Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1017116
MOTOCROSS LUCAS OIL AMA PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 11 / AUGUST 18, 2018 BUDDS CREEK, MARYLAND / BUDDS CREEK RACEWAY P58 iii My Own Race: 1 ELI TOMAC 1ST 450MX (3-1) "Winning the championship is the ultimate goal, and today we were able to add some more points to put us in the best possible position going into the final round next weekend," said 450MX winner Eli Tomac. "In moto one, I struggled a little bit making my way through traffic, but in moto two, I was just feeling it, and after I got around a couple guys, I knew I could catch the leader and win. I am pumped I was able to do that!" 30 MITCHELL HARRISON 4TH 250MX (4-5) Mitchell Harrison nearly got himself his second AMA National podium in a row at Budds Creek, which would've been truly significant considering his career-first was a week earlier at Unadilla. He was running third with one lap to go in the second moto but lost spots to Justin Cooper and Alex Martin, ending up fifth in the moto for fourth overall. "Overall it was a good day," Harrison said. "I rode great in the motos and went 4-5. I proved to myself that I can stay up front in dry conditions." 21 JASON ANDERSON 12TH 450MX (4-DNS) Jason Anderson returned to action at Budds Creek, qualifying third before grabbing a solid fourth in the opening moto. He sat out the second moto as a precaution in the heat, having not raced for most of the summer. "I had a decent weekend," Anderson said. "I was able to qualify third and get fourth in the first moto. I didn't want to get su- per winded or take too many chances for the second moto, and just wanted to ease myself into it. I'll get back out there next weekend and will see if I can do two solid motos." He'll return to action next weekend in Indiana. 4 BLAKE BAGGETT 4TH 450MX (5-2) At Budds Creek, Blake Baggett was looking like the title contender he was in 2017. Baggett wasn't too hot off the start in either moto, but he was the only racer on the track to get his lap times into the 2:06s in both motos. And in the second moto, he did it with two laps to go as he tried to chase down Eli Tomac. He said he was just looking to find comfort on his motorcycle. "It was lost away like a sunken ship," Baggett said. "I had to dig for it and find the treasure box again! We're working hard and we're focusing on hitting supercross hard next year, but we wanted to make sure we hit these last two rounds strong. I faded a little bit in the middle of that moto, but I came on at the end, so we'll just keep plugging away and try to get a win in here." 25 MARVIN MUSQUIN 3RD 450MX (2-4) Marvin Musquin had a big crash during the week prior to the Budds Creek race and he was up front in both motos, but could only manage a 2-4 on the day. "Today I had great starts—the first moto I gave up the lead on the first lap and I just couldn't get it back," Musquin said. "I was fighting for it all the way until the last two laps. It was close but I couldn't get it. In the second moto, I was up there and it was good, but un- fortunately towards the end, physically, it was really tough and I could only get fourth in that moto and third overall for the day. One more round to go, I am looking forward to fighting hard." 36 RJ HAMPSHIRE 1ST 250MX (2-1) "It was awesome," said RJ Hampshire of his first career win. "We just haven't been able to put two motos together. It's not because of myself, actually. I'd put a good moto in and I'd almost get killed the next moto—I'd get taken down off the start, some- one would land on me, whatever. Chase and I went 1-2 today, and that's a big boost for our team. They've been working hard to improve the bike, and it showed today."