Red Bull KTM Factory riders Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin picked up valuable championship points in the 450SX Supercross and 250SX classes at the FIM championship on Saturday night in Houston’s Reliant Stadium to finish second and third in their respective main events.
The solid result in the 450s allowed Dungey to close the points gap to David Millsap’s second to just four points while Musquin consolidated in second place with an eight-point gap to the leader Wil Hahn and only two rounds to go in the East Coast series of his division.
Dungey was placed in the second 450SX Supercross heat where he had the first gate pick. He had a good jump out of the gate but was pinched off in the first corner and came around mid-pack. In the second corner, he came together with Andrew Short but managed to pull off a good save as they accelerated out of the corner. He then settled down to quickly pick off riders and was seventh by the third lap when the race was red flagged due to a rider injury.
The race restarted in staggered format and Dungey quickly reeled in the two riders in front of him to move into fifth. Two laps later he caught KTM rider Matt Goerke and moved into fourth where he finished the heat.
Dungey fifth at the first corner of the main event then made a few passes early in the race to move into third behind Trey Canard. He had reeled him in by the half way mark and slipped by on the inside to take second place. He then made up some time on leader Ryan Villipoto but was unable to get close enough to challenge for the win, eventually settling for second at the flag.
“I definitely needed a better start tonight. We are all so close in lap times that if you don’t get the best start, the leaders pull away quickly. I was able to get into second place but didn’t leave myself enough time to catch Ryan (Villopoto). Overall, I am happy to be on the podium and very happy with my bike and hope to continue to improve at the next round,” commented Dungey.
Hard fought third for Musquin in 250s
Meanwhile Marvin Musquin rebounded from a crash early in the main race at the seventh round of the East 250SX Supercross Series but now has to commit to a top finish in the remaining two rounds if he is to take the overall win.
The French rider was the fastest qualifier in practice and went into the second 250SX Supercross heat where he had first gate pick. This prime gate choice paid off as he pulled the holeshot and led the way around the first corner to jump into an early lead. He held on for the remaining six laps to take the win and a great gate pick for the main event.
Musquin got a good start in the main event and he and Blake Wharton quickly moved around the early leader to move into the top positions. The two riders began an aggressive battle for the next five laps before Musquin made a big mistake coming out of the whoop section where he clipped the tuff blocks rounding the corner and crashed. He scrambled back into the race but spent the rest of the race trying to reel in the leaders. He had moved into third in lap 15 and carried this to the flag. Musquin’s task is to commit to eroding Hahn’s eight point lead in the remaining two rounds.
“The track was really good today and I enjoyed the whoops in practice and in the heat but they became very tricky in the main event. Unfortunately, they got the best of me and caused me to crash. I am bummed because I know I had faster lap times than Blake and Wil, but unfortunately, I made a mistake and wasn’t able to catch back up to them today. I am now eight points back so I am definitely going to have to get back on the top step at the remaining rounds,” remarked Musquin.
Next Event: April 13, 2013 – Minneapolis, MN
Overall Results 450 class –
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Ryan Dungey – KTM
3. Trey Canard
4. Justin Barcia
5. Davi Millsaps
6. Justin Brayton
7. Andrew Short – KTM
8. Josh Hill
9. Jake Weimer
10. Broc Tickle
11. Matt Goerke – KTM
12. Phil Nicoletti
13. Bobby Kiniry
14. Les Smith – KTM
Overall Point Standings –
1. Ryan Villopoto – 277
2. Davi Millsaps – 256
3. Ryan Dungey – 252
Overall Results 250 class –
1. Blake Wharton
2. Wil Hahn
3. Marvin Musquin – KTM
4. Tyler Bowers
5. Gavin Faith
6. Cole Thompson
7. PJ Larsen
8. Lance Vincent – KTM
9. Daniel Herrlein
10. Steven Clarke – KTM
Overall Point Standings –
1. Wil Hahn – 156
2. Marvin Musquin – 148
3. Blake Wharton – 133
