MXPTV was at the opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships at the Hangtown Classic just outside of Sacramento, California.  While filming for Alli Sports, MXPTV was able to get shots from the morning practice sessions and catch most of the motos.  We all know what happened but here’s the riders that stood out for this week’s Top Riders feature.

Chad Reed

2-1: 1st Overall (450)

TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray rider Chad Reed made a last minute decision to run the entire outdoor national series just days before Hangtown and came out swinging swapping moto wins with Ryan Dungey to get the overall win.  His late-moto charges have been his trademark and it shows that he’s in the best shape of his life as others seem to look like they are playing catch up.  After a not-so hot outdoor season last year, Reed looks 100% rejuvenated this year much thanks to his outstanding 2nd place finish in one of the closest supercross points races of all time.  Reed has won an outdoor title already.  Can he get his 2nd in outdoors and have 2 and 2 in SX and MX?

Ryan Dungey

1-2: 2nd Overall (450)

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey was mostly seen as that 3rd or 4th place rider in the supercross title chase indoors the past 4 months but in the first moto at Hangtown, Dungey proved that he can not only lead but put a beating on the field with a dominating moto win.  He was up front in moto 2 before Reed got him late in the moto but it looks like Dungey is way more comfortable outdoors. Dungey has that #1 plate for a reason.  Let’s see if he can keep it after Pala!

Blake Baggett

3-1: 1st Overall (250)

In both 250 motos, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett was a bunch of steps ahead than everyone else that day at Hangtown.  He had decent starts but put on a honor class level of passing all day long to capture his first overall win outdoors.  Baggett had a rough year outdoors with a nasty crash at Budds Creek but this year, Blake looks better than ever.  His performance at Hangtown is going to be his shot of confidence all season long.

Brett Metcalfe

5-5: 5th Overall (450)

After a dismal supercross season with injuries and a nasty crash in Atlanta, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe took the rest of the SX series off to focus on his speciality, the outdoors.  Metcalfe battled up front all day long at Hangtown with a great start in moto 1.  He’s still healing up from injuries but he’s going to need a little bit more to stay with his teammate and Reed at the end of the moto.

Kevin Windham

6-4: 4th Overall (450)

The ultimate veteran on the tour, Kevin Windham was back at the American Honda rig and not many thought Windham would lead the opening laps of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship series after his Vegas spill with Stewart just a few weeks ago.  The fans all went crazy when the #14 flew by their seats and after doing some very last minute testing on Thursday’s press day (as well as entering a moto on amateur day!), Windham was very impressive at Hangtown.

Davi Millsaps

4-7: 6th Overall (450)

JGR/Muscle Milk/Toyota’s Davi Millsaps is on the fringe of being included with the heavy hitters in the 450 class.  Millsaps has become comfortable and accustomed to his Yamaha YZ450F and his 4-7 showing at Hangtown was very impressive.  In moto 1, Millsaps was passing riders left and right (similar to Baggett’s passing in the 250 class) and kept moving up.  Millsaps is looking real good right now.  A moto or even an overall win is not that far out of the question for the #18.

Darryn Durham

10-9: 8th Overall (250)

Eleven 10 Mods own Darryn Durham has got some awesome first round rides like at Houston for the east coast Lites SX series (before he got injured that race) and did the same at Hangtown but without getting injured!  Durham has stepped it up greatly in 2011 and his Honda has been keeping pace, if not better, than the Geico Honda machines as he battled and stayed with Justin Barcia in moto 1 before briefly going down late in the moto.  His 9-10 finish is OK but the speed he showed early to midway through the moto can easily match the leaders out front.  Once he can put a moto together, Durham is going to be very solid this season with rides like he had at Hangtown (except for hitting the dirt).

Marvin Musquin

4-6: 5th Overall (250)

Red Bull/KTM European import Marvin Musquin competed in his first Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship round in the states at Hangtown and had an impressive showing as many hope to expect from the 2 time MX2 world champion.  His first moto earned a 4th place finish but moto 2 had to be the most impressive ride out of anyone at Hangtown.  On the start, Musquin’s front wheel slid out in the 2nd corner collecting Martin Davalos starting him back near last place.  Musquin put on a serious charge on a very, very, VERY rough Hangtown track that just got rougher and rougher throughout the day.  At moto’s end, Musquin finished an impressive 6th place and earned 5th overall on the day.  Keep an eye on the #125 KTM at a national near you!  He could be pulling overall wins this season but just needs the starts to work out for him.

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