The 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship series returns after a week off as a slew of East Coast and Midwest rounds begin Saturday at the High Point National in Mt. Morris, PA.
So far, so good for the fans anyway as Motocross took a cue from the 2017 Supercross season and quickly threw out any debate of a Championship already decided. Eli Tomac, widely considered a heavy favorite to run away with the 450 class title, isn't even in first place while Blake Baggett and Justin Bogle each have Moto wins.
Meanwhile, Marvin Musquin keeps the Red Plate for the second straight round growing his points lead after a well-fought second-place overall finish the last time out at Thunder Valley. Musquin quietly closed the doors on any detractors after he failed to hold off Tomac not once, but twice in the opening round. Since then, Tomac hasn't found the checkers while four other riders have, including Musquin.
Marvin Musquin brings a 19 point lead into High Point on Saturday
Baggett sits in third just two points behind Tomac while Jason Anderson continues his climb up the standings after just 15 total points at Hangtown thanks to a rock in the face forced him out of Moto 1. Anderson is in fourth while Bogle rounds out the Top 5. Falling in the standings is Josh Grant who started the season with three straight third-place finishes but crashes and bike failures the last two rounds gave him two goose eggs and ninth in the standings.
Lest we forget Tomac, however. Give him his front brake at Moto 2 in Glen Helen and it's a good bet he never loses the points lead and would hold that edge entering Saturday. A week off and some reflection does the mind and body good so a Motocross Championship once deemed his to lose might swing the pendulum back in his favor if he finds what he left on the track at Hangtown.
Unfortunately, Tomac has limited experience at High Point missing the rounds here in 2014 and 2015 while taking third overall in the 250 class four years ago and first overall in 2012 but fourth overall last year in his first stint for the 450 class. Moreover, Musquin and Anderson seem to enjoy this track tying in points last year for third and second, respectively, while Anderson finished third in 2015 and Musquin swept in the 250 class.
Can Justin Bogle check out for another Moto win on Saturday?
Tomac has his plate full with Musquin and Anderson, who have their plates full with Tomac, and then Baggett makes a statement taking the overall in Colorado rather handedly. And if Bogle can win one, he can win another.
So next time someone gives the Championship away so early in the season, ask Ryan Dungey how that tends to work. Of course, Tomac very well could put the hammer down this weekend as everyone climbs back on board his train.
The 250 poses a similar yet different story as Zach Osborne finished fifth overall two weeks ago, just like Tomac, but retains a nine point lead in the standings. Also like the 250 class, five riders claim a Moto win yet Osborne has two overalls but hasn't seen the checkers since Hangtown. And like 450 class Anderson, Jeremy Martin, the two time 250 class Champion has worked his way up the standings after a bike malfunction left him with zero points in Moto 1 to start the year. He'd also likely be in first if not for that snafu, just like Tomac.
Elsewhere, Joey Savatgy began to right the ship taking his first Moto won of the year and the overall in Colorado on a tie-breaker over Alex Martin and moved into fourth-place on the standings. And, just one point separated fourth-place from first in Round 3 as Austin Forkner got bounced from the podium losing the tie-breaker to Jeremy Martin.
Joey Savatgy carries and momentum and past success into High Point
So many zeros in this class as Martin, Savatgy, Forkner, Adam Cianciarulo, Aaron Plessinger, Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Hill each have a DNF on the season. All legitimate contenders facing deep holes (Hill much more than everyone else) as Osborne and Alex Martin boast the best lines to start the season.
As for High Point, Osborne battled a bug at Thunder Valley while qualifying first and hanging in the Top 5 for the day so he's got that. He grabbed his first career Moto win last year at High Point narrowly missing out on the overall as Savatgy took the overall on the tie-breaker. Assuming he's recovered, it shouldn't be a surprise if he finds what he left at Hangtown faster than Tomac.
Our Podium Picks for High Point:
450 Class
- Jason Anderson
- Eli Tomac
- Marvin Musquin
- Blake Baggett
250 Class
- Zach Osborne
- Jeremy Martin
- Alex Martin
Check out the track map for Round 4:
Buy tickets online or at the track. Gates drop for Moto 1 at 1 p.m. (EST). Television coverage is all over the place with MAVTV providing Moto 1 coverage for both classes, NBC airs Moto 2 of the 450 class and NBC Sports Network broadcasts Moto 2 of the 250 class. Yes, coverage is live.
2017 Motocross Season Standings
450 Class
- Marvin Musquin (127)
- Eli Tomac (110)
- Blake Baggett (108)
- Jason Anderson (93)
- Justin Bogle (86)
- Dean Wilson (84)
- Cole Seely (81)
- Broc Tickle (79)
- Josh Grant (76)
- Justin Barcia (69)
250 Class
- Zach Osborne (119)
- Alex Martin (109)
- Jeremy Martin (101)
- Joey Savatgy (93)
- Austin Forkner (89)
- Colt Nichols (89)
- Adam Cianciarulo (85)
- Aaron Plessinger (78)
- Mitchell Harrison (66)
- Dylan Ferrandis (64)
