Image: Octopi Media.

Justin Barcia showed up to round five of the 2021 Pro Motocross season with all-new settings on his TLD Red Bull GasGas MC 450F, stating the new direction was key in his first overall podium of the season.

After struggling at rounds three and four, Barcia and the team went back to the drawing board and coming out with an all-new setting for round five at Southwick.

“We got forks, shock and a link, so it was quite different,” Barcia explained. “I was obviously really struggling the last few weeks.

“I think, you know, everyone has been struggling a little bit, I think Cooper [Webb] was struggling a little, Marv [Marvin Musquin] maybe a little and they seemed like they were a little better this weekend.

“I’m not really sure what they were on, I don’t really keep up to date on that. But at least for me, super stoked on the direction we went and everyone working together and yeah, super happy with the changes.”

Barcia detailed what he’s been dealing with in the early season, as he continues to learn and grow with the new team and motorcycle.

“It’s definitely a learning process, I love the bike and I enjoy it, but it’s a lot different than what I’ve been used to the last few years,” he continued. “It’s really good to have the big umbrella of KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas and all the guys in Europe as well racing.

“I built my own setting and I was happy with it at the beginning of the season, then we got on the more east coast tracks [were] searching, searching and couldn’t really figure it out.

“We were working really hard and we looked at some stuff and made a decision on what we needed to do this week and obviously, it was the right decision.

“It’s like anything, a new job or anything new it’s a learning process, but still enjoying the team, I love all the guys over there and we’re enjoying the process.”

While he managed 2-4 motos for third overall, his first podium since last year at Spring Creek, Barcia had to come through the pack and pondered what could have been with a better start.

“It was good, I went full beast mode, I got stuck behind Christian [Craig] for quite a while, he was riding good and I couldn’t get around him.

“Finally made the pass happen and then I saw Marv and Coop in front of me and it was blood in the water, I wanted it bad.

“I never knew anything about the overall I was just going as far as I couldn’t in the amount of time I had.

“Made some really good passes and was definitely gelling with the bike and the track in the second moto, just wish I could have got a start and really shined, but it is what it is.”

He now sits fifth overall in the standings as the series heads to Millville for round six at Spring Creek.