The eighth round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship welcomed a massive crowd at Washougal Motocross Park on Saturday, as Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey captured his third victory of 2011.

The opening moto of the 450 Class featured a tremendous battle between Dungey and his Monster Energy Kawasaki-mounted rival Ryan Villopoto.

Looking to grab his first ever win at his home track, Villopoto fended off the many challenges of Dungey, until the reigning champion fell while attempting to pass Villopoto for the lead.

As Villopoto rode to the win, Dungey remounted to secure second.

In Moto 2, a holeshot and early lead by Villopoto was eliminated when a red flag was thrown after just over three minutes had elapsed.

Following a restart, Dungey grabbed the lead out of the gates and never looked back. Villopoto did his best to keep up, pacing Dungey throughout the first third of the moto.

However, the deficit gradually increased, and Dungey cruised to the checkered flag. With identical moto scores, Dungey and Villopoto tied in points, but by virtue of the second-moto tiebreaker, Dungey earned the overall win; his fourth straight at Washougal.

“The first moto was good,” said Dungey. “I was slow in the first few laps, but I was able to inch up on Villopoto and find some lines. I tried to make the pass, but he pinched me off.

“I tried again, and hit something, which spun me right around. I got a good restart in Moto 2, and Villopoto was on me, but I found some good lines and started to pull away.

“To be back in position to win the title brings a sense of joy – to work so hard for something. We just have to take it one moto at a time for the rest of the year. Everyone’s speed is really good right now.”

Villopoto’s runner-up effort was his eighth podium result of the season through eight rounds, and he remains the only rider in the series with that distinction.

Additionally, he assumed the points lead after TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed, of Australia, finished fourth overall (7-4).

“Ryan was riding better than me in the second moto,” said Villopoto. “He had some better lines. But, it feels good to have the red plate.

“It’s a big step, but we still got some things to work on, and we’ll continue to try and improve. I haven’t won here at Washougal yet, but everything was going well.

“I just didn’t have it there at the end of the second moto.”

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s South Australian Brett Metcalfe rounded out the overall podium, with his best finish of the season in third (4-3).

Queenslander Michael Byrne enjoyed his best performance of the season for BTOSports/BBMX Suzuki in 10th overall with 10-12 finishes, while Tye Simmonds was 14th via 14-14 scores for JDR/J-Star/KTM.

Villopoto currently leads Dungey in the championship, holding a scant one-point advantage. Reed fell to third, nine points out of first.

In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett raced to his series-leading fifth victory of the season.

The opening moto of the 250 Class featured an impressive effort by Baggett.

After slotting himself behind DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes early, Baggett eventually moved into the lead on lap five and never looked bag, putting him in position to claim the overall.

In Moto 2, Baggett’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammates Dean Wilson, of Scotland, and Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, assumed the top spots, and quickly began a battle for the moto win that would go on all the way to the finish.

While his teammates pulled away from the field, Baggett was forced to fight from a ninth-place start.

He continued to work his way through the top 10, even overcoming a fall, and eventually moved into third on Lap 13, which solidified the overall win.

“The second moto was typical for me,” said Baggett. “I got a bad start and made my life hard. I had a crash – just a tip over – but I was forced to pass some people back.

“It turned out good, but I had no clue I won. I saw third on the pit board, but I thought I needed it to get on the podium. Hopefully I made up some points, but I’m going to just keep doing work and head to Unadilla.”

Out front, Rattray continued to look for opportunities to pass Wilson, knowing it would assure him the overall.

On the final lap, he closed to within inches of his teammate, but ultimately had to settle for second in both the moto and the overall standings (2-2).

On the heels of his moto win, Wilson secured third (5-1), maintaining his lead in the 250 Class standings.

“My finishes have been good, and really consistent,” said Wilson. “I need to put two motos together. It seems like you need to go 1-1 to win. But, consistency is what it takes to win championships, even though I would like to get some overalls.”

Currently, 13 points separate Wilson from Rattray in the championship. Baggett sits an additional four points back.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team maintains a perfect record through eight rounds this season.

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship takes a two-week break, before returning to action on 13 August at Unadilla in New York.

2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Round Eight – Washougal MX Park

450 Class Round Results
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-1)
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (4-3)
4. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (7-4)
5. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (6-5)
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (9-6)
7. Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Yamaha (8-7)
8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (5-10)
9. Jimmy Albertson, San Diego, Calif., Yamaha (11-9)
10. Michael Byrne, Rockhampton, Australia, Suzuki (10-12)

450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 341
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 340
3. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda – 332
4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki – 247
5. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda – 193
6. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM – 183
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM – 178
8. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 173
9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 159
10. Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Yamaha – 140

250 Class Round Results
1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (1-3)
2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (5-1)
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (3-7)
5. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (7-4)
6. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (4-10)
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (8-8)
8. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecudaor, Suzuki (13-5)
9. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda (11-9)
10 Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (9-16)

250 Class Championship Standings
1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki – 346
2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki – 333
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 329
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 233
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 201
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 187
7. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda – 181
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha – 177
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki – 152
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda – 144