2016 Washougal Motocross Results
Monster Energy Kawaski’s Eli Tomac and Star Racing Rockstar Yamaha’s Alex Martin topped the field at Washougal MX Park in an action packed weekend of racing in the beautiful city of Washougal, Wash.
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When the gate dropped for the opening 450 moto it was Phil Nicoletti aboard the Toyota Autotrader Weinerschnitzel NFab JGRMX Yamaha YZ450F who pulled the hole shot and led the pack around the first turn. Nicoletti’s time upfront was short lived; Ken Roczen made a mad dash for the lead on his Soaring Eagle Jimmy John’s RCH Suzuki RMZ450. Roczen made the pass before the first lap was even finished, relying on his tried and true game plan of getting out of the gate well, and sprinting away.
As Roczen broke away from the racing battles began to form behind him. Not long after being passed by Roczen, Nicoletti and Christophe Pourcel aboard his Rockstar Racing Husqvarna began to go at it, not far behind them was Eli Tomac. Tomac and his Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450f were hell bent on moving to the front. Tomac and Pourcel both had their sights set on getting passed Nicoletti, in hopes of catching the German out front. When they got around Nicoletti, Roczen’s lead was already five seconds.
Halfway through the race, Pourcel was still weathering Tomac’s charge. Red Bull KTM SX-F 450 pilot Marvin Musquin o was also making a push to the front, but he tipped over. He quickly remounted and started charging to catch back up to Tomac and Pourcel.
Late in the race, Tomac finally was able to get around Pourcel for second place. Pourcel suffered a big crash right after, it would cause him to DNF the Moto.
After losing a few spots early in the race, Nicoletti put together one of his best rides of the year. He, Andrew Short, and Benny Bloss battled late all the way down to the 30-minute mark, when Nicoletti and Bloss passed the veteran for fourth and fifth.
When the Moto concluded Roczen came away with another moto win, followed by Tomac, Musquin, Nicoletti, Bloss.
When Moto two began, Marvin Musquin led a Red Bull KTM charge to the front with his teammate Dean Wilson in tow. Not far behind them was the Moto one winner, the German Roczen.
Roczen again wasted no time securing the lead from Musquin. The only difference this time was that Tomac got a good start, and maneuvered himself into third early on in the race. Tomac immediately began to chase down Musquin and pass him for second. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider then set his sights on Roczen.
Tomac caught Roczen six minutes into the Moto, and blew by him like he was standing still. Roczen tried to regroup quickly, and pick up on Tomac’s lines, but Tomac had already begun building a small gap.
Just like in the first Moto, the real battles were going on behind the leaders. Red Bull KTM’s Dean Wilson and Justin Barcia of the Toyota Autotrader Weinerschnitzel NFab JGRMX Yamaha team were playing a game of cat and mouse for fourth and fifth. As they neared the halfway mark, Barcia was finally able to make the pass and secure fourth position.
Barcia’s time in the fourth position wasn’t too long; his teammate Weston Peick got around him. The JGRMX teammate battle between Peick and Barcia came all the way down to wire, when Barcia managed to get back around on the last lap.
Tomac put together a dominant performance in the second Moto, passing Roczen and leaving him behind. The second Moto results were: Tomac, Roczen, Musquin, Barcia, and Peick. Overall scores for the day: Tomac (2-1), Roczen (1-2), Musquin (3-3), Peick (7-5), and Barcia (10-4). This allowed Tomac to earn his second win in three rounds, and now has 379 points – 55 behind points leader Roczen with three rounds remaining.
Washougal 250MX Recap
The first 250 Moto of the day began with Alex Martin aboard his Star Racing Rockstar Yamaha ripping the hole shot and leading the pack around the first turn. Behind the elder Martin brother were Joey Savatgy, Mitchell Harrison, Jeremy Martin and Zach Osborne.
Savatgy, aboard his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, dropped the hammer early in the Moto in hopes of catching and passing Alex Martin. While Alex was getting ready to defend his lead, his brother was busy making the move to pass his Star Racing Rockstar Yamaha teammate Mitchell Harrison for third.
While there were several battles ensuing at the front halfway through the Moto, Cooper Webb sneaking his way back into the top five after a poor start. Webb made quick work of Osborne and set his sight on his teammate and reigning national champion Jeremy Martin.
The action really heated up past the half way mark. Alex Martin and Joey Savatgy were dicing back and forth for the lead at the same time Cooper Webb finally made a pass stick on Jeremy Martin for third.
The battle between Alex Martin and Joey Savatgy went almost all the way down to the wire, and Alex Martin was able to secure his first Moto win of the year. Behind him, it was Savatgy, Webb, Jeremy Martin, and Osborne.
Another Martin brother led 250 Moto two out of the gate, this time it was Jeremy though. Joey Savatgy quickly stole the lead away, but his time at the front was short lived too. Cooper Webb ran into Savatgy while leading, causing a huge pile up. The rookie sensation for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Austin Forkner became the benefactor of all the early chaos, as he took the lead.
Halfway into the Moto, Austin Forkner held off several charges from Martin Davalos, and finally began to settle into a good pace and build a gap between them. Behind the Forkner and Davalos, was GoPro Red Bull Troy Lee Designs rider Jesse Nelson, Alex Martin, and Zach Osborne. Unfortunately for Joey Savatgy, his day only got worse as he washed out the front end near the half way mark.
As the Moto began to wind down, Zach Osborne and Martin Davalos both were plagued by what appeared to be technical difficulties aboard their Rockstar Racing Husqvarna’s. This created room for a late Moto battle between Jesse Nelson and Alex Martin for the second and third position. When the checkers flew it was Austin Forkner, Alex Martin, Jesse Nelson, Justin Hill, and Aaron Plessinger. The overall scores for the day were: Alex Martin (1-2), Austin Forkner (10-1), Cooper Webb (3-6), Joey Savatgy (2-11), Justin Hill (8-4).
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will observe its final break of the 2016 before closing out the season with three consecutive rounds. The Unadilla National will commence on Saturday, August 13, for the 10th round of the championship in New Berlin, N.Y.
2016 Washougal Motocross 450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish):
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (2-1)
- Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki (1-2)
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (3-3)
- Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (7-5)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (10-4)
- Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (6-7)
- Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM (5-9)
- Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha (4-11)
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, KTM (8-10)
- Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda (15-8)
2016 Motocross 450 Class Championship Standings:
- Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki – 434
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 379
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM – 283
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha – 244
- Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna – 217
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki – 171
- Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 155
- Justin Brayton Fort Dodge, Iowa, KTM – 152
- Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 151
- Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM – 151
2016 Washougal Motocross 250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish):
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (2-1)
- Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (10-1)
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (3-6)
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (2-11)
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (8-4)
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (6-7)
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (9-5)
- Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, Kawasaki (7-8)
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM (16-3)
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM (11-9)
250 Class Championship Standings:
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 372
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 321
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 319
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 317
- Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 257
- Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna – 253
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 245
- Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, Kawasaki – 190
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki – 179
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 169