Ryan Dungey's championship lead continues to build as the series rolls into Budds Creek for round five. Image: Simon Cudby.

Round five of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads to Budds Creek this weekend – series leaders Ryan Dungey and Blake Baggett will work on extending their championship leads before the series goes on a two-week break.

Dungey, on his Red Bull KTM, currently holds a commanding 42-point lead over second place Mike Alessi on his MotoConcepts ride, while Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer sits just four points behind Alessi in third position.

With solid form in recent years, finishing third in 2011 and taking the overall victory in 2010, Dungey looks set to extend his current four-moto winning streak at Budds Creek. With James Stewart officially announcing he will not attend the event, Dungey looks set to do just that.

In the hotly contested 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett continues to hold the red plate after four rounds of racing, but not without some serious pressure from the GEICO Honda duo of Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac.

Budds Creek saw South Africa’s Tyla Rattray stand ontop of the podium in 2011, with Dean Wilson and Barcia second and third respectively. With the absence of both Rattray and Wilson, both Baggetts teammates, 2012 is set to see a first-time 250 Class overall winner.

With Barcia and Tomac taking control and placing their Honda’s on the top spot over the last three rounds, Baggett’s lead now stands at just seven points over Barcia, while Tomac runs 11 points behind his teammate in third.

Keep an eye on Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin, as international riders have won the last two events at Budds Creek – the track layout could possibly lend itself well to the former FIM World Motocross competitors.

Click here for the complete story on James Stewart’s withdrawal from the Budds Creek event.