Things have started off perfectly for Honda at the Hangtown Motocross Class in Sacramento, California. Team riders Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac each topped qualifying in their respective class and will have the gate picks for this afternoon’s opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Barcia came out on top in the 450 class. A rookie in the class, Barcia turned a lap of 1:57.971 in the first timed qualifying session. That time held the rest of the day, as no one was able to improve on the time in the second session, which saw the track in rougher condition.
Barcia was the only 450 rider in the 1:57 bracket.
Trey Canard was second fastest with a 1:58.218, also turning his best time in the first session. Then came Suzuki’s James Stewart third with a 1:58.309 set in the second session. Stewart was the fastest rider in the second session.
Ryan Dungey (1:58.923) and Ryan Villopoto (1:58.958) rounded out the top five riders in the 450 class.
“I’m ready for the battle man,” an enthusiastic Barcia proclaimed after qualifying. “This outdoor series is going to be fun. My bike is working good and I’m just ready to go out there and grab some holeshots and try to wins some races this year.”
Barcia joked that it was his new haircut that made him so fast.
In the 250 class GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac set a blistering pace with a 1:57.513. Not only was the time Tomac laid down the fastest by nearly a full second over the next fastest 250 rider, it was also the fast qualifying tome of the day, even better than Barcia’s time in the 450 class.
“I’m feeling really smooth out there right now,” Tomac said. “It’s just fun to be back outdoors and to be able to let it hang out a little bit. I’m looking forward to the first moto and battling. I always have a good time here (at Hangtown). I got my first win here. I’m looking for a little redemption here. The past few years haven’t been that good, but I’m looking to turn it around today.”
Suzuki’s Jason Anderson qualified second in the 250 class with a 1:59.353 and defending series champ Blake Baggett was third on his Kawasaki with a 1:59.495. KTM teammates Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen rounded out the top five.
The opening round at Hangtown can be seen live at 4:00 pm Eastern (1:00 local California time) on Fuel TV or steaming live at AlliSports.com.
Hangtown AMA Pro Motocross Timed Qualifying – Hangtown
450 Class
1 51 Justin Barcia Honda CRF450R 1:57.971
2 41 Trey Canard Honda CRF450R 1:58.218
3 7 James Stewart Jr. Suzuki RMZ 450 1:58.309
4 1 Ryan Dungey KTM 450 SX-F FE 1:58.923
5 2 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki KX 450F 1:58.958
6 800 Mike Alessi Suzuki RMZ 450 1:59.164
7 22 Chad Reed Honda CRF450R 1:59.169
8 15 Dean Wilson Kawasaki KX 450F 1:59.703
9 33 Joshua Grant Yamaha YZ 450F 1:59.869
10 29 Andrew Short KTM 450 SX-F FE 2:00.022
250 Class
1 17 Eli Tomac Honda CRF250R 1:57.513
2 21 Jason Anderson Suzuki RMZ 250 1:59.353
3 1 Blake Baggett Kawasaki KX 250F 1:59.495
4 25 Marvin Musquin KTM 250 SX-F 1:59.530
5 94 Ken Roczen KTM 250 SX-F 1:59.816
6 44 Darryn Durham Kawasaki KX 250F 2:00.514
7 30 Dominic Izzi Suzuki RMZ 250 2:00.583
8 38 Kyle Cunningham Yamaha YZ 250F 2:00.998
9 40 Martin Davalos Kawasaki KX 250F 2:01.027
10 34 Justin Bogle Honda CRF250R 2:01.099
