Image: Octopi Media.

Justin Barcia has opened the 2021 Luas Oil Pro Motocross season with back-to-back fourth-place finishes aboard the all-new TLD Red Bull GasGas entry as they continue to develop the bike.

It’s been no secret that Barcia has found himself very happy with both the team and the motorcycle since his departure from a tough couple of seasons aboard the factory Yamaha.

The lone 450 riders for Troy Lee’s new factory effort nearly found the podium at two tracks he isn’t shy about saying he doesn’t like. One of them, traditionally hard-packed, a condition Barcia’s never been fond of either.

“Definitely really happy with my riding,” Barcia explained. “The bike is really good, we’ve been just on the same setting doing tweaks here and there. Could it have been better today? Sure. But could I have been better today? Yes. So it’s kind of a team effort for sure.

“I’m happy with the fourth but always expect a lot more of myself. Like I said these aren’t my favorite tracks. Pala’s definitely not my favor and then today [at Thunder Valley]. I’ve never been a great hard-packed rider but I’ll be honest with you, I’m getting better and the steel frame definitely helps that a lot so that was cool.”

In terms of getting the bike set up for their 2021 Pro Motocross title bid, it was a late change ahead of the season opener at Fox Raceway that made the biggest impact for Barcia’s overall comfort with the GasGas MC450.

“It’s funny though, all the testing I was doing before the season, we were about a week out and something was missing,” he continued. “I was happy, I could ride it, but I was just not really vibing it that much there was just something missing.

“The last day of riding before pala they just randomly brought out a setting and I was super stoked because it worked really well.  I’m super sensitive with front-end feel and they brought out something that was plush but also held up, which pretty much every rider wants, something plush but stiff. But yeah they found something good for me and yeah like I said it’s been enjoyable.”

The team will get a chance to refine their setup as the series now takes a weekend off before heading to the east coast for round three at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania on 19 June.