Hangtown 2018 looked an awful lot like Hangtown 2017.
Indeed, the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship series got underway on Saturday at the Hangtown Classic, just outside Sacramento, but this year with two #1 plates riding.
Christian Craig got the holeshot in Moto 1 led for a few laps before hitting the dirt and eventually the field settled down with now defending Champion Eli Tomac passing Marvin Musquin for the lead and the win all playing out like last year. And, Tomac followed up with another win sweeping the day to open his title defense in first-place. Musquin held on for second-place as he did last year but Justin Barcia took third-place in both Motos showing the skills displayed at the beginning of the Supercross season, prior to getting hurt, remain in place.
Jason Anderson, fresh off his 2018 Supercross Championship, took fourth overall after a (4-6) day a much better outcome than last year after he got hit by a rock leaving him bleeding and unable to start the opening Moto. Ken Roczen returned to Motocross for the first time since 2016 taking a respectable 11th overall including a sixth in Moto 1. Roczen continues to rehabilitate a hand he broke in Supercross a few months ago and said pain and fitness affected him.
In the 250 class, defending Champion Zach Osborne swept the field just as he did last year fending off Jeremy Martin in both Motos. Martin did not have a repeat of 2017 when he suffered a bike malfunction in Moto 1 to start his season with a DNF. Aaron Plessinger, took third overall after a (3-4) day dismissing any thoughts of a Supercross Championship hangover after winning the 250SX West title a few weeks ago.
Check out the best photos from the opening round of the 2018 Motocross season at Hangtown starting with (at top) Christian Craig grabbing the 450 class MotoSport.com holeshot from Moto 1:
An iconic shot from an iconic race
Justin Barcia took third-place in both Motos for third overall
Neat
Sure is nice to see Ken Roczen back
Welcome to the show, rook.
Jason Anderson took fourth overall
This is about the most action Austin Forkner got all day after suffering a rib injury and not finishing the second Moto
Christian Craig sends it high
Find RJ Hampshire
Defending Champion Eli Tomac sends it - not a good look for the rest of the 450 class field
Defending Champion Zach Osborne chases down Justin Cooper - not a good look for the rest of the 250 class field
Ummm, we'd like to know who is responsible for hanging the repeating banners?
Ryan Villopoto returned to Motocross, sort of, racing in the seven round 125 All Star series