2011 AMA Motocross
GEICO Honda Lites rider Eli Tomac found a quick way around a muddy High Point Raceway in Moto 2 to secure an overall third-place result at Saturday’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motorcycle Championship series stop in southwest Pennsylvania.
Tomac improved from sixth place in Moto 1 to a third-place finish in Moto 2, the best outing of the four GEICO Motocross riders in attendance. Kevin Windham went 6-5 in his two motos for a sixth-place overall ranking in 450cc competition. Justin Barcia was 8-7 for sixth overall in Motocross Lites, while fill-in rider Lance Vincent went 19-27 for 20th, also in Lites.
It took a breadth of riding ability to make it through the day as the first motos in both classes took place on a dusty and dry course. Then an intense but short afternoon rain shower soaked the facility and made the second round of motos a muddy battle of survival.
Eli Tomac (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: "It went from hard-packed and kind of slick in the first moto to muddy and really slick in the second moto, but I’ve always been good in the mud so it worked out. It kind of came to me. Some guys struggle when it’s wet but I like it.
"It’s nice to get on the podium. I definitely want to be on top of the podium but we’re not quite there yet. Hopefully the trend we started in Supercross will start in Motocross because once I found the podium over there I was on it every race."
Filling in for the injured Trey Canard on the American Honda Racing Motocross team, GEICO legend Windham had a solid day on his CRF450R. But the veteran rider was expecting more.
Kevin Windham (Honda CRF450R Motocross) says: "I felt like I’d be well on my way by this point in the season so I’m a little bit frustrated. It’s the winner’s instinct in me that just makes me want to come out here and win these things. If you’ve ever won before you know how addicting it can be. It’s why we do this and what keeps us coming back for more even when we don’t do so well.
"To hear all the cheers and feel the fan support is awesome. It’s great for Honda and GEICO as well as for me. I have had a lot of success at High Point and although we couldn’t capitalize on it today I still love this track and all the great fans."
Barcia, who has been fighting through a viral infection over the past few days, admits he got tired during his two motos.
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: "I was struggling. I went out there and did my best but unfortunately my best wasn’t good enough today.
"I don’t usually feel like this and it really bummed me out. I have a bit of a bug so I haven’t been feeling my best and I really think it got to me today. I just need to go home, get some rest, and go to the doctors so we can figure out exactly what’s going on."
Up next on the AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship schedule is Saturday’s Budds Creek National in Mechanicsville, Md.
