The 2010 AMA Lucas Oil MX Pro Championship had perfect weather for Round Six as the 450cc class traveled north to Buchanan, Michigan, for the popular Red Bud National. E3 Car Spark Plugs MX fans know that rookies aren’t supposed to win in the big bike class. But, somebody forgot to tell Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey. Already this season, Dungey has won in the heat at Firestone MX in Texas, in the mud at High Point MX in Pennsylvania, in the sand at Budds Creek MX in Maryland, and in the mile-high altitude at Lakewood MX in Colorado. The rookie’s consistency on the track and focus off the track allows him to improve on lap times from when unloads until the checkered flag flies for the final moto.
The 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship brings the world's best motocross riders and teams together to compete on the nation's toughest tracks like Red Bud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. Visit the AMA MX series sponsor at www.lucasoil.com.
The Red Bud track is most famous for a 130-foot step-up jump known as LaRocco’s Leap. The very long, fast, uphill jump requires riders to jump over the equivalent of a 5-story building. In Moto One, Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short pulled his fifth holeshot of the season but gave way to a hard-charging Ben Townley. The Troy Lee/Lucas Oil rider Townley had missed the 2008 and 2009 AMA outdoor motocross seasons due to a nagging shoulder injury but has shown a lot of speed in 2010. With a few laps to go in the opening moto, Townley dropped his Lucas Oil Honda in a sandy rut letting Dungey, Chad Reed and Short slip by to claim the respective podium positions. Fellow Aussie Brett Metcalfe followed Townley home with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant in sixth place.
Déjà vu in moto two as Red Bull’s Short took an early lead followed by Dungey, Townley and Reed. After following Short for a couple of laps, Dungey went underneath the Honda rider and took command of the race. Townley was next to get around Short followed closely by Reed. In his best performance of the 2010 AMA Lucas Oil Pro MX season, Reed made a late race charge to second. Townley would settle for third giving the Kiwi third overall for the day. Short would relinquish fourth in Moto Two to the Geico Powersports Honda of Brett Metcalfe. Yamaha’s Josh Grant went (6-6) for sixth overall, followed by Honda’s Kyle Regal (7-7) in seventh overall and Yamaha rider Ryan Sipes (8-8) for eighth overall.
The AMA Pro MX teams have next weekend off before traveling to Millville, MN, for the Lucas Oil outdoor national motocross championship. Check back on 7/19 for E3 Spark Plugs Blog coverage of Round 7 from Spring Creek MX. Until then, if you want high performance from your truck spark plugs, install a set of E3 spark plugs with our patented DiamondFire technology. We deliver Energy, Efficiency and Ecology from your car, truck or motorcycle engine.
2010 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Pro Championship
AMA 450cc MX – Red Bud MX National (Round 6)
1) Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN, Suzuki (1-1)
2) Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (2-2)
3) Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (4-3)
4) Andrew Short, Smithville, TX, Honda (3-5)
5) Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (5-4)
6) Josh Grant, Riverside, CA Yamaha (6-6)
7) Kyle Regal, Kemp, TX, Honda (7-7)
8) Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, KY, Yamaha (8-8
9) Mike Alessi, Victorville, CA, KTM (10-9)
10) Nic Wey, Dewitt, MI, Kawasaki (9-12)
AMA 450CC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1) Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN, Suzuki 268
2) Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki -64
3) Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda -67
4) Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda -79
5) Andrew Short, Smithville, TX, Honda -79
6) Josh Grant, Riverside, CA, Yamaha -86
7) Mike Alessi, Victorville, CA, KTM -91
8) Kyle Regal, Kemp, TX, Honda -146
9) Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, KY, Yamaha -154
10) Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, FL, Yamaha -160
