Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett had the most dominant performance of 2011 Lucas Oil AMA 250cc National Championship at Round 3 in Mechanicsville, MD, over the weekend. Photo courtesy of Hoppenworld.
Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett finally rode like a national championship contender with dominant 1-1 finishes in round 3 of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA MX National Championship held at Mount Morris, PA, over the weekend. The famed High Point Raceway is well known as one of the toughest, most challenging outdoor motocross tracks that the AMA pro riders visit each year. This year, midday rain showers turned the Pennsylvania hillside into a “Slip-N-Slide” with deep off-chamber ruts.
E3 motorcycle fans lined the fence for Moto One as local favorites Darryn Durham (Honda) and Ryan Sipes (Yamaha) stretched out to an early lead over Pro Circuit’s Dean Wilson, Tyla Rattray and eventual winner Baggett. Durham’s local knowledge of the High Point track paid big dividends as the privateer rider would keep the factory riders at bay for the opening thirty minutes. With two laps to go, the Kawasaki team would freight train Durham, moving Baggett to first followed home by Scotland’s Wilson and South African rider Rattray.
Durham’s hope for his first overall podium of his career went up in smoke when his mechanic had a last minute clutch change that caused the local Honda ace to lose his gate pick for Moto Two. Baggett would blast to the lead early in the second moto before dropping his Kawasaki in the mud. Teammate Rattray slipped and slid his way into first. Wilson would have to mount a charge through the pack while Honda’s Eli Tomac worked his way to a third place finish in the second 250cc race.
Baggett’s late race charge in both motos would leave E3 Spark Plugs race fans shouting for more as the Pro Circuit rider put on the most dominant ride of the 2011 MX Lites season. Rattray’s 3-2 finish was good enough for second overall on the day. Geico Honda rider Tomac would capture the final spot on the podium ahead of Dean Wilson in fourth. Only nine championship points separate the trio of Rattray, Wilson and Baggett as the 250cc riders head East for next weekend’s round 4 at Budds Creek MX in Mechanicsville, MD.
