Dungey Carries Momentum into Seattle After Monster Energy Supercross Win in Minneapolis

2013-04-18 05:34
After earning his second win of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at Minneapolis’ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome last Saturday night, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey moved into second place in the season standings and has his sights on another win when the championship returns to Seattle’s CenturyLink Field this weekend. Dungey's teammate Ken Roczen leads the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship into Seattle after a seven race break.

Media day is Thursday, April 18 from Noon-2:00 p.m. inside the press box at CenturyLink Field, featuring the Monster Energy Kawasaki team’s Jake Weimer and Ryan Villopoto.

For the first time since 2008, Monster Energy Supercross returned to Minneapolis and Dungey, a Minnesota native, brought 48,846 fans to their feet when he caught and passed two-time defending 450SX Class Champion Villopoto in the Main Event. The blistering pace set by Dungey and Villopoto, who came into the race with a five-race win streak, set the stage for the hotly contested duel that culminated on Lap 16 when Dungey made his final pass on Villopoto.

The win was Dungey’s 13th of his career and he now trails Villopoto by 22 points in the season standings.

“Man, what a ride,” said Dungey, who finished second at the last Monster Energy Supercross race in Minneapolis. “Ryan [Villopoto] and I put on a hard charge and he kept me honest the whole way. It’s been a while since I’ve been on top of box, but, man, in front of all these fans it was amazing. We could hear them out there. It was pretty loud and I’ve never felt anything like it. This is amazing to win in front of the home crowd, and I never could have dreamed something like this.”

“Me and Ryan [Dungey] had a hell of a race out there,” said Villopoto. “The fans were unbelievable. I knew they were rooting for Ryan, but it was awesome to hear them in every turn. It makes it easy to race when they’re so pumped about it. The track was tough, which made it one-lined in some areas, and that allowed [Ryan] to see where I was going and try something else. It was a good night overall.”

Millsaps rounded out the podium in third and lost some ground in the championship. Villopoto maintained his points lead heading into his home race next weekend and now sits 22 points ahead of Dungey, who moved past Millsaps into second.

In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event in Minneapolis, Marvin Musquin made it a sweep for Red Bull KTM by claiming his fourth win in five races with a wire-to-wire effort.

“It’s a great day,” exclaimed Musquin. “I was fastest in practice, I won my Heat Race, and I won the Main Event with the holeshot. It was a perfect day and a great feeling. I just try to win and don’t worry about what happens. I didn’t make any mistakes and got the holeshot, then I did my best.”

GIECO Honda’s Wil Hahn, who leads the championship, finished second with Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton in third.

“I’ve been strong and been confident,” said Hahn. “I’m bummed I haven’t been able to get a win, but it was still a good night. We have the points lead and we’re ready to go win this thing in Vegas.”

With the Eastern Regional 250SX Class on a two-race break, Roczen and the top riders competing in the Western Regional 250SX Class ramp up with three races remaining on the schedule. Roczen leads defending 250SX Class Champion Eli Tomac by 17 points.

During last year’s race in Seattle, Andrew Short captured the first 450SX Class win of his career and the fifth different rider to pick up a win in 2012. Behind Short in second was Red Bull KTM’s Roczen, who was an Eastern Regional 250SX Class rider competing in the premier class.

Villopoto, who already clinched the second Monster Energy Supercross Championship of his career, crashed during last year’s Main Event and suffered a torn ACL, forcing him to miss the final two races of the season.

In the Western Regional 250SX Class action, Ryan Sipes won his first 250SX Class Main Event of the season and the third of his career.


The first race in Seattle was held on February 18, 1978, and Jimmy Ellis won on a Honda. The first 250SX Class race was held on February 8 1985, and Bader Mannea, won on a Kawasaki. The 2013 season marks the 42nd time the gates will drop for a supercross race in Seattle. From 1978 – 1999, the race was held at the Seattle King Dome, and this year marks the ninth race at CenturyLink Field.

CBS will broadcast the 450SX race on Sunday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. ET, while SPEED will broadcast the 250SX race at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. CenturyLink Field Box Office opens April 20. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Gold Circle tickets are $45 Adult/Child; Mid-Level $30 Adult/Child; Treadhead $10 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6pm on Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium’s Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).

450SX Class Results: Minneapolis
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki

450SX Class Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 299
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 277
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 276
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 220
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 212
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 199
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 177
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 174
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 149
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 141

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Minneapolis
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
AJ Catanzaro, Portland, Conn., Kawasaki
Steven Clarke, England, KTM
Cole Thompson, Canada, Honda

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 178
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 173
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 153
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 103
Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 100
Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 87
Cole Thompson, Canada, Honda, 83
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda, 78
Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 71
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 68

Western Regional 250SX Class Points

Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 138
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 121
Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 95
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 88
Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 83
Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki, 82
Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 82
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM, 62
Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda, 62
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 60

Past Winners in Seattle

450SX Class

April 21, 2012: Andrew Short
April 16, 2011: James Stewart
April 24, 2010: Kevin Windham
April 18, 2009: Ryan Villopoto
April 26, 2008: Kevin Windham
April 28, 2007: James Stewart
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Larry Ward
January 31, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1997: Doug Henry
February 3, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 4, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
May 7, 1994: Mike Kiedrowski
January 30, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 2, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 17, 1990: Larry Ward
February 4, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 5, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 13, 1988: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1988: Ron Lechien
March 28, 1987: Rick Johnson
March 29, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 15, 1986: Jeff Ward
February 16, 1986: Rick Johnson
February 8, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 9, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 11, 1984: Jeff Ward
February 12, 1984: Rick Johnson
February 12, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1982: Donnie Hansen
February 14, 1982: Mark Barnett
February 14, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 15, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 9, 1980: Mike Bell
February 10, 1980: Mike Bell
February 9, 1979: Mike Bell
February 10, 1979: Bob Hannah
February 18, 1978: Jim Ellis

250SX Class

April 21, 2012: Ryan Sipes
April 16, 2011: Cole Seely
April 24, 2010: Broc Tickle
April 18, 2009: Ryan Dungey
April 26, 2008: Ryan Dungey
April 28, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 31, 1998: David Vuillemin
February 1, 1997: David Vuillemin
February 3, 1996: Kevin Windham
February 4, 1995: Damon Huffman
May 7, 1994: Ryan Hughes
January 30, 1993: Phil Lawrence
February 1, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 2, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 17, 1990: Ty Davis
February 4, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 5, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 13, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
March 28, 1987: Donnie Schmit
March 29, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 15, 1986: Willie Surratt
February 16, 1986: Donnie Schmit
February 8, 1985: Bader Manneh
February 9, 1985: Mike Healey

Source: Feld Motor Sports

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