2020 Loretta Lynn's 1 Motocross Recap
Some history made on Saturday as the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship series finally got started after a three month delay because of the coronavirus and held Round 1 at the famed Loretta Lynn's Ranch, normally home to the Amateur Nationals for just one week a year while horses enjoy it the other 51 weeks.
The rutted up slot-car like track offered some solid racing and no disastrous get-offs as Zach Osborne got his first career 450 class Motocross win after finishing second in Moto 1 and first in Moto 2. Jason Anderson, checked out in Moto 1 for the win putting him in line for his first career 450 class overall, but he was unable to carry over the momentum and settled for second on the day after finishing sixth in Moto 2.
All the while, three-time defending Champion Eli Tomac looked like he was still nursing his first 450 class Supercross Championship secured in June after putting on a charge in Moto 1 then eventually dropping back to seventh. But, he pushed his way to second and nearly caught the blazing fast Osborne in Moto 2 before settling down and holding on to the bike and second place for third overall.
Elsewhere, Marvin Musquin (4-5) returned to racing for the first time this year after knee surgery sidelined him for all of Supercross and he finished fourth overall taking the points tie-breaker over Justin Barcia (3-7) who opens his season rounding out the Top 5.
In the 250 class, Dylan Ferrandis swept in his first experience at The Ranch. Most pros raced Loretta Lynn's as youngsters on their way to the top but Ferrandis who hails from France never experienced a gate drop at Loretta's. It wasn't even close either. Ferrandis, fresh off his second straight 250 West Supercross Championship, took Moto 1 by nearly 20 seconds and Moto 2 by 13 seconds.
RJ Hampshire, who opted for knee surgery during the Supercross coronavirus hiatus, looked ready to contend by taking second overall with a (3-2) day while two-time 250 class Champion Jeremy Martin, who returned to racing this year after a 2018 crash left him sidelined all of 2019, took third on a (2-3) day.
Shane McElrath took fourth in both Motos for fourth overall and Alex Martin took fifth on a (5-5) day.
Motocross heads to the evergreens of Washougal. Oh wait. That's not true. Riders will remain in Hurricane Mills as a sudden change, announced last week, removed the Washougal round (previously expected to run without fans) from the schedule and Loretta Lynn's (which can hold 5,000 spectators) continues an unprecedented run by hosting Round 2 on Saturday.
Until then, live Round 1 all again at Loretta Lynn's. Photos by Ryne Swanberg.
2020 Loretta Lynn's 1 Motocross
