- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Supercross & Motocross
AMA MX: Steel City Showdown
Can anyone end Ryan Dungey's win streak today? And is Eli Tomac poised to cut Blake Baggett's 250 Class advantage at Steel City?
GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac (Photo: Honda Red Riders)
The penultimate round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is just moments from dropping the gate on the second National from Pennsylvania this summer and there isn’t a better way to head into next weekend’s finale at Lake Elsinore than with a strong outing.
So exactly how will everything unfold this afternoon?
Steel City Raceway is one of the most challenging tracks on the entire tour, providing very little rest for riders on any given lap. With a constant barrage of off-camber corners, immense climbs in elevation, a ton of jumps, and some technical sections, there always seems to be one potential pitfall after another that a rider must tackle as he navigates the course.
Adding to the difficulty is the certainty that it will become increasingly rough as the day wears on. The dirt is similar to what is found in California, which could play to advantage of some.
Blake Baggett, in particular, comes to mind. Baggett is the 250 Class points leader, enjoying a relatively comfortable 24-point lead, but by no means is he in a position to settle and ride for points. Baggett wants to win and, as we’ve seen all year, he’s going to twist the throttle as much as is needed to gain an edge on his rivals.
While he is separated from Baggett by his teammate, Justin Barcia (by just four points), Eli Tomac should be considered the most likely rider to challenge Baggett’s success, at least for today. Tomac decimated the field of riders in both classes with a blistering lap in practice. His 2:26.656 was nearly two seconds faster than Ken Roczen in second, and almost four seconds faster than the quickest lap in the 450 Class, posted by Mike Alessi. (This, at least in part can be attributed to an improving track, which started to dry out from the morning moisture and settle in.)
Baggett wasn’t far removed from Tomac and Roczen atop the charts, slotting into third. However, he was nearly three seconds slower than Tomac and will have his work cut out for him.
So exactly how will everything unfold this afternoon?
Steel City Raceway is one of the most challenging tracks on the entire tour, providing very little rest for riders on any given lap. With a constant barrage of off-camber corners, immense climbs in elevation, a ton of jumps, and some technical sections, there always seems to be one potential pitfall after another that a rider must tackle as he navigates the course.
Adding to the difficulty is the certainty that it will become increasingly rough as the day wears on. The dirt is similar to what is found in California, which could play to advantage of some.
Blake Baggett, in particular, comes to mind. Baggett is the 250 Class points leader, enjoying a relatively comfortable 24-point lead, but by no means is he in a position to settle and ride for points. Baggett wants to win and, as we’ve seen all year, he’s going to twist the throttle as much as is needed to gain an edge on his rivals.
While he is separated from Baggett by his teammate, Justin Barcia (by just four points), Eli Tomac should be considered the most likely rider to challenge Baggett’s success, at least for today. Tomac decimated the field of riders in both classes with a blistering lap in practice. His 2:26.656 was nearly two seconds faster than Ken Roczen in second, and almost four seconds faster than the quickest lap in the 450 Class, posted by Mike Alessi. (This, at least in part can be attributed to an improving track, which started to dry out from the morning moisture and settle in.)
Baggett wasn’t far removed from Tomac and Roczen atop the charts, slotting into third. However, he was nearly three seconds slower than Tomac and will have his work cut out for him.
Latest Gallery
LATEST HEADLINES: MOTO-RACING
-
MOTOGP: Rossi Calls Out Bautista
Valentino Rossi has had enough of Alvaro Bautista's ill-advised attempts… -
AMA SBK: Cardenas Leads Superbike Field To BMP
Yoshimura Suzuki's Martin Cardenas returns to the scene of his first-career… -
MOTOGP: Lorenzo Fastest In Post-GP Test
Jorge Lorenzo was quickest at Catalunya where the Suzuki development… -
MOTOGP: Suzuki Lays Out Plan Of Attack
Suzuki MotoGP boss Satoru explained the reason behind the firm's… -
MOTOGP: Suzuki Return Delayed To 2015
Suzuki has put off its much-hyped return to MotoGP until 2015. -
BSB: Bryne Doubles Knockhill
Defending British Superbike champ Shane Byrne took both wins today… -
PHOTOS: MotoGP - Grand Prix of Catalunya
Yamaha Factory Racing's Jorge Lorenzo was victorious in Sunday's… - More News
