The Tale of the Tracks

The TALE of theTRACKS Sizing up all Twelve 2015 Lucas Oil Pro MotoX Championship Courses With the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships upon us, let's dig into the " DIRTY DOZEN" that comprise one of the toughest professional motocross events. Each track has its own challenges, twists and turns - and taken collectively, the group rattles even the best MX racers. LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOX CHAMPIONSHIP CIRCUIT, LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONAL TV lacks pure straight- away stretches, so well-timed throttling and gearing are essential. Deep, soft dirt makes racing Thunder Valley particularly challenging for less-experienced MX riders. The track's altitude - it's nestled in the Rockies, not far from Denver - is also a hidden hazard. TENNESSEE NATIONAL What else would expect from the Lucas Oil Pro's cleanup hitter? Fourth in line for the '15 Lucas Oil Pro HIGH POINT NATIONAL HANGTOWN MOTOCR OSS CLASSIC One of the most celebrated MX courses on the circuit, Hangtown has impressive length, hairpin turns and a series of bumps & ruts about halfway through, immediately followed by a 180-degree left turn with a steep hill. GLEN HELEN NATIONAL Here's what BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL Similar to Thunder Pennsylvania isn't known as a hotbed of need you to know about Glen Helen: the track has a hill over 200 feet high dubbed Mt. St. Helen's. Glen Helen is the baddest of all SoCal and that's you championships, this Muddy Creek raceway is a true heavy hitter. It features some of the best traction on the MX activity, but don't tell that to the folks at High Point. Located about an hour south of Pittsburgh, HP is one of the "sleeper" courses on the Lucas Oil Pro circuit. Valley, this southern Maryland track is jam-packed with tricky turns. Budds Creek has tons of interior trees, too - so riders have a tough time keeping tabs on what the competition is up to. Courses - saying a lot. circuit, thanks to rich soil. SPRING CREEK NATIONAL The second half of the IRONMAN NATIONAL The final event of the 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross REDBUD NATIONAL One of the most UTAH NATIONAL Utah National is the UNADILLA NATIONAL Known for its numerous championship trek begins at Spring Creek National. Packed with perilous pitfalls, SCN is a worthy entry on the Lucas Oil Pro circuit. crown jewel of Miller popular MX tracks on the planet, RedBud National is known for its WASHOUGAL NATIONAL Motorsports Park, which has been named Motor- wide, roomy track. This gives anyone in the back of the pack the chance to make headway on the leader. Washougal is an MX track lover's dream: stunning local views, high-flying competition and something called Horsepower Hill, which ranks as one of the most jumps and tunnels, Unadilla National boasts some of the most iconic track features on the planet, let alone the Lucas Oil Pro MotoX Championships. sports Facility of the Year. Course difficulty borders on the insane. The winding track is well-stocked with challenges at practically Championships is held in speed-crazy Indiana, not far from RedBud. Ironman is a fresh face for the pro MX circuit, but still has a few hidden surprises - the hallmark of favorite veteran tracks. every turn. problematic patches of track on the circuit. 10 SKI JUMP: the first of many RedBud plunges, this prepares riders for what's to come. 8 THOR JUMP: similar to the Ski Jump is scale, Thor provides a bit more straightaway track. And that means greater speed! 12 SEVEN SIDEWINDING TURNS: between Thor and Launch Pad) - seven is a lucky number, right? It depends on whether MX riders maintain control through this challenging section of RedBud. THE LAUNCH PAD: yep, it's exactly what it sounds like. Racers, prepare for flight! REDBUD WHOOPS: billowy bumps define this straight stretch of RedBud. Riders who survive Whoops get rewarded with... LAROCCO S LEAP: named for MX legend Mike LaRocco, this hill dwarfs the Ski Jump, Thor Jump and Launch Pad. It's the Everest of all MX mountains. SBTOSPOTSS