E3 Spark Plugs News

E3 racing fans may see Kevin Windham back in the saddle of the #14 Honda for the rest of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro-MX racing series due to Josh Grant's knee injury at Thunder Valley MX. Photo courtesy of Honda Racing.

E3 spark plugs racing fans can be found every weekend supporting their favorite race teams, drivers, riders and events – each devoted to finding the best racing from coast to coast. So far, the super hot action at this season’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship has kept motocross fans on their feet from the drop of the starting gate until the last rider crosses the checkered flag, making 2011 a candidate for the “Best MX Racing” in series history.

This weekend was no exception as race teams set up shop at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, CO. The track that most teams love to hate is tucked into the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains about 20 minutes west of downtown Denver. At 6182-feet elevation, the thin Colorado air is a true test of endurance for both rider and machine. This year, the high-altitude stage was set for defending AMA 450cc national champion, Ryan Dungey to claim his first “overall” victory in Round 5 of the scheduled twelve-race season.

When the gate dropped for Moto 1, Lucas Oil Honda rider Christian Craig grabbed the early lead ahead of Two-Two Motorsports’ Chad Reed and the factory Kawasaki of Monster Energy’s Ryan Villopoto. A couple of laps later, Villopoto would fly past the lead duo and take a demanding lead on his way to the moto win. Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey would dispose of Reed late in the moto to claim second place followed by Reed and the “fresh-out-of-retirement” Honda of Kevin Windham.

In Moto 2, Dungey picked up where he left off but this time took an early lead and pulled away from Villopoto and Reed who were left to fight it out for second and third place, respectively. When fan-favorite Kevin Windham announced at Budds Creek last weekend that he would be spending time at the lake, no one figured the longtime Honda star meant “Lake Wood” Colorado. But, the seventeen-year veteran showed up ready to race and posted 4-4 finishes for fourth overall on the day.

Dungey’s win was his first overall victory of the season and moved the Suzuki rider to within 21 points of series leader Reed and 14 points behind Villopoto with seven races remaining in the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX championship. Riders have no time rest in what may be the best MX racing season in decades as teams head east for a “Fourth of July” weekend shootout at Red Bud, MI. If you’re looking for fireworks for your favorite ride, pick up a box of E3 spark plugs at your local parts store, or online at an authorized E3 dealer. Our motorcycle spark plugs were “Born to Burn.”

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.

Honda Racing's Josh Grant had a successful return to the AMA Pro MX Championship this weekend with a tenth overall at Budds Creek, MD. Photo courtesy of www.joshgrant.com.

E3 motorcycle spark plug fans rolled out in record numbers for Round 4 of the 2011 National Championship held this weekend at Budds Creek MX track just south of Washington D.C. in Mechanicsville, MD. It is never a surprise to see the #800 plate of Mike Alessi’s factory KTM leading the 450cc class at any Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX race. This weekend’s event was no different as Alessi led the opening laps of Moto 1 followed closely by the red Honda of series points-leader Chad Reed.

On lap three of the 30 minute-plus event, Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto would slip past both Reed and Alessi to take over the top spot. Defending national champion Ryan Dungey picked up his mid-moto pace and quickly moved past Reed into second place. Villopoto would make an uncharacteristic mistake late in the race but rebounded in time to hold off a hard-charging Dungey who led Reed, Kevin Windham and Alessi to the finish line. American Honda Racing’s Josh Grant returned from early season supercross injuries to claim to a well-deserved eighth in Moto 1.

Surprise . . . surprise! Mike Alessi grabs the holeshot in Moto 2 but this time holds off Chad Reed until lap five when the Honda ace and Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey both got by the big bore KTM. Villopoto would also pass Alessi on lap ten and held on for a 1-3 finish matching the championship points earned by overall race winner Chad Reed with his 3-1 finish. Dungey’s pair of 2-2 finishes were good enough for third overall and garnered the Suzuki rider one point less than Reed and Villopoto. Windham finished his duties as a Honda replacement rider with solid 4-4 finishes and fourth overall.

The action is certain to heat up next weekend as the Lucas Oil AMA MX teams head west to Colorado for Round 5 of 2011 outdoor championship at Thunder Valley MX in Lakewood. Reed holds a slim 15-point lead over Villopoto with Dungey just 28 points to the rears. If you’re looking to make up ground on the road or in the dirt, visit our website and watch the Dyno Tech Shootout for E3 Spark Plugs. Find out for yourself why E3 motorcycle spark plugs are “Born to Burn”.

Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett had the most dominant performance of 2011 Lucas Oil AMA 250cc National Championship at Round 3 in Mechanicsville, MD, over the weekend. Photo courtesy of Hoppenworld.

Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett finally rode like a national championship contender with dominant 1-1 finishes in round 3 of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship held at Mount Morris, PA, over the weekend. The famed High Point Raceway is well known as one of the toughest, most challenging outdoor motocross tracks that the AMA pro riders visit each year. This year, midday rain showers turned the Pennsylvania hillside into a “Slip-N-Slide” with deep off-chamber ruts.

E3 motorcycle fans lined the fence for Moto One as local favorites Darryn Durham (Honda) and Ryan Sipes (Yamaha) stretched out to an early lead over Pro Circuit’s Dean Wilson, Tyla Rattray and eventual winner Baggett. Durham’s local knowledge of the High Point track paid big dividends as the privateer rider would keep the factory riders at bay for the opening thirty minutes. With two laps to go, the Kawasaki team would freight train Durham, moving Baggett to first followed home by Scotland’s Wilson and South African rider Rattray.

Durham’s hope for his first overall podium of his career went up in smoke when his mechanic had a last minute clutch change that caused the local Honda ace to lose his gate pick for Moto Two. Baggett would blast to the lead early in the second moto before dropping his Kawasaki in the mud. Teammate Rattray slipped and slid his way into first. Wilson would have to mount a charge through the pack while Honda’s Eli Tomac worked his way to a third place finish in the second 250cc race.

Baggett’s late race charge in both motos would leave E3 Spark Plugs race fans shouting for more as the Pro Circuit rider put on the most dominant ride of the 2011 MX Lites season. Rattray’s 3-2 finish was good enough for second overall on the day. Geico Honda rider Tomac would capture the final spot on the podium ahead of Dean Wilson in fourth. Only nine championship points separate the trio of Rattray, Wilson and Baggett as the 250cc riders head East for next weekend’s round 4 at Budds Creek MX in Mechanicsville, MD.

Red Bull KTM rider Mike Alessi grabbed the 450cc holeshot at Round 3 of the Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship at High Point Raceway. Photo courtesy of www.alessiracing.com.

Over the weekend, E3 Motorcycle Spark Plug racing fans turned out in record numbers to line the Pennsylvania hillside for the first East Coast round of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship. Over the past thirty five years of outdoor motocross, High Point Raceway has become the measuring stick that determines which riders and teams are ready to make a run at the national championship title. This year, Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto would use Moto One to make a solid statement about his intentions to compete for the 450cc title.

Defending national champion Ryan Dungey grabbed an early lead but Villopoto wasted little time in passing the Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider and pulling away to a huge lead. Current points leader Chad Reed had a bad start but would quickly begin picking off riders on his way to a fifth place finish in the opening moto. After recovering from early season injuries, Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi had an impressive ride at Mount Morris with a third in Moto One but was docked one position for jumping the gate at the start. Dungey would finish in second place with Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps in third.

Steep off-chamber turns, deep ruts and mud (lots of mud) would put a damper on Villopoto’s dominant performance in the day’s first race. To no one’s surprise, Mike Alessi’s big bore KTM pulled the holeshot in Moto Two but gave up the lead to a hard-charging Chad Reed. Villopoto and Dungey started working their way through the pack to a second and third place finish. Alessi would hold on for 4-4 finishes and fourth overall for the day. Dungey and Reed would round out the National podium with Villopoto claiming his first overall win of the season.

There is no rest for the weary as the Lucas Oil Pro MX Championship continues next weekend with Round 4 in Mechanicsville, MD, at the famed Budds Creek MX Park. With less than 35 points separating the top four riders in the 450cc class, E3 Spark Plug motorcycle race fans are expected to line the fences once again. If you’re looking for a spark plug that was “Born to Burn”, pick up an E3 replacement plug for your motorcycle at an authorized online dealer, or your favorite auto parts or discount store.

Shift Racing's Chad Reed captured his second win in as many races for Two-Two Motorsports at the Freestone MX AMA National over the Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Shift Racing.

The only thing hotter than the air in Texas this Memorial Day weekend was the on-track action at the Freestone MX track outside Wortham, TX. Last week’s 450 cc class winner at Hangtown, Chad Reed, wasted little time claiming the win in Moto 1 after passing the Lucas Oil TLD Honda of Christian Craig on lap eight. Reed’s main rival, Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, chased the Two-Two Motorsport’s rider to the line for second place followed by Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto in third for yet another “red-yellow-green” finish.

In Moto 2, Dungey charged to an early lead followed by Reed and last year’s runner-up in the Lucas Oil AMA MX Championship, Brett Metcalfe. Villopoto and the Joe Gibbs Yamaha of Davi Millsaps were working their way through the pack when a mistake cost Villopoto his chance for a win. Off-road motorcycle ace, Ricky Dietrich, showed the loyal Texas crowd why he’s racing motocross this season and held on to a fourth place overall finish in the second heat. Disaster struck late in the race when the motor on the leader’s power plant failed. With Dungey sitting dead in the water, Reed grabbed the top spot on the podium followed by Millsaps and Metcalfe.

Dungey’s misfortune dropped the defending 450 cc National Champion to eighth overall for the day and fourth in the 2011 points race. Davi Millsaps’s new training regimen paid big dividends this weekend with a second overall at Freestone MX which vaulted the hard charging Georgia rider to third place in championship standings. Villopoto’s 3-5 finishes on the day was good enough for the final step on the podium and moved the Monster Energy rider to second in points. Reed’s gifted win in the second Moto gave the determined Aussie a twenty-one point lead going into Round 3 of the AMA outdoor national championship at the famed High Point MX track in two weeks’ time.

If you’re looking for the winning edge, E3 motorcycle spark plugs were “Born to Burn”. Get the most out of your favorite ride on the street, in the dirt or on the snow. Stop by your local auto parts or hardware store today; or use an online authorized E3 dealer to have E3 spark plugs delivered directly to your door.

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”.

Ryan Dungey picked up right where he left off at the E3 Spark Plugs co-sponsored Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship series opener, the Rockstar Energy Hangtown National. Dungey won the Moto 1 450 Class event. Press photo by Simon Cudby.

Motocross fans celebrated the start of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship series co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs this past Saturday, May 21 at the Rockstar Energy Hangtown National in Sacramento, CA. And wouldn’t you know – Ryan Dungey started things off in typical style, nabbing the first win of the season in the Moto 1 450 Class. After dominating the field throughout the 2010 season, he picked up right where he left off, quickly working his way to the front and leaving the rest of the field further and further behind before crossing the finish line. Chad Reed and 2011 Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto took second and third place.

In the Moto 1 250 Class, Eli Tomac led the field for a full third of the race before Dean Wilson and Blake Baggett charged past for first and second places. Frenchman Marvin Musquin, a two-time MX2 world champion, made an impressive American debut, landing fourth place in front of Tyla Rattray.

The Moto 2 450 Class offered up arguably the biggest fireworks of the day with championship riders Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey battling it out for the majority of the race. When the dust settled, it was Reed in the victor’s spot with Dungey and Ryan Villopoto close behind in second and third place. Villopoto fans aren’t at all worried about his chances for taking the championship title. His 2010 season proved impressive even after a 2009 knee injury and was on track to claim his fifth season title when a crash at the St. Louis Supercross event broke his leg and sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Blake Baggett, a relative unknown quickly making a name for himself this season (his second year in the pro ranks), won Moto 2 in the 250 Class in a startling come-from-behind victory. He beat Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson to the finish line.

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates all of the weekend’s winners at Hangtown, and we congratulate the Motocross on 40 years of competition. Click here for complete results and highlights of the Hangtown event – the first of the 12 round series. And be sure to outfit you bike with E3 motorcycle spark plugs for a stronger, leaner and more efficient burn.

After only nine and a half rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX National Championship, Rockstar Energy/Makita Suzuki rookie rider Ryan Dungey clinched the 2010 crown. The 20-year old Minnesota native won the opening moto to claim his first 450cc championship at the Moto-X 338 track outside Southwick, Massachusetts, over the weekend. Dungey became the only motocross racer in history to win both the AMA Supercross title and the AMA outdoor national championship during his inaugural season. E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs salutes Ryan Dungey for his stellar performance throughout the Lucas Oil championship.

Rockstar/Makita Factory Suzuki team manager Roger DeCoster was very fast in the sand, so is his protégé the newly crowned 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro National Champion Ryan Dungey. (photo courtesy of Photobucket)

Geico Powersports Honda rider Brett Metcalfe took the lead in Moto One with fellow Aussie Ben Townley in second aboard his Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda. Both riders adapted well to the sandy hills of Southwick and showed they had the speed to win at Moto-X 338. But, a couple of laps into the first moto, Townley would clip the rear wheel of Metcalfe and go down. Townley recovered and was racing with Red Bull’s Andrew Short when the two Honda riders hooked handlebars sending both racers over the berm. Metcalfe was out front with a hard charging Dungey in second place.

As most E3 Spark Plugs Racing fans know, there are two things that are for certain when you race a track like Southwick Moto-X 338. First, it is going to get rough, very rough. Secondly, it is going to take more fuel to race 30 minutes on a hilly, sandy racetrack. Unfortunately, for Metcalfe, the pit crew for his Geico Powersports Honda did not remember part two. With less than a lap to go, Metcalfe’s Honda was out of gas and coasted to a stop. The Australian’s misfortune handed the lead and the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX 450cc National Championship to Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey.

In Moto Two, the loyal Southwick crowd lined the fences as Townley grabbed an early lead ahead of newly crowned class champion Dungey in second followed by Red Bull Honda veteran Kevin Windham, Jagermeister KTM rider Mike Alessi and 2009 Southwick winner Matt Goerke. With twenty minutes to go, Dungey began to stalk Townley watching for the New Zealand rider to make a mistake. Once Townley did, Dungey railed an outside sand berm and took the lead for good. Goerke would pass Alessi and Windham to take over the third spot with a couple of laps to go. Alessi’s 3-4 finishes would give the KTM ace second overall for the day ahead of Goerke, Kyle Chisholm and Kevin Windham.

The AMA 450cc Pro MX teams head to Steel City Raceway, located just outside of Pittsburgh in Delmont, Pennsylvania, for the penultimate round of the 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship on Labor Day Weekend. After announcing his retirement from motocross earlier this summer, former factory Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha rider Tim Ferry has been asked to serve as the honorary Grand Marshall for the FMF Steel City National on September 4th. If you are looking for championship performance from your street or dirt bike, insist upon E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs for your motorcycle. Our patented DiamondFire Technology will deliver the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology that you need.

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The AMA Lucas Oil Pro MX Championship traveled to the leatherneck country of central New York State over the weekend for the 450cc MX pro national championship. Perfect weather. . HOT and perfect track conditions . . ROUGH awaited a world-class field of challengers for Round 9 of the 2010 season at the famed Unadilla motocross track. For the last 40 years, the same classic layout, has played host to the greatest outdoor motocross racers to ever race a dirt bike. This weekend was no exception and many had predicted this would be the best outdoor motocross race of the series.

Belgian Clement Desalle (riding for Rockstar Teka Suzuki) finished 2-2 for second overall at Unadilla in his only appearance at the Lucas Oil AMA MX Pro series. Desalle is currently second in points for the World Championship chase. (Photo Courtesy of Suzuki Racing.)

E3 Car Spark Plugs racing fans know that a rookie 450cc motocross racer is never supposed to win both the AMA MX Pro Championship and the AMA Supercross Championship in their maiden season. In fact, it has never happened in the history of professional motocross. Plus, the decked was stacked against Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey. After all, San Manuel Yamaha rider James “Bubba” Stewart was making his return to outdoor motocross after a two-year hiatus. Plus, Belgium’s Clement Desalle, currently second in the World Grand Prix MX Championship, was scheduled to race in his only 450cc AMA motocross event of the season.

In Friday’s practice, Stewart let everyone know that he hasn’t lost any of his speed by clocking the fastest lap times of the day. But, in Saturday’s opening moto, Bubba’s timing was a tick off. After working his way around Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short for second place, Stewart went down and had to work his way back through a talented field of the world’s best riders. Desalle had a solid ride and would finish in second. Late in the race, Stewart had passed the Belgian but crashed a second time and had to settle for third. Once again, somebody forgot to tell Ryan Dungey he was not supposed to win. So, he did.

The stage was set for Moto Two and neither Desalle nor Dungey would disappoint the Unadilla fans. At the start, It was yellow bikes out front and Stewart’s Yamaha was buried somewhere in the middle of the 40-rider field. A few laps later, Bubba would pull off the track and call it a day. Meanwhile, Desalle and Dungey put on a show. Desalle was in the lead and had been running the fastest lap times of the day, when Dungey picked up the pace and passed his Suzuki teammate. At the checkered flag, it would be Dungey’s win with Desalle in second. Geico Powersports’s Brett Metcalfe and Red Bull’s Kevin Windham would work past Andrew Short for third and fourth place finishes. Short would cross the line in fifth.

The win was Dungey’s eighth in a row and allowed “the rookie” to extend his point’s lead in the Lucas Oil AMA 450cc MX national championship series to triple digits. The teams will have two weeks off and a little time to regroup before heading to Massachusetts for Round 10 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship at the famed Southwick Moto-X 338 track. Don’t forget to follow your favorite rider on the E3 Spark Plugs Racing blog and, for peak performance from your bike, always ask for E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs. Our patented DiamondFire technology is designed to deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology for all of your engines.
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