Dungey and Musquin take KTM to a 1-2 in Atlanta
By Team TMX on 28th Feb 16
Ryan Dungey was the second fastest qualifying spot of the night and was placed in the first heat race. He was fifth at the start and worked his way up into third before making a small mistake that cost him two positions. Then, when the third and fourth place riders crashed in the sand section, Dungey moved into third and went on to qualify for the main event.
Marvin Musquin was in the next 450 heat where he pulled the holeshot. He dropped a few positions after a couple of mistakes but finished fourth to pick up his transfer position.
Main Event
Both KTM factory riders were fast out of the gates in the main event with Musquin in second around the first corner and Dungey fifth. Musquin immediately grabbed the lead from BTO KTM holeshot winner Justin Brayton while Dungey made quick passes to tuck in behind Musquin in second by the end of the second lap. From there he pressured his teammate for the next eighteen laps and the packed Atlanta crowd were on their feet as the teammates fought it out in the two-way battle that was rarely more than a few bike lengths apart.
Then with just one lap to go, a lapped rider moved into Marvin's line and he rolled off the track, handing Dungey the lead. The championship leader went on to take his fifth win of the season. Musquin quickly recovered and finished in second place for a 1-2 finish for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team.
"Marvin was so strong tonight,” stated Dungey after the race. "I was pressuring him but couldn't make the pass until that last lap. I'm really happy to share the podium with him tonight.”
Musquin remarked, "It is hard to lead for 19 laps and lose the race on the final lap. I am happy for Ryan but I really wanted this win. This is my best finish in the 450 class and I was pushing hard. I'm happy for the Red Bull KTM team to top the podium.”
With KTM riders Davy Millsaps and Brayton picking up 4-5, the results sheets saw an unprecedented four of the top five riders on the Austria-made KTM machines.
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM's Justin Hill works for fifth-place finish Justin Hill, Shane McElrath and Alex Frye made their season debuts inside the Georgia Dome as the Eastern Regional 250SX class dropped the first gate of the year. Hill grabbed the best finish of the team with a come from behind fifth-place finish, while Frye kept it inside the top 10 in ninth. McElrath was unable to continue after having issues during the main event.
The main event didn't start how he wanted it to as Hill crossed the finish line of the first lap in 21st. He used the entire 15-lap race to pick off riders and after a hard-fought battle, Hill ended the night in an amazing fifth place.
"I had to work hard for that one,” said Hill. "I was able to get some good points after a bad start so we'll take it. I know our KTMs are very capable of being up front on the start so I'm looking forward to getting up front and trying to get a win.”
Frye's debut on the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM team placed him inside the top 10. He got a good start and maintained the position throughout the race, finishing ninth.
McElrath shot out to an awesome start in the Main Event, but a mishap on the first rhythm section sent him off the track. It was a race-long battle to get back to the front and eventually he had to pull into the mechanics area and retire from the race early.
The second round of the Eastern Regional series will take the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM riders to Daytona International Speedway on March 5.
Next Race: March 5, 2016 – Daytona, FL (USA)
Results 450SX Class Atlanta 2016
1. Ryan Dungey (USA), KTM, 15:26.334 min (20 laps)
2. Marvin Musquin (FRA), KTM, +4.110 sec
3. Chad Reed (USA), Yamaha, +7.630
4. Davi Millsaps (USA), KTM, +15.264
5. Justin Brayton (USA), KTM + 19.374
Standings 450SX Class 2016 after 8 of 17 rounds
1. Dungey, 191 points
2. Ken Roczen (GER), Suzuki, 158
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Husqvarna, 145
4. Cole Seeley (USA), Honda 134
5. Reed 132
Other KTM
7. Musquin, 114
8. Millsaps 103
5. Brayton (USA), KTM 98
Results East 250SX Class Atlanta 2016
1. Martin Davalos (USA), Husqvarna, 12:03.638 min (15 laps)
2. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Honda, +1.375 sec
3. Aaron Plessinger (USA), Yamaha, +7.877
4. Jeremy Martin (USA), Yamaha, +14.609
5. Justin Hill (USA), KTM, +14.863
Other KTM
9. Alexander Frye (USA), KTM, +40.305
22. Shane McElrath (USA)O, KTM, 7 laps
Standings East 250SX Class 2016 after 1 of 9 rounds
1. Davalos 25 points
2. Stewart 22
3. Plessinger 20
4. Martin 18
5. Hill 16
Other KTM
9. Frye, 12
22. McElrath, 1
