Mechanicsville Race Report

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 28, 2015) – Budd’s Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Md., was host to round six 2015 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, marking the halfway point in the series.  The first motos aired live on MAVTV, the second motos were broadcast on NBCSN, and both motos were streamed live on promotcross.com.  All of the concluded races are archived on promotocross.com and can be viewed on demand free.

The weather played a major role in the track conditions.  Practice was shortened to try and preserve the muddy track in the morning, and the forecast was dire with major storms predicted later in the day.  Justin Barcia and Weston Peick raced each other near the front of the pack at the start of moto one before Peick made a slight mistake on the slick track that put him back to 10^th position.  Phillip Nicoletti began the race in seventh.  Barcia was fifth after the first lap.  Barcia charged through the mud passing for fourth on the second lap.  A light to moderate rain was falling.  With four laps remaining Barcia moved into third where he finished.  Peick was 10^th with Nicoletti 11^th.  MAVTV pit reporter Georgia Lindsey spoke to Barcia on the podium where he addressed the television audience. “The beard to be feared was on fire these last few laps, Justin you were absolutely obliterating up these hills and passing,” said Lindsey.  “I had a strong off-week, the week as good, been riding hard, the whole Autotrader Toyota Yamaha team is killing it, Monster, just everybody for being behind me.  The track is definitely tough out here, really slick, lappers were bad.  I just can’t thank everyone behind me enough, you know Alpinestars, Oakley goggles, GT, Shimano, just everyone for backing me, thanks guys,” said Barcia.

Before the second moto the skies opened up and the area suffered what could best be described as a deluge.  Tornado warnings were issued and the second moto was delayed initially for 30 minutes, but with no improvement the delay was extended.  The track was an absolute quagmire.

At just a few minutes after 6:00 p.m. (EST) the gate dropped for moto two.  Barcia’s Yamaha YZ450F led the field around turn one with Nicoletti and Peick inside the top-10.  Nicoletti moved to fifth and Peick to seventh on lap three while Barcia started to put some distance on the second place rider.  On lap five Peick suffered a problem brought on from the extreme conditions and retired from the moto.  Barcia led every lap of the race to claim the overall win and his first 450 overall motocross victory of his career.  Georgia Lindsey, this time with an NBCSN microphone greeted Barcia as he and the team celebrated.  “What a race, from this morning you had a smile on your face and you looked like you were enjoying it, there was no slowing down for you,” said Lindsey as she moved the mic to Barcia.  “So much fun out there, I kept it so positive, my team was positive, three engines today, they were killing it, the whole Autotrader Toyota Yamaha team, Monster Energy, Alpinestars, Oakley, killer goggles today, my Pirelli tires were hooking up awesome, just so many people out there that are helping me today.  I’m so pumped, my mom and dad, my girlfriend Brooke, my mechanic Ben and his wife Ashley, everybody on the team, Coy Gibbs, coach Gibbs, it’s been a lot of hard work, we’re stoked,” said an elated Barcia.  Nicoletti was consistent riding in fifth the entire race since the start of the second lap earning fifth for the moto and eighth overall.  Peick was scored 34^th and 14^th overall.

All three Autotrader/Toyota/Yamaha team riders are inside the top-10 in series points with Barcia third, Peick eighth, and Nicoletti ninth.

As has been tradition over the Independence Day weekend, Red Bud Track and Trail in Buchanan, Mich. will host round seven on July 4.  The first moto will air live at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on MAVTV, and the second moto will be broadcast live on NBC at 4:00 p.m. (EST).