For the third consecutive season, the Red Bull KTM team swept Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race wins in the 450SX and 250SX Classes on the same night through the efforts of Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin, respectively. With momentum on their side, Dungey and Musquin hope to repeat that effort for the first time ever as Monster Energy Supercross returns to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome this Saturday night.
Some key insights to watch heading into this Saturday night’s race include:
Can Dungey become the season’s first back-to-back winner? This season currently marks the second longest streak without having a consecutive race winner in the 450SX Class. This does not include the two seasons in which there were no back-to-back winners.
Can Dungey extend his podium streak to seven races?
Can Trey Canard, Dungey or Ken Roczen become the first three-time winner of the season?
After two straight runner-up finishes, can Roczen earn his first win since the second Anaheim, four races ago?
Can Dungey and Jason Anderson maintain their distinction as the only two riders to finish inside the top 10 at every race this season?
Can Musquin start Eastern Regional 250SX Class season off with two straight victories?
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki has yet to win so far this season. Can Joey Savatgy or Arnaud Tonus breakthrough for a win?
Can title contender Martin Davalos dig himself out of the 13-point hole he is in after the opening race of the season?
With 54,931 fans on hand at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, last weekend, Dungey led all 20 laps of the 450SX Class Main Event after winning the SueprcrossLive.com Holeshot Award. RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Factory Suzuki’s Roczen, who has two wins on the season, gave chase to Dungey but was never able to close the gap to move into the lead. Dungey now joins Roczen and Team Honda HRC’s Canard as the class’ only two-time race winners.
“Wins are important. You’re especially going to need them as we get towards the end of the season,” said Dungey. “We’re doing the best we can each week, putting ourselves in a good spot and we need to keep doing that. I got a good start tonight and was able to ride my own race.”
The Georgia Dome is a special place for Dungey and his Red Bull KTM team. In 2012, Dungey gave the team its first-ever win in Atlanta and its second 450SX Class win of all time. In 21 of the previous 36 races held in Atlanta, the winner of this race has gone on to win the championship.
Roczen, who won in Atlanta last year while riding for the Red Bull KTM team, finished a solid second place and sits 12 points behind Dungey.
“It was tricky out there,” said Roczen. “I got off to a decent start and made a small mistake early, but I’m happy with a second place. It’s a long, hard season and the championship won’t come easy.”
Canard came into Arlington with hopes to follow up on his win in San Diego but was happy to finish on the podium. He sits 23 points behind Dungey in the season standings.
Like Dungey, Musquin led every lap of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event, winning the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award. As expected his toughest competition would come from GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle, the reigning class champion, but after the Oklahoma native made the pass for second place on Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Martin Davalos, he finished in the runner-up spot.
“I had a great start then I just did my laps and kept doing what I had to do,” said Musquin, who missed all of last season with an injury. “Just being consistent is what it’s going to take and that’s what I’ve been preparing for. I’m just happy to get it [a win] done this early, be here feeling good and healthy, and starting out strong.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savagy finished third, his best finish of his career.
In her attempt to become the first female ever to qualify for a Monster Energy Supercross race; Vicki Golden came up short at AT&T Stadium. She will continue to follow her dream this weekend in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.
“Today was good and bad,” said Golden. “Unfortunately, I did not qualify, but all week, I have been saying that if I don’t qualify, I want to be as close as possible. We did that at least today. I felt good on the track today, and I just need to be loose on the track. I am going to make the most of this week and come back strong next week for Atlanta. Thanks for everyone’s support.”
During last year’s 450SX Class Main Event in Atlanta, Roczen won his second 450SX Class race of the season as a rookie while Davalos captured the first Eastern Regional 250SX Class win of his career. Chad Reed and Jeremy McGrath are tied on the all-time 450SX Class win list with eight apiece. Ivan Tedesco holds the all-time 250SX Class win record with five.
Previous Race Results
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
February 14, 2015
450SX Class Results: Arlington
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
Josh Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda
450SX Class Season Standings
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 152
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki, 140
Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda, 129
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 114
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 100
Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda, 93
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 86
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 85
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 82
Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha, 71
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Arlington
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
Joey Savatgy Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
Jeremy Martin, Millville., Minn., Yamaha
Matt Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Kawasaki
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., KTM
RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda, Honda
Arnaud Tonus, Aire-la-Ville, Switzerland, Kawasaki
Martin Davalos, Corona, Calif., KTM
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Peters, Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM, 25
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 22
Joey Savatgy Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki, 20
Jeremy Martin, Millville., Minn., Yamaha, 18
Matt Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Kawasaki16
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., KTM, 15
RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Honda, Honda, 14
Arnaud Tonus, Aire-la-Ville, Switzerland, Kawasaki, 13
Martin Davalos, Corona, Calif., KTM, 12
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Peters, 11
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 136
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 106
Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 104
Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna, 102
Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 86
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha, 81
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM, 79
Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki, 79
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 75
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 69
Past Winners in Atlanta
450SX Class
February 22, 2014 Ken Roczen
February 23, 2013 James Stewart
February 25, 2012 Ryan Dungey
February 26, 2011 Ryan Villopoto
February 17, 2010 Ryan Dungey
February 21, 2009 James Stewart
February 23, 2008 Davi Millsaps
February 24, 2007 James Stewart
February 25, 2006 Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
February 28, 2004 Chad Reed
February 22, 2003 Ricky Carmichael
February 23, 2002 Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 2001 Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2000 Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1999 Jeremy McGrath
February 21, 1998 Jeremy McGrath
February 22, 1997 Damon Huffman
February 24, 1996 Jeremy McGrath
February 25, 1995 Mike LaRocco
February 26, 1994 Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1993 Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1992 Damon Bradshaw
February 23, 1991 Damon Bradshaw
February 24, 1990 Jeff Ward
February 25, 1989 Jeff Stanton
February 22, 1986 Rick Johnson
February 23, 1985 Mark Barnett
February 25, 1984 Johnny O’Mara
March 5, 1983 Mark Barnett
February 27, 1982 Bob Hannah
February 28, 1981 Mark Barnett
March 1, 1980 Chuck Sun
March 3, 1979 Bob Hannah
March 4, 1978 Marty Tripes
March 5, 1977 Bob Hannah
250SX Class
February 22, 2014 Martin Davalos
February 23, 2013 Wil Hahn
February 25, 2012 Justin Barcia
February 26, 2011 Dean Wilson
February 27, 2010 Christophe Pourcel
February 21, 2009 Christophe Pourcel
February 23, 2008 Trey Canard
February 24, 2007 Ryan Dungey
February 25, 2006 Josh Grant
February 26, 2005 Grant Langston
February 28, 2004 James Stewart
February 22, 2003 Brock Sellards
February 23, 2002 Chad Reed
February 24, 2001 Nathan Ramsey
February 26, 2000 Stephane Roncada
February 20, 1999 Ernesto Fonseca
February 21, 1998 Ricky Carmichael
February 22, 1997 Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 1996 John Dowd
February 25, 1995 Mickael Pichon
February 26, 1994 Ezra Lusk
February 20, 1993 Doug Henry
February 22, 1992 Brian Swink
February 23, 1991 Brian Swink
February 24, 1990 Denny Stephenson
February 24, 1989 Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1986 Keith Turpin