News 26 Aug 2013

Villopoto and Tomac cap off championships with victory at Lake Elsinore

The 2013 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship wrapped up under gruelling, hot conditions at Lake Elsinore with the previously-crowned 450 and 250 class winners, Ryan Villopoto and Eli Tomac, standing atop the respective podiums to see out successful seasons.

Ryan Villopoto capped off his 450 class title in style at Lake Elsinore. Image: Simon Cudby.

Ryan Villopoto capped off his 450 class title in style at Lake Elsinore. Image: Simon Cudby.

The 2013 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship wrapped up under gruelling, hot conditions at Lake Elsinore with the previously-crowned 450 and 250 class winners, Ryan Villopoto and Eli Tomac, standing atop the respective podiums to see out successful seasons.

The opening 450 class moto holeshot belonged to Toyota JGR Yamaha’s Josh Grant, who set the early pace and led from Team Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto for a number of laps.

Villopoto made his way forward to assume the lead on lap five, and was never headed as he rode a typical flawless race to the flag.

Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey made a solid start and was soon into third. He trailed Grant for the majority of the race before setting up the Yamaha rider for a pass to claim second place with two laps to go.

Villopoto’s strong form was mirrored in the second moto. The second Toyota JGR Yamaha of Justin Brayton this time claimed the holeshot, but Villopoto put an easy pass on for the lead.

Dungey was second early on, maintaining the place for the race duration, with Barcia moving into third. This respective order would be reflected on the 450 class podium at the conclusion of competition.

The Kawasaki pairing of Jake Weimer (8-4) and Tyla Rattray (7-6) took fourth and fifth places respectively.

Aussie Brett Metcalfe was back in action at the final round, riding a strong pair of motos for 10-8 finishes.

In the 250 class it was Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen who finally brought the eight-moto streak of Eli Tomac to an end.

GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne took the early holeshot before Roczen moved by into the lead. He would maintain his placing as the battle behind raged between Tomac and the Myplash Metal Mulisha Star Racing rookies, Cooper Webb and Jeremy Martin.

Tomac held second while Martin got up overteammate Webb, who was a solid fourth.

Osborne claimed the second moto holeshot but this time the early advantage went the way of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett.

Tomac moved into second behind Baggett but couldn’t find a way past the outgoing class champion and had to settle for second on track, The result would later be overturned, with a penalty going the way of Baggett and gifting Tomac the moto win.

Webb was in the thick of the action in the second moto, and claimed a career-best third place finish.

Roczen crashed in the second moto but recovered to third, securing the second step of the podium behind Tomac and ahead of Webb.

2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Round 12 – Lake Elsinore, CA.

450 Class overall top 10:
1. Ryan Villopoto 50
2. Ryan Dungey 44
3. Justin Barcia 36
4. Jake Weimer 31
5. Tyla Rattray 29
6. Trey Canard 29
7. Mike Alessi 25
8. Brett Metcalfe 24
9. Andrew Short 24
10. Broc Tickle 20

450 Class championship standings (after 12 of 12 rounds):
1. Ryan Villopoto 563
2. Ryan Dungey 507
3. Justin Barcia 411
4. Trey Canard 332
5. James Stewart 289
6. Jake Weimer 275
7. Andrew Short 262
8. Broc Tickle 236
9. Mike Alessi 229
10. Josh Grant 228

250 Class overall top 10:
1. Eli Tomac 47
2. Ken Roczen 39
3. Cooper Webb 38
4. Jeremy Martin 36
5. Zach Osborne 34
6. Wil Hahn 30
7. Marvin Musquin 23
8. Justin Bogle 23
9. Blake Baggett 22
10. Martin Davalos 22

250 Class championship standings (after 12 of 12 rounds):
1. Eli Tomac 552
2. Ken Roczen 493
3. Marvin Musquin 411
4. Blake Baggett 395
5. Zach Osborne 356
6. Jeremy Martin 300
7. Justin Bogle 291
8. Jason Anderson 260
9. Cooper Webb 255
10. Kyle Cunningham 228

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