Motocross: Suzuki’s Dungey captures first place in the 250 Class season opener, placing second in Moto 1 and first in Moto 2.

Ron Lieback
AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer

With reigning 250 champ Ryan Villopoto joining the premier 450 class this season, the season opener Saturday at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif., could have been anyone’s win. But the South Point Hotel & Casino Motocross National was taken by Ryan Dungey on the Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki, who placed second in the first moto and first in the second moto.

“My whole career – this is the third time I raced here – it always seems like a tough track,” Dungey told reporters. “Not physically but trying to put it all together; it’s strange in some areas. I’m just pumped. Glen Helen always seems like it’s a tough course, so to be able to pull through is nice.”

As always, the temperatures at Glen Helen were hot and brutal for the premier race in the Lucas Oil Motocross Pro Nationals. This year more modifications than ever were made to the track known for it’s steep down slopes, a raceway containing the famed Mt. St. Helen at 200 ft. in elevation and the Talladega Turn, one of the fastest in Motocross. The track was also raced in reverse this year, a first for MX at Glen Helen.

Moto 1

Excitement began early, as the initial start was red flagged due to a collision that sent Yamaha rider Michael Hall tumbling over his handlebars on just the second lap. Hall sustained a fracture to his left hand; a team spokesman said hall will not be racing for at least a month.

During the restart, Trey Canard on the Geico Powersports Honda took the holeshot, followed by his new teammate Justin Barcia, who later took the lead at the back section of Glen Helen. On his Muscle Milk MDK KTM, Tommy Searle was in third, until Christophe Pourcel, Dungey’s teammate on the Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki, and the 19-year-old Dungey passed.

What ensued was a great four-way battle. Soon the Minnesota-native Dungey began charging, going from fourth to second in a half of lap. Canard fell back to fourth at this time, but remained in the lead pack.

Barcia, in his first-ever pro race, held off the more experienced riders until a small miscalculation in the back section dropped the rookie from first to fourth in just two corners. Pourcel began ripping with authority, and would lead until the end, with Dungey about four seconds back finishing in second. During this time Canard also passed Barcia, and finished in third five seconds behind the winner.

Moto 2

Barcia wasted no time during the start of Moto 2, getting out front quickly, placing a gap on second-place Searle and third-place Tyla Rattray on the Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Canard briefly worked his way around Rattray but was re-passed a short time later. For the rest of Moto 2, only a one-second gap held back Rattray, Searle, Dungey and Bret Metcalfe on the Geico Powersports Honda.

During the halfway mark Barcia was still out front, but Rattray and Dungey were closing in, Dungey passing until in second place. In the closing laps, Dungey passed Barcia, holding the lead all the way to the end, finishing first. Meanwhile Rattray kept close to Barcia, and eventually passed him for second with Barcia finishing in third.

Overall 250 Class Results:

1) Ryan Dungey
2) Christophe Pourcel
3) Tyla Rattray
4) Tommy Searle
5) Trey Canard
6) Justin Barcia
7) Brett Metcalfe
8) Jake Weimer
9) Austin Stroupe
10) Blake Wharton