NEW BERLIN – This weekend on August 13, in New Berlin, N.Y. thousands of spectators will pour into the local community to play witness to the 2016 version of the annual Unadilla Motocross weekend.
“All year we have been up with our numbers which has been awesome. Sports in general, attendance seems to be down this year, but for us we have had a couple of events that have been record turnouts. We're hoping to have somewhere close to 20,000 spectators this weekend,” said Casey Huntley, Media Relations at Next Level Sports Management.
The Unadilla track will mark the tenth of twelve rounds in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series. The immense crowds that will pour into the small community to view some of the nation's and worldss top motocross riders as they race down the stretch of the season, vying for that ultimate championship crowning.
“We are looking forward to coming back this weekend to Unadilla, it is definitely one of the more unique stops in the season,” said Huntley. “It made its debut for motocross championships in 1972, and is actually one of only two tracks that have been around for that long. So I guess you could say it is the second oldest on the circuit. It is a very iconic place.”
Huntley went on to explain that the terrain is somewhat unique at this particular track due to the layout of the course coupled with the natural terrain. Huntley explained that due to this, generally European riders may have a slight advantage, due to the United States pushing for bigger and more manmade courses over natural ones.
This years 2016 series will feature nationally and worldwide known riders in both pro level races at the 250cc and 450cc levels. One such name who will be missing from the 450cc races this year will be Ryan Dungey, of Minnasota (Unadilla champion in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015). Dungey has dominated the sport of motocross the past few years and was looking for a repeat championship (current 450cc class Monster Energy Supercross champion and AMA 450 Motocross Champion) before an injury sidelined him earlier this year. However, despite the injury, Dungey was just awarded his second straight ESPY Award back in June of 2016, for Best Action Sports Male Athlete. Dungey also just completed a body shoot for ESPN and Sports Illustrated and is the current face of the Wheaties Cereal Box.
Up until the injury Dungey was in a tightly contested battle with Ken Roczen of Thüringen, Germany. Roczen has now taken over as the rider in first place after nine rounds and will look to cement his status with the completion of the tenth round come this weekend at Unadilla.
Sitting at fourth place currently in the 450cc class is New York native Justin Barcia, from Monroe, N.Y. Barcia is a two-time Pro Motocross winner, and rides for the Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross Team.
