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Supercross & Motocross
AMA MX: Top Ten Moments Of 2012
A look at the most memorable moments of the 2012 AMA Motocross campaign heading into today's season finale.
(Photo: Simon Cudby)
Following a wild Supercross season in which every premier class winner, including the newly-crowned champion, suffered serious injury, the world’s best riders headed outdoor to tackle the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
While surefire contenders Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, and Trey Canard were forced to miss the summer due to injuries, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart were healthy enough to not only compete but put on a show for the fans.
While things ultimately couldn’t have gone much more differently for the two going forward, the season still produced some memorable moments, including a captivating battle for the championships in both the 250 Class and WMX Class.
With just one round remaining this season, it's a good time to take stock of the top 10 moments of the summer.
10. Watch Out for That Tree!
The GEICO Honda tandem of Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac looked to be the riders to beat at Southwick. After all, Barcia is considered the best sand rider in the 250 Class and the track has been the host of his most memorable achievements. Moreover, Tomac was the fastest rider in practice and appeared to be on another level compared to his competitors. However, in one of the most unique turn of events in recent memory, the teammates struck the very same tree in the second moto -- first Tomac, then Barcia just a few laps later. The incident ultimately cost Tomac a win and served Barcia's title hopes a relatively significant blow and was the culmination of a frustrating day at a track he carried high hopes into.
9. Baggett’s Sneak Attacks
Blake Baggett has been the rider to beat in the 250 Class since the season first opened. He’s never relinquished control of the points lead at any point and has staked his claim for the red number plate at several points this summer by laying down some of the most impressive come-from-behind rides ever seen. And it's a good thing because Baggett has never been known for his starts. In fact, just last weekend he grabbed his first holeshot of the season, but quickly went backwards after doing so. It’s almost as if Baggett would rather make things more interesting by coming out of the gate slowly and putting on a clinic as he slices up through his rivals. After all, there may not be a better way to crush your competitors' hopes than pass them out of nowhere.
While it’s simply too hard to pick just one, having the privilege to see Baggett turn the throttle and rip it repeatedly has been a pleasure to watch. His collective efforts to win from virtually any spot in the field deserves recognition. The rider who is probably least keen on Baggett’s late charges is Ken Roczen, who missed out on a handful of victories to Baggett due to late-moto passes this season.
8. The WMX Class
While they don’t get the same recognition as their male counterparts, the Women’s Motocross Class has witnessed some pretty amazing racing this season. While familiar foes Jessica Patterson and Ashley Fiolek have won all the races this summer, their respective bouts with misfortune have made things very interesting as we head to the final round.
Fiolek’s big crash at Thunder Valley resulted in a concussion that not only forced her to miss the following round, but the X Games as well, seemingly taking her out of contention to repeat at champion. However, just weeks later, Patterson suffered a broken hand while training and, although she didn’t miss any races, she couldn’t muster much-needed top 10 results. While Patterson tried to survive, Fiolek started winning and clawed her way back into the title fight.
Meanwhile, Tarah Gieger did what she does best and put forth super consistent outings to take advantage of her competitors' misfortune and provided her with her best shot at a first career WMX championship.
With just one race remaining, the trio is separated by a miniscule 10 points with Patterson still leading the way. With what we’ve seen to this point, anything can happen in this division and the conclusion should be fun to watch.
While surefire contenders Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, and Trey Canard were forced to miss the summer due to injuries, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart were healthy enough to not only compete but put on a show for the fans.
While things ultimately couldn’t have gone much more differently for the two going forward, the season still produced some memorable moments, including a captivating battle for the championships in both the 250 Class and WMX Class.
With just one round remaining this season, it's a good time to take stock of the top 10 moments of the summer.
10. Watch Out for That Tree!
The GEICO Honda tandem of Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac looked to be the riders to beat at Southwick. After all, Barcia is considered the best sand rider in the 250 Class and the track has been the host of his most memorable achievements. Moreover, Tomac was the fastest rider in practice and appeared to be on another level compared to his competitors. However, in one of the most unique turn of events in recent memory, the teammates struck the very same tree in the second moto -- first Tomac, then Barcia just a few laps later. The incident ultimately cost Tomac a win and served Barcia's title hopes a relatively significant blow and was the culmination of a frustrating day at a track he carried high hopes into.
9. Baggett’s Sneak Attacks
Blake Baggett has been the rider to beat in the 250 Class since the season first opened. He’s never relinquished control of the points lead at any point and has staked his claim for the red number plate at several points this summer by laying down some of the most impressive come-from-behind rides ever seen. And it's a good thing because Baggett has never been known for his starts. In fact, just last weekend he grabbed his first holeshot of the season, but quickly went backwards after doing so. It’s almost as if Baggett would rather make things more interesting by coming out of the gate slowly and putting on a clinic as he slices up through his rivals. After all, there may not be a better way to crush your competitors' hopes than pass them out of nowhere.
While it’s simply too hard to pick just one, having the privilege to see Baggett turn the throttle and rip it repeatedly has been a pleasure to watch. His collective efforts to win from virtually any spot in the field deserves recognition. The rider who is probably least keen on Baggett’s late charges is Ken Roczen, who missed out on a handful of victories to Baggett due to late-moto passes this season.
8. The WMX Class
While they don’t get the same recognition as their male counterparts, the Women’s Motocross Class has witnessed some pretty amazing racing this season. While familiar foes Jessica Patterson and Ashley Fiolek have won all the races this summer, their respective bouts with misfortune have made things very interesting as we head to the final round.
Fiolek’s big crash at Thunder Valley resulted in a concussion that not only forced her to miss the following round, but the X Games as well, seemingly taking her out of contention to repeat at champion. However, just weeks later, Patterson suffered a broken hand while training and, although she didn’t miss any races, she couldn’t muster much-needed top 10 results. While Patterson tried to survive, Fiolek started winning and clawed her way back into the title fight.
Meanwhile, Tarah Gieger did what she does best and put forth super consistent outings to take advantage of her competitors' misfortune and provided her with her best shot at a first career WMX championship.
With just one race remaining, the trio is separated by a miniscule 10 points with Patterson still leading the way. With what we’ve seen to this point, anything can happen in this division and the conclusion should be fun to watch.
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