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/1390385
MOTOCROSS LUCAS OIL AMA PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4 / JULY 3, 2021 REDBUD MX / BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN P68 Jett and older brother Hunter, in first and second positions. Hampshire again put his head down and charged, overtaking Hunter, but not Jett, before the finish. "We made a bike change in practice, in between the second quali and the first, and it was ter- rible," said Jett Lawrence. "I kept an eye on RJ the whole time, but I just couldn't ride any faster. I was looking back and thinking, 'He's catching me again!' Chris- tian, my mechanic, put on the pit board, 'Step it up!' and I'm like, 'I'm trying!' So that was a little nerve-wracking and I just barely got away with it." As for Hampshire's charges, Lawrence said, "He was risking it for the biscuit, that's all I can say. He's got a lot of heart." The points leader reconfig- ured his bike before the second moto, but his hopes of another on 450s—under the Monster En- ergy/Star Racing Yamaha tents. "I was happy to have a better weekend and riding in the front of the pack where I belong. I still need to work on my starts, but overall it was a positive improve- ment on my season thus far." 250MX Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) holeshot the first 250MX moto but at the completion of the first lap, he slipped at the base of the takeoff of the finish-line tabletop and flat-spinned off the track. His crash handed the lead over to Hampshire, who then crashed alone when he tipped over in a turn. Hampshire got up quickly, but the lead now belonged to Jett Lawrence. Hampshire caught up again, only to crash another time in a different cor- ner. This left the two Lawrences, ing session. In the second 450MX moto, Ken Roczen came up way short trying to triple LaRocco's Leap which resulted in one of the worst- looking "cases" in a long time while battling Aaron Plessinger. Somehow, he managed to continue on. "I had a bad case on [LaRocco's] Leap," he said. "Plessinger's roost slowed me down so much [causing him to land short]. I hurt my wrist a little bit." REDBUD NOTES… The fastest lap of the day was a scorching 2:03.729 posted by Dylan Ferrandis in the second qualifying session, nearly a second faster than anyone else. Ferrandis also had the fastest race time of the day, a 2:07.924 in the second 450 moto…. The fastest 250 time belonged to Jus- tin Cooper, with a 2:06.179 to earn pole position in the morning. Overall winner RJ Hampshire had the fastest lap times in both 250 motos, mid 2:07s… Longtime RedBud announcer and TV host Larry Maiers was on hand and was inducted into the RedBud Hall of Fame… Fox Racing dressed all of its team riders in Rick Johnson/Team USA-inspired 1980's style gear… Making his first public appearance at a race since his back- breaking accident at the Daytona Amateur Supercross was Michigan Mafia legend Todd DeHoop, who's amazing recovery allowed him to walk around with friend and fellow legend Jeff Stanton… Each class at RedBud was filled past "capacity" of 90 entries—the first time since last year's pandemic shutdown—so of- ficials made room for the extras in the morning qualifying groups... Michael Mosiman returned after sitting out the last round with an injury but crashed in both motos. Briefly... Jett Lawrence topped the first 250MX moto but a bad start and a first-lap crash in the second erased any chance he had at the overall victory, but he did ride well enough to take third with a 1-6.