Washougal welcomes back MX National

If you go

? What: 2014 Washougal MX National.

? Where: Washougal MX Park, 40205 NE Borin Road.

? When: Amateur Days on Thursday and Friday, practice begins at 7 a.m. Race day Saturday. Gates open at 6 a.m. Practice and qualifying at 8:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. Racing begins at 1 p.m.

? Tickets: Fans can buy passes good from Thursday through Saturday or Saturday only, plus purchase pit passes and VIP tickets. Go to washougalmxpk.com to find links for ticket information. Fans are encouraged to buy online before going to the track. It is cash only for fans who buy tickets at the facility.

It’s about to get loud in east Clark County.

Real loud and real proud.

Washougal will welcome the return of the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship this week, and event organizers are hoping fans will help them “Celebrate Our Heroes.”

The 34th Washougal MX National, the ninth round of the championship series, is Saturday. Fans are asked to wear camouflage or other patriotic gear in honor of the armed forces.

Brian Barnes, the Washougal MX Park spokesman and public address announcer, has always recognized veterans in his pre-race prayer. This year, track officials wanted to do a little bit more.

“It’s a cool idea to honor our veterans,” Barnes said, noting there are many veterans and present-day military men and women who love the sport.

This is the sport’s way of saying thank you, he said.

As far as the racing, it will be unpredictable.

There were years when one or two riders had a chance to win an overall. But there have already been four different winners in the first eight rounds of the prestigious 450 class.

Eli Tomac of Cortez, Colo., who won the 250 overall at Washougal last year, is now a 450 rider. He won this past week in Minnesota for his first career 450 victory. After missing the first four rounds due to injury, he has been in the top three in each of the past four events.

Ken Roczen of Germany is the points leader with 367. Ryan Dungey of Belle Plaine, Minn., is in second at 343. Roczen has won four overalls and seven of the 16 motos. Dungey has two overalls with three moto wins. He has won the overall in five of the past six years in Washougal, including two at 250.

James Stewart of Haines City, Fla., who did not finish last week due to an illness, has one overall title this season. He is a five-time winner at Washougal, dating back to when he was a 16-year-old rookie in 2002.

There is no defending champion riding at Washougal. Washington’s own Ryan Villopoto, the 2013 450 champ, is out this summer recovering from a knee surgery.

The 250 riders also have had plenty of dramatics this season.

Jeremy Martin of Millville, Minn., has been the class of the class, winning four overalls and seven of the 16 motos for a big points lead.

Blake Baggett of Grand Terrace, Calif., though, has three overall titles and five moto wins. He sits in third place. Cooper Webb of Morehead City, N.C., is in second place and has the other overall win.

Organizers again are expecting crowds in excess of 20,000 for Saturday’s race.

Thursday and Friday amateur racing should be big, too. There are more amateur entries this year than in the past eight years, Barnes said.

Thousands of riders and fans camp on the park grounds. The track is asking all spectators to respect its neighbors and the environment by following all the rules posted.

For the latest updates at the facility, follow Washougal Motocross Park LLC on Facebook. The track’s website is: www.washougalmxpk.com