The lights are coming back on.
Last year, the Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood was the first track to host a motocross race at night, with riders cruising along at top speeds under seven lighting trucks.
Round five of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will be held at Thunder Valley on Saturday. Two more lighting trucks have been added to ensure that every jump, curve and inch of the track is lit for the riders.
“From the industry itself, they said, ‘You are doing something different.’ And they were really receptive,” said David Clabaugh, the promoter of Thunder Valley Motocross Park.
“We did a test run last night, and the two (lighting) trucks made a significant difference.”
There are two men’s classes, which are differentiated by the size of the combustion chamber in the bike’s engine; they race either 450 cc or 250 cc. Women race in a separate category.
“Most of the outdoor national motocross tracks are more in rural areas,” Clabaugh said. “Here you are 10 minutes from downtown Denver. The teams really like that.”
Clabaugh said he is expecting about 20,000 people to attend.
Fans should expect to see some of the nation’s top racers on the track when the races begin at 6 p.m.
“Every big name in the sport of motocross will be here,” Clabaugh said. “There will be a handful of local guys trying to take on the big guys.”
Chad Reed, of Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki, is atop the point standings for the 450 class, and Christophe Pourcel, who races for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, holds the lead in the 250 class. Honda racer Ashley Fiolek leads the WMX class standings.
All three racers won their respective classes at the preceding round in the series, held in Pennsylvania.
Before the races get underway, fans of all ages can attend the Fan Fest at motorcycle dealership Sun Enterprises today. The afternoon block party will have vendors, activities and the chance to get autographs from riders.
Anica Wong: 303-954-1720 or awong@denverpost.com
Start your engines
What: Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Where: Thunder Valley Moto- cross Park, near Interstate 70 and C-470
When: Today, Fan Fest (8877 N. Washington St.); Saturday, races.
Schedule: Prelims, 12:30 p.m.; Women’s moto, 4:25 p.m. and 10:10 p.m.; Class motos, 6 p.m.
AROUND TOWN
Sky-high success.
Timely batting from one of the league’s better hitting teams. Solid, make-do pitching with no flashy statistics. All jelling to form one of the hottest teams in the league.
If you guessed the Rockies, you’d be wrong. But not far off. The Sky Sox, who return home to Colorado Springs for a Triple-A Pacific Coast League series starting Saturday, have shined this season. Their .298 team batting average (through Wednesday) leads the PCL. Second baseman Eric Young Jr. on Thursday was named to the Triple-A All-Star Game. The Sky Sox host the Portland Beavers for a four-game series, with Saturday’s game at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s at 1 p.m. at Security Service Field.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Bring on Brazil.
What a difference seven days make for the United States men’s soccer team. Last week, the U.S. was destroyed by Brazil in their worst effort since eking by Honduras in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.
But since then, the U.S. shocked the No. 1 team in the world, European champion Spain, on Wednesday to advance to the championship game of the Confederations Cup in South Africa. That game kicks off Sunday at noon on ESPN and will bring the U.S. full circle. The U.S., ranked No. 14, will face No. 5 Brazil, a heavy favorite after beating South Africa on Thursday.
Brazil holds a 13-1 advantage over the U.S. in the all-time series. But the U.S., playing in its first FIFA final, seems to have little to lose.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Extra endurance.
Among the more than 1,100 women who will race in Sunday’s Danskin Triathlon at Aurora Reservoir, 32-year-old school teacher Kirsten Young will be attempting to compile one more peg in an impressive feat. There are 10 Danskin Tris across the country this summer, and Young is racing in all of them. The Aurora leg, which kicks off at 7 a.m., features a .8-kilometer swim, 16K bike and a 5K run (danskinwomenstri.com).
Also, find the Denver Undy 5000 at City Park on Saturday. The 5,000-meter run and walk, in support of fighting colon cancer, will allow racers to complete the course in their skivvies (ccalliance.org).
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Women set for rough stuff.
Just a week after six men’s national rugby teams stormed through Denver in contesting the Churchill Cup, it will be the women’s turn this weekend.
The USA women’s national team and the Canadian national squad will face off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Infinity Park in Glendale. The “CanAm” match, along with the Nation’s Cup in August in Toronto, is part of the run-up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year in England. And it will continue a long-standing rivalry between the USA Eagles and Rugby Canada.
Check for info.
