After months of anticipation the summer is finally upon us and in a few short days [some of – SL] the world’s best riders will take to the track to kick off the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Defending 450 champion Ryan Dungey leads the field into the Rockstar Energy Hangtown National to begin a summer of celebration for 40 years of American MX.Dungey and his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team enter 2011 after the most successful rookie campaign in premier class history.
Alongside the champion, under the factory Suzuki tent, is the team’s newest addition – last year’s 450 class championship runner-up Brett Metcalfe. The Australian rider was knocking on the door for his first career win several times last season. He will look for similar success with the best opportunity of his career as a member of the team that has won the last two premier class titles.
After missing out on the title last season, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is looking to capitalise on some recent momentum. The three-time national champion secured his first career title on the big bike just a couple weeks ago with the AMA SX crown following a highly-competitive season.
After winning his first career 450 class start in 2009, Villopoto has battled injuries over the last two years and has not competed full-time in American motocross since winning his final 250 class title in 2008. Villopoto’s third start since making the transition into the premier class will signify his first full-season against [some of – SL] the fastest riders on the planet.
In addition to this trio of riders, several other challengers will line up at the starting gate this Saturday signifying one of the deepest fields of competitors ever in American motocross. Leading this charge is Red Bull KTM’s Andrew Short, who finished third in the championship last season. The perennial front-runner has long been one of the most consistent riders in motocross and he will look to give KTM its first win in the 450 class. Last season his team-mate Mike Alessi secured an impressive final moto victory at Hangtown for the Austrian brand and the combination of the two riders will give KTM the best opportunity at success in many years.
With the overall victory at Hangtown last year to his credit, TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed should also be a fixture at the front of the field on Saturday and beyond. The 2009 champion had an up and down season during his title defence but with a clean bill of health and support from Factory Honda, Reed is eager to show his younger counterparts that he’s still ready to mix it up.
Speaking of veterans, after compiling an impressive season in a substitute role last summer that included one win, Kevin Windham is back for more in 2011 – reprising his role as a stand-in at American Honda. The passion for competition and the love of the fans was too much to keep Windham away during his 18th year of professional competition. He will make a special appearance at Hangtown, substituting for injured rookie and reigning 250 class champion Trey Canard.
To challenge this exceptional field of talent, the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club will present a trademark lay-out that combines high speeds with significant technicality in addition to several elevation changes. The legendary circuit is renowned for its dynamic lay-out which allows the thousands of fans in attendance to see nearly every aspect of the track.
The rising stars of the 250 class will also be in action including GEICO Honda riders Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac, who made history at Hangtown last season by winning his first career start. They will be flanked by a four-rider line-up for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki with Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson, each of whom won in 2010, in addition to Blake Baggett and Broc Tickle. Also making his American Motocross debut will be Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, a two-time world champion. The French transplant is looking for big things on US soil and with Canard’s vacancy of the title with his move into the 450 class Musquin and his rivals are sure to provide stellar competition.
