Washougal provides a bit of a quagmire when it comes to tire selection. Although the soil appears loamy and deep at first glance, it is actually quite slick and develops both dry sections and deep, slippery ruts. What may work in one section, may be detrimental in another. The key is to find something that will keep the rider relatively comfortable in all sections, without completely sacrificing traction on either side of the spectrum of conditions.
Dungey was a bit frustrated after the first moto. Alessi's wide riding forced Dungey to bounce from line to line throughout the moto, and the alternate routes just didn't end up paying the dividends he needed. Even after a washout crash and valuable seconds lost, Dungey caught back up to Alessi in no time, but just couldn't get around him before moto's end.
Dungey's first-moto frustrations were put to rest in the second, as he continued where he left off at Millville. He dominated the final moto, getting out front and checking out early. Dungey now has 11 moto wins this season, although his consecutive streak was broken with Alessi's first-moto win.
The Great Northwest still laments the loss of their beloved Sonics, but they still show their love. (Looks as though Shawn Kemp has gained a bit of weight since his retirement in the nineties).
TAGS: blake baggett, Justin Barcia, Mike Alessi, mx nationals, mx racing, pro motocross, ryan dungey, washougal
