2012 AMA Motocross
GEICO Honda rider Eli Tomac made up 14 points on 250cc class leader Blake Baggett at the last Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross tour stop by winning both motos and taking the overall title at the Steel City National. If Tomac can repeat that feat this Saturday at the season finale in Lake Elsinore, he’ll win the 2012 title.
Tomac and Baggett are separated by just 14 points in the current standings. Each rider has four overall event wins, while Baggett has nine individual moto wins to Tomac’s eight.
Eli Tomac (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “I’m ready to race right now. I know what I need to do, and that’s win both motos. I can’t control where Baggett finishes so I’ll just do the best I can and see what happens.
“I feel great. I feel strong. I feel better right now than I have all season. My riding is right where I want it to be and it seems like I get stronger as the motos go along. I’m going to do everything I can to win this title.”
Not to be overlooked is Tomac’s GEICO Honda teammate, Justin Barcia, who is very much in the hunt just 18 points behind Baggett. The back-to-back Supercross Lites East champion certainly is capable of closing that gap with a big day. Barcia has two overall victories, four moto wins, has led the most laps of anyone in the class this year and has finished in the top three overall in seven of 11 events.
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “We practice a lot a Lake Elsinore so I know the track really well. I’m a little frustrated with the season. I’ve had really good stretches but haven’t put the entire package together as many times as I expected.
“I’m not going down without a fight. I’m going to push it as hard as I can because after this race we can all rest for awhile. We’ll see how it all turns out. The more GEICO Hondas we can put on the podium, the better. This is my last MX race with this team and I’d love to go out on top.”
Wil Hahn will be looking to land on the podium for the first time this season, all while trying to cement the sixth spot in the season standings. Last week, Hahn finished sixth overall.
Wil Hahn (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “It’s all about the starts for me this weekend. I’ve been riding well and I’m able to maintain my position but the starts have been a tough deal for me. If I can get out of the gate faster then I can hang with the top guys.”
GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle will be concluding his rookie season at the Lake Elsinore National this weekend. Bogle will race despite being sore from a run-in with Jason Anderson at the last race.
Practice for the Red Bull Lake Elsinore National gets under way at 8:30 a.m. PDT from Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park with opening ceremonies scheduled for 12:40 p.m. FUEL TV will air the first moto starting at 4 p.m. EDT with the NBC Sports airing the second motos starting at 11 p.m.