Chasing the Red Plate: Point Scenarios in the WMX Class

While a lot of focus has been placed on the exciting conclusion of the 250 Class, the WMX series also has a heck of a battle going on, with three girls separated by just 10 points.

Jessica Patterson is looking to take the #1 plate back from Ashley Fiolek, and while she's in the driver's seat to do it, her margin of error is incredibly small. She can really only guarantee herself the championship with 1-2 finishes or a sweep of both motos.

Jessica Patterson

Patterson built up a strong lead after the first few rounds, but a broken wrist earlier this summer hampered her performance thereafter. In an extremely gutsy display, JP$ rode through the injury in an effort to collect points. Although the injury allowed her competitors to close the gap, those points earned by Patterson are looming large now.

Fiolek has dealt with injury problems of her own, missing an entire round due to a concussion. Since returning though, she has been on an absolute tear and has put herself in a great situation heading into the final race. She's swept the last three races, and doing so again at Lake Elsinore would give her another championship. But with Patterson healthier than she was at the start of that streak, another 1-1 result likely won't come as easily this time.

Ashley Fiolek

Fiolek and Patterson are in a class of their own on many weeks, but you can't rule out Tarah Gieger in this battle either. Thanks to consistent finishes and good health, Gieger has kept things close and enters the weekend 10 points back. Although she has yet to win a race this year, if Gieger were able to go 1-1 this weekend, she would finish no worse than 2nd in the points and could take the championship with a 2-5 or 3-4 result from Patterson.

Tarah Gieger

The first WMX moto from Lake Elsinore will be streamed live here Saturday at 6pm ET, following the conclusion of the first motos in the 450 and 250 Classes.