Monster Energy Supercross Championship Battle Intensifies as Season Makes Final California Stop in San Diego

2013-02-04 22:27
The fourth different 450SX Class winner in five races of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, has resulted in a highly-competitive battle for the title as the season heads to its final California stop inside San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. Last Saturday night, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey won his 12th career 450SX Class race, vaulting him to second in the championship standings. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, fellow Red Bull KTM rider Ken Roczen extended his points lead by winning his second consecutive race. Combined with the return of the KTM Jr Supercross Challenge after five years, it was a milestone weekend for the KTM team. This weekend's race will air live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. PT.

Media day is Thursday, February 7, from Noon-2:00 p.m., featuring reigning back-to-back champion Ryan Villopoto and his Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Jake Weimer. Additional teams in attendance will be JDR/J-Star KTM’s Joey Savagty, Malcolm Stewart, and Josh Cachia, Valli Motorsports Yamaha’s Travis Baker, and Rock River Yamaha’s Ben Lamay and Dalton Carlson.

Dungey’s path to victory was a difficult one. After posting a DNF in his heat race, Dungey was caught up in a crash on the opening lap of the six-lap LCQ. After crossing the line in seventh, Dungey quickly began to work his way through the field. He moved into third before claiming second on the final lap to earn the final transfer position to the Main Event.

Dungey overcame his outside starting position to grab a top five finish in the Main Event, and then moved into second when some of the riders ahead of him crashed in the third turn. After following MotoConcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi briefly, Dungey moved into the lead by Lap 2 and went on to lead the rest of the 20-lap Main Event.

“We felt some emotion coming into tonight’s race after barely making it into the Main Event,” said Dungey on the podium. “The team was sweating it, but we pulled it off. It’s a long season and this is a big step for the team.”

Current 450SX Class points leader Davi Millsaps followed in second aboard his Rockstar Energy Racing machine, while Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia finished third. In the championship standings, Dungey moved into second place and sits 14 points behind Millsaps.

The triumphant effort by Dungey capped off a historic evening for KTM, which enjoyed victories in both the 450SX Class and 250SX Class for the first time in history following Roczen’s dominant effort earlier in the night.

After JDR/J-Star KTM’s Joey Savagty claimed the holeshot and early lead in the 15-lap Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Roczen moved into the top spot before the completion of the opening lap. Once in control of first place, the German fended off some consistent pressure from Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos to claim his fourth career win.

“I need to keep this up and take it to the next level,” said Roczen in his post-race interview. “This has been a great two races for me, but the season is not over yet, so I need to keep the pressure on as we head to San Diego next week.”

Davalos’ runner-up finish was the third of his career and his first this season. GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac finished third and moved into second in the championship. Just one week after taking over the championship point lead, Roczen extended his advantage, which now sits at 20 points over Tomac.

One year ago, Dungey helped lead KTM to its first 450SX Class win in history and once again played a central role in the brand’s next landmark achievement in Monster Energy Supercross on Saturday night. As a result, he and Roczen bring considerable momentum into San Diego, which will serve as the final race on the west coast for eight weekends.

Qualcomm stadium will also be the final appearance of the Western Regional 250SX Class before its annual midseason break. The championship will resume for its seventh, eighth, and ninth races starting in Seattle on April 20.

At last season’s San Diego stop of Monster Energy Supercross, defending champion Ryan Villopoto and former champion Chad Reed provided one of the season’s most memorable battles. The pair traded positions on several occasions before Villopoto emerged with his third win of the year en route to the title. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Dean Wilson took advantage of the misfortune experienced by then points leader Eli Tomac to win his second race of the championship and take over the points lead.

The first race held in San Diego was October 25, 1980, and Mike Bell won on a Yamaha. Reed has the most wins of any rider in San Diego, winning six races in 10 career starts. Jeremy McGrath, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto are the only riders to win at San Diego in both the 450SX Class and 250SX Class. A rider hasn’t won a 450SX Class race inside Qualcomm Stadium over consecutive years since Reed did it in 2007 and 2008. In the 250SX Class, it hasn’t been done since Stewart back in 2002 and 2003.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Qualcomm Stadium Box Office opens Feb. 4th, 2013.Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Gold Circle tickets are $35 Adult/Child; Mid-Level $30 Adult/Child; Treadhead $15 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6 p.m. Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium’s Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).

450SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
5. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
8. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
10. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha

450SX Class Points
1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 107
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 93
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 92
4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 90
5. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 81
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 71
7. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 61
8. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 56
9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha – 53
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 48

Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
2. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
6. Travis Baker, Romoland, Calif., Yamaha
7. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM
8. Austin Politelli, Riverside, Calif., Honda
9. Max Anstie, England, Suzuki
10. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda

Western Regional 250SX Class Points
1. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 116
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 96
3. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 89
4. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki – 70
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 68
6. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda – 68
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 67
8. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda – 54
9. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM – 52
10. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda – 49

Source: Feld Motor Sports

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