BUCHANAN — For the 42nd year, the only thing louder than the engines of 40 motocross bikes starting all at once was one word:

“REEEDDDBUUUUUDDDD!!!”

The 2015 Redbud National tore into Buchanan on Saturday, when a combined total of 175 professional motocross riders arrived to the RedBud city.

Also arriving were the fans. Many had been camped at the track since as early as Wednesday, but by Saturday, attendance had risen to 26,019 people — multiplying the population of Buchanan nearly six times.

In addition to the fans were television crews from NBC Sports. All four races were broadcast live online, and three of the four races were broadcast live on national television: the 250 motos 1 and 2 live on MAVTV and the 450 moto 2 live on NBC.

After a morning of qualifying runs, the day officially began at noon when Buchanan native and Niles resident Anne Schrader sang the national anthem for the thousands of fans both at the track and watching on television.

This was her second time singing at RedBud, but, as Anne explained, the butterflies never go away.

“I feel exhilarated,” she said after her performance. “It was my first time on national television … I think it went better this year. The fact that I had practiced last night had a lot to do with it.”

What made her performance even more special was that she got to sing the national anthem on the Fourth of July.

“I just kept looking at the flag,” Schrader said.

With the conclusion of the opening ceremonies came the beginning of the main events of the day — the 250 and 450 moto races.

Earlier that morning, Niles native and Edwardsburg High School graduate Austin Wagner qualified for the 450 moto races — but it almost wasn’t so.

In the morning qualifying races, the top 36 racers automatically advanced to the moto races.

Wagner finished 43.

“I was pretty bummed,” he said. “Because the week before, I qualified in from practice.”

At RedBud, however, Wagner had to tough it out in the 450 Last Chance Qualifying race to try to grab a spot in the afternoon races.

In the Last Chance Qualifying race, the riders that didn’t make the top 36 race one more time. The top four riders get to advance and make 40 total riders racing on national television.

“I was feeling pretty confident,” Wagner said.

And his confidence paid off.

Wagner shot out of the starting gate, settling into third place early — the same spot that he would finish, making the cut to race in the 450 motos for the second year in a row.

Wagner isn’t the first in his family to race motocross. His mother, Lisa Akin, established herself in the 1980s as one of the greatest female motocross riders in history, winning five titles at the Loretta Lynn Motocross Championships.

“She gives me a lot of advice,” Wagner explained. “She gives me tips that other people’s parents just don’t know.”

As natives of Niles, racing at RedBud makes it even more special for the entire Wagner-Akin family.

“It feels good to be here,” Wagner said. “Because I have my family and friends. Everyone’s around here that I know.”

Wagner took his high spirits to the track when he raced in the 450 motos 1 and 450 moto 2, placing 31st and 37th respectively, finishing 35th overall.

Justin Barcia of Madison, Florida finished first overall in the 450 class and Jeremy Martin of Millville, Minnesota finished first overall in the 250 class.

Ryan Dungey, Ken Roczen and Barcia remain in the top three spots in the 450 point standings.

Martin passed Marvin Musquin for the top spot in the 250 points standings and Zachary Osborne passed Adam Cianciarulo and Joseph Savatgy to move up to third.

The riders get a week off, returning to the track July 18, at Spring Creek in Millville, Minnesota. The first motos will be live on MAVTV at 2 p.m.

 

Lucas Oil Pro

Motocross

Championship

Red Bull

RedBud National

RedBud MX

Buchanan

July 4, 2015

Round 7 of 12

 

450 Class (Moto Finish)

Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha (2-1)

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (1-2)

Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki (3-3)

Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (4-7)

Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha (5-6)

Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna (10-4)

Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda (7-8)

Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki (6-9)

Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, KTM (9-10)

Thomas Hahn, Great Bend, Texas, Honda (8-12)

 

450 Class

Championship

Standings

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 303

Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki, 259

Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Yamaha, 240

Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 212

Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 197

Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 190

Christophe Pourcel, France, Husqvarna, 186

Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha, 171

Phil Nicoletti, Cohocton, N.Y., Yamaha, 151

Fredrik Noren, Sweden, Honda, 132

 

250 Class (Moto Finish)

Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (1-1)

Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna (3-2)

Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (2-5)

Christian Craig, Plymouth, Minn., Honda (6-3)

Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (5-4)

Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (4-6)

Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (9-9)

Chris Alldredge, Powell Butte, Ore., Kawasaki (8-10)

Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM (7-11)

RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda (14-8)

 

250 Class

Championship

Standings

Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 298

Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 291

Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna, 207

Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki, 191

Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 188

Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 188

Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 178

Matt Bisceglia, Tualatin, Ore., Honda, 142