Vital MX Perspective: Let's Take It Outside 2

Hangtown is always an awesome start to the outdoor season. Here are our top pics, some of our observations, plus some of the best comments from the forum.

Breaking in a new Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown is always exciting. While the rolling foothills east of Sacramento are scattered with oak trees and very scenic, the track is often rough and nasty, and the riders have to struggle with the transition from Supercross to outdoor suspension.

This year, it seemed like there was less of the sawdust or rice hulls blended into the track like we've seen in the past, so there was a bit more of the normal hard-packed natural surface in play. Of course, the 90+ degree weather probably didn't help. It went from muddy in the morning, to baked in the afternoon.

But are you ready for some battles over the summer? Let's take it outdoors.

Ah, after watching 22-rider gates for the last several months, it's a treat to watch 40 riders pin it for the first turn in the outdoors. Blasting into the first turn to start the season, Adam Cianciarulo and Zach Osborne were in close contact, while Sean Cantrell was railing around from the outside.

Adam Cianciarulo led the first six or so laps of the first 250 moto before Zach Osborne got by. Adam finished second in moto one, while he slipped to eighth in moto two, which netted him fourth overall for the day.

Freshly crowned as the 250 East Champ, Zach Osborne is carrying a bunch of extra confidence. He said he's never come into an outdoor season with the speed that he has now.

Aaron Plessinger's 3-5 score was good for a solid third overall on the day.

Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha's Wil Hahn, urging on one of his riders.

Back from his Supercross injuries, Alex Martin charged from eighth to fourth in moto two.

Two steps forward, one step back. Christian Craig nailed the start to led the first 450 moto for most of a couple laps, but a swap and crash dropped him to outside of the top ten. He came back to ninth in moto one, and was 14th in moto two.

RangerLee: ET looked at vital after Moto 1 and decided he did not want the race to be meh, so he he kept his bike in neutral until the gate dropped, then went in to gear. It was his way of adding some excitement to the race.

Bam. Eli Tomac scores the win in the first round, and sets himself up as the guy to beat this summer. Look for the red plates on his bike next weekend at Glen Helen.

That's it for round one.

Want more from Hangtown? Check these goodies...

One Lap video with Zach Osborne.
Results Sheet.
Winners' Circle: Post-Race 450 Press Conference with Eli Tomac, Marvin Musquin, and Josh Grant.
Winners' Circle: Josh Grant.

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