Motocross returns to RedBud on the Fourth of July. (Leader photo/File)

BUCHANAN — The 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will make its highly anticipated visit to the southwest corner of Michigan on the Fourth of July for the annual motocross Independence Day celebration at RedBud MX in Buchanan.

The Red Bull RedBud National is arguably the most celebrated round of the world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing championship with this season marking the 41st year of the event, which has been a staple of the Fourth of July holiday since 1978.

For just the sixth time in its illustrious history, the RedBud National will take place on Independence Day. Prior years in which this rare instance took place were in 1982, 1993, 1999, 2004 and most recently 2009.

For more than four decades in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the most talented riders across the globe have laid it all on the line for a shot at victory and the most prestigious championship in the sport of off-road motorcycle racing. This season, the series features its deepest field of competitors in over 40 years of competition with a trio of former champions, six former winners and a long list of challengers set to wage war over the course of 12 weekends throughout the U.S. With defending champion Ken Roczen, two-time titleholder Ryan Dungey and 2009 champion Chad Reed all in search of added hardware, up and comers Jason Anderson, Blake Baggett, Justin Barcia, Christophe Pourcel and more are eager to take the next step in their careers.

While baseball players are typically considered to be the “boys of summer,” this collection of world class athletes will rival that status as they push their physical limits on some of the roughest tracks and toughest weather conditions this country has to offer, all while trying to defeat 39 other competitors with the same common goal — winning.

The Red Bull RedBud National will feature an action-packed day of racing across two classes of competition — the premier 450 Class and the rising stars of the 250 Class. While the premier class is loaded with talent, the 250 Class is where riders like defending champion Jeremy Martin, Marvin Musquin, Adam Cianciarulo, Jessy Nelson and more are all cementing their status as future stars of the sport. This collection of budding talent is sure to bring as much excitement to the season as their 450 Class counterparts.

RedBud has served as the centerpiece of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship for decades, both as a result of its placement in the middle of the season and its distinction as being one of the most highly attended events on the schedule. Located just above the Michigan-Indiana state line in the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Michigan, RedBud is among the most highly regarded motocross tracks in the world thanks to its series-leading attendance year after year and arguably the best racing surface in all of American Motocross. With just the right mix of soil, plenty of room for passing, and the infamous LaRocco’s Leap – named after local legend Mike LaRocco — RedBud is the top destination in a region that loves its motorsports. The event’s loyal fans, who come from all over the country, and their chants of “RED BUUUUD!!!” are well-known throughout the motocross world.

The track hosted its first ever Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship event in 1974, but it wasn’t until 1978 that it found a home as the sport’s way to celebrate Independence Day, establishing a tradition that has thrived ever since. Over the years RedBud has continued to evolve and now hosts a variety of motorsports events throughout the year, further adding to its incredible legacy.