AURORA, Ill.(January 30, 2015) – The fourth stop of the 17-race Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, resulted in a shakeup in the 450SX Class standings. RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Factory Suzuki’s Ken Roczen entered the previous race with a 12-point lead in the points, but following a crash and a 15th-place finish it was Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey who walked away with the red number plate as the points leader. Dungey’s second straight runner-up finish gives him a four-point advantage heading into the third and final visit to Angel Stadium on Saturday in Anaheim, California.
In the Western Regional 250SX Class, drama reigned supreme as GEICO Honda’s Malcolm Stewart won the first Main Event of his career. Additionally, the championship battle between Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers took a controversial turn as the two riders made contact for the second consecutive race. Webb was forced to bounce back after dropping outside the top 10 and clawed his way to a runner-up effort, passing Bowers along the way to retain his points lead, which now sits at eight coming into Anaheim.
450SX Class
Red Bull KTM
#5 Ryan Dungey
Current Championship Position: 1st
Oakland Start: 4th
Oakland Finish: 2nd (+2)
Average Finish: 2.75
Dungey is one of just two riders to finish inside the top-10 in every race this season.
“I am excited to run the red plate at [Anaheim],” stated Dungey. “I wish I could have taken the win [in Oakland] but I am happy that my consistent results have paid off and we are in the top spot heading to the next round. I have to keep building off these results and continue to work toward that win.”
#15 Dean Wilson
Current Championship Position: 16th (-59 behind leader)
Oakland Start: DNS
Oakland Finish: DNS
Average Finish: 13.33 (3 races)
Wilson underwent season-ending surgery this week to repair an ACL and MCL injury to his knee.
“My doctor said the surgery went well and I’m looking at a regular rehabilitation process for my knee,” said Wilson. “I have been down this road a few times over the past five seasons but I have never been more committed to getting myself back to the top of the mountain. I am focused on a full recovery for myself, and the people and companies that stand behind me help add fuel to that fire. I have a major commitment to my team and will do my best to get back to 100-percent where I can then hop back on my KTM and push it to the front of the field.”
RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Factory Suzuki
#94 Ken Roczen
Current Championship Position: 2nd (-4 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 3rd
Oakland Finish: 15th (-12)
Average Finish: 4.75
Oakland signified the first time Roczen failed to lead a lap in 2015.
“I’m going to keep working this week,” said Roczen. “I’m feeling great. I feel great on the bike. Everything is good. I’m not too worried about the championship. It’s only four points. We’ve got a lot of racing left. Oakland could have been another good night but I messed it up. Luckily, I wear Fox helmets and Oakley goggles to protect my head and eyes. Otherwise, my incident last weekend could’ve been a whole different story.”
#20 Broc Tickle
Current Championship Position: 12th (-43 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 22nd
Oakland Finish: 22nd (+/- 0)
Average Finish: 11.75
Tickle crashed on the opening lap of the Main Event and failed to finish. He will miss Anaheim, citing a concern with his back.
“I’m disappointed that I’ll miss this weekend, but given my recent experience with back injuries, I’ve learned to take the doctor’s advice,” explained Tickle. “I don’t want turn a one-race injury into something bigger. It should be a pretty quick recovery and I can still do everything training-wise, except for riding. I need to stay off the bike for five to seven days. After that, I should be ready to go for San Diego in two weeks.”
Team Honda
#41 Trey Canard
Current Championship Position: 3rd (-14 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 10th
Oakland Finish: 1st (+9)
Average Finish: 5.75
It was Canard’s fourth career 450SX Class win and his first since Arlington, Texas, in April of 2011.
“I’m just so happy with how [Oakland] went, I don’t even know what to say,” said Canard. “I didn’t think I would be on the podium after the first few laps; it was chaotic out there. It’s been a long haul to get on top of the podium, but it feels so great. Everyone on the team has been working their butts off this season and I’m so grateful that I could finally give them what they’ve been working so hard for, a win. I got lucky with Kenny’s [Roczen] problem, so now the points gap has been closed a bit. I just need to work on my starts and stay on the podium each week, and it’ll be a fight to the end.”
#14 Cole Seely
Current Championship Position: 7th (-37 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 5th
Oakland Finish: 5th (+/- 0)
Average Finish: 9.75
Oakland was Seely’s best finish of his rookie 450SX Class season.
“I’m excited and happy with how the night went [in Oakland],” said Seely. “We’re moving in the right direction, for sure. I felt like I was hitting all my marks really well, and I put myself up front and in a good position early in the race. Unfortunately, I made some mistakes five or six laps in, which really cost me a lot of time and positions. I’m happy I was able to regroup and shake it off to salvage a fifth from that, which is my best finish of the season. My starts are improving and I’m riding well.”
GEICO Honda
#3 Eli Tomac
Current Championship Position: 4th (-18 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 7th
Oakland Finish: 4th (+3)
Average Finish: 7.0
Tomac has finished in the top-five in every race since finishing 20th at the opening race, gaining 16 spots in the championship standings.
“Going to the third Anaheim race, I’ve been feeling pretty good, but it seems like when we get to some of the bumpier tracks, that is when I get a little bit tight,” Tomac said. “Once I get that figured out, hopefully we’ll be consistently getting first or second instead of third or fourth. That’s what I’m shooting for right now. It’s a long season. The points will take care of themselves as long as we’re performing at a high level and staying consistent.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
#21 Jason Anderson
Current Championship Position: 5th (-20 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 8th
Oakland Finish: 10th (-2)
Average Finish: 6.25
Anderson is the only other rider, with Dungey, to finish in the top-10 in every race this season.
“[Oakland] was ok,” said Anderson. “When it came down to it I was up there, but I ended up crashing pretty hard and finished 10th. I’m ready to get back up there [in Anaheim] to redeem myself.”
Autotrader.com/Toyota/Yamaha
#51 Justin Barcia
Current Championship Position: 6th (-24 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 9th
Oakland Finish: 6th (+3)
Average Finish: 6.75
Barcia is in search of his first podium finish of the 2015 season.
“Oakland was good, I won my heat race and rode well in the Main Event,” said Barcia. “I am working with the team on starts and fine-tuning the bike setup, and I feel like we are getting better each week. My goal for Anaheim is to be on the podium.”
#46 Phil Nicoletti
Current Championship Position: 21st (-75 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 21st
Oakland Finish: 14th (+7)
Average Finish: 14.0 (1 race)
Nicoletti made his first start of the season for JGRMX, replacing an injured Weston Peick.
“Oakland was my first race of the 2015 season, and everything was good,” said Nicoletti. “Now that I have a race in the books, I’m really looking forward to racing at Anaheim this Saturday.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki
#18 Davi Millsaps
Current Championship Position: tied for 8th (-38 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 6th
Oakland Finish: 7th (-1)
Average Finish: 10.0
Millsaps has finished in the top-10 in every race since finishing 19th at the opening race, climbing 11 positions in the 450SX Class standings.
“Each week we’re getting better and better,” said Millsaps. “The track in Oakland was tough and technical, which made it hard to push. I’m excited to get back to Anaheim and finish off our third stop with a podium finish.”
BTO Sports KTM
#29 Andrew Short
Current Championship Position: tied for 8th (-38 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 1st
Oakland Finish: 8th (-7)
Average Finish: 10.25
Despite starting up front in every Main Event this season, Short earned his first SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award of the season in Oakland.
“It was a difficult weekend [in Oakland],” said Short. “I didn’t feel comfortable out there, but the highlight was the start and the first few laps of the main. We’ll regroup and come back strong at Anaheim.”
Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports
#22 Chad Reed
Current Championship Position: 10th (-40 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 2nd
Oakland Finish: 3rd (-1)
Average Finish: 7.67 (3 races)
Reed earned his first podium finish of the season and led his first laps of 2015 in Oakland.
“It’s great to get up [on the podium] after [the black flag in Anaheim],” said Reed. “I’m bummed because I really do feel like I had a win in me [in Oakland], but I made a couple mistakes and jumped off the track. We’ve put what happened [in Anaheim] behind us and will move forward with a new motivation.”
Western Regional 250SX Class
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha
#17 Cooper Webb
Current Championship Position: 1st
Oakland Start: 10th
Oakland Finish: 2nd (+8)
Average Finish: 2.75
Webb passed a total of 16 riders in the Oakland Main Event after a crash with Tyler Bowers, while running fifth, dropped him to 13th prior to recovering to finish second.
“Oakland was a decent weekend for me, I was able to get another heat race win,” said Webb. “In the main event I got off to a decent start, not too great, but passed my way up to about fourth or fifth, then I made my way around [Tyler] Bowers and then me and him got together he took me out pretty good, but I got back up from that. I just really put my head down once again and tried to fight back as much as I could. I was able to get around him nice and clean when I had to pass him and then passed Alex Martin for second on the last lap and went for Malcolm [Stewart], but just ran out of time. Overall I wanted to really get the win, but I second is not too bad. For Anaheim I’m looking for some good starts. We have been practicing a lot of with those and just keep doing what I am doing. We still have the red plate and obviously I want to keep that, so go out and do just one practice at a time and one race at a time, and try to get another win.”
#157 Aaron Plessinger
Current Championship Position: 7th (-32 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 11th
Oakland Finish: 7th (+4)
Average Finish: 7.50
Plessinger is in his rookie season of Monster Energy Supercross after completing Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross in AMSOIL Arenacross last season.
“Oakland for me was a tough one. It gave me some challenges along the way,” said Plessinger. “I went out for the heat race and I kind of got caught up in the second corner and ended up finishing 11th, which put me into the LCQ. Then in the LCQ I went out and got caught up in the second corner again, and then I went on to get fourth. Just barely made [the main event]. I went on to the main event and just did what I could do on the start. I kind of came out alright actually. I kind of came out mid-pack and then I just put my head down, raced my own race and ended up seventh, so I am really happy with that. My expectations coming into Anaheim is to just put my head down, charge the whole day and hopefully one of these times, get up on the box.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
#911 Tyler Bowers
Current Championship Position: 2nd (-8 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 9th
Oakland Finish: 4th (+5)
Average Finish: 3.25
Bowers is the reigning four-time AMSOIL Arenacross Champion.
“I’m looking forward to Anaheim,” said Bowers. “So far, I’ve got a third and a second-place finish at the first two stops, so naturally we’re looking to finish off with a win. Tensions are tight and everyone is going for it. We’re only eight points out of the lead and I really want the red plate.”
#66 Chris Alldredge
Current Championship Position: 22nd (-78 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 1st
Oakland Finish: 21st (-20)
Average Finish: 19.33 (3 races)
Alldredge led the first laps of his Monster Energy Supercross career in Oakland.
“Every week I’m learning and continuing to work hard,” said Alldredge. “The last two rounds I’ve been near the front, but have thrown it away. This weekend in Anaheim I plan on having a solid 15-lap race and finishing where I belong.”
Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Red Bull/KTM
#28 Jessy Nelson
Current Championship Position: 3rd (-15 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 22nd
Oakland Finish: 10th (+12)
Average Finish: 5.0
Nelson endured his worst start of the 2015 season to keep his streak of top-10 finishes intact.
“I had some good qualifying times and ended up getting a heat race win, which was great,” said Nelson. “In the main, I got a really bad start – missed a shift – got a little off axis coming out of the gate. I ended up coming together with another rider on the first lap and went to last. From there I just tried to salvage some points as much as possible. The race went by pretty fast and wasn’t able to get back to where I wanted to be.”
#40 Shane McElrath
Current Championship Position: 8th (-37 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 13th
Oakland Finish: 11th (+2)
Average Finish: 8.75
McElrath finished outside the top-10 for the first time this season in Oakland.
“I led the heat race for a little bit and felt comfortable out there,” said McElrath. “There was some chaos during the first couple laps which really didn’t help me settle in and find a good pace. Just one of those things where we’ll move past this and look to do well this weekend.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
#16 Zach Osborne
Current Championship Position: 4th (-17 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 8th
Oakland Finish: 6th (+2)
Average Finish: 4.75
Osborne has been racing with a broken thumb suffered at the opening race of the season.
“[Oakland] was ok for me,” said Osborne. “The track was pretty challenging, and I haven’t been spending as much time as I’d like on my bike due to my previous thumb injury. I think the technical track was definitely the biggest obstacle for me, but I’ll be back up there [in Anaheim].”
#44 Zach Bell
Current Championship Position: 11th (-46 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 2nd
Oakland Finish: 5th (-3)
Average Finish: 11.0
Bell earned his first SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award and best finish of the 2015 season in Oakland.
“[Oakland] was good,” said Bell. “Qualifying, practice, everything went well. The previous weekend I hurt my foot, so I took a week off so I could get it good for [Oakland] and show everyone what I could do. I got a holeshot and put it in the top five, so I’m happy. I just need to build off of it and get better every weekend.”
Red Bull KTM
#32 Justin Hill
Current Championship Position: 5th (-21 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 5th
Oakland Finish: 9th (-4)
Average Finish: 5.50
Hill led four laps of the Oakland Main Event before crashing out of the lead.
“I’m really bummed about [Oakland’s] result,” stated Hill. “I felt good on the bike all day and was fast in practice. I simply mistimed my entry into the sand section. I had been doubling into that section most of the day but they changed the entry a bit during track maintenance so my normal line didn’t work during the race. I’m pretty sure I face planted the sand. I just struggled to find my rhythm after that and went off the track again a little later. I’m going to do my best to bounce back at Anaheim.”
GEICO Honda
#34 Malcolm Stewart
Current Championship Position: 6th (-22 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 3rd
Oakland Finish: 1st (+2)
Average Finish: 7.50
Stewart earned the first win of his career and has climbed 16 spots in the championship standings since starting the season with a 22nd-place finish.
“Just believe; that’s it. You’re always going to have ups and downs in racing, and Oakland was my time to get on [top of] the box,” said Stewart. “I felt good on practice all day long, and it paid off. Now, let’s just keep building from here. Whether I win, get second, get third, let’s get it on the box. It always looks good when the GEICO Honda gets on the box. Even though I got the win, it doesn’t feel the same as when I have my brother [James Stewart] there. I miss him so much, and it was emotional not having him there.”
CycleTrader.com/Rock River Yamaha
#31 Alex Martin
Current Championship Position: tied for 9th (-39 behind leader)
Oakland Start: 4th
Oakland Finish: 3rd (+1)
Average Finish: 9.75
Martin earned the best finish of his career by landing on the podium in third.
“I’m very happy to come out of Oakland with my first career podium in the 250SX Class,” said Martin. “My biggest focus now is to keep the momentum rolling for the rest of the series.”
