2016 Santa Clara Supercross Preview
At Detroit Monster Energy Supercross two weeks ago, controversy arose when a post-race penalty was assessed to Ryan Dungey. The Red Bull KTM rider was deemed to have violated a red cross flag for a downed rider during the Main Event, which requires riders to roll all jumps.
Despite cruising to what was initially thought to be his sixth win of the season, Dungey was penalized two positions and dropped to third. As a result of the penalty, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, who finished second, was awarded the victory, which was his second of the season.
“I had a great day of practice,” said Anderson. “My day went really well. In the heat race I came out, got to fourth and stayed there to qualify. When I got to the main I got a pretty good start based on where my gate was. For the most part I just kind of stayed behind Marvin, and he ended up falling so he kind of gave me second. It felt good to see the leader the whole time and know I was on-pace. I mean I always knew I had the speed, but I’m finally starting to show it.”
Dungey’s penalty also meant his Red Bull KTM teammate Marvin Musquin moved up to second, his fourth-straight podium result and third runner-up finish in the past four races.
The 450SX Class rookie has been one of the hottest riders in the championship over the past month, scoring just one fewer point than Dungey over that span and has moved from seventh to fifth in the point standings.
While Dungey was surely frustrated, but his third-place finish maintained his historic podium streak, which now sits at 27 races, and also allowed him to extend his lead over RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen in the championship. Dungey’s third-place result, combined with Roczen’s sixth-place effort, gives the defending champion a 39-point advantage heading into Santa Clara.
Meanwhile, Anderson’s win moved him to within 14 points of Roczen for second in points as the series heads to Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., this weekend for round 12 of 18.
2016 Santa Clara 250SX Preview
It’s been four races since the Western Regional 250SX Class last took to the track, and prior to its midseason break the competition featured dramatic swings in the championship. In Arlington, entering points leader Joey Savatgy appeared poised to maintain his hold on the red number plate.
However, a controversial incident with GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig while battling for the lead resulted in a frightening crash for Savatgy, dropping him to the tail end of the field where he fought back to salvage 10th. Savatgy’s misfortune proved to be Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha rider Cooper Webb’s gain, with the defending Western Regional Champion racing to his fourth win.
The 14-point swing between Webb and Savatgy allowed the Yamaha rider to return to the top of the point standings, a position he held during the first three races of the season. Webb now brings an 11-point lead over Savatgy into Santa Clara in what will be the final race before a champion is crowned in Las Vegas on May 7.
Craig sits 16 points out of the lead in third and is currently in the midst of a five-race podium streak, the longest in the division. These three riders appear to be on their way to battling it out for the championship and given the way the racing has gone through the first seven races, there’s still a lot that can happen.
At last year’s inaugural visit to Levi’s Stadium, Dungey led 17 of 20 laps to take his seventh win of the 2015 season. In the 250SX Class, Webb battled his way back from a ninth-place start to take the lead at the halfway point and lead the final seven laps en route to his sixth win.
2016 Santa Clara Supercross on TV
Fox Sports 1 will broadcast 2016 Santa Clara Supercross with live coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
450SX Class Championship Standings:
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 253
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 214
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 200
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 186
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 178
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 173
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 160
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 128
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 105
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda – 104
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda – 80
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 73
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 67
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM – 63
- Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna – 61
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki – 53
- RJ Hampshire, Brooksville, Fla., Honda – 44
- Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Suzuki – 41
- Jesse Wentland, Elk River, Minn., Honda – 41
- Gannon Audette, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki – 41
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 145
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 134
- Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda – 129
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha – 117
- Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna – 110
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 99
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 97
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda – 87
- Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 69
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda – 63
