Racing

Blake Baggett's Day At Muddy Creek Motocross | MX 2016

Blake Baggett went 8-7 for 8th overall at round 5.

June 30, 2016

The Yoshimura Suzuki team had two riders under the tent with Blake Baggett making a return to the series after a month off due to injury he sustained at the beginning of the season.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake Baggett sustain a broken collarbone at Hangtown and he came back at Glen Helen a week later and raced the first Moto and scored a 16th place finish. Unfortunately, he pulled out of the second Moto and took a month off to let his collarbone heal. Before the first practice got under way Blake gets his shoulder worked on to loosen it up.Photo by Rob Koy

In the first timed practice Blake recorded a 2:03.994 on his 3rd lap. Blake got back on his bike for the first time on Monday before Muddy Creek and was able to ride for three days leading up to the race. Since the 2nd Motos would be live on NBC Network TV, the 450s would go out on the muddy track first this week.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake getting his lap times via the pitboard from his mechanic Brandon. Blake turned a faster time in practice 2 with a 2:01.640 for the 9th gate pick going into Moto 1. Blake usually would treat the practices as a race and try to better his time every lap, but this week he went into the timed practice only scoring a fast lap in each practice to conserve some energy for the races.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake and his mechanic Brandon getting ready for his first Moto back after a month break. Brandon keeps the umbrella over both of them.Photo by Rob Koy

In Moto 1, Blake got around a 15th place start and worked his way through the field to 8th place on lap 8. He held that pace for the rest of the race to score an impressive 8th place finish. Here Blake hugs the inside line coming into the first turn.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake Baggett and Marvin Musquin battling for 7th place in Moto 1. This left hand turn above the uphill triple was tricky to get the inside rut after landing the big jump. The main line was middle to the outer rut because many had too much momentum going into this turn.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake dropping into the valley after the uphill triple. The right line would set you up for the right hand turn on the bottom. Blake took this line the whole moto were other guys would go to the left and take the outside rut on the left hander turn.Photo by Rob Koy

In Moto 2, Blake got out to a top 10 start and moved up to eight place by lap 2. Blake got into an intense battle with Weston Peick that would last for eight laps were Blake had the strength and endurance to make the pass on Weston. The heat and hummidity in the 2nd Moto was the hottest it has been all season and many riders struggled with it. Blake seemed to handle it pretty well considering he has only been back on the bike three times before the Muddy Creek round.Photo by Rob Koy

Blake Baggett went 8-7 for 8th overall at Muddy Creek on his return race from the collarbone injury. Blake is not at 100% yet with his injury or his endurance but plans on working hard during the week to get better and keep making improvements at every round as the series continues. Blake said “All in all, it was pretty good. I was inside the top-10 in both motos. It’s a step forward and not a bad comeback. My RM-Z worked great and i’m looking forward to next weekend.”Photo by Rob Koy