The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing team celebrated America’s Independence Day weekend with a determined performance at the iconic Red Bud National, Round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. With Dylan Ferrandis, Justin Barcia, and nine-time Motocross World Champion Tony Cairoli lining up together for the team’s first three-rider effort, the squad showcased resilience, grit, and speed while overcoming multiple setbacks throughout the day.
Despite crashes, mechanical challenges, and intense competition, the team placed all three riders inside the overall top 12, with Ferrandis finishing ninth overall, Barcia 10th overall, and
Cairoli 12th overall. Ferrandis delivered one of the team’s standout rides of the day. After starting eighth in Moto 1, the Frenchman battled between seventh and eighth during the opening laps before charging into sixth on lap seven. He maintained a strong pace to secure an impressive sixthplace finish despite developing an engine issue late in the race.
Between motos, the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing crew sprang into action, completing a full engine swap to have Ferrandis ready for Moto 2. Their efforts paid off, even after Ferrandis was caught in a first-turn pileup. Picking his Ducati up in 30th place, he mounted an incredible charge through the field, climbing to 13th by lap five before continuing his relentless push to finish 10th.
“Sixth in Moto 1 was pretty good. I was lucky to finish the moto because we had a small engine issue and the bike was sounding pretty bad at the end, so the team worked hard between motos to switch the engine,” said Dylan Ferrandis. “In Moto 2, I collided with someone else in the first turn and crashed, which wasn’t great because I felt really good. I pushed until the end and came back for 10th. We made a big change between motos and tried something new, and it was a game changer for us today. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Barcia showed front-running speed all afternoon. He launched to fourth on the opening lap of Moto 1 and held a top-five position before an unfortunate tip-over on lap four dropped
him to 10th. Refusing to settle, Barcia regrouped and fought back to ninth. In Moto 2, Barcia once again started inside the top 10 in seventh and delivered one of his most consistent rides of the season. Maintaining strong pace from start to finish, he crossed the line in ninth, demonstrating the fitness and determination that have become trademarks of his riding.
“Practice for me was so-so. First moto, I was having a good one,” said Justin Barcia. “I got off to a good start, I was up front and I just had a mishap and hit neutral and went for a little flight. I got back up and charged back to ninth, and then second moto, another great start and another ninth. It was a good day overall with what I’ve been dealing with lately. I’m looking forward to regrouping, trying a few more things, and heading to Southwick.”
Cairoli continued to gain valuable experience in the Pro Motocross Championship aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX. After running 13th early in Moto 1, the Italian legend suffered a small crash on lap three that dropped him to 17th. He quickly recovered, charged back through the field, and reached as high as 11th before finishing 12th. Moto 2 featured another solid start for Cairoli as he ran eighth on the opening lap and spent much of the race battling just inside the top 10. At one stage, all three Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing riders occupied ninth, 10th, and 11th, highlighting the strength of the team’s collective effort.
“Overall, the day was okay. My goal coming into this weekend was to finish inside the top 10, so we weren’t far from that,” said Tony Cairoli. “In Moto 1, I had a small crash which cost me some time and energy, but I came back from 19th to 12th. This track was very physical for me, and I burned myself out a little heading into Moto 2. This week we’ll continue to focus on fitness and see if we can be even stronger next weekend.”
The Red Bud National tested every member of the organization, but the team’s perseverance shined throughout the day. From overcoming Ferrandis’ between-moto engine swap to rebounding from crashes across all three riders, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing demonstrated the determination and teamwork necessary to earn two top-10 overall finishes in one of the season’s toughest races.
The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing team now shifts its focus to the Southwick National, where the team looks to build on the progress shown at Red Bud and continue moving toward the front of the AMA Pro Motocross field.
