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DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha rider Kyle Cunningham has finished fourth overall in last three Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX 250cc championship races behind Pro Circuit's dynamic trio. Photo courtesy of www.yamaha-motor.com.

The Monster Energy 250cc Kawasaki team dominated the podium once again at Round 8 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship last weekend in Washougal, WA. Geico Honda’s Justin Barcia led the Lites class through turn one of the first moto ahead of Pro Circuit’s Blake Baggett and DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes. El Chupacabra wasted little time and quickly passed Barcia for the lead but Sipes, who was fastest of day in qualifying, would take the lead away before the close of lap one. Series points leader, Dean Wilson, had a bad start, clipped the fence and was struggling to work his way forward.

Although Sipes has shown the speed to unseat the Pro Circuit trio of Baggett, Wilson and Rattray, the Yamaha rider has lacked consistency. After Baggett re-passed the Star Racing Yamaha, Sipes would make several mistakes dropping him to an eventual 15th place finish. In the mean time, his Yamaha teammate, Kyle Cunningham and the green bike of Tyla Rattray were working their way by Barcia. Rattray would try to close the gap on Baggett but finished 11 seconds to the rears. Cunningham held on for third place with Barcia in fourth followed by a hard-charging Dean Wilson in fifth. Local favorite Tommy Weeck finished sixth on his Motosport Hillsboro Honda.

Wilson’s hard charge continued in Moto 2 as the Scotsman rounded the first turn of the difficult Washougal track in the lead. Barcia, Baggett and Cunningham were stuck in the pack and working hard to get by slower riders. Mr. Consistency, Tyla Rattray, had put his Pro Circuit Kawasaki in second and would challenge Wilson late in the Moto 2. But, Wilson would hold on to a slim half-second lead at the finish line over Rattray followed by El Chupacabra in third giving the Monster Energy Kawasaki team its fifth sweep of the overall podium in just eight races. The DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha of Gareth Swanepoel crossed the line in fourth giving the South African a fifth place overall for the event.

Wilson retains the series points lead but once again failed to win an overall. Baggett’s 1-3 finishes gave the Kawasaki ace his fifth overall win for the season. Rattray, who is the only other Lites rider to win in 2011, finished second overall with Wilson in third. Cunningham’s 3-7 finishes added to the Yamaha rider’s streak of fourth-place overalls. Teams, riders and E3 spark plugs racing fans have the next two weekends off as everyone looks forward to Round 9 of the championship at the famed Unadilla MX track in New Berlin, NY. If you’re looking for a high performance car, truck, motorcycle or snowmobile spark plugs, stop by your favorite discount or auto parts store and pick up a box of E3 replacement plugs for your ride.

Blake Baggett's nickname, "El Chupacabra", comes from the cryptid creature that looms in the shadows of South, Central and North America before unmercifully pouncing on its prey - similar to Baggett's late moto charge.

Over the July 4th weekend, Blake “El Chupacabra” Baggett piloted his Pro Circuit Kawasaki to a first moto win at the Red Bud MX track for Round 6 of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship. Geico Honda rider Justin Barcia grabbed the holeshot in Moto 1 and had pulled away from the pack before an endo in the deep Michigan sand handed the lead to Ryan Sipes on the DNA Shred Stix/Star racing Yamaha. E3 motorcycle spark plugs racing fans lined the fence to cheer as El Chupacabra and teammate Dean Wilson moved into 2nd and 3rd respectively in hot pursuit of Sipes.

By mid-moto, Baggett was closing on the lead, but Sipes would prove to be a worthy opponent. In a classic battle up the hills, down the hills and through the corners, Sipes and Baggett hit their marks lap after lap. Finally, the green machine of Baggett would slip by Sipes exiting a deep-rutted sandy corner. Current 250cc series points-leader, Wilson was in steady pursuit and passed the Yamaha of Sipes on his way to a second place in Moto 1. Fourth overall would go to Sipes’ teammate, Kyle Cunningham, followed by the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki of Tyla Rattray.

After his first moto crash, Justin Barcia was a no-show for the start of Moto 2. El Chupacabra got a great start and led Wilson, Tommy Hahn and Lance Vincent through turn one. The 100-degree temperature and deep Michigan sand would take its toll as several bikes sputtered to a stop in the mechanic’s area during the race. Unchallenged for most of Moto 2, Baggett would cruise to his fourth overall win of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship series. Wilson and Rattray would finish second and third respectively to claim the last spots on the overall podium.

The Fourth of July win moves Baggett to within 14 points of the Championship Series lead behind teammate Dean Wilson as El Chupacabra has shown little mercy since his early season glitches. Rattray fell to third just four points behind Baggett but maintains a 66-point lead over Geico Honda rider Eli Tomac. Tomac had burned the field in early-round practice for Red Bud but crashed hard in the second round and was unable to start the national event. 250cc riders and teams have a week off before heading next door to the Spring Creek National on July 16th at Millville, MN.

South African motocross rider Gareth Swanepoel was top Yamaha in the AMA Pro MX Championship with a sixth overall in Round 4 at Budds Creek, MD. Photo courtesy of Yamaha Star Racing.

Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson claimed the holeshot in Moto 1 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX National Championship at Budds Creek MX over the weekend. Always close to the action E3 motorcycle racing fans lined the hilly Maryland track as Wilson’s teammates Tyla Rattray and Broc Tickle settled into second and third, respectively. At the halfway mark, Darryn Durham moved his privateer Honda into fourth ahead of Star Yamaha’s Kyle Cunningham. Wilson would lead from start to finish with the top three positions going to the “Green Team”.

The 2008 MX2 World Motocross Champion, Tyla Rattray, pulled the holeshot in the second Moto but his Kawasaki teammates were running outside the top five. Since GEICO Honda Lites rider Justin Barcia had just been diagnosed with mononucleosis last week, many race fans had doubts that this year’s supercross champion would even race the demanding Budds Creek track. But, the youngster surprised everyone with a second place start and finish in Moto 2. Wilson would eventually work his way into third for a second place overall on the day. Star Yamaha’s Gareth Swanepoel would finish a season-high fourth in the second race ahead of Barcia’s teammate Eli Tomac.

Once the dust settled, Rattray had claimed his second win of the season to take a four-point lead in the 250cc class over teammate Dean Wilson. Pro Circuit’s Blake Baggett, the only other double race winner this season, had a disappointing day finishing seventh at Budds Creek and dropped to third in the standings 30 points behind Rattray. The GEICO Honda tandem of Tomac and Barcia moved to fourth and fifth in the chase. The AMA Lites riders have zero time off as teams immediately head west to Thunder Valley MX in Lakewood, CO, for Round 5 of the 2011 Championship next weekend.

South African Tyla Rattray finished 2-1 in Texas to claim the overall win at Freestone MX National for Round 2 of the Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship. Photo courtesy of Pro Circuit Racing.

It was “Africa Hot” in Texas according to Tyla Rattray the 250 cc overall winner of the Lucas Oil AMA MX National at the Freestone MX track. And hot it was. In the opening Moto, Rattray’s teammate Dean Wilson quickly proved to the Texas crowd that last year’s performance was no fluke. Wilson inherited the lead after Justin Barcia’s Honda flipped directly into the path of Red Bull KTM rider Marvin Musquin. The Frenchman staggered off the track after being struck in the head by Barcia’s rear wheel. The incident not only ended Musquin’s day but a badly broken thumb put an end to the rising star’s outdoor motocross season.

For the rest of the first heat, Wilson showed the same blazing speed that had almost landed the young Scottish motocrosser the overall victory at last season’s Freestone National. South Africa’s Rattray continued his hard charge to the checkers but would have to settle for a runner-up finish. Local favorite, Kyle Cunningham, managed the deep Texas sand and the rising temperature to claim the third spot on the podium for Yamaha’s DNA Shred Stix Star Racing team. Last week’s winner at the Hangtown MX Classic, Blake Baggett, finished seventh after crashing and giving up the early lead to Wilson.

Justin Barcia would again pull the holeshot in Moto Two followed closely by the Kawasaki of Dean Wilson. During their brief career in the Lites class, Barcia and Wilson have already had numerous on-track battles and today’s race just set the stage for a classic duel to the finish line. However, the Pro Circuit rider lost control of his Green Machine when he tried to make an aggressive pass on Barcia entering a tight right hander. Rattray began his charge to the front of the field passing Texan Kyle Cunningham for second and setting his sights on the leader. Wilson had recovered from his crash and was running in fourth.

As the track conditions continued to deteriorate, Rattray began to reel in the GEICO Honda of Barcia and would pass the Georgia rider late in the moto to take the win. Wilson would catch and pass Cunningham for third in the heat race but had to settle for a second place in Moto Two behind teammate Rattray who claimed his third overall class win. The riders and teams have a week off to regroup before traveling east to the famed High Point MX National just south of Pittsburg, PA. Join E3 motocross fans for the third round of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship and feel the heat. E3 motorcycle spark plugs are “Born to Burn”.

Monster Energy racer Chad Reed has retired the Number One plate for the remainder of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Championship. The defending outdoor national champion returned home to recover from the Epstein-Barr virus. Photo courtesy of www.chadreedracing.com.

Big news came this week from the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship series as the defending outdoor national champion Chad Reed dropped out of the chase for the 2010 title.  After being diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Reed has decided to recover at home with his wife and their new son Tate. Reed had struggled throughout the season with chronic fatigue syndrome before falling out of the series’ top 5 in national 450cc points last week at the Millville MX.

Hondas grabbed an early lead in Moto One as Red Bull’s Andrew Short led the way over Kevin Windham and Ben Townley. Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey was charging from a lack luster start when Townley crashed hard in the whoops injuring his right shoulder and ending the day for the fast Kiwi. Dungey would manage his way through the field sailing past Windham for second place before tracking down Short for the lead. Windham would fade to ninth late in the race as Honda riders Short and Aussie Brett Metcalfe would claim second and third in Moto One.

Red Bull Honda rider Andrew Short would grab his second holeshot of the day and his eighth holeshot of the season in Moto Two of the Washougal MX National. Windham would position his 450cc Red Bike into second place as Dungey chased the pair of Honda riders up Horsepower Hill.  As the race approached the halfway point in Moto Two, Dungey stepped up the pace to pass Windham and Short for the lead. Rockstar Energy’s Tommy Hahn put on an impressive ride to third and Yamaha rider Justin Brayton rebounded from a disappointing first moto to finish fourth.

The victory at Washougal was Dungey’s seventh of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA season giving the factory Suzuki ace a commanding 95 point lead over Short for the championship. Townley’s misfortunes would allow Metcalfe and Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha rider Josh Grant to move past the injured Honda rider to take over third and fourth place in the points championship. Popular privateer Nicholas Wey would have his best result of the season finishing fifth overall behind a very fast Tommy Hahn. Suzuki’s Hahn turned in the fastest times of the day and seems to be recovering nicely from his own nagging injuries.

The 450cc pro riders will have two weeks off before teams head all the way across the country for Round 9 of the AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship in New Berlin, New York. Don’t forget to follow the action on the E3 Spark Plugs Racing blog from the famed Unadilla MX track as the world’s top riders battle all the way to the 2010 AMA Championship. If you want peak performance and great fuel mileage from your car, truck or SUV, ask for E3 Car Spark Plugs at your favorite auto parts store. Our patented DiamondFire technology is designed to deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology for your ride.

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