2013 Motocross | Moto-X 338 Predictions

Photo: allisports.com

I'm on vacation this week so this will be short.  I just want to give kudos to Durham and Hahn for great season debuts.  I've been waiting for their return so look for them in my top 10 every week.  Adam Cianciarulo looks like he struggled with the pace but he's not the amateur star of Pro Circuit for nothing.

Sorry for the short post but I've had a hard time finding internet service here and I hope the races haven't started yet.  In any event, here are my picks for Moto X 338.

450 Class

1. R. Villopoto (- 1)
2. R. Dungey (+ 1)
3. J. Barcia (- 1)
4. J. Stewart (+ 1)
5. T. Canard (+ 1)
6. M. Alessi (+ 1)
7. J. Brayton (- 1)
8. B. Tickle (+ 1)
9. J. Weimer (- 1)
10. P. Nicoletti (- 1)

250 Class

1. E. Tomac (- 1)
2. B. Baggett (+ 1)
3. K. Roczen (- 1)
4. M. Musquin (+ 1)
5. D. Durham (- 1)
6. W. Hahn (+ 1)
7. J. Anderson (- 1)
8. Z. Osborne (+ 1)
9. K. Cunningham (- 1)
10. J. Bogle (- 1)

Ciao for now.

The Roost'r

2013 Motocross | Budds Creek Predictions

Photo: allisports.com

Your humble correspondent has reason to cheer a bit this week.  For those who have been following closely, you will have noticed that I had my best week ever.  I've employed a 1 handicap since mid-way through the Supercross season and last week I was either off by more than 1 or I nailed the call.  In the 450 class I called 30% perfectly and in the 250 class I did even better with 4 perfect calls.  It's been difficult to make exact calls so I'm stoked about the results.

This week the series head to Budds Creek, MD.  Villopoto is unstoppable and this week should look familiar.  Dungey is hanging in there far better than I had predicted and Barcia is keeping both of them honest.  Mike Alessi is proving once again that he is more comfortable outdoors and his consistency is matched only by Villopoto through the first 4 rounds.  James Stewart and Chad Reed continue to struggle while Tyla Rattray and Broc Tickle are making progress.  It seems like just a matter of time before Trey Canard breaks the top 3 but it may take a bad day by one of our leaders to make that happen.

The 250 class is a bit more in flux.  Musquin, I've felt, is growing stronger week by week and I should have given him more consideration for the top spot last week.  The race between Tomac and Roczen is like trading the USD/EUR, tight.  Zach Osborne and Blake Baggett are also riding inspired; they should be able to keep up the intensity as the series rolls on.  Justin Bogle is creeping up like a Trojan Horse while the rookie Cooper Webb continues to surprise them all.  Still too much racing to determine the clear favorite but I like Marvin Musquin's momentum going into Budds Creek.

Alright, so on with the show; behold, Budds Creek picks of the week.

450 Class

1. Ryan Villopoto (- 1)
2. Justin Barcia (- 1)
3. Ryan Dungey (+ 1)
4. James Stewart (+ 1)
5. Trey Canard (- 1)
6. Mike Alessi (+ 1)
7. Tyla Rattray (+ 1)
8. Broc Tickle (- 1)
9. Jake Weimer (- 1)
10. Josh Grant (- 1)

250 Class

1. Ken Roczen (- 1)
2. Marvin Musquin (+ 1)
3. Eli Tomac (+ 1)
4. Blake Baggett (- 1)
5. Zach Osborne (+ 1)
6. Jason Anderson (- 1)
7. Justin Bogle (+ 1)
8. Jeremy Martin (+ 1)
9. Kyle Cunningham (- 1)
10. Cooper Webb (+ 1)

Enjoy the races and see you next week.

The Roost'r

2013 Motocross | High Point Predictions

Photo: allisports.com

Sounds like everyone was racing last week on an even playing field, that is quite rare so we should feel privileged.  I dig it because it makes the racing so much tighter and we saw it play out with some new faces in the top 10.  This is a deep field, particularly in the 450 class and the rookies are mixing things up in both classes, it's fantastic.  The track looked awesome, I have a bit of an obsession with dirt and the dirt looked great.

Villopoto, blah, blah, blah, we know he's the guy to beat, Dungey stepped up big, Barcia looked great, James Stewart looks vulnerable, Alessi super consistent, Canard had a tough day and what is going on with Chad Reed?  Desalle and Strijbos have come out of nowhere and that has to be frustrating some of the guys; easy solution - Go Faster!  Sipes looked great too, Josh Grant had a good practice but that didn't translate well in the motos.

In the 250 class, only Marvin Musquin is happier than I to see him on the top podium.  Marvin seems, in my opinion, to be well suited for the outdoors, even more so than Roczen so I hope he keeps it going.  Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen if you didn't notice have each had a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall finishes through the first 3 rounds.  Roczen unfortunately has been moving in the wrong direction but don't be fooled, he could be as dominate as Purcell.  Baggett it seems will need some time to get up to speed; may not happen for him this year or maybe he puts in a late season charge; we've seen that before.  Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne are regulars in the top 10 and I can't see an reason they can't keep that up.

I called 2 perfectly in the 450 class and I was 30% in the 250 class.  I should be able to call at least the riders in the top 10 even if they aren't in order.  That being said, I'm going to exclude Desalle and Strijbos from my pics because I never know from week to week if they'll be racing.  Alright, so let's get down to bid'ness.

450 Class

1. Villopoto (- 1)
2. J. Stewart (- 1)
3. Barcia (+ 1)
4. Dungey (+ 1)
5. Alessi (- 1)
6. Canard (+ 1)
7. Short (- 1)
8. Rattray (- 1)
9. Reed (- 1)
10. Weimer (- 1)

250 Class

1. Tomac (- 1)
2. Roczen (+ 1)
3. Musquin (+ 1)
4. Osborne (- 1)
5. Baggett (+ 1)
6. J. Anderson (+ 1)
7. J. Martin (- 1)
8. Cunningham (- 1)
9. Bogle (+ 1)
10. Webb (+ 1)

Week 4 and the points are tight.  This could go down to the wire and we, the spectators, are the big winners.  High Point, enjoy! you lucky dogs.

The Roost'r