Round 8 Preview: Washougal — Rip It Ron's Picks
Technical trees, slick shadows, and Hard Charger heroes — Washougal is where smart fantasy teams gap the field.
TroyDesigns · 23 July 2026
🏍️ Intro
Hey legends, it’s your boy Ron back in the trees for Washougal! Round 8 is a thinking rider’s track and a thinking manager’s round — you can’t just slam the big names and hope. With Hard Charger points in play, this is THE weekend to game the field and let the movers and shakers on rough starts carry your squad.
Ron’s diving into who scrubs the shadows best, who carves through traffic, and which value plays are going to roost your league at Washougal.
📍 Round Overview — Washougal in the Woods
Washougal’s that iconic Pacific Northwest vibe: hard base, slick top, shadows through the trees, and a layout that punishes impatience.
What we’re working with:
- Hard-pack with a layer of marbles – when it’s watered, it’s ice; when it dries, it’s choppy and edgy. Great for riders who stay light on the bike and pick lines, not just bulldoze berms.
- High-speed jump sections into technical corners – there’s big time to be made (or lost) in braking zones. That’s where Hard Charger monsters earn their bonus points.
- Visibility games – sun/shade transitions into ruts mean bad starters can actually benefit: they can see what’s working as they slice through the pack.
With Hard Charger scoring baked into averages, we’re hunting riders who consistently move forward from gate pick — not just qualify well and fade like lappers late in the moto.
💥 450 Class Breakdown — Big Bike Brains, Not Just Brawn
Haiden Deegan (#38) — The Premier-Class Hard Charger
- Data check: +0 HCP, 30.1pts/main, 15 Avg HC/Rnd (massive), Trend: up.
- Recent rounds: 42.5, 23.5, 34 — two out of three are elite fantasy hauls.
Deegan is literally built for this scoring format. That 15 Avg HC/Rnd screams, “I don’t care where I qualify, I’m going forward.” With a +0 HCP you’re paying full freight on adjusted position, but the Hard Charger bonus more than makes up for it.
At Washougal, where starts can be sketchy and the track rewards aggression and creativity, he’s got the highest realistic ceiling in this field. If you fade him, you’re betting on a bad-start/bad-race combo — possible, but Ron’s not that brave this week.
Fantasy role: Core 450 main and a legit FMR candidate.
Hunter Lawrence (#96) — Mr. Floor, Still with Ceiling
- Data check: +0 HCP, 25.9pts/main, 0.4 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same.
- Recent: 30, 25.5, 26.5 — rock solid, no disasters.
Hunter doesn’t give you wild Hard Charger swings, but he does give you reliable adjusted finishes near the front. At +0 HCP, you’re basically playing him as a pure “finishing position” stud.
On a technical track like Washougal, his race craft and mistake-free style are gold. He might not light up the bonus column, but he’s very unlikely to nuke your round. Think of him as the anchor of your 450 trio while the real gamblers do the wild stuff.
Fantasy role: Safe main pick — high floor, moderate ceiling.
R.J. Hampshire (#24) — Chaos with a Calculator
- Data check: +3 HCP, 25.5pts/main, 6.8 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same.
- Recent: 27, 29.5, 26 — he’s quietly one of the steadiest scorers.
R.J. is sneaky perfect for Hard Charger formats: he doesn’t always nail the gate, but he does dig deep and charge late. That +3 HCP means even an 8th on track can turn into an adjusted 5th, and he’s averaging nearly 7 bonus HC points per round on top.
Washougal can punish over-riders, but R.J.’s recent numbers say he’s in control, not yard-sale mode. With both position and HC upside, he’s one of Ron’s favorite value plays in the premium tier.
Fantasy role: Lock for a main spot; borderline FMR if you want to get spicy.
Garrett Marchbanks (#36) — Value with Built-In HC Juice
- Data check: +8 HCP, 25.9pts/main, 7.9 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same/up.
- Recent: 21, 27.5, 30.5 — arrow pointing the right way.
Marchbanks brings that juicy +8 HCP paired with nearly 8 Hard Charger points per round. That’s exactly the combo you want for Washougal: doesn’t always set the world on fire in qualifying, but when the gate drops, he goes forward.
If he rides like a 9th–11th place guy on track, that +8 HCP can transform him into a top-5ish adjusted finisher while the HC bonus piles on. Price tag says mid-pack, production says front-half fantasy stud.
Fantasy role: Elite value main; strong FMR candidate if you want to fade the big names.
Mitchell Harrison (#41) — Privateer Grind, Fantasy Gem
- Data check: +14 HCP, 27.8pts/main, 10.4 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same-to-up.
- Recent: 16, 31, 32 — volatility, but the upside is undeniable.
This is exactly the archetype that wins Hard Charger weeks: big HCP (+14), double-digit Avg HC/Rnd, and the ability to overperform on race day. When he’s on, that +14 means a raw 15th can score like an adjusted top 5.
At a track where rhythm and race craft matter more than pure horsepower, Harrison’s experience and grit play right into our hands. Yes, there’s some risk, but Washougal is the round where you purposely lean into it.
Fantasy role: High-upside main or aggressive FMR play for contrarians.
Other 450 Names to Consider
- Jett Lawrence (#1, +0 HCP, 26.1pts/main, 3.7 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: down): Still Jett, but for fantasy he’s oddly just okay in this format right now. Low-ish Hard Charger bonus and trending down in recent scores. You can play him, but you’re paying full superstar price without the corresponding fantasy spike.
- Freddie Noren (#63, +18 HCP, 23.6pts/main, 7.2 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: down): Historically a Hard Charger king, but three straight zeros in Recents is a big red flag for reliability. Amazing profile, but Ron wants him as a reserve-only insurance if you believe he’s healthy again.
- Grant Harlan (#62, +20 HCP, 22.3pts/main, 5.7 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: up): Quietly solid, plus a massive +20 HCP. Doesn’t charge quite as hard as the top bonus guys but is a perfect “steady climber” type.
🔥 250 Class Breakdown — Young Guns, Big Bonuses
Levi Kitchen (#47) — The Hard Charger Kingpin
- Data check: +1 HCP, 28.6pts/main, 16.9 Avg HC/Rnd (insane), Trend: same.
- Recent: 39, 26, 24 — still pumping out big rounds.
Levi is built for this game. 16.9 Avg HC/Rnd is absurd — nearly an extra moto’s worth of points every weekend just from passing dudes. With only +1 HCP, you’re not getting a big adjusted-position bump, but his forward progress from gate pick more than pays the bills.
At a flowy track like Washougal where craft and corner speed are everything, Kitchen’s style is spot on. Even with an average start, he can knife through like a hot knife through PNW loam.
Fantasy role: Absolute 250 no-brainer main, and a front-running FMR option.
Kayden Minear (#99) — Quietly Elite in This Format
- Data check: +3 HCP, 28.1pts/main, 9.9 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same.
- Recent: 24, 39, 24.5 — that 39-pointer shows the ceiling.
Minear’s profile screams “consistently underpriced”: near-Kitchen average, almost 10 HC points per round, and a +3 HCP kicker. He doesn’t need a miracle; he just needs to ride to his level and he’s going to print.
At Washougal, his balanced style — not over-riding, good late-moto pace — is exactly how you stay gaining while others make mistakes in the slick stuff.
Fantasy role: Core main pick, viable FMR if you want to pivot off Levi.
Chance Hymas (#29) — Smooth Operator with Bonus Firepower
- Data check: +3 HCP, 26.6pts/main, 13 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: same.
- Recent: 29, 25.5, 22.5 — steady, with lots of passing baked in.
Hymas is almost the perfect Washougal profile: strong base speed, doesn’t fully rely on holeshots, and 13 Avg HC/Rnd is massive. Combine that with +3 HCP and you’ve got a rider who can turn a quiet 6–7 on track into a fantasy gem.
He’s also less volatile than some of the deep-value plays, which matters late in the season. Think of him as the balance between pure upside and not throwing your round in the river.
Fantasy role: Locked-in main; safe-but-spicy.
Carson Mumford (#71) — The Sleeper Who’s Not a Secret Anymore
- Data check: +6 HCP, 25.6pts/main, 7.9 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: up.
- Recent: 33.5, 29.5, 34.5 — three straight bangers.
Mumford’s trending hard in the right direction. +6 HCP gives legit adjusted-position upside, and nearly 8 HC points per round shows he’s not just starting well and hanging; he’s moving forward.
Washougal rewards riders who stay patient and charge late — that’s exactly how his recent results look. If you want a guy who won’t be as heavily owned as Kitchen/Minear but can hang with them on the score sheet, Mumford is your dude.
Fantasy role: High-upside main, strong leverage pick.
Russell Buccheri (#140) — Deep HCP, Real HC, Real Upside
- Data check: +22 HCP, 26.6pts/main, 5.4 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: up.
- Recent: 30.5, 36, 26.5 — hot streak.
This is where we chase real value. Buccheri brings a massive +22 HCP with a legit mid-20s average and positive Hard Charger numbers. When you’re already averaging like a mid-pack runner but scoring like a front-half guy thanks to HCP and HC, you’re golden.
His recent scores show the form is real, not a one-off. On a technical track, that HCP buffer means you can survive a so-so day and still walk away with solid fantasy numbers.
Fantasy role: Perfect high-HCP main or aggressive FMR pivot if you love chaos.
Other 250 Names to Watch
- Avery Long (#57, +16 HCP, 23.3pts/main, 5.6 Avg HC/Rnd): That 37.5-point recent round shows huge upside; +16 HCP gives you tons of adjusted-position juice.
- Brock Bennett (#159, +25 HCP, 21.6pts/main, 6 Avg HC/Rnd): The ultimate moonshot. +25 HCP with decent HC numbers. Ceiling is giant, but the 0 in his recent log proves the floor is a tip-over in the first corner.
- Lux Turner (#43, +18 HCP, 21.2pts/main, 8.7 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: down): Hard Charger-friendly profile with the recent form tailing off. Great GPP-style play if you think he rebounds at Washougal.
💡 Sleeper Picks of the Week
450: Grant Harlan (#62)
- Profile: +20 HCP, 22.3pts/main, 5.7 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: up.
- Recent: 29, 25, 23 — three straight solid hits.
Harlan doesn’t have the name value, but he’s exactly the type who quietly wins you the round. A +20 HCP means a raw 17th-18th can still convert into a very healthy adjusted result, and he’s consistently adding ~6 Hard Charger points per round.
On a tricky track like Washougal, his steady improvement and ability to move forward from a mediocre gate pick are fantasy gold. Perfect as a value main or a super-reliable reserve.
250: Carson Mumford (#71)
Yes, Ron already talked him up, but he’s still under the radar in a field obsessed with Kitchen/Hymas.
- Profile: +6 HCP, 25.6pts/main, 7.9 Avg HC/Rnd, Trend: up.
- Three-round run: 33.5, 29.5, 34.5 — he’s on a legit heater.
Mumford’s combination of mid-tier HCP, strong HC bonus, and killer recent form makes him the kind of sleeper who won’t stay a sleeper much longer. Get on now while your league’s still sleeping at the gate.
🤙 Signing Off
Washougal is where the smart fantasy players separate from the pack — the track is technical, the shadows are gnarly, and Hard Charger scoring is going to flip the script if you only chase big names. Build around the proven chargers, sprinkle in that high-HCP value, and let your squad slice through the chaos.
Hammer down through the trees and send those lineups — stay pinned,
— Ron 🤙