E3 racing fans may see Kevin Windham back in the saddle of the #14 Honda for the rest of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro-MX racing series due to Josh Grant's knee injury at Thunder Valley MX. Photo courtesy of Honda Racing.
E3 spark plugs racing fans can be found every weekend supporting their favorite race teams, drivers, riders and events – each devoted to finding the best racing from coast to coast. So far, the super hot action at this season’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX Championship has kept motocross fans on their feet from the drop of the starting gate until the last rider crosses the checkered flag, making 2011 a candidate for the “Best MX Racing” in series history.
This weekend was no exception as race teams set up shop at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, CO. The track that most teams love to hate is tucked into the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains about 20 minutes west of downtown Denver. At 6182-feet elevation, the thin Colorado air is a true test of endurance for both rider and machine. This year, the high-altitude stage was set for defending AMA 450cc national champion, Ryan Dungey to claim his first “overall” victory in Round 5 of the scheduled twelve-race season.
When the gate dropped for Moto 1, Lucas Oil Honda rider Christian Craig grabbed the early lead ahead of Two-Two Motorsports’ Chad Reed and the factory Kawasaki of Monster Energy’s Ryan Villopoto. A couple of laps later, Villopoto would fly past the lead duo and take a demanding lead on his way to the moto win. Rockstar Makita’s Ryan Dungey would dispose of Reed late in the moto to claim second place followed by Reed and the “fresh-out-of-retirement” Honda of Kevin Windham.
In Moto 2, Dungey picked up where he left off but this time took an early lead and pulled away from Villopoto and Reed who were left to fight it out for second and third place, respectively. When fan-favorite Kevin Windham announced at Budds Creek last weekend that he would be spending time at the lake, no one figured the longtime Honda star meant “Lake Wood” Colorado. But, the seventeen-year veteran showed up ready to race and posted 4-4 finishes for fourth overall on the day.
Dungey’s win was his first overall victory of the season and moved the Suzuki rider to within 21 points of series leader Reed and 14 points behind Villopoto with seven races remaining in the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro MX championship. Riders have no time rest in what may be the best MX racing season in decades as teams head east for a “Fourth of July” weekend shootout at Red Bud, MI. If you’re looking for fireworks for your favorite ride, pick up a box of E3 spark plugs at your local parts store, or online at an authorized E3 dealer. Our motorcycle spark plugs were “Born to Burn.”
