The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Nationals are coming to Southwick Saturday. Races start at 1 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross)
Traffic delays expected starting Saturday morning
SOUTHWICK – The 39th Southwick National Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship takes place Saturday at The Wick 338 on Powder Mill Road.
Renowned for its sand track, the Wick 338 is hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year since it returned to New England.
Promotocross.com touts Southwick’s track as “the most storied sand track in American motocross history” and said it is “a beloved venue amongst riders and fans alike with its truly unique racing surface and intimate layout.”
While the motocross world makes its pilgrimage to Southwick this weekend, residents will see more cars and trucks on the road.
“We will see an increase in traffic Saturday beginning around 7 a.m.,” said Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop. “There should be more traffic through 1 p.m. when the first race runs.”
If the races go as expected, they should end around 5 p.m.
“Once the race is over, Powder Mill Road will be closed to all through traffic for about a half hour,” Bishop said.
Racers will begin arriving Friday and set up camp on the field at the school campus. Bishop said this would not likely cause a traffic jam.
“I don’t see any big traffic concerns on Friday,” he said. “But Saturday we will have traffic on Feeding Hills Road and from Route 202 going to Powder Mill Road.”
Bishop encouraged all residents to “be patient.”
“We all visit other communities for events, too, so I ask that everyone please be patient for the day,” Bishop said, adding that there would be Southwick, Agawam, Westfield and Granville police officers on the grounds as well as directing traffic Saturday.
MB Tractor & Equipment was named the official sponsor this week.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome MB Tractor & Equipment as the title sponsor of the Southwick National. They have been invaluable partners and have played an integral role in our ability to maintain The Wick 338’s status as the epicenter of motocross in New England,” said Rick Johnson of The Wick 338. “MB has been the conduit of our use of Kubota equipment over the past four years and stepping up to become the race’s official title sponsor is a logical next step of this wonderful relationship we’ve enjoyed.”
Southwick’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross track history dates back to 1976.
