While Roczen was able to continue his career-best start by sweeping the motos at the previous round from Muddy Creek Raceway in Tennessee, giving him nine out of 10 moto wins, he received his fiercest challenge yet in the battle for victory. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac has shown consistent improvement with each passing round of the championship and in Tennessee he enjoyed his best outing of 2016. Tomac erased a considerable deficit to Roczen in the final moto to engage in a head-to-head showdown over the closing laps. While Roczen prevailed, it served notice that Tomac is poised to face off with him from here on out. 

Working in Roczen’s favor is his impressive 47-point lead in the championship. While he surely would like to keep the momentum going and amass one of the most statistically dominant seasons in history, he has the luxury of being able to give up points if a win isn’t in the cards. That in turn puts the pressure back on Tomac, who will not only need to break through for his first win of 2016, but will also need to claim numerous victories. In fact given his incredibly strong start, if Roczen were to record a second-place finish in each remaining moto and Tomac were to win every moto through the end of the season, the German rider would still clinch the title by five points. While there are numerous additional factors that will ultimately play into the duration of the season and how the championship unfolds, Roczen’s comfortable standing atop the points and Tomac’s determination to win sets the stage for an intriguing final seven rounds.

While the lead duo appear capable of maintaining their current status, several other riders have made their presence felt in the battle at the front of the field. Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely has moved into third in the 450 Class standings and has been in the battle up front in virtually every moto thus far. Red Bull KTM rookie Marvin Musquin has an overall podium to his credit and continues to acclimate to the premier class, while RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Broc Tickle broke through for his first overall podium result since the 2012 season just last weekend. Moreover, Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Christophe Pourcel appear to be inching closer to making themselves consistent presences in the lead pack. 

Roczen and Barcia are the only two riders currently active in the championship with a RedBud win to their credit. Roczen grabbed a win during his title-winning 2014 season, while Barcia secured a hard-fought victory one year ago. The track is one of the most beloved by riders and fans alike, which should make for a thrilling battle on Saturday afternoon. 

It’s been a wide-open battle in the 250 Class since the drop of the gate in the first moto of the season. While Savatgy’s consistency and class-leading three wins have allowed him to open a double-digit points lead over the field, he’s been tested each and every moto by a large contingent of challengers. The Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha effort has provided Savatgy’s most persistent threat, alternating between three riders. Alex Martin was the first to step up, earning his first career win and a one-race stint atop the point standings. Reigning back-to-back champion Jeremy Martin was next, capturing a pair of moto wins, and most recently it’s been Cooper Webb. Webb became the third different winner this season in a spirited effort at Muddy Creek. While a wrist injury resulted in a bit of a slow start for the North Carolina native, he’s coming into his own and now sits 12 points behind Savatgy heading into RedBud. 

If not for a pair of unfortunate issues with their motorcycles two weeks ago at High Point both of the Martin brothers would be in the thick of the hunt alongside their teammate and Savatgy. Despite the hard racing luck, both Jeremy and Alex remain title contenders even though they sit 32 and 47 points out of the lead, respectively. The siblings will face an uphill battle over the second half of the season, but have proven they are more than capable of winning. Jeremy Martin comes into RedBud as the defending back-to-back winner and will no doubt lean on that past success to try and stand atop the podium for the first time this season, which would pay big dividends in his quest to get back in the championship hunt.

A total of 10 riders have earned a moto podium finish thus far in the 250 Class, with Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Shane McElrath becoming the newest addition last weekend. It’s a testament to the incredible depth of the division and adds to the unpredictability that could unfold whenever the gate drops. While Savatgy has been more successful than his fellow competitors even he hasn’t been free of misfortune, crashing twice in the second moto at Muddy Creek and ultimately letting a win slip away. It’s been one of the most competitive 250 Class title fights in recent memory and there’s no indication that trend won’t continue moving forward.