Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey picked up a solid fourth overall in the 450-class at the opening round of the AMA Supercross series at the Angel Stadium Anaheim on Saturday.
BTO Sports KTM rider Andrew Short, winner of the main event holeshot finished behind Dungey in fifth overall.
KTM rider Jessy Nelson (Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/Lucas Oil/KTM) also took a dominant victory in the opening round of the 250-class West Coast Series in front of a packed stadium, while Red Bull KTM Factory rider Justin Hill finished just off the podium in fourth place.
Dungey, a Red Bull athlete started the day off well with a fifth place start in his 450 SX class heat race and quickly slipped by Mike Alessi into fourth. Two laps later he moved past Justin Barcia to take third place and carried it to the flag to transfer to the main event. Dungey’s new Red Bull KTM teammate, Dean Wilson did not have a strong heat race and finally slogged his way to a hard-earned main event slot via the semi and the LCQ, where he nailed the holeshot and led all laps to take an easy win.
It was Short who took the holeshot in the main while Dungey was in sixth and Wilson back at seventeenth at the start. Dungey stuck to the top five and advanced to fifth place on the first lap and was eventually able to challenging Short to fourth place in the closing stages on the race. Wilson after a hard night of riding struggled at this event and finally finished in fifteenth place.
“I would have liked to be on the podium tonight,” stated Dungey. “I am happy to be in the top five. It is definitely not the worst place to start the year but I have some work to do to improve my position for the next race.” Dungey, Wilson and Short are all riding the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition.
250-class West Coast Opener
It was a strong night for KTM riders contesting the 2015 250-class West Coast Series with Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/Lucas Oil/KTM rider Jessy Nelson taking a great win while Red Bull KTM Factory rider Justin Hill finished fourth.
Nelson was the dominant rider on the night, earned the holeshot in the main and led every lap of the 15-lap main event to claim the win aboard his KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition motorcycle.
“It feels so great to get the win tonight,” stated Nelson on the podium. “The team and I have put so much work into the program this year and I am so comfortable on this bike. I am excited to get this win at the opening round.”
Hill had a blistering heat race pace to be third at the start then quickly moved past Alex Martin for second on the opening lap. He then concentrated on reeling in race leader Josh Hansen and slipped past him on the inside of a left handed corner with one lap remaining. He went on to seal victory in the opening heat race of the season.
Hill continued to be hot out of the start and was top five as the main event got underway. He moved into fourth place on lap three and then passed Hansen for third before the end of lap four. He hung onto the podium position until the last few laps but succumbed to pressure from Tyler Bowers and had to be content with fourth.
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/Lucas Oil/Ktm Rider Jessy Nelson Wins
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/Lucas Oil/KTM rider Jessy Nelson took a dominating win in front of the sold out crowd at the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series in the 250SX West Championship while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Justin Hill took a 4th place result.
Justin Hill had a great heat race earning a 3rd place jump off the line. He quickly moved past Alex Martin for 2nd on the opening lap. The next few laps he spent time reeling in the lead ride of Josh Hansen. With one lap remaining he was able to make an inside pass through a left-handed corner to take over the lead. He held the front position to the finish taking the first heat race win of the season.
He continued his streak of good starts in the main event where he got off the line to a top five start. Hill moved into 4th place on lap three and then passed Hansen for 3rd before the end of lap four. He continued to hold the podium position until the last few laps when he began to receive pressure from Tyler Bowers. Unfortunately, Bowers was able to make the pass on Hill pushing him back one spot to 4th. Hill held that position and finished the race in that place.
Meanwhile, Jessy Nelson earned the holeshot out front and led every lap of the 15 lap main event to claim the win aboard his KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition motorcycle.
“It feels so great to get the win tonight,” stated Nelson on the podium. “The team and I have put so much work into the program this year and I am so comfortable on this bike. I am excited to get this win at the opening round.”
Next Event: January 10, 2015 – Phoenix, AZ
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450-class results
1, Ken Roczen, Suzuki, 25 points
2, Jason Anderson, Husqvarna, 22
3, Trey Canard, Honda, 20
4, Ryan Dungey, KTM, 18
5, Andrew Short, KTM, 16
6, Justin Barcia, Yamaha, 15
7, Weston Peick, Yamaha, 14
8, Broc Tickle, Suzuki, 13
9, Mike Alessi, Suzuki, 12
10, Chad Reed, Kawasaki, 11
Other KTM
13, Justin Brayton, KTM 8
15, Dean Wilson, KTM 6
250-class results (West Coast series)
1, Jessy Nelson, KTM, 25 points
2, Zach Osborne, Husqvarna 22
3, Tyler Bowers, Kawasaki 20
4, Justin Hill, KTM 18
5, Aaron Plassinger, Yamaha, 16
6, Shane Mcelrath, 15
7, Cooper Webb, Yamaha, 14
8, Alex Martin, Yamaha, 13
9, Joshua Hansen, Kawasaki, 12
10, Michael Leib Honda, 11
11, Zach Bell, Husqvarna, 10
21. Darryn Durham, KTM 1