore, FRAM, KTM, Oakley, FMF, Deltran Battery Tender, Pirelli, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex, ProGrip, EBC Brakes, KMC Wheels, MotionPro, VP Racing Fuels, Acerbis and Racer X.  More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com.



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