Though Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto clinched the 2013 AMA Motocross title last week at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, the action will be intense this Saturday for the concluding round.
As the 12-round series heads to Lake Elsinore, Calif., for the 2nd Annual Red Bull Lake Elsinore National, many records can be matched or broken.
Villopoto is tied in second with Bob Hannah for 27-career motocross race wins, but that can change this weekend in California. As Villopoto chases Ricky Carmichael’s record of 76 MX wins, the KX-F 450 rider has won 16 of 22 motos in 2013.
Villopoto took seven overall wins through the first 11 rondos, placing him in a three-way battle for 11 all-time career wins with Gary Jones and Mike LaRocco.
These numbers can surely change, but Villopoto’s biggest threat will be the man who will surely finish second overall in the 2013 AMA Motocross – the 2012 MX Champ, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey. The SX-F 450 rider has an undefeated record at Lake Elsinore, winning every race for the past three seasons.
The third and fourth riders in the standings, Team Honda Muscle Mile Riders Justin Barcia and Trey Canard, respectively, will both be chasing their first wins of the season at Lake Elsinore. Both riders finished as high as second, but were unable to take any wins.
As for Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, the RM-Z 450 pilot has decided to sit out this round as he recovers from some injuries sustained at Unadilla. Stewart is taking the time off to fully recover for the 2014 AMA Supercross, which begins Jan. 4 at Anaheim.
Recently crowned 250 Class Champion, Eli Tomac, heads into the final round of racing with considerable momentum as he enjoys an eight-moto winning streak over the last four rounds. GEICO Honda’s Tomac has been especially dominant in the second half of the season where he quickly gained valuable points over previous points leader Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen. Roczen holds seven moto wins so far this season and the German World Champion will look to add two more to his record before the season’s end, MX Sports says.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett sits fourth in the championship standings heading into the final round; where he currently holds one overall win this season. In 2012, Baggett capped off his 250 Class championship-winning season by claiming the inaugural Lake Elsinore National victory and the California native looks to make it two-in-a-row this Saturday. Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin sits just 15 points ahead of Baggett in the championship standings with two overall victories to date, MX Sports says.
Located in the hotbed of the motocross industry, and about an hour outside of the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park serves as an ideal location for fans of the sport across the entire southern portion of the state. It’s also well known to students of the sport’s history as the site of the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix, which was featured prominently in the epic motorcycle racing documentary film On Any Sunday back in 1971 – one year before the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship was born, MX Sports says.
The Marc Peters-designed venue is state-of-the-art in terms of motocross and features multiple elevation changes, spectacular obstacles, and easy access for the fans. The facility was designed with not only riders but spectators in mind as well, with paved roads and walkways, lush landscaping, camping amenities and designated areas at multiple elevations for viewing, MX Sports says.
2013 Elsinore AMA Motocross TV Schedule
The Red Bull Lake Elsinore National begins Saturday, August 24 at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage of 450 Moto 1 on NBC Sports Network and AlliSports.com.
Live coverage of second motos continues on Fox Sports 2 and AlliSports.com beginning at 6 p.m. Same day coverage of 250 Moto 1 will air on NBC Sports Network at 10 p.m. ET.
2013 AMA Motocross 450 Class Championship Standings (after 11 of 12 rounds):
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 513
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 463
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 375
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 303
5. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 289
6. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Kawasaki, 244
7. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM, 238
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 216
9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 208
10. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 204
2013 AMA Motocross 250 Class Championship Standings:
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 505
2. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 454
3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 388
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 373
5. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Honda, 322
6. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 268
7. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 264
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 256
9. Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 217
10. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 214
