2015 Anaheim 1 Supercross Results | Roczen, Anderson and Canard On The Podium
RCH Factory Suzuki’s Ken Roczen convincingly won the highly anticipated first 450 Main of the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. Behind Roczen was a train of riders who rode at a consistent distance from each other throughout the entire race.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Race Team’s Jason Anderson made his way into second place in the first few laps, and there were times it looked as if he was gaining ground on Roczen. Anderson finished his first points paying 450 Supercross race with a second place finish.
Team Honda’s Trey Canard worked his way up to 3rd after an 8th place start. Similar to Anderson behind Roczen, he stayed equidistant behind Anderson in the latter part of the race and comfortably landed on the final step of the podium.
Despite not winning his heat, Roczen was not to be denied in the Main. Roczen quickly made his way to the front after a top five start, passing Smartop/Moto Concepts’ Mike Alessi and BTO Sports’ Andrew Short by the fourth corner of the first lap. Roczen would utilize his smooth, effortless style to cruise to his first win of the season.
4th place finisher and former Supercross champion Ryan Dungey spent most of the race attempting to maneuver his Red Bull KTM around Short, which he finally achieved on lap 17. With a 5th place start and a 4th place finish, Dungey will certainly be looking to make some passes on his competitors during the 17-round series.
Short backed up his 2nd place qualifying time from earlier in the day, and a Heat win ahead of Roczen, to card a Top 5 finish. After beginning the race behind holeshot king Alessi, Short quickly passed him.
Eventually, Short was also passed by Anderson, Canard, and Dungey. Regardless, Short put himself in a great position from the start and settled into fifth ahead of a number of prominent riders, including Justin Barcia, Weston Peick, Broc Tickle, Alessi, and Chad Reed, who rounded out the top 10 in that order. JGRMX teammates Barcia and Peick rode together for the last six laps, with Barcia eventually taking 6th, one spot ahead of Peick.
Despite being the fastest qualifier during practice, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac started the main event in 6th place and would only fall back from there after two crashes, each of which were right before the finish line. This is Tomac’s second poor showing at A1 in the 450 class. Last year, Tomac crashed in his Heat and was lost to injury for most of the season due to the mishap. This time, he finished a disappointing 20th place.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Davi Millsaps got a seventh place start, but went down on laps five and six, and he eventually finished 19th. Another pre-race favorite, two-time Supercross champion Reed never showed the pace needed to compete at the front on his TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki. Reed averaged a second-per-lap slower than Roczen, and Reed crossed the finish line in 10th.
After signing with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team during the off-season, Wil Hahn had a scary crash in the first practice early in the day. He was transported off to a local hospital for further evaluation. Reports say that Hahn suffered a broken humerus, a back injury, and a concussion.
Photography by Don Williams
2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Results – Round 1 – Anaheim
1. Ken Roczen – Suzuki RM-Z450
2. Jason Anderson – Husqvarna FC 450
3. Trey Canard – Honda CRF450R
4. Ryan Dungey – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
5. Andrew Short – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
6. Justin Barcia – Yamaha YZ450F
7. Weston Peick – Yamaha YZ450F
8. Broc Tickle – Suzuki RM-Z450
9. Mike Alessi – Suzuki RM-Z450
10. Chad Reed – Kawasaki KX450F
11. Jake Weimer – Kawasaki KX450F
12. Blake Baggett – Suzuki RM-Z450
13. Justin Brayton – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
14. Cole Seely – Honda CRF450R
15. Dean Wilson – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
16. Josh Hill – Yamaha YZ450F
17. Brett Metcalfe – Suzuki RM-Z450
18. Josh Grant – Kawasaki KX450F
19. Davi Millsaps – Kawasaki KX450F
20. Eli Tomac – Honda CRF450R
21. Kyle Partridge – Honda CRF450R
22. Tevin Tapia – Suzuki RM-Z450
