MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — When it comes to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, there may not be an event more synonymous with the spectacle of this grueling and captivating sport than the famed RedBud National.

On July 1, the championship’s annual Independence Day tradition will make its anticipated return to Buchanan, for the halfway point of the 2017 season, Round 6, from legendary RedBud MX.

As the halfway point of the 12-round season, this iconic event serves as arguably the most pivotal stop of the championship, for a variety of reasons. The unparalleled passion of the fans and the celebratory energy surrounding the Fourth of July make RedBud a showcase of motocross Americana at its finest, converting the small, quiet town of Buchanan into the global motocross epicenter for one Saturday afternoon each July. Only one saying is needed to embody everything this event means to the sport and its dedicated fan base: “REDBUUUUUUUD!”

Since 1972 the most talented riders across the globe have laid it all on the line for a shot at victory in what is arguably the most grueling and challenging championship in all motorsports. This season’s 45th anniversary of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will feature a wide-open battle for the coveted title, with no former champions in the field for just the seventh time in history. As a result, the 2017 championship is available for the taking from a long list of highly talented competitors chasing their first major title. This battle will take the international field of the fastest riders on the planet across the U.S., visiting 11 different states over the course of 12 weekends this summer.

With defending series champion Ken Roczen sidelined with an injury, and the recent retirement of three-time champion Ryan Dungey, the spotlight will shine on the likes of rising stars like Eli Tomac, Marvin Musquin, Jason Anderson, Blake Baggett, and Justin Barcia, with each looking to build off their past successes to achieve their greatest achievement to date.

While baseball has long been considered America’s pastime, the sport of motocross and its 45 years of thrilling fans across the country is also a beloved summer tradition with its own collection of the boys of summer.

This gathering of world class talent features some of the fittest, most talented, and daring athletes on the planet that push their physical and mental limits each and every weekend on the world’s roughest tracks and toughest weather conditions. A total of 40 riders will do battle on some of America’s most hallowed grounds in racing, each with the same common goal — winning.

RedBud is the centerpiece of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in scheduling, geography, and in overall vibe. This is the Fourth of July holiday done motocross-style, and RedBud rocks all weekend with the biggest and heartiest collection of fans you’ll see anywhere. Powered by their love of moto, their love of the USA, and their love of other people who love moto and the USA, the fun rages on day and night, culminating with an absolutely bonkers podium celebration with fans piled up a hundred deep at the fence. For anyone who hasn’t seen the RedBud National in person, it’s a truly memorable experience.

As RedBud grows in stature, the event organizers build the track up to match. Way off in the corner of the property sits a nearly limitless supply of sand, and hundreds of truckloads have been mixed into the soil to create a surface that’s soft and fluffy, but rough and nasty at the same time. There’s always loads of traction, so the riders can hang it out to the edge.

That’s really helpful since RedBud boasts one of the most famous jumps in the sport, LaRocco’s Leap — which is of course set right next to a set of grandstands filled with motocross lovers chanting “USA! USA!”

The atmosphere at RedBud dares any non-enthusiast to spend the afternoon watching the finest athletes on the planet do incredible things on a motorcycle and not leave a lifelong fan.