TAKING NOTES: Budds Creek National – 450 Class

What? A KTM 450 dominating the U.S. outdoor nationals? No way!

Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey continues to add to his points lead with his 3rd overall sweep in a row this season. With gaps over 30 seconds over 2nd place each moto, Dungey completely owned the creek. Ever since James Stewart’s wrist-wrenching crash at Thunder Valley, Dungey has taken advantage of the situation and piled on the points as Stewart has been either showing up for a moto or electing not to race due to the extent of the injury. Dungey already has a 54 point lead going into Red Bud in a couple of weeks. The Dungey camp wants JS7 back out there before this 450 class becomes a yawner.

Broc Tickle Making Waves At Budds Creek

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle came away with a career day at Budds Creek, his home national as he’s a North Carolina native living in Michigan currently. Tickle got Mitch Payton all giggling with a 2-2 finish for 2nd overall on the day. Tickle has been stringing together improving rides ever since his bike quit out on him in the 1st moto at Thunder Valley. This Budds Creek finish has him on the map to battle for 2nd this series as Tickle sits only 6th in the points.

A “Battle For 2nd” Series

With Ryan Dungey already putting on enough points to miss a round and still hold the red plate, the focus shifts to the battle for 2nd in the points, much similar to 2010 450 outdoor series, which ironically Dungey won that year as Andrew Short and Brett Metcalfe battled into the final round at Pala. The main 2 going for #2 at the moment are Mike Alessi and Jake Weimer as they are only separated by 3 points going into Red Bud. These 2 have been consistent podium finishers with help of Mike’s patented holeshots to Weimer’s great rides lately. And 3 years later, Short and Metcalfe are close in points once again. This time for the 4th and 5th place spots in the standings with Tickle coming in hot in 6th.

Izzi Dizzy At Budds Creek

Rockstar/Star/Valli/Yamaha rider Nico Izzi did not compete last weekend at Budds Creek due to a concussion he suffered in qualifying Saturday morning but you have to give props to him on a very much improving year especially diving into the bigger 450 class for the first time. Izzi, who is small for his stature on the 450 machines, is doing serious work this year. He is the only Yamaha rider representing in the top 10 in points this year and has garnered top 10 finishes in a bunch of motos this summer. Hope to see Nico be 100% for his home national at Red Bud in 2 weeks.

Is It Time For Cele-Brayton?

Muscle Milk/Honda’s Justin Brayton needs a confidence boost outdoors and he got that in the 1st moto at Budds Creek grabbing a big holeshot. He ended up finishing his, so far, season best 5th place in the moto. An 8th place in moto 2 was also welcoming to the Honda camp after a bunch of very sub-par finishes so far this season. Brayton is starting to pick up the finishes he needs to still be under the factory Honda tent. Will it continue at Red Bud and beyond?

JS7 Back For Red Bud?

A lonely #7 Suzuki RM-Z450 sat at the Yoshimura Suzuki rig all weekend long at Budds Creek as James Stewart gives himself time to heal up his badly injured wrist. Talk from Suzuki says he should be back for Red Bud after a 2 week break to get his wrist better. The series and the fans want to see James back, simple as that! He may not be battling for the championship with Dungey but just to see the guy ride is a pure spectacle for the fans and the sport.

Top Canadian In The 450 Class Is……

Young Honda rider Cole Thompson has been mixing it up with the riders holding team rides within the top 20 at a few rounds this season. He has had 3 top 20 points-paying moto finishes so far and 1 of them happened at Budds Creek with a 14th place finish in moto 2. He sits just outside the top 20 in points at 25th on the result sheet. Not bad for your first ever pro season, especially in the 450 class.

Josh Grant has been stepping it up outdoors on the 450 holding onto 8th in the points.