RedBud MX

RedBud MX in Buchanan is the holy ground of American motocross, the most beloved venue on the AMA Pro Motocross calendar, home to LaRocco's Leap (the biggest jump on the entire pro circuit), and the highest-attended round of the championship every single year. The Fourth of July weekend RedBud National is the moto event of the season, drawing 60,000-plus fans and the entire factory roster to a single weekend in southwest Michigan that has become a cultural touchstone for American motocross fans.

The track is owned and operated by the Ritchie family, who have run RedBud since 1973, making it both one of the oldest continuously-operating motocross facilities in the United States AND the longest-running family-owned operation on the Pro circuit. That continuity shows in the operation: track preparation, fan amenities, camping, and the spirit of the place all reflect five-plus decades of refinement. The headline of RedBud is the dirt. Riders worldwide call it 'the best dirt on earth', a sandy loam mix unique to southwest Michigan that drinks rain, holds prep through the longest race weekend, and develops the kind of natural ruts and berms that produce the most consistently great racing of the entire AMA Pro Motocross season.

The track is built into a wooded property along the Red Bud Trail, with natural elevation changes that make the 1-mile main loop feel longer and more technical than its length suggests. LaRocco's Leap, named for legendary racer Mike LaRocco, is the signature jump, an enormous step-up that pros routinely send 100-plus feet through the air. The Pro National is the headline event but RedBud also operates as an active practice and event venue throughout the riding season.

Practice schedule varies, call (269) 695-6405 ahead because the track shuts down for prep weeks before major events. The facility hosts amateur racing, training camps, and arrive-and-ride days when not closed for Pro Motocross prep. Camping is the other RedBud signature. The facility has primitive camping for thousands of fans during Pro National weekend, and the campground tradition is legendary, fans return year after year, some for decades. Bonfires, RVs, makeshift tailgate setups, and the Saturday night pre-race party are integral to the RedBud experience.

Concessions are full-service during events; basic restrooms and showers operate year-round. The location: 13638 Red Bud Trail North, Buchanan, Michigan, in the southwest corner of the state, near the Indiana border. From Chicago it's about 90 minutes; from Detroit, three hours; from Indianapolis, 2.5 hours. The drive itself is part of the appeal, gentle Midwestern country, lakes and woods, no urban infrastructure to fight through. For a serious motocross fan, attending the RedBud National at least once is essentially required.

The combination of perfect dirt, peak elevation, the fan tradition, the family-owned operation, and the 50-plus-year heritage make RedBud the most important motocross venue in America. The tagline writes itself: if you only ride one Pro National in your life, this is the one.