Dungey & His KTM: Takes Third Straight Win
Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey won his third consecutive Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race and his first-ever at O.co Coliseum tonight in front of 46,949 fans. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy won the first Western Regional 250SX Class race of his career and moved into the points lead.
Dungey jumped out to an early lead in the 450SX Class main Event, winning the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award. His teammate Marvin Musquin followed in second place and Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing's James Stewart, who was racing his first Main Event since the season opening race in Anaheim, in third place.
On the opening lap, RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's/Suzuki Factory Racing's Ken Roczen passed Stewart for third, then passed Musquin for second place on Lap 4. Stewart withdrew from the race on Lap 8.
"To be able to get out front and find your lines early in the race is key," said Dungey, who now holds a 22-point lead over Anderson. "It's great to see all of the hard work pay off. I am really happy for Marvin [Musquin], who is my teammate, for earning the first podium of his career. I train with him during the week, and tonight he proved he has the speed."
Roczen earned the best finish of his season with a second-place finish.
"We are making steps in the right direction every weekend," said Roczen. "There were some parts of the track tonight where I was doing well and others where I struggled."
Musquin earned a career-best third place finish.
GEICO Honda's Christian Craig opened the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event with the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot as Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Cooper Webb and Savatgy followed in second and third respectively. Craig led the first three laps before crashing and handing the lead to Webb, shifting Savatgy to second and Webb's teammate Alex Martin into third place.
On Lap eight, Martin crashed and Cycle Trader/Rockriver Yamaha's Colt Nichols moved into the number three position. While leading on Lap 12, Webb had a mechanical issue that forced him to pull off the track. He did re-enter the race but finished in 21st place.
Nichols finished second, the best finish of his career, and Craig earned the second podium of his career with a third-place finish. Nichols moved into fourth place in season standings and Craig moved into fifth place in season standings.
"To be on the podium and have the points lead going into our first-ever race in Glendale, Arizona next weekend is awesome," said Savatgy.
"I almost got choked up when I came of the track," said Nichols. "I have been envisioning this my entire life, and to be up here is a dream come true."
Action resumes next Saturday night with the Monster Energy Supercross race at Glendale, Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium.
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO., Kawasaki
- Jacob Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif. Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM - 97
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna - 75
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha - 75
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki - 73
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda - 70
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO., Kawasaki - 68
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM - 51
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM - 47
- Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki - 46
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM - 45