Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to The Motor City of Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field this Saturday night for round 12 of the series. As of last weekend’s race, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey won three consecutive races for the first time in his career.
Both he and his teammate, Marvin Musquin, continue to lead the championship in their respective classes having won four of the last five races, and will bring comfortable double-digit point leads into Detroit. In spite of that, neither KTM rider has won in Detroit and both will be looking to grab their first this weekend.
Dungey’s victory in Indianapolis not only extended his points lead to 45 over second place, but also leaves him tied with Damon Bradshaw for ninth on the 450SX Class all-time win list. Dubbed by some as “The Diesel” for his smooth riding style and consistency, he is the only rider in 2015 to finish inside the top-10 at every race and is currently in the midst of a 10-race podium streak.
“I’m taking every race one at a time,” stated Dungey. “It’s a long series and you can’t get too far ahead of yourself. I owe everything to my team and the man above. This track was really tough today. Everyone was running the same pace and it provided a good challenge. The start was key, and luckily, I got a good one.”
With fond memories of The Motor City as he won the 250SX Class Main Event in Detroit during his rookie season in 2007, he looks to put his KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition on the top step of the podium yet another time this season.
Team Honda’s Cole Seely moved into fourth place in the championship standings with his second place performance at Indianapolis. Seely challenged Dungey during the early stages of the race before eventually settling into the runner-up spot.
“It’s my rookie season and I can’t complain about a podium” said Seely. “It’s been a great year of learning and gaining experience among some of the greatest riders. When I was behind [Ryan] Dungey, I tried to be patient and wait for a mistake, but that’s a bit rare with him. I knew if I stayed close, I could learn a lot and I’m happy overall with how I rode. The last couple weekends, I’ve felt really spunky and have a lot of energy on the bike, which I think is showing in my riding. I’ve been trying not to overdo my training during the week so that I can come into the weekend fresh and excited to ride. Everyone has been really great supporting me this season, and I’m thankful for the group I have in my corner.”
Team Honda’s Trey Canard finished third in Indy and remains Dungey’s main threat for the title. The Oklahoman rider sits 45 points behind Dungey in the championship standings and will have to start winning races in order to have a realistic shot at the title.
“The night could’ve gone better but it also could’ve gone worse, so overall I’m grateful to be walking away healthy” said Canard. “I had a scary crash in practice, then went down in the first turn of my heat race and had to transfer through the semi. That gave me a bad gate pick for the main and I had to line up pretty far to the outside.
“Again, I didn’t get a great start, so I just tried to make passes as early as possible and work my way through the pack. I made my way into third, but by that time the front guys were pretty far apart. I’m happy with a podium, but it’s a bummer that I let Dungey get away with more valuable points. I’m even happier for my teammate Cole; he rode awesome tonight and really deserves to be up here.”
In the 250SX East Region Championship, former world champion Musquin has four wins and a runner-up finish through five Eastern Regional 250SX Class races (identical results to his teammate Dungey over that span). Musquin’s day in Indianapolis was flawless as the French rider turned the fastest time of the afternoon qualifying sessions and had a great gate pick for the second 250 heat race.
While he did get pushed to the outside at the start as riders rounded the first corner he stayed on track and recovered to fifth place to quickly move into the top three in the first half lap. On lap three he took over the lead and once there went on to secure an easy race win and the top transfer spot into the main event.
Musquin got another decent start in the main and was third at the first corner. He then put down the hammer and was in the lead by the second lap. He was then in a league of his own. By the end of the 15-lap race, he had pulled a remarkable 22-second lead as he thrilled the crowd with his trademark heel-clicker over the finish to collect his fourth win of the season.
“My bike was flawless tonight,” stated Musquin. “I am very excited to get a win here and stretch my point lead. I haven’t lost the red plate yet and I am excited to keep it heading to the next round.” Musquin’s ability to holeshot races and lead nearly every lap of the main event continue to put him one step closer towards his first championship on American soil and the Frenchman will look to continue that in Detroit this weekend.
Defending Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion Justin Bogle held on to his third runner-up finish of the season despite going off the track and crashing in the main event. The GEICO Honda rider’s trio of second-place efforts is complemented by a pair of third-place finishes, but the Oklahoma native is still in search of his first win this season. Last year in Detroit, Bogle finished second and hopes to pick up his first win at Ford Field.
GEICO Honda rookie RJ Hampshire put in a very impressive performance at Indianapolis as he achieved his first podium of the season and his career. He took advantage of the late misfortune of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy to grab the final spot on the podium with a third. “I came into the season with the goal of making every Main Event, so to be on the podium is a great accomplishment,” said Hampshire after the race.
During last year’s 450SX Class Main Event in Detroit, Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart captured his third race win of the season. The win, Stewart’s 48th of his career, tied him with Carmichael for second place on the all-time win list. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo captured the third Eastern Regional 250SX Class win of his career.
2015 Detroit Supercross on TV
Fox Sports 1 will broadcast Detroit Supercross from Ford Field at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.
2015 450SX Class Season Standings after 11 of 18 rounds:
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN, KTM, 249
2. Trey Canard, Edmond, OK, Honda, 204
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO, Honda, 169
4. Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, CA, Honda, 160
5. Ken Roczen, Clermont, FL, Suzuki, 156
6. Chad Reed, Dade City, FL, Kawasaki, 152
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, NM, Husqvarna, 144
8. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, CA, Suzuki, 141
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, TX, KTM, 124
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, MI, Suzuki, 120
2015 250SX Class Season Standings after five of nine rounds:
1. Marvin Musquin, Corona, CA, KTM, 122
2. Justin Bogle, Cushing, OK, Honda, 106
3. Jeremy Martin, Millville, MN, Yamaha, 85
4. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, FL, Honda, 74
5. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, GA, Kawasaki, 73
6. Martin Davalos, Cairo, GA, Husqvarna, 62
7. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, MO, Honda, 58
8. James Decotis, Peabody, MA, Honda, 57
9. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, NC, Honda, 57
10. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, GA, Yamaha, 52