Welcome to Allisports.com and the final round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Series. We are live here on the ground for the final round of the series, which is also serving as benefit to raise awareness of breast cancer. We are currently under a morning fog hog, as we wait for a lower level of clouds to burn off the western Pennsylvania hills. The 250 class is going down to the wire, and the main show starts at 1:00pm, EST, so make sure that you check back with us throughout the day for updates and news.

We are live here on the ground at Round 10 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Today will also be the third and final round of the Monster Triple Crown, and the schedule also holds a slot the final FMF 2 Stroke Challenge race as well. Check back this afternoon to this website for live first moto’s, and then be sure to tune into NBC for live coverage of the second 450 moto. The weather forecast is calling for 80% chance of possibly heavy Thunder showers and rain, and it is hot and humid here at the track. There were some heavy showers last night, so the track is already wet. During the riders meeting, MX Sports official and referee Jeff Canfield gave everyone an updated schedule of practice and announced that there is only one practice session per class. This was done so that the track crew could have more prep time to clear off some of the mud. One thing is certain If it becomes a mudder, the race will be blown wide open and anyone could win. Check back with us and we will keep you updated!

By: Jason Weigant It's unseasonably cold here at Millville, which is saying a lot when you're in Minnesota! Yesterday we actually hit a record low for July 17th in the area--a record low! Suddenly folks were begging, borrowing and stealing sweatshirts and hoodies to get through the day, as temps were in the 60s. Today we're supposed to break into the 70s, and it's overcast with a chance of rain. For a rider, actually, this is perfect weather, so maybe we can bust out the "I think we're in for some awesome racing today" quote.

Here's what I was thinking about when I headed for the airport at 5 am on Friday. I am really excited about going to the race this weekend because, as a fan, I just really don't know who is going to win these races! Forget doing TV, hanging with my friends, doing this for a job or anything like that--those are the reasons I now have to go to the races. But on occasions, I can actually sit back and say "I'm just glad to be heading to the races because I can't wait to find out what happens."

We're here now. Josh Grant is fighting just to get in the top five at Colorado, then goes out and blows everyone away at Red Bud? How do you predict that? Tedesco stomps them at Colorado but then comes back down to earth at Red Bud? How do you predict that? Andrew Short wanted it SO BAD at Red Bud and took the race by the throat, but still ended up coughing it up. Did that crush him mentally for good, or can he bounce back one more time? Is the healthy Chad Reed finally going to show up and prove, once and for all, that he's the best of the riders who are out there? Normally, motocross doesn't work this way, and once someone gets momentum and a confidence boost, it's over. Somehow, it's not happening this time.

And the 250 class, well, for a few weeks it had become the Dungey and Pourcel show, especially after Trey Canard, the one rider who looked to be hooking on with them, went out at High Point. But lo and behold the other riders have closed the gap, and now we're back to having seven and eight rider packs duking it out for moto wins.

This is parity and it doesn't happen often. Savor it, live it and love it, because as much as we ballyhoo about making tracks easier or harder, changing bike rules or training programs or whatever, you can't artificially create close racing in this sport. So when it happens, you just have to embrace it.

Today, the track looks awesome, and combined with the perfect racing weather, we should be in for a good one. Riders to watch? Reed and Grant looked fastest to me in the 450 class, and their times back that up--Reed was just sick fast through the whoops. Shorty did dominate here a few years ago on a 250 and obviously has a chip on his shoulder with all of these other guys winning races. But he just didn't seem as aggro as JG and CR. Josh Hill was fast in practice as he always is, but he's struggling with back problems so hanging in there for two motos may be an issue. My real 450 dark horse is Matt "Beef" Goerke, who always does well on this track and sits sixth in the second qualifying session.

On 250s, Christophe Pourcel led Ryan Dungey and the rest of the field by over a second with his fastest lap in session one, session two has not begun yet. Dungey really, really needs to get a good clean race under his belt and restablish himself as the favorite in this class. Crash at Hangtown, crash at High Point, bad starts at Colorado, crash at Red Bud....you can only spot Pourcel so many of these before it's too late.

Broc Tickle was third fastest in the first 250 session, and he's been fast like that all year. Tickle, like his teammate Matt Lemoine, is so on the verge of figuring this out, you have to think he's just going to at some point. This could be the weekend he makes the leap into that pack at the front, and starts doing it every week.

Shoutout to some fun guys from New Zealand who flew to LA last week, bought a van of Craig's List for $1700, drove it out here, and then will drive to Washougal before heading home. They're pulling for the 21 of Coops, and actually parked right next to the New Zealand privateer duo of Justin McDonald and Luke Burkhart. Very fun group of privateer racers and fans--go Kiwis.

We'll be webcasting video from the first motos, with myself, David Bailey and Erin Bates (plus, special guest Trey Canard helping in the 250 class!) starting at 1 pm Central time. We're on SPEED with 450 coverage tonight at 11:30 Eastern--it's Saturday night, don't even think of saying 11:30 is late or I'll say you're lame.

Enjoy the races. I know I will.

We are live on the ground here in Millville, Minnesota at the famous Spring Creek Motocross facility. The weather unseasonably cool and overcast today, and temperatures are not expected to get higher than the high 60’s. This race has traditionally been hot and humid, but the cool weather is a welcome relief for everyone.

Yesterdays (Friday) Press day featured local boy Ryan Dungey and Chad Reed, as well Michael Byrne and another local guy, Alex Martin. Dungey is pumped, as this is his home race, as well as one of his favorite tracks. He is expecting a win today, and could certainly use the points.

Alex Martin has a unique advantage – his parents own the track, and for this weekend he is getting a unique one off ride with Geico Powersports team. Talk about a home court advantage! The track is literally in his backyard….

In addition to the media activities yesterday, there was also a full day of amateur racing, which featured close to 1000 riders, as well as the Monster Energy Fan Fest and the Friday night pit bike races. There were no Jlaw sightings, but he is rumored to be on the property!

Today’s racing kicks off at 1pm, so check back for regular updates, and don’t forget to tune into allisports.com for the live feed at 1pm.

Tags:  Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship  RedBud  Motocross  

The 2 stroke race took off during the intermission and featured Jeff Stanton, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Emig, Todd Dehoop and few other riders from the Midwest. During this mornings 2 stroke practice, Carmichael blew out a rear wheel on LaRocco's leap when he over jumped it and Emig broke the clutch in his borrowed KX250. Carmichael got his wheel fixed, but Emig wasn't able to get back his bike sorted in time for the main and scratched his starting position. Instead, Emig joined event MC Tim Cotter in calling the race from the tower. Carmichael got the holeshot and never looked back.

In case anyone was wondering, he still has speed and won the three lap race by a huge margin, followed by Josh Lichtle in second and Todd Dehoop in third. Jeff Stanton finished fourth.

By the way, Emig (Kawasaki), Carmichael (Suzuki) and Stanton (Honda) were all based on out their respective factory team trucks.

Well, we are live here on the ground at REEEEDDDBUDDDDDDD! Happy July 4th Motocross fans, and welcome to one darn cool weekend of Motocross racing. RedBud is a special place, and this weekend promises to be full of some action, as this event is round 6 of the series, and the second phase of the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross! The racing is live this afternoon on NBC, starting at 3.30 EST. The 450 class is wide open – last weekends favorite rider, Chad Reed, suffered through a terrible weekend, with results that surprised everyone, especially after a dominating the weekend before. The big question is, was it a one week slump or the start of something bigger? Regardless, we will find out today. Tedesco is hungry to repeat his 1-1 sweep, and Andrew Short is chomping at the bit as well…Jlaw is on the grounds as well and is rumored to be riding his “dirt bike”… In the lights class, we saw some of the best action of the year at Thunder Valley last week. A freight train of nearly 8 riders battled it out for almost the entire moto, with seemingly no one rider having a distinct advantage. Also on track this weekend is the FMF 2 Stroke race – which will see none other than Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Stanton, Jeff Emig, Mike LaRocco and a host of other legends take to the track. This is an exhibition race you won’t want to miss! Both NBC and the Racer X Motocross show will be covering this event, so expect to see some solid coverage of this unique event.

10 Things to Watch for at Red Bud This afternoon is a big one for America, as well as American motocross. The Fourth of July is our nation’s Independence Day, and this time, it’s also the day for Reeeeeed Buuuud! The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships visit Red Bud in Buchanan, Michigan. The centerpiece of the series, as well as the second round of the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross, Red Bud race is an American motocross classic. It will also air live this afternoon on NBC, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Here are 10 things to watch for. 1.) Chad Reed needs to find his speed The series points leader in the 450 class, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed struggled at the last round in Colorado with health issues—he’s been feeling rotten lately. The sizeable points lead he inherited when his teammate Mike Alessi went down before High Point is quickly being swallowed up by his competition. The Australian needs to get back on the gas, and what better place to do it than Red Bud? 2.) Ricky Carmichael versus Jeff Emig versus Jeff Stanton… As part of the Red Bud Weekend, a two-stroke exhibition race will take place before the opening moto with 25 major titles being represented on the starting gate—and that’s only adding up three guys! Ricky Carmichael (15 titles), Jeff Stanton (6) and Jeff Emig (4) will match up with some other Red Bud legends in this one-off race. How serious are they? All three have their bikes under their old factory tents: Ricky at Suzuki, Stanton at Honda, and Emig at Kawasaki! 3.) Pourcel is prepared Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel is out front in the 250 class and seemingly growing more comfortable with every race. The Frenchman is seeing most of the tracks on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross tour for the first time, yet he rides with the comfort of someone who grew up on these tracks. Now he’s trying to become the first Frenchman since the great Jean-Michel Bayle in 1991 to win an AMA Motocross title. A Red Bud win would go a long ways to getting him closer to that goal. 4.) LaRocco’s Leap The single biggest jump in the entire motocross universe might just be LaRocco’s Leap, the uphill triple that is named for local legend Mike LaRocco. It’s big, long and scary, but most jump it at some point in the race. In fact, the key is not to over-jumped it, because it eats wheels if you’re not careful! 5.) Tommy and Tyla Former Grand Prix contenders Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray would probably like nothing more than to get their first wins on the biggest stage in American motocross, but both have struggled to find their way to the front so far. The Monster Milk/MDK KTM-backed Searle is closest—he’s finished on the podium the last two rounds—but the British rider needs to get himself a holeshot! As for the South African Rattray, he also needs a better start—and some finishes. The 2008 MX2 world champion is having a little more trouble with the pace than most expected. One could ride could change all that though…. 6.) Ivan Tedesco is on a mission Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco had a breakthrough race last Saturday night in Colorado, taking his first Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross win in nearly five years. The friendly Tedesco is said to be on the chopping block at Team Honda, and his 1-1 moto sweep last week (he led every inch of both races) certainly helped his future prospects. Now he needs to back it up for the Red Riders on a red, white and blue day. 7.) Is Justin Barcia for real? Every time they drop a starting gate, the rookie sensation Justin Barcia seems to be at the front of the pack. The 17-year-old GEICO Powersports Honda rider has shown incredible speed, but an inability to close the deal. He was close to winning his first moto last week before Jake Weimer came blazing past at the end, on his way to his own first overall win. Barcia’s turn is coming—we think. 8.) Ryan Dungey has to stay up Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey seemed like the clear favorite after he won the first rounds of this 12-race series back in May, but ever since he’s had trouble getting through the early laps without some kind of difficulty. The Minnesota rider knows that he has to start beating Pourcel again, but he that’s going to be impossible if he keeps starting his races on the ground. 9.) Shorty’s Revenge Last Saturday’s Colorado race in Lakewood was practically a homecoming deal for Honda Red Bull Racing’a Andrew Short, as he grew up nearby and has legions of fans there. But his teammate Tedesco came along and pretty much ruined the party for Andrew and everyone. Short knows that the race was his to win; hopefully, he feels the same way about this one—but with much less pressure on himself. 10.) J-Law is back! One year after spending the night before Red Bud in jail after a skirmish with some campers, Jason Lawrence is back—and actually planning on racing. Lawrence, who has been dealing with a stomach ailment ever since he took a handlebar to the gut at the opener, looked wide-eyed and bushy-tailed at the riders’ meeting this morning. Let’s hope he keeps himself on the straight and narrow and finally gets some laps and race results in. Don’t forget to watch the first two motos of Red Bud this afternoon, right here on Allisports.com, beginning at 12:30 p.m. (ET)

See more photos from Thunder Valley The big question mark coming into the Colorado National, round five of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, was Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi. After missing round four at High Point due to a broken kneecap suffered at the same track the Monday before the race, Alessi went through practice in Colorado in obvious pain, putting in the 28th-fastest time.

He lined up for moto one and actually nearly got the holeshot, which is a testament to his starting skill, considering he had a hard time putting any weight on his bad left leg.

However, on the opening lap of the first moto, he and JGR/Toyota Yamaha’s Josh Grant got together in a turn, putting Alessi on the floor, and although Alessi got back up and continued on after going down almost two laps to the leader, he soon pulled out and did not return for the second moto.

Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco swept both 450cc motos on the day to win his first-ever 450cc National event. His teammate Andrew Short was second with a 2-2, and Canidae/Motosport Kawasaki’s Tommy Hahn had a career 450cc day with a 7-3 for third overall.

Points leader Chad Reed struggled a bit on the day. Only 11th-fastest in practice, Reed was fourth overall with a 3-7 score, just in front of teammate Michael Byrne (6-4).

In the 250cc class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer won his first-ever AMA National with a 2-1 score exactly one race after running up front in both motos at High Point, but ending the day with no points at all.

His teammate Christophe Pourcel was second with a 1-6 score, with his sixth place in moto two coming after a freak accident where the starting gate dropped and then bounced back up into his bike, getting him stuck for a second while the pack took off.

Third was Muscle Milk KTM’s Tommy Searle with a 5-3 ahead of GEICO Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia (9-2) and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey (6-4).

Reed and Pourcel still lead the points in their respective classes with seven rounds left to run.

The first motos are over and a the first half of a nice night of racing has concluded. Christophe Pourcel sped off with the first 250 moto. The flying Frenchman has been on a roll lately and that is his third moto win in a row. He was followed by his teammate Jake Weimer and Yamahas Broc Tickle.
The 450 moto saw Hondas Ivan Tedesco win his first big bike moto of his career. His teammate sliced through the pack early on but couldn't do any damage to IT9's lead. Troy lee hondas Jake Moss held third in a great ride before succumbing to his countryman Chad Reed. Reed would get third, Moss fourth and Josh Grant fifth.
The sun has almost gone down over the mountains,the lights are on and second 250 moto are on the line!
By Steve Matthes