ANAHEIM, Calif. – Red Bull/KTM Factory rider Marvin Musquin made another trip to the podium at the fifth round of the AMA West Supercross Lites Series with a third place result in front of the sold out Angel Stadium crowd.
The two-time MX2 World Champion is focusing on consistency at this point in the series and has accomplished his goal the past two weekends. For the final Anaheim event, Musquin wowed the audience with a near holeshot in his heat event followed by a quick pass into the lead. He led the first three laps of the heat race before pressure from Eli Tomac forced him into making a mistake enabling Tomac to move into the lead. Tomac went on to take the heat win while Musquin finished a close second place.
Musquin’s second place heat finish earned him a top gate pick for the main event. “I really focused on my starting technique this week during my training,” remarked Musquin. “I have struggled at a few rounds with poor starts and it makes it too hard to come through the pack when I don’t put myself in good position from the start.”
His hard work paid off as he quickly propelled his KTM off the line to garner a fourth place start in the main event. Within the first lap he moved his 250 SX-F into third position behind Eli Tomac and Cole Seely. Musquin was able to maintain third place throughout the 15-lap main event despite heavy pressure from Dean Wilson in the final five laps. “I could feel that Wilson was close but I just continued to ride my own lines and I was able to hold him off and secure the podium spot,” commented Musquin.
Musquin’s third place finish moved him to third overall in the point standings. With three rounds remaining Musquin is only 7 points shy of second place.
Next Round: San Diego, CA – February 11, 2012
AMA West Supercross Lites Race Results –
1) Eli Tomac
2) Cole Seely
3) Marvin Musquin – KTM
4) Dean Wilson
5) Nico Izzi
6) Michael Leib
7) Matt Moss – KTM
8) Vince Friese
9) Travis Baker
10) Martin Davalos
11) Ryan Sipes
12) Killy Rusk
13) Billy Laninovich
14) Bruce Rutherford
15) Gareth Swanepoel
16) Jean Carlo Ramos
17) Ryan Marmont – KTM
18) Topher Ingalls
19) Gavin Faith
20) Jason Anderson
AMA West Supercross Lites Overall Point Standings –
1) Eli Tomac – 113
2) Dean Wilson – 91
3) Marvin Musquin – 84
4) Cole Seely – 79
5) Zach Osborne – 67
