The 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship came to Budds Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland this past weekend for round five of the series. The 450 class has ended up being a bit of a yawner this year now that all of the heavy hitters are out, minus Dungey. The Dungey has won every moto this year since Stewart was taken out of action following a crash at Lakewood. It’s nice to see other riders on the podium, though, as guys like Mike Alessi and Broc Tickle have been running up at the front of the pack. The racing is also a little less predictable now that anyone has the chance to be in the top five, but it seems as though Dungey will run away with the championship this year.
The 250F class is a whole different story, and with three different winners in the first five rounds the racing is actually super exciting. Blake Baggett, Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia and Ken Roczen all seem to run up front in every race, but Baggett, Barcia and Tomac are the ones taking all the wins. Roczen has been consistent with his starts but tends to fade a bit at the end of the motos when the other top riders like Baggett are just getting started. At the end of the day at Budds Creek, Baggett took the overall in the 250F class with 2-1 moto scores, while Dungey took home the overall in the 450 class with a 1-1 tally.
Jason Anderson was on a mission at Budds Creek. He ended the day with a hard earned 6th overall.
After a frustrating weekend at Highpoint for Blake Baggett, the speedy Kawasaki racer came back at Budds to grab the overall and strengthen his points lead.
Barcia ducking his head as piles of roost fly his way!
Dungey hunts down Justin Brayton after Brayton pulls the Holeshot in Moto 1.
Ryan Dungey lets his KTM eat through one of many soft loamy berms at Budds Creek.
Dungey looking calm cool and collecting on his way to another overall win.
Hunter Hewitt struggled in Maryland with an 18th overall finish.
Brett Metcalfe charged hard to finish off the day with a 6th overall.
Davi Millsaps getting low in one of the deep ruts during the second moto. He didn’t do as well as expected with an 8th overall.
Jake Moss getting some airtime through the woods aboard his J-Star KTM!
Marvin Musquin kept it consistent with a 5th overall.
It wasn’t just the racers who were flying through the air at Budds Creek!
Ken Roczen had another relatively disappointing weekend after coming into Maryland looking for a win. He finished 2nd overall but won’t be happy until he gets the top spot.
Privateer and EnduroCross racer Kevin Rookstool finished 24th at Budds Creek.
Andrew Short getting up there with those big trees! Shorty finished 9th overall.
Short looks determined, calm and collected aboard his Factory Honda.
Les Smith flying up one of the many big step ups on the track.
Malcolm Stewart has been fast but inconsistent all year. James’ younger brother is hoping he can get things turned around as the series continues.
Jason Thomas had a rough weekend with a 31st overall.
Broc Tickle rode great this weekend and got himself 2nd on the box in the 450cc division.
Tickle in full race mode on his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki.
Jake Weimer is looking good this year, sitting 3rd in points and getting a 4th overall on the weekend.
Blake Wharton went down hard in the 2nd Moto. He got back up to finish 18th in the moto and 12th on the day.
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