Phoenix Supercross
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey piloted his Yoshimura-equipped 2011 Suzuki RM-Z 450 to a fifth-place finish last night at the second round of the 2011 AMA Supercross in front of a packed house at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.
Teammate Brett Metcalfe rode a strong race, also on a Suzuki RM-Z 450 as well, scoring an eighth-place finish in the 20-lap main event.
Dungey started the evening with a fourth-place finish in his heat race. In the main event, he started seventh but his Suzuki RM-Z powered him to third by the second turn. A tough first lap put Dungey back to seventh, but he was able to put together some impressive laps and work his way up to a fifth-place finish.
Ryan Dungey (Suzuki 450) says: "We didn’t have the best of days, but I’m proud of the entire Rockstar Makita Suzuki team," explains the current Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross champ.
"We are in this together, whether they be good nights or those that don’t get you a win. The track was real tricky tonight, with slick spots all over the place. It wasn’t a track you could really push forward on. It was like we were riding on marbles in some turns. We are going right back to work this week. I’m looking forward to LA."
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe started out the night with a seventh-place finish in his heat race. After an eleventh-place start and despite a minor get-off, Metcalfe methodically worked his Suzuki RM-Z450 up to an eighth-place finish in the main event.
Brett Metcalfe (Suzuki 450) says: "Practices went pretty good," comments Metcalfe, the former Honda SX and MX rider. "I went into the heat race and got a bad start, but I was feeling pretty good and put in some good laps on my Suzuki.
"But then I missed a triple and lost my rhythm; ended up falling and got tight. So that was disappointing. My Rockstar Makita Suzuki team was able to make some changes to the bike that really helped me in the main. I didn’t get a good start, but I was able to ride much more solid and my Suzuki was working really well.
"I’m happy with another eighth-place and we’ll continue to make little improvements and get better as we go along. I’m really looking forward to next week at Dodger Stadium – I think it’s going to be a real exciting venue."
The 2011 Rockstar Makita Suzuki team’s next event is Saturday, January 22nd, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
2011 Phoenix Supercross Class Results
1. James Stewart
2. Ryan Villopoto
3. Trey Canard
4. Chad Reed
5. Ryan Dungey
6. Justin Brayton
7. Andrew Short
8. Brett Metcalfe
9. Kyle Chisholm
10. Kyle Regal
2011 Supercross Class Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto – 47
2. James Stewart – 45
3. Ryan Dungey – 38
4. Trey Canard – 38
5. Chad Reed – 34
6. Brett Metcalfe – 26
7. Andrew Short – 25
8. Kyle Chisholm – 22
9. Ivan Tedesco – 21
10. Justin Brayton – 20
