2013 Unadilla National Motocross Race Highlights

With three races left in the season, the Built Ford Tough Unadilla National became a defining race for the championship contenders. Could Ryan Villopoto shake off his poor outing at Spring Creek and return to his dominant form? Would Eli Tomac continue his winning streak now that he finally owns the points lead? Watch the race highlights to see how both riders took another step towards a 2013 championship.

Cudby photos.

Red Bull KTM Factory riders Ryan Dungey and Germany’s Ken Roczen picked up a pair of third places in the 450 and 250 classes respectively at the tenth round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series held at the American Unadilla Raceway, New Berlin, NY.

On what was a tough day at the circuit, Dungey pulled a great start in the first moto to be third at the first corner He then slipped past fellow KTM rider Andrew Short into second and continued to click off fast lap times to hold that place to the end of the moto. He was in eighth place at the first corner on the second moto and a hard charge advanced him up to sixth.

The next laps saw him hunt down Phil Nicoletti and Josh Grant but the battle for fourth saw Dungey and Grant battle through the next six laps. He finally made an inside pass on Grant a few corners before the finish jump to move into fourth.

With five laps left, Dungey began to reel in Jake Weimer at third and the two riders were side by side on the final lap. Then Dungey had the drive out of a corner but bobbled coming out of a rut that allowed Weimer to barely edge him out for the final podium spot. His 2-4 result earned him third overall for the day.

Roczen third; great fight back by teammate Musquin
The Red Bull KTM Factory 250-class riders Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin finished third and eighth overall respectively on Saturday at the Unadilla Raceway with Musquin making a spirited comeback after several race incidents.

Musquin launched off to a great start in the first moto rounding the first corner in third place. But then when the rider in front slowed at the finish line jump leaving him nowhere to go, he ran into the back of him. The crash cost the team’s French rider multiple positions and he was back at twenty-fourth when he re-entered the track. Meanwhile Roczen started at eighth and was up to third by the end of the first lap. Roczen held on at third until halfway through the race when he had to ease off because of arm pump, finally finishing in in fifth. Musquin was on a hard charge through the pack and made his way back to a heroic eighth place by the end of the moto.

“I just had some bad luck on that first lap and had nowhere to go and ran into Zach Osborne,” stated Musquin. “Luckily, I was able to move into the top ten and earn some valuable points.”

Musquin’s run of bad luck continued in the second moto when he jumped early off the start and got caught in the gate and left the line in dead last. Roczen rounded the corner in second and quickly made a move around Jeremy Martin to take over the lead. Roczen pulled away out front for the first half of the moto before Eli Tomac began to reel him in. Roczen put up a battle for a few laps before Tomac was able to move around and take over the lead position. Roczen held strong to finish the moto in second place and his 5-2 moto results put him on the podium in third. Musquin put in another impressive charge in the second race advancing from last to ninth place to finish eighth overall.

Dungey and Roczen retain their second places in the championship points standings and Musquin is at third behind Roczen in the 250-class. There are two rounds (four races) left to close the season. The penultimate round is at Toole, Utah next weekend.

US Pro Motocross at Unadilla – Results Rd. 10 (of 12)
Results 450 class
1, Ryan Villopoto (1-1)
2, Justin Barcia (4-2)
3, Ryan Dungey KTM (2-4)
4, Jake Weimer (9-3)
5, Josh Grant (5-5)
6, Andrew Short KTM (6-7)
7, Brett Metcalf
8, Broc Tickle
9, Justin Brayton
10, Phil Nicoletti
12, Matthew Goerke KTM (14-14)

Championship Points: 450 class
1, Villopoto 463
2, Dungey 419
3, Barcia, 347
4, Stewart, 285
5, Canard, 263
6, Short, 220

Results 250 class
1, Eli Tomac
2, Jeremy Martin
3, Ken Roczen KTM (5-2)
4, Zach Osborne
5, Blake Baggett
6, Justin Bogle
7, Will Hahn
8, Marvin Musquin KTM (8-9)
9, Cole Seely
10, Martin Davalos

Championship points: 250 class
1, Tomac 455
2, Roczen 416
3, Musquin 359
4, Baggett 329
5, Osborne, 296