AURORA, Ill.(May 1, 2015) – Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, welcomed members of the media and the most successful riders of the 2015 season to Sam Boyd Stadium this morning at a pre-race press conference for this weekend’s finale in Las Vegas. Recently crowned 450SX Class Champion Ryan Dungey, who rides for Red Bull KTM, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, and Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely were joined on stage by the respective Eastern and Western Regional 250SX Class Champions – Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb.

The conference kicked off with the formal announcement of the 2016 Monster Energy Supercross schedule, which will visit Foxborough, Massachusetts’ Gillette Stadium for the first time, make a return to Toronto’s Rogers Centre, and introduce a second-stop at San Diego’s Petco Park. Press conference emcee and FOX Sports play-by-play host Ralph Sheheen introduced the riders, engaging them in discussion about their 2015 seasons and the final race that lies ahead on Saturday night.

450SX Class

Red Bull KTM

#5 Ryan Dungey

Current Championship Position: 1^st

East Rutherford Start: 6^th

East Rutherford Finish: 2^nd (+4)

2015 Average Finish: 1.8

Dungey has earned seven wins on the season and an eighth win in Las Vegas would give KTM its first win inside Sam Boyd Stadium since 2012. He will also be making his 100^th career start in the 450SX class in Las Vegas.

“Being here [as the champion] is what I hoped for,” said Dungey, who extended his contract with KTM for two more seasons. “To wrap up my second title this year was big. Winning my first in 2010 was awesome, but there were some tough years that followed. When you finish second and third in the championship it’s not as rewarding. We’ve put in countless hours of work to get to this point, so to achieve my second title and the first for KTM is amazing. I feel like my best days are still ahead of me, so I’m looking forward to the future.”

GEICO Honda

#3 Eli Tomac

Current Championship Position: 2^nd (-82 behind leader) 

East Rutherford Start: 5^th

East Rutherford Finish: 1^st (+4)

2015 Average Finish: 5.4

Tomac stood atop the podium for the third time this season at the penultimate race of 2015 last Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With another good ride in Las Vegas, Tomac will secure the runner-up spot in the championship standings.

“I think this year was what I was hoping for,” explained Tomac, who missed most of his rookie season in 2014 with injuries. “I was able to get my first win and even a couple more. Last year was really rough all around. It was a satisfying season. Not completely since I didn’t win the title, but you have to realize that going up against the top riders in the world isn’t easy. I’ve learned a lot this year and I feel like I know what it takes to contend for the title next season.”

Team Honda HRC

#14 Cole Seely

Current Championship Position: 3^rd (-106 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 1^st

East Rutherford Finish: 3^rd (-2)

2015 Average Finish: 5.9

Seely earned his fifth podium of the season last weekend in New Jersey. He has also led 33 of the last 60 laps. He’s the top-performing rookie with one win and four additional podium finishes this season.

“I’m really excited to be on the top step as far as rookies go,” said Seely. “I’ve had a lot of fun this season and I’ve learned a lot from the guys sitting next to me. The 450SX Class has a little more respectful racing so it’s a little easier to find your groove, but since it’s so much longer [than the 250SX Class] it’s a much different approach to competition and consistency is key.”

#41 Trey Canard

Current Championship Position: 6^th (-161 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: DNS

East Rutherford Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 4.3 (11 Main Events)

Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports

#22 Chad Reed

Current Championship Position: 4^th (-153 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: DNS

East Rutherford Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 7.5 (15 Main Events)

Reed participated in the opening practice in New Jersey, but an ailing shoulder injury kept him from race-action. He is questionable for Las Vegas, though if he races and wins he will become the winningest racer at Sam Boyd Stadium. He currently is tied with Jeremy McGrath with four wins in Las Vegas.

Yoshimura Suzuki

 

#4 Blake Baggett

Current Championship Position: 5^th (-157 behind leader)  

East Rutherford Start:  9^th

East Rutherford Finish: 4^th (+5)

2015 Average Finish: 8.3

Baggett scored his fourth top-five finish of the season last weekend and will have his sights set on securing fifth place in the points standings on Saturday with another solid finish. He currently is eight points ahead of the next rider.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

#21 Jason Anderson

Current Championship Position: 7^th (-165 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 7^th

East Rutherford Finish: 9^th (-2)

2015 Average Finish: 8.9

Anderson has two podium finishes this season and will likely move into sixth in the points standings with Trey Canard, currently sixth, sitting out Las Vegas with an injury.

RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing

#20 Broc Tickle

Current Championship Position:  8^th (-182 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 11^th

East Rutherford Finish: 6^th (+5)

2015 Average Finish: 9.0 (15 Main Events)

Tickle ended his race at MetLife in dramatic fashion, cartwheeling over a berm with one lap to go. He still finished in sixth, notching his 12^th top-10 finish of the season. Las Vegas will be Tickle’s final chance of 2015 to earn his first podium in the 450SX Class.

#94 Ken Roczen

Current Championship Position: 10^th (-209 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: DNS

East Rutherford Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 5.9 (9 Main Events)

BTO Sports KTM

#29 Andrew Short

Current Championship Position: 9^th (-185 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start:  3^rd

East Rutherford Finish: 5^th (-2)

2015 Average Finish: 9.9

Short tallied his 47^th top-five finish of his 450SX Class career in New Jersey, but suffered a fractured kneecap and is questionable for Las Vegas.

Eastern Regional 250SX Class

Red Bull KTM

#25 Marvin Musquin

Current Championship Position: 1^st 

East Rutherford Start: 2^nd

East Rutherford Finish: 1^st (+1)

2015 Average Finish: 1.3

It was a monumental night in New Jersey for Musquin, who claimed his first championship on U.S. soil. Now the newly crowned Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion will face off with Western Regional 250SX Class Champion Webb. Both riders bring six wins apiece during their respective championships.

“I’m excited to be here. It will be my only race to ever run the number one plate,” said Musquin, who has signed with Red Bull KTM to race in the 450SX Class next season. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow and it’s going to be a great battle between the coasts. I plan to just do my best and we’ll see where everything ends up. The chance to see both champions racing is really exciting. I really want to enjoy it because it will be my last race in the 250SX Class.”

GEICO Honda

#1 Justin Bogle

Current Championship Position: 2^nd (-23 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 1^st 

East Rutherford Finish: 2^nd (-1)

2015 Average Finish: 2.4

Bogle will forego competing in this weekend’s Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout.

#80 RJ Hampshire

Current Championship Position: 5^th (-94 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 5^th

East Rutherford Finish: 5^th (+/-0)

2015 Average Finish: 7.0

Hampshire scored his second top-five finish of the season in New Jersey. He is looking to make his second trip to the podium during the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout.

Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha

#6 Jeremy Martin

Current Championship Position: 3^rd (-51 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 7^th 

East Rutherford Finish: 4^th

2015 Average Finish: 2.9 (7 Main Events)

Martin will miss Las Vegas after suffering an injury during training this past week.

#62 Anthony Rodriquez

Current Championship Position: 6^th (-96 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 9^th

East Rutherford Finish: 7^th (+2)

2015 Average Finish: 8.8

In his 10^th career start, Rodriguez earned his sixth career top-10 finish with a seventh-place finish in New Jersey. Rodriguez will be making his Las Vegas debut after sitting out with injury during the visit to Sam Boyd Stadium last season.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki

#37 Joey Savatgy

Current Championship Position:  4^th (-61 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 4^th

East Rutherford Finish: 3^rd (+1)

2015 Average Finish: 5.6

While his team went winless during the regular season for the first time since 2001, Savatgy still has a chance to put his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki on top of the podium in 2015 at the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout. He brings the momentum of three consecutive podium finishes into Las Vegas.

MotoSport.com/GPI/Honda

#55 Kyle Peters

Current Championship Position: 7^th (-103 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start:  3^rd 

East Rutherford Finish: 6^th (-3)

2015 Average Finish: 9.6

New Jersey’s stop marked Peters’ best finish of the season in sixth. He’ll be going after another season-best result in Las Vegas.

Riverside Harley Davidson/Trail Jesters/SOB MX

#49 James Decotis

Current Championship Position: 8^th (-107 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start:  21^st 

East Rutherford Finish: 18^th (+3)

2015 Average Finish: 10.1

AG Motorsports/Gurrnaid 

#35 Kyle Cunningham

Current Championship Position: 9^th (-122 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: 8^th 

East Rutherford Finish: 9^th (-1)

2015 Average Finish: 11.0 (7 Main Events)

Cunningham posted his 49^th career 250SX Class top-10 finish at MetLife Stadium in his 68^th start.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

#47 Martin Davalos

Current Championship Position: 10^th (-131 behind leader)

East Rutherford Start: DNS

East Rutherford Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 11.0 (6 Main Events)

Western Regional 250SX Class

Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha

#17 Cooper Webb

Current Championship Position: 1^st

Santa Clara Start: 9^th

Santa Clara Finish: 1^st (+8)

2015 Average Finish: 1.9

With a one-race break between Santa Clara and Las Vegas, Webb will be looking to take the ultimate prize in Las Vegas during the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout. He’ll be going up against Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion Musquin, who also shares six wins on the season.

“It makes it exciting to come here to Vegas for the Shootout and show what each coast has,” said Webb. “I had a great season winning the West title, but so did Marvin [Musquin] out East. I’m out here to do my job, and that’s to win. I’ll do the best I can, ride like I know how and we’ll see what happens. There’s no pressure.”

#157 Aaron Plessinger

Current Championship Position: 5^th (-73 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 3^rd

Santa Clara Finish: 7^th (-4)

2015 Average Finish: 7.3

Plessinger showed speed at the previous round in Santa Clara, but a crash cost him a shot at his first win. He is likely determined to get to the podium for the second time this season after finishing his rookie season fifth overall.

Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/KTM

#40 Shane McElrath

Current Championship Position: 2^nd (-62 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 13^th

Santa Clara Finish: 5^th (+8)

2015 Average Finish: 6.3

McElrath finished the competitive Western Regional 250SX Class season in the runner-up spot, and made his 450SX Class debut last weekend in New Jersey where he finished just outside the top-10 in 11^th. He’s shown speed to be a contender for the coveted Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout trophy.

#28 Jessy Nelson

Current Championship Position: 8^th (-80 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: DNS

Santa Clara Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 5.0 (6 Main Events)

Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna Factory Racing

#16 Zach Osborne

Current Championship Position: 3^rd (-69 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 21^st

Santa Clara Finish: 20^th (+1)

2015 Average Finish: 7.0

Following a first turn crash in Santa Clara that forced Osborne to post a DNF, Osborne is poised to come out swinging for his first victory of the season.

Red Bull KTM

#32 Justin Hill

Current Championship Position: 4^th (-70 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 12^th 

Santa Clara Finish: 2^nd (+10)

2015 Average Finish: 7.5

Hill gave Webb a run for his money at the previous race in Santa Clara, finishing second and collecting his second podium of the season. Hill has been a winner inside Sam Boyd Stadium before, and is focused on closing out the season with a win.

CycleTrader.com/Rock River Yamaha

#31 Alex Martin

Current Championship Position: 6^th (-75 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 2^nd

Santa Clara Finish: 3^rd (-1)

2015 Average Finish: 7.6

Martin was another rider to avoid the first turn carnage at the previous race in Santa Clara, racing to his second podium of the season.

GEICO Honda

#34 Malcolm Stewart

Current Championship Position: 7^th (-79 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 10^th

Santa Clara Finish: 4^th (+6)

2015 Average Finish: 9.4

Stewart narrowly missed out on a second consecutive podium result in Santa Clara, finishing fourth. He’ll look for the second win of his career in Vegas.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki

#911 Tyler Bowers

Current Championship Position: 9^th (-81 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: DNS

Santa Clara Finish: DNS

2015 Average Finish: 7.4

Bowers will be sitting out the round in Las Vegas due to injury, so it will be up to his teammates Chris Alldredge and Savatgy to bring home a win for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team this supercross season.

Motosport.com/Monster Energy Kawasaki

#100 Josh Hansen

Current Championship Position: 10^th (-95 behind leader)

Santa Clara Start: 1^st

Santa Clara Finish: 19^th (-18)

2015 Average Finish: 9.8

Hansen was on the verge of his best finish of the season in Santa Clara when he suffered a mechanical issue and had to pull out of the race. He’s finished well inside Sam Boyd Stadium with three top-five finishes.

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossLive.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross.

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