2016 Detroit Supercross Preview
While RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen enjoyed the spoils of victory at the previous stop of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in Toronto, defending 450SX Class Champion and current points leader Ryan Dungey continued his historic start to the 2016 season, setting a new all-time mark in consecutive podium finishes.
The top two SX riders will lead their field competitors into this weekend’s annual visit to Detroit’s Ford Field for the 11th race of the season this Saturday, March 19. In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, three different riders have stood atop the podium through the championship’s first three races.
Red Bull KTM’s Dungey has enjoyed his most successful start to a Monster Energy Supercross season in 2016, finishing no worse than third through the first 10 races of the championship. That podium consistency dates back to last season, where it played a major role in his title-winning campaign. Last Saturday night in Toronto, Dungey’s consistency reached historic levels with his 26th consecutive podium finish, setting a new all-time record that we previous held by Monster Energy/360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Chad Reed from the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
As 2016 Supercross heads to the Motor City, Roczen’s win was arguably his most impressive outing of the season and it came at a much-needed time. After positioning himself in third off the start, Roczen marched his way into the lead by the second lap, passing Dungey for second and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac for the lead. He set a strong pace to open a comfortable lead, which he managed through the entirety of the Main Event.
It was the German rider’s third win in the last six races and comes after enduring through sixth and fifth-place finishes over the past two weekends. Roczen, who sits second in the championship standings, needed a strong outing and a momentum shift in his favor to re-energize his hopes of challenging Dungey for the title. As a result, 34 points separates the two riders heading to Ford Field.
“I just stayed out of trouble and rode my race,” commented Roczen following Round 10. “It was an amazing feeling being up front. It was a tough track out there. Even the start was tricky. The track was really slippery. I got a decent start and went around the first turn pretty good and I think someone went down in the second turn so I got really lucky right there. I made some good passes happen in the beginning and that helped me get a clear track so I could ride some good, fast laps. The track got really cupped out so it was all about staying focused. Towards the end I had a good lead and just kept it safe and steady and took home the win. It’s awesome.”
Dungey appeared to have another runner-up finish all but secured until a rare mistake put the points leader on the ground in the closing laps, and caused him to lose the position to his Red Bull KTM teammate Marvin Musquin. It resulted in Dungey’s worst finish of the season, a third, and ended his streak of top-two finishes at 20 races.
“I had some time to make up on Kenny [Roczen], but washed the front end while trying to make a push,” said Dungey. “From there I did the best that I could and was able to come away with a podium.”
Musquin is on a hot streak of his own, finishing on the podium in three straight races, highlighted by a pair of runner-up results. He’s moved up to sixth in the 450SX Class point standings.
The Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship has opened up to incredible racing and heavy parity. In Toronto, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Justin Hill raced to his third career victory, emerging from the fray in a wild Main Event that saw several of the top contenders involved in a first-turn pileup. Adding to a dramatic shift in the championship standings was the absence of entering points leader and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Martin Davalos, who did not race due to personal reasons.
“This [win] is a big deal for me. It’s been a while since I last won,” said Hill. “It was a very difficult track and I was lucky to get through the start clean and bring it home.”
While Hill enjoyed his first trip to the top of the podium since the 2014 season, Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin walked away with the points lead following an impressive come-from-behind effort that saw him come from 19th to the runner-up spot. Martin was one of the riders involved in the first-turn incident.
“The laps and hard work during the week paid off tonight,” said Martin. “We were able to move forward after the crash, which helped us leave with the red plate. It’s a bummer Davalos was unable to race tonight.”
As a result of missing the race, Davalos dropped from first to fourth in the championship standings and now sits 20 points behind Martin. Hill is now second, with GEICO Honda’s Malcolm Stewart third.
Last year at Ford Field, Tomac passed Dungey for his second career 450SX Class win. In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle won his first Main Event of the 2015 season.
Previous Race Results:
Rogers Centre – Toronto
March 12, 2016
450SX Class Results
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
- Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
450SX Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 233
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 199
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 175
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 170
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 163
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 156
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 142
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 125
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 105
- Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 92
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Suzuki
- Alex Frye, Huntingtown, Md., KTM
- Jesse Wentland, Elk River, Minn., Honda
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
- Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., Yamaha
- Gannon Audette, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
- Paul Coates, Zephyrhills, Fla., Honda
- Arnaud Tonus, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 65
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM – 63
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda – 55
- Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna – 45
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 45
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki – 35
- Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Suzuki – 32
- Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., Yamaha – 32
- Alex Frye, Huntingtown, Md., KTM – 31
- Jesse Wentland, Elk River, Minn., Honda – 30
