2015 Thunder Valley Motocross Results
The 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing – headed to the high altitude near Denver, Colo., for the True Value Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley MX Park.
GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac – the dominate rider so far in 2015 MX who swept the opening two rounds at Hangtown and Glen Helen – was an immediate favorite ahead of round three at Thunder Valley.
The CRF450R pilot delivered on this status during moto 1, and looked as if he would sweep another round. But while holding a 14-second lead in the second moto before his home crowd, Tomac crashed, ending his chance of a double.
So who emerged winner? The 2015 Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey. The Red Bull KTM SX-F450 pilot earned his first win of 2015 MX with a 2-1 score.
Joining him on the overall podium were the reigning MX Champion, RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen (3-2) and Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Bagget (4-3), respectively.
With his win – and constant podium finishes throughout the opening two rounds – Dungey has bumped Tomac from the point’s lead. Dungey now has 128 points, three ahead of Tomac. Baggett’s in third with 99.
“We made some changes coming into the weekend, but this track was much different than anything we had prepared for,” said Dungey. “We adjusted to that and were good coming into the motos. I got a good start in the first moto but made a mistake there early. Luckily I was able to bounce back. In the second moto I didn’t get the start I needed, none of us (Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen) did, but I was able to work my way forward. I saw Eli took a tumble so I hope he’s OK, but the track was really difficult today. We caught a bit a gift (with Roczen’s crash), but we kept our head down all day and it ended up working out.”
In the opening Moto, Dungey earned the the Motosport.com Holeshot Award ahead of former teammate Roczen, Rockstar Energy Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson and Tomac.
Roczen put pressure on Dungey on the opening lap, and took the lead for the first time this season. On the same lap, Tomac then moved past Anderson and Dungey, and began chasing down Tomac. On the third lap, Tomac moved into first, and remained unchallenged to the checkered flag.
Tomac crossed the line 14.5 seconds ahead of Dungey, who battled to second from fifth. Finishing third was Roczen.
In the second moto, Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely edged out Autotrader.com/Toyota/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia for the Motosport.com Holeshot Award, while Tomac, Roczen and Dungey all slotted into the top 10.
Tomac once again charged to the front, earning the lead on the opening lap. Following were Roczen and Dungey, who were able to keep up the pace.
But while holding a 14-second margin, Tomac’s rear wheel hit a bump in the Thunder Valley MX track that caused his CRF450R to go sideways, sending Tomac to the ground. Tomac was taken to the medical center, where he was diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder. He will undergo further evaluation next week.
Roczen moved into the lead, and eventually finished by 21.4 seconds ahead of Roczen, who dealt with a flat front tire. Finishing third was Baggett. This was Dungey’s fourth win at Thunder Valley, the most all time at Thunder Valley MX Park.
2015 Thunder Valley Motocross Results, 250 Class
In the 250 Class, Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin claimed his second overall victory of the season with a 1-1 effort, moving back into the points lead he held after the opening round of the season.
When practice begin, GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig, who came out of retirement to fill in for an injured Justin Bogle, earned the Bud Light Fastest Qualifier in his first race back. When the gate dropped on Moto 1, Craig found himself mired outside the top 10 while Martin grabbed the Motosports.com Holeshot Award ahead of Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Red Bull/KTM’s Jessy Nelson and Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, MX Sports says.
The early advantage by Martin allowed him to sprint in the opening laps and establish a comfortable lead, leaving Nelson and Musquin in a fierce battle for second. Nelson held Musquin off for three laps, but the 250 Class points leader eventually got by after Nelson briefly went off the track at the finish line. Just a few laps later as he looked to track down the defending series champion out front, Musquin went down and fell outside the top 10. He was able to remount, but took his time getting back up to speed, MX Sports says.
Without the pressure of anyone behind him, Martin cruised to his second moto win of the year by 18.720 seconds. Musquin’s absence resulted in a spirited battle for second between Nelson and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne that lasted the entirety of the moto. Nelson appeared to have hold on the runner-up spot, but Osborne was able to make a last-lap pass to steal the spot, leaving Nelson third. Musquin recovered to finish 14th, MX Sports says.
Martin kept the ball rolling into Moto 2, sweeping the Motosport.com Holeshot Awards for the afternoon, this time with Osborne, Musquin and Nelson on his rear fender. Looking to rebound from the misfortune of the first moto, Musquin made a quick move on Osborne to take over second and keep Martin in his sights while Nelson followed into third. Martin gradually opened a multiple second lead on Musquin as the lead duo checked out on the field, MX Sports says.
With the top two spots spoken for, the battle for the podium once again came down to Nelson and Osborne. This time Osborne made the move early, on Lap 5, and placed himself firmly in the spot. Nelson continued to lose ground as the moto wore on, ultimately dropping out of contention for the overall podium. Martin completed the moto sweep 18.604 seconds ahead of Musquin in second, with Osborne capping off his best ever afternoon of racing in third, MX Sports says.
Martin’s dominant 1-1 day gave him his second overall win of the season, one week after he lost the points lead with an adversity-filled outing. Osborne earned a career-best second-place finish (2-3) and put Husqvarna back on the 250 Class podium for the first time since 1976 when it was called the 125cc Class. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo earned the first overall podium finish of his career in third (5-4), MX Sports says.
“I didn’t necessarily feel dialed all day, but I got the bike better as the day went on,” said Martin, who now has seven career wins. “I knew I’d be able to do well in the motos, my fitness is better than it’s ever been. Today was an awesome day. When you train the way we do during the week you dream about getting two holeshots and leading every lap. It was a perfect day with the exception of practice, where we didn’t get the fastest lap. The track was really tough today and if you weren’t on your game the entire time it was definitely going to bite you. I’m happy we walking away with another win and the points lead.”
Martin erased a 19-point deficit to Musquin in the 250 Class standings and moved ahead by two points after Musquin’s seventh-place overall effort (14-2). Nelson, who finished fourth (3-7), moved into third, 48 points back, MX Sports says.
The 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship continues next Saturday, June 6, with the Red Bull Tennessee National from Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tenn.
2015 Thunder Valley Motocross Results, 450 Class (Moto Finish)
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-1)
- Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki (3-2)
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki (4-3)
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (5-5)
- Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (8-4)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (7-6)
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (1-33)
- Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna (11-7)
- Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (10-9)
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, KTM (9-10)
2015 Motocross 450 Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 128
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 125
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 99
- Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki, 93
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha, 87
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha, 79
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 75
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 72
- Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna, 72
- Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha, 62
2015 Thunder Valley Motocross Results, 250 Class (Moto Finish)
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (1-1)
- Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna (2-3)
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (5-4)
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM (3-7)
- Christian Craig, Plymouth, Minn., Honda (4-6)
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda (6-5)
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (14-2)
- RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (9-10)
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (13-8)
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (12-9)
2015 Motocross 250 Class Championship Standings
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 128
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 126
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 80
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 76
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Georgia, Kawasaki, 72
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 68
- Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna, 67
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 65
- Matt Bisceglia, Tualatin, Ore., Honda, 64
- Chris Alldredge, Powell Butte, Ore., Kawasaki, 62
