Image: Octopi Media.

The 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will return to a full 12-round calendar this season, marking the return of some of the sport’s most iconic circuits as it continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

MX Sports Pro Racing has confirmed that spectator attendance will be anticipated at every event, set to commence at Fox Raceway in Southern California on the Memorial Day weekend of 29 May. Loretta Lynn’s is off the calendar this year, while Pala will again host the penultimate round.

“The 2021 schedule has been developed through a collective effort alongside all of our event organisers and we’re thrilled to see such legendary venues back on the calendar,” said Roy Janson, managing director of MX Sports Pro Racing.

“The outlook surrounding the fight to eradicate COVID-19 has provided a sense of optimism amongst our group, which has us hopeful to welcome spectators at all the races while also allowing nearly every one of our events to remain on their traditional dates.

“Safety remains paramount in our efforts to host a successful season and we will continuously monitor all national, state and local guidelines in an effort to ensure the well-being of our fans, competitors, and series personnel. While that may require some level of restriction or limited capacity, it will be in the best interest of all parties.”

By moving the start of the season to the holiday festivities, competitors will receive a full three weeks of preparation from the conclusion of the Supercross season, which will help ensure that all riders are healthy and at the top of their game for the first gate-drop of the summer.

After the opening round, the championship make highly-anticipated returns to venues like High Point, Southwick, Washougal, Unadilla and Budds Creek, before culminating with the season finale on 11 September at Hangtown. Along the way, the series will observe four off weekends, further reducing the physical demands of the racers over the course of 29 total events between January and September.

“This is the most prestigious championship in all of motocross and we want to make sure our competitors have the opportunity to be at their best each and every weekend,” explained Davey Coombs, MX Sports Pro Racing president.

“We’ve listened to the challenges they face over the course of a season and have determined that expanding the overall breadth of the 2021 schedule will ultimately benefit the competitiveness on the racetrack, to which our audience will hopefully be rewarded with compelling title fights in both the 450 Class and 250 Class.”

“Passion has and continues to define the legacy of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. From our incredibly loyal fan base to the fearless racers who lay it all on the line in pursuit of victory, there is something truly special about a summer of American motocross.

“On the heels of a difficult year, the return of our most beloved venues and the expectation to welcome fans back to the race means the 2021 season is poised to rejuvenate that passion that has made this the most storied motocross series on the planet.”

2021 Pro Motocross Championship calendar (provisional):
Rd1 – 29 MAY – Fox Raceway – Pala, CA
Rd2 – 5 JUN – Thunder Valley – Lakewood, CO
Rd3 – 19 JUN – High Point – Mt. Morris, PA
Rd4 – 26 JUN – Southwick – Southwick, MA
Rd5 – 3 JUL – RedBud – Buchanan, MI
Rd6 – 17 JUL – Spring Creek – Millville, MN
Rd7 – 24 JUL – Washougal – Washougal, WA
Rd8 – 14 AUG – Unadilla – New Berlin, NY
Rd9 – 21 AUG – Budds Creek – Mechanicsville, MD
Rd10 – 28 AUG – Ironman – Crawfordsville, IN
Rd11 – 4 SEP – Pala – Pala, CA
Rd12 – 11 SEP – Hangtown – Sacramento, CA