Monster Energy SX Report: Anaheim 2
By Team TMX on 24th Jan 16
In front of 42,943 fans in Angel Stadium, Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey won his second consecutive Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race of the season.
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Cooper Webb won his third consecutive Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, extending his points lead to 18 and making Supercross history.
BTO Sports/WPS/KTM's Davi Millsaps opened the 450SX Class Main Event with the SupercrossLIve.com Holeshot Award. Dungey followed in second with Monster Energy 360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing's Chad Reed in third.
At the end of Lap 3, Dungey passed Millsaps and began to pull away. Reed passed Millsaps for second place on Lap 5. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac also passed Millsaps on the following lap for third place.
On the last lap of the race, Tomac went down while applying pressure on Reed for second and gave the number-two position to RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's/Suzuki Factory Racing's Ken Roczen.
Dugey's win marked the 24th of his career and he extended his points lead to 13. For the second consecutive week Reed finished in the runner-up spot, and for the first time this year Roczen finished on the podium with a third place.
"I had to charge the first five laps," said Dungey. "Chad [Reed] was on it tonight, and I know he wanted to get his ninth win here in Anaheim."
Reed is now tied with Larry Ward for third on the all-time 450SX Class start list with 188.
"I keep telling myself that I should appreciate second-place finishes, but I am a competitor," said Reed. "I wanted my ninth win in Anaheim tonight, but we will keep pushing."
GEICO Honda's Jimmy DeCotis won the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award to start the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event but was quickly passed when Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy pulled into the lead coming out of Turn 1.
On the opening lap GEICO Honda's Christian Craig, who won his Heat Race earlier in the evening, passed Savatgy for the lead. Webb, who won the previous two races this season, was fifth at the end of the opening lap.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Zach Osborne held down the number-three position as Webb worked his way into fourth place. The following lap, Webb advanced to third, and advanced into second place after Savtagy, who was riding in second place, crashed.
By the end of Lap 7, Webb moved within striking distance of Craig and a heated battled ensued. Craig and Webb traded places over the next several laps before Webb made a pass stick on Lap 10 and rode to victory. Shortly after Webb passed Craig, Osborne followed suit and moved into second place.
Webb became the first rider in history to win four straight races in Anaheim, dating back to last year.
"It was an awesome race," said Webb. "Once we [Webb and Craig] started battling, it was a fun race. It felt like we traded places like 10 times. I struggled all day and made some changes coming into tonight's Main Event, and it worked out."
Osborne finished second and Craig finished third, the best finish of his career.
Racing resumes next Saturday night at Oakland's O.co Coliseum on Saturday, January 30.
Results: 2016 Monster Energy Supercross - Anaheim 2
450SX Class Results
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
Jacob Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM - 72
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha - 59
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna - 57
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda - 55
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki - 54
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki - 51
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM - 36
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM - 35
Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki - 33
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM - 31
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna
Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda
Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki
Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha - 75
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna - 57
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki - 53
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda - 51
Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda - 47
Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha - 43
Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda - 42
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda - 36
Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM - 30
Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki - 28
