Dungey’s Domination Continues, Musquin Earns 1st Podium
Dungey jumped out to an early lead in the 450SX class Main event, grabbing the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award while teammate Marvin Musquin followed in 2nd place. Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s James Stewart was running in 3rd. Stewart was racing in his first Main since suffering a concussion at the season’s opening round at Anaheim.
Before a full lap was in the books, RCH/Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen passed Stewart for the number three position. Roczen passed Musquin for second place on lap 5. From there, the podium was set for the night, and Dungey’s victory extended his points lead to 22.
“To be able to get out front and find your lines early in the race is key,” said Dungey. “It’s great to see all of the hard work pay off. I am really happy for Marvin [Musquin], who is my teammate, for earning the first podium of his career. I train with him during the week, and tonight he proved he has the speed.”
Roczen earned the best finish of his season with a second-place finish. “We are making steps in the right direction every weekend,” said Roczen. “There were some parts of the track tonight where I was doing well and others where I struggled.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson started the race in 11th place and worked his way through the field up to 4th place, putting impressive passes on Monster Energy/360Fly/Chapparal Yamaha Factory Racing’s Chad Reed and Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely in the final stages of the race. In four rounds, Anderson has yet to finish outside of the top 5, a feat only Dungey can match.
Reed took 5th, and is now tied with Anderson for 2nd place in the championship standings with 75 points, 22 behind the surging Dungey.
Seely finished the first lap in 5th place and passed Stewart for 4th. Stewart, who may still be suffering from concussion-related issues, withdrew from the race on lap 8 after fading from 4th to 7th. Seely fell victim to Anderson and Reed late in the race, finishing 6th.
A poor start by Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac doomed his night, as he was only able to work his way up to 7th after starting 12th—despite a good gate pick after winning his Heat—breaking his streak of three 4ths in a row. Tomac is now 29 points behind Dungey and sits in 6th place in the standings.
RCH/Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Jake Weimer’s RM-Z450 debut found him in 10th at the start of the Main, and he finished in 8th, matching his best result of the season.
BTO Sports KTM’s Justin Brayton, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Wil Hahn rounded out the top 10.
Team Honda HRC’s Trey Canard qualified for the Heat races, but declined to ride due to hand and groin injuries. His title chase is done, as he sits 12th in the standings, 68 points behind Dungey. Red Bull KTM’s Dean Wilson, who suffered an injury in qualifying last week, had major knee surgery before the Oakland round and is out for the season.
Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett’s first race of the season was difficult. He started in 16th place, and ended the night in 15th. He also went down hard in a rhythm section in his Heat race.
Arch rivals Smartop MotoConcept Racing’s Vince Friese and Autotrader/Monster/Yamaha’s Weston Peick came together in their Heat, with Friese hitting the dirt after Peick executed a hard pass that clipped Friese’s front brake lever. Both qualified for the Main out of the Semis, with neither finishing in the top 10.
Photography by Simon Cudby
2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Results – Round 4 – Oakland
1. Ryan Dungey – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
2. Ken Roczen – Suzuki RM-Z450
3. Marvin Musquin – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
4. Jason Anderson – Husqvarna FC 450
5. Chad Reed – Yamaha YZ450F
6. Cole Seely – Honda CRF450R
7. Eli Tomac – Kawasaki KX450F
8. Jake Weimer – Suzuki RM-Z450
9. Justin Brayton – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
10. Wil Hahn – Kawasaki KX450F
11. Weston Peick – Yamaha YZ450F
12. Davi Millsaps – KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
13. Mike Alessi – Honda CRF450R
14. Christophe Pourcel – Husqvarna FC 450
15. Blake Baggett – Suzuki RM-Z450
16. Vince Friese – Honda CRF450R
17. Lawson Bopping – Yamaha YZ450F
18. Nick Schmidt – Suzuki RM-Z450
19. Phil Nicoletti – Yamaha YZ450F
20. Cade Clason – Honda CRF450R
21. Adam Enticknap – Honda CRF450R
22. James Stewart – Suzuki RM-Z450
2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Standings (after 4 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 97 points (3 wins)
2. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 75 (1 win)
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 75
4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 73
5. Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 70
6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO., Kawasaki – 68
7. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 51
8. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 47
9. Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 46
10. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 45
Next Round: Glendale, Arizona; February 6, 2016
I have never felt so badly for another rider as I do for James Stewart. He must feel so ashamed, embarrassed, as if he has really let the fans down. Concussions are a very serious thing, and he could never let this fan down!
Stewart is definitely letting no one down. He’s giving it his all, but making the right call on the side of safety…not just his, but also the riders around him.
Amen!!