ROME, Ga. (July 14, 2016) – The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is set to make its annual return this weekend on Saturday, July 16 at Spring Creek Raceway in Millville, Minnesota for the eighth round of the 2016 championship. Each season the Spring Creek National is one that riders throughout the paddock rave about thanks to its variety of obstacles and multiple types of terrain. There is no lack of action for fans as the world’s best riders are challenged with steep hills, high-flying jumps and the famous “Millville Sand Whoops.” Tire selection is critical in order to successfully conquer the mixture of deep sand and choppy clay.
Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia is coming off of his season-best finish this past weekend at The Wick 338 where he claimed third overall in the 450 Class and stood on the podium for the first time this season. “Bam Bam” has noted that he has made a few bike improvements, along with corrected a few rider issues and believes he will be a serious threat when the gate drops this weekend in The North Star State.
The momentum does not stop at the No. 51 of Barcia inside of the JGRMX pits as Weston Peick recorded his season-best finish last weekend, which included a top five overall finish and inspiring charge to fourth in Moto 2. After beginning the season plagued by injuries, the Californian is beginning to find his stride as the championship heats up. Phil Nicoletti has gotten off of the gate strong the past several races, but has been haunted by misfortune while running near the front of the 40-rider field. Keep your eyes on him to join his teammates in the battle up front.
One rider who has been full of surprises with his continuous improvement each week is the BTO Sports/WPS/KTM rookie of Benny Bloss. The lanky youngster was forced to jump into the bigger and faster premier 450 Class due to his size, which has him as the tallest rider on the track. Bloss is carrying the confidence of two consecutive top-10 finishes. The veteran duo of Justin Brayton and Andrew Short helped BTO place all three riders inside of the top-10 at Southwick and will be looking to do it once more when they line up this weekend. Short has stood on top of the podium at Spring Creek in the 125 Class and will compete at the facility for the final time of his career.
In the 250 Class, Motorcycle Superstore Racing’s Kyle Cunningham is coming off of back-to-back races in which he has placed inside of the top-15 overall. He will be joined by teammate Jimmy Albertson and MAD Racing/Dirt Candy Graphics/Suzuki’s Luke Clout who is eager to lineup for his first career in Millville. Pirelli’s commitment to racing on North American soil extends far beyond the glamorous 18-wheeler factory race team transporter as The Privateer Journey (TPJ) team relies on the performance advantages of the SCORPION™ MX tires for their riders to reach the next level.
The opening motos from the Spring Creek National kick off on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 2pm ET and can be viewed on MAV TV, while second motos will air at 7pm ET on NBC Sports. Check local listings for channel information.
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