After a week’s break, the riders and mechanics of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship reassembled at Spring Creek MX in Millville, MN. What didn’t materialize, however, were the usual hot and muggy temps. Actually, we heard a radio report that the high temperatures hadn’t been so low since the 1930s. Some of the guys who came from the warmer parts of the county were shivering. Global warming…what?

This year Millville was also earlier in the schedule, and rather than being the first race following the Amatheir National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, this year’s event fell before it. No matter, we still had one rookie on hand. It was DNA Energy / BTOSport.com / BBMX’s Lucas Crespi, who went 19-18 for 19th overall. More and more often as teams add outside sponsors, we’ve seen them maintain closer to a full roster of riders. Alex Martin was the most recent addition, joining the Geico Powersports Honda squad at his home track in Millville. (Alex’s family promotes the Millville round.)

Throughout the first 450 moto, trackside observers were watching Chad Reed and wondering what was up with his Thor gear. Around his waist it appeared that there was some tape…and that’s exactly what it was. The buckle on his pants broke during the parade lap, and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Gosselaar did a repair the only way he could…with some duct tape. That gives a whole new meaning to racer tape.

Chad came back to win the second moto, and further extend his points lead, which now stands at 37 points. JGRMX Toyota/Yamaha’s Josh Grant had a hard crash during practice last week, and for a time there was some question as to whether he’d be able to race at all. But after some time and therapy, he not only made it to the gate, he ended up winning the first moto. Unfortunately, a so-so start to the second moto, combined with a crash in the first turn, made his day a lot tougher than it should have been.

Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps made his return to action after a lawn dart-style crash and resulting sore neck had sidelined him since Hangtown. He was running in third place for over half of the first moto, until his bike died, leaving him sidelined on the track. The team was typically vague after the race, but we did hear rumors of it being a fuel pump issue on his fuel-injected bike.

Michael Byrne’s 3-4 day scored him his first podium of the season. In fact, he scored the third after a crash in the first moto, and despite an errant muffler. Think the mufflers on four-strokes don’t do anything? Think again.

How about a 1-1 day for Minnesota native, Ryan Dungey? The local fans sure loved it, and the national fans should as well. The two moto wins by the Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider moved him back to within three points of series points leader Christophe Pourcel.

As for Pourcel, he never did seem that comfortable with the track. Speaking of the track, it wasn’t disced as deeply as usual, and was very fast. That, combined with some design mods and retooling, and lap times were in the low two-minute range. Seems right for Supercross, but outdoor nationals?

The best bar-to-bar battle of the weekend? That would belong to Geico Powersports Honda teammates Justin Barcia and Brett Metcalfe. They duked it out at the beginning of the first moto, had a mid-moto truce while Barcia’s arms tightened up, and after he fought through it, it resumed in earnest near the end of the moto. Just like at Red Bud a couple weeks ago, Barcia got by his teammate right at the end of the moto.

Muscle Milk MDK KTM’s Tommy Searle had probably his worst race this season with a ninth in the first moto, and then a first-turn crash that forced him to play catch-up all day long. His tenth overall for the day is nowhere near the fourth overall where he currently resides in the point standings.

Silly season is still ramping up, as teams await news about 2010 budgets. That makes for antsy teams, antsy riders, and antsy agents… and it looked like nearly every agent available was on hand in Red Bud. Standard consensus is that salaries will reset much lower this season, and that there will be some contraction on the number of rides available. As one agent told us, he wouldn’t be surprised if some guys sign for contingencies and bonuses…but that he hoped riders would be intelligent about it and require enough salary that they can afford to buy any necessary health insurance that they need. This one will play out over the next couple months, and we’ll follow along.

Next week? That’ll be in Washougal, Washington, so be sure to check back then to see what’s happening on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship scene.


Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Spring Creek Park, Millville, MN

450 Overall Results
1. Chad Reed (Suzuki) 2-1
2. Ivan Tedesco (Honda) 5-2
3. Michael Byrne (Suzuki) 3-4
4. Josh Grant (Yamaha) 1-10
5. Andrew Short (Honda) 6-5
6. Justin Brayton (KTM) 7-7
7. Tommy Hahn (Kawasaki) 4-13
8. Nick Wey (Yamaha) 8-9
9. Cody Cooper (Yamaha) 12-8
10. Davi Millsaps (Honda) 33-3
11. Ricky Dietrich (Kawasaki) 14-11
12. Jarred Browne (Suzuki) 11-14
13. Kyle Regal (Honda) 25-6
14. Tyler Bowers (Honda) 13-15
15. Matt Goerke (Suzuki) 9-32
16. Josh Hill (Yamaha) 10-34
17. Antonio Balbi (Honda) 15-17
18. Jimmy Albertson (Yamaha) 32-12
19. Gavin Gracyk (Kawasaki) 16-18
20. Weston Peick (Honda) 30-16

450 Points
1. Chad Reed 287
2. Andrew Short 250
3. Ivan Tedesco 238
4. Josh Grant 234
5. Michael Byrne 183
6. Cody Cooper 157
7. Tommy Hahn 149
8. Mike Alessi 142
9. Ricky Dietrich 136
10. Justin Brayton 127
11. Nick Wey 126
12. Jimmy Albertson 92
13. Dan Reardon 68
14. Jeff Alessi 60
15. Davi Millsaps 57
16. Ryan Villopoto 55
17. Matt Goerke 53
18. Tyler Bowers 53
19. Weston Peick 52
20. Antonio Balbi 51

250 Overall Results
1. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) 1-1
2. Christophe Pourcel (Kawasaki) 2-2
3. Justin Barcia (Honda) 3-3
4. Brett Metcalfe (Honda) 4-4
5. Broc Tickle (Yamaha) 5-6
6. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki) 6-7
7. Kyle Cunningham (Kawasaki) 7-8
8. Matt Lemoine (Yamaha) 10-9
9. Darryn Durham (Yamaha) 15-5
10. Tommy Searle (KTM) 9-11
11. Alex Martin (Honda) 8-12
12. Max Antsie (KTM) 14-10
13. Sean Borkenhagen (Honda) 13-13
14. Ben Evans (Honda) 11-15
15. Tucker Hibbert (Yamaha) 17-14
16. Michael Hall (Yamaha) 12-34
17. Steven Clarke (Suzuki) 23-16
18. Willy Browning (Honda) 20-17
19. Lucas Crespi (Honda) 19-18
20. Wil Hahn (KTM) 16-37

250 Points
1. Christophe Pourcel 299
2. Ryan Dungey 296
3. Brett Metcalfe 215
4. Tommy Searle 213
5. Justin Barcia 191
6. Jake Weimer 182
7. Tyla Rattray 175
8. Broc Tickle 172
9. Blake Wharton 158
10. Trey Canard 139
11. Matt Lemoine 122
12. Kyle Cunningham 112
13. Ben Evans 99
14. Darryn Durham 94
15. Wil Hahn 94
16. Max Antsie 83
17. Sean Borkenhagen 63
18. Steven Clarke 57
19. Alex Martin 56
20. P. J. Larsen 43