As the only stop in the Pacific Northwest, the Washougal National is known as one of the most scenic tracks in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series. With weather that complemented the beautiful facility, this past Saturday was a great day for racing. Just one week after scoring his first career 450 victory, Muscle Milk-backed GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac had another impressive showing, grabbing second overall with a pair of seconds. Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard finished seventh overall, while teammate Fredrik Noren scored a career-best finish of eighth.

450 Race Canard nabbed a top-five start in moto one and quickly moved into second on lap two. He was able to fight off the advances of another rider for multiple laps before surrendering the position and taking over third. Canard relinquished one more spot during the 30-minute plus two-lap race, taking the checkered flag in fourth. In moto two, he got off the line to a less-than-desirable start and then crashed. He remounted in 39th and swiftly began moving his way through the field, putting together a noteworthy come-from-behind performance to finish 11th, which landed him seventh overall.

"Seventh is never a number you want to be excited about, but I am grateful to be healthy because I have left this place a few times in an ambulance," stated Canard. "Overall it was an okay day. I can't be too bummed but on the other hand I can be bummed because it didn't work the way we wanted it to. This is a very difficult track, with the slick dirt and all the shadows that you have to ride through with the trees, but I really enjoy it. I am really looking forward to having a weekend off to recharge and head into the final races strong. We have been testing and have made good progress, so I think Unadilla will be good."

Fredrik Noren had a stellar day aboard his Team Honda Muscle Milk CRF450R, recording a career-best eighth overall with 9-7 finishes. In moto one, Noren grabbed an 11th-place start and worked his way up to ninth by the completion of the 16-lap race. When the gate dropped for the second time, he launched into the first turn, grabbed a top-10 start and crossed the line in eighth on the opening lap. Noren then worked his way up to an impressive sixth before relinquishing one position on lap 12, taking the checkered in seventh.

"I am pretty excited right now. I am really happy with my seventh in moto two and eighth overall," said Noren with a huge grin. "It was a career best moto finish for me and career best overall. I felt good today and think I was riding pretty well. Hopefully I can continue to take baby steps and make progress each week. We have a press session at Unadilla, which I think will help me by being able to ride the track before Saturday. I like that race, so we will see how it goes."

It was another exciting day for 450-class rookie Eli Tomac, who landed on the podium for the fifth consecutive time this season in as many races with a solid 2-2 performance. In the day's opening moto, Tomac was forced to battle from behind after starting outside the top 10. He methodically maneuvered through the competition and had second in his sights after taking over third on lap five. Tomac continued to lay down impressively fast lap times, steadily closing the gap and moving within striking distance on lap 10 to make a pass stick for the runner-up spot.

In moto two, Tomac wasted little time slicing through the pack, picking off multiple riders to secure second by lap two. The front runners quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field, but Tomac was never able to close the gap and challenge for the lead position. He set a quick pace, ultimately taking the checkered in second. "Dungey just had a little bit extra on me today," said Tomac. "Good for him, but of course after going 1-1 last week in Millville we wanted to be on the top step again. I'm sure not complaining about another podium finish, especially here at Washougal because this track is a real test. To put this GEICO Honda on the podium in the five outdoor races I've run is really cool. I just wish I hadn't missed the start of the season because I could be battling for the title."

250 Race Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda's Justin Bogle rebounded after a tough race last weekend to finish fifth overall at the Washington track, highlighted by an impressive third-place result in moto two. Following a seventh in the first race, Bogle launched his CRF250R off the line to a second-place start in the day's closing race. He took advantage of the strong start, passing for the lead on the opening lap to assume control of the moto. Bogle maintained a strong pace out front for nine laps before a mistake caused him to lose two positions.

"I came in here pretty wounded from a hard get-off last weekend and I wasn't able to ride at all during the week, so to climb the podium at the end of the day is actually a pretty good result for me," explained Bogle. "My back and side are still limiting what I can do, so I'm really happy we have a week off before the next race. Two motos, two get-offs; that can't happen if I want to stay up front."

Teammates Zach Bell and Matt Bisceglia finished 11th (10-11) and 13th (13-12) overall, respectively.

The Focus: Honda History at Washougal

The Washougal MX Park has hosted a Pro Motocross Championship event since 1980 and is currently in its third decade of hosting the nationals in the Pacific Northwest. During that span Honda has claimed a total of five victories in the premiere (now 450) class, eight in the support (now 250) class, and four in the 500cc class. Factory racer Ricky Carmichael was the last Honda rider to top the 450 podium in 2011, while GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac was the last to be victorious in the 250 class in 2013. In 1995, the Honda Red Riders swept both wins with Mike Brown and Jeremy McGrath grabbing the top spots in the 125cc and 250cc classes, respectively. GEICO Honda Team Manager Mike LaRocco won the last 500cc race in Washougal in 1993 on a Honda.

450 Class Overall Results

1. Ryan Dungey 1-1 2. Eli Tomac (Honda) 2-2 3. Ken Roczen 3-3 4. Brett Metcalfe 5-4 5. Andrew Short 6-5 6. Weston Peick 7-6 7. Trey Canard (Honda) 4-11 8. Fredrik Noren (Honda) 9-7 9. Justin Brayton 8-8 10. Christian Craig (Honda) 10-12

450 Class Championship Points (after 9 of 12 rounds)