MECHANICSVILLE, Md.
- Rising motocross star Justin Barcia recorded a pair of podium
finishes Saturday at the AMA Budds Creek Nationals to lead the five-man
GEICO Powersports Honda team. Barcia took home a third and a second
place trophy in the day's two 250cc motos and pocketed the second most
points of the event.
"I wish I was first, but in this heat to come out of here second
overall, I'll take it," Barcia said, referring to the hot and muggy
conditions that sidelined several riders. "It was hot and gnarly and I'm
just drained right now. I have zero energy left. I put it all out
there.
"I've been working really hard on my stamina back home in Georgia and
I'm staying in the best shape possible. That's my job. I've won a race
and I want to win more. I just have a few more things I want to make
better and it'll happen."
All five GEICO Powersports riders finished the day in the top 10. Brett
Metcalfe was sixth overall in the 450cc class, while 250cc pros Trey
Canard (seventh), Blake Wharton (ninth), and Eli Tomac (10th) all did
their best to represent the team.
Atop the team's sole 450cc entry, Metcalfe had a pair of sixth-place
finishes. The Australian stayed with the top riders in both motos and
had chances to lead at various points but, like many riders, was
eventually worn down by the heat. Nevertheless, his effort resulted in
him holding onto the No. 3 position in the championship points.
"I kind of died in the heat again," Metcalfe said. "I just didn't have
the juice to hang on towards the end. Your vision gets a bit blurry and
your energy goes way down. You reach a point where you're just hanging
on.
"I was pleased to have two good starts and overall I rode okay, I just
never got comfortable on the bike. To have two decent finishes and stay
third in the points on a day when I was a bit off is pretty good."
Canard logged seventh and eight place results on his machine, a good
result considering a dubious start to the action.
"We blew a head gasket just before the first moto and the guys were
thrashing to fix it," Canard said. "I missed my gate pick and ended up
getting the last position, which threw my start off. I rode hard, I rode
strong, but it was kind of like we were behind all day.
"The heat wasn't as bad for me. I think I'm getting more and more used
to it and my body is getting stronger. Going 7-8 isn't what we wanted so
we'll have to come back next weekend and do better."
Continuing his trend of showing flashes of brilliance, Wharton was as
high as second place in Moto 2 but an unfortunate spill cost him
valuable positions and he ended up ninth. Coupled with an earlier
11th-place result, he finished up as the day's ninth-best rider.
"The first moto didn't go so good, a had a bad start and went off the
track twice, so I really wanted make it up in the second," Wharton said.
"I got a good start and was third but I cased a jump and it was muddy
right there and I went down. I'm not even sure how. I'm not riding as
good as I can right now and I need to fix it."
Rookie sensation Tomac continues to figure out life at the top of the
motocross world. He started with an 11th-place finish in Moto 1 and
improved to ninth place in Moto 2.
"The guys at this level are the best in the world and Eli is figuring
things out," team manager Mike LaRocco said. "The speed we saw from him
when he won Hangtown, that was real. But it takes more than speed to win
consistently at this level. You have to learn the strategy of dealing
with the heat, of riding against other guys that are really good every
weekend; these things take time. He's going to be fine. He's got the
talent to be a world champion for many years."
The Lucas Oil Motocross Championship Series now shifts to Denver for
next Saturday's event.
- Rising motocross star Justin Barcia recorded a pair of podium
finishes Saturday at the AMA Budds Creek Nationals to lead the five-man
GEICO Powersports Honda team. Barcia took home a third and a second
place trophy in the day's two 250cc motos and pocketed the second most
points of the event.
"I wish I was first, but in this heat to come out of here second
overall, I'll take it," Barcia said, referring to the hot and muggy
conditions that sidelined several riders. "It was hot and gnarly and I'm
just drained right now. I have zero energy left. I put it all out
there.
"I've been working really hard on my stamina back home in Georgia and
I'm staying in the best shape possible. That's my job. I've won a race
and I want to win more. I just have a few more things I want to make
better and it'll happen."
All five GEICO Powersports riders finished the day in the top 10. Brett
Metcalfe was sixth overall in the 450cc class, while 250cc pros Trey
Canard (seventh), Blake Wharton (ninth), and Eli Tomac (10th) all did
their best to represent the team.
Atop the team's sole 450cc entry, Metcalfe had a pair of sixth-place
finishes. The Australian stayed with the top riders in both motos and
had chances to lead at various points but, like many riders, was
eventually worn down by the heat. Nevertheless, his effort resulted in
him holding onto the No. 3 position in the championship points.
"I kind of died in the heat again," Metcalfe said. "I just didn't have
the juice to hang on towards the end. Your vision gets a bit blurry and
your energy goes way down. You reach a point where you're just hanging
on.
"I was pleased to have two good starts and overall I rode okay, I just
never got comfortable on the bike. To have two decent finishes and stay
third in the points on a day when I was a bit off is pretty good."
Canard logged seventh and eight place results on his machine, a good
result considering a dubious start to the action.
"We blew a head gasket just before the first moto and the guys were
thrashing to fix it," Canard said. "I missed my gate pick and ended up
getting the last position, which threw my start off. I rode hard, I rode
strong, but it was kind of like we were behind all day.
"The heat wasn't as bad for me. I think I'm getting more and more used
to it and my body is getting stronger. Going 7-8 isn't what we wanted so
we'll have to come back next weekend and do better."
Continuing his trend of showing flashes of brilliance, Wharton was as
high as second place in Moto 2 but an unfortunate spill cost him
valuable positions and he ended up ninth. Coupled with an earlier
11th-place result, he finished up as the day's ninth-best rider.
"The first moto didn't go so good, a had a bad start and went off the
track twice, so I really wanted make it up in the second," Wharton said.
"I got a good start and was third but I cased a jump and it was muddy
right there and I went down. I'm not even sure how. I'm not riding as
good as I can right now and I need to fix it."
Rookie sensation Tomac continues to figure out life at the top of the
motocross world. He started with an 11th-place finish in Moto 1 and
improved to ninth place in Moto 2.
"The guys at this level are the best in the world and Eli is figuring
things out," team manager Mike LaRocco said. "The speed we saw from him
when he won Hangtown, that was real. But it takes more than speed to win
consistently at this level. You have to learn the strategy of dealing
with the heat, of riding against other guys that are really good every
weekend; these things take time. He's going to be fine. He's got the
talent to be a world champion for many years."
The Lucas Oil Motocross Championship Series now shifts to Denver for
next Saturday's event.
6/21/2010 2:06pm
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