2012 Steel City AMA Motocross
Just two events remain in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship season and GEICO Honda riders Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac are still very much in the hunt for the season championship.
Both men are chasing leader Blake Baggett, who leads second-place Barcia by 24 points and third-place Tomac by 28 points.
With four motos left in the season including two at this weekend’s Steel City National in Delmont, Pa., Barcia said there’s no time left to hold anything back.
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “It’s do-or-die time. I’m going to give it my all, but I still have to stay smart, because riding smart is what has put me in the position I’m in right now.”
Barcia said the Steel City track can be a little unpredictable, so he’s going to be on his guard all day.
Justin Barcia says: “This track usually gets hard and slick in a hurry. Great starts here are a must, and you’ve got to run smart for all 30 minutes.”
Tomac, while a little further back, also has his eyes on the top prize.
Eli Tomac (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “I’m not out of it by any means. My goal for this weekend is to get to within at least a moto of Baggett by the time we leave. I’ve got to keep plugging away and get more moto wins, it’s the best thing I can do right now.”
Tomac said he’s happy to have that big motivator to carry him through to the end of the season.
Eli Tomac says: “By this point in the year, if you aren’t in the championship, you are kind of just waiting for the season to be over. You are wishing things would have gone a little bit better. It’s cool to be up here right now and I’m excited to see what we can do this weekend.”
GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle is coming off his best overall finish of the season, a sixth, last time out in Unadilla. Bogle said he’s been busy back in Oklahoma refining his riding so he can crack the podium before the season ends.
Justin Bogle (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “I’ve been working on a few things. I want to come into Steel City more prepared than I have been at any other outdoor race this year. I’ve been working on a lot of the fundamentals – starts, corners and all the areas – just to get better.
“I got to race Steel City last year and I really like the track. With the way the ruts form in the dirt there it reminds me of a few tracks around Oklahoma.”
Wil Hahn, who is trying to maintain his hold on sixth place in the standings, also has his sights set on a podium finish or two before the year is out.
Wil Hahn (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “I want to get my bike on the box and have some all-GEICO podiums. I’ve feeling good and been doing my homework. This race has a good vibe. There’s a huge core of fans who show up and I’m looking forward to giving them all a good show.”
Practice for the Steel City National gets under way at 8:30 a.m. EDT with opening ceremonies starting at 12:40 p.m. The first motos will air live on FUEL TV starting at 1 p.m. EDT with the second motos airing on NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m.
