US SX: Roczen wins in Seattle; Dungey recovers for fourth in 450s
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ken Roczen made an impressive return to the Supercross track on Saturday night securing his third win of the season at the seventh round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship held at Centurylink Field.
Factory teammate Ryan Dungey managed to scramble back from the back of the field after a early crash in the 450 class main event to finally advance to fourth place at the flag.
But it was Roczen’s night, despite a tricky heat race. KTM’s German teenager was second at the start of his heat and quickly passed Jason Anderson to move into the lead before the race was red flagged and restarted. When the gate dropped again, Roczen launched out to another second place but crashed in the mud of the rain soaked circuit and dropped to eighth. His trouble continued in the following lap when he crashed again and dropped back to twelfth. Roczen scrambled back into the race and finished seventh to qualify for the main event.
When the gate dropped for the main, Roczen put his KTM up front rounding the first corner in fourth position. Two laps later he was in second place and began to close in on the lead ride of Eli Tomac. The two riders quickly gapped the field and then at the halfway point Tomac crashed and Roczen was in front. He then went on to settle the race with a comfortable nine-second margin.
“It feels great to get the win here tonight,” remarked Roczen. “We had a long break and it is good to return to racing and ride up front. The track was very challenging and it was all about riding a smart race. I am happy I didn’t suffer any crashes in the main event and could gain more points in the championship standings.”
With two rounds remaining, Roczen now holds a 20 point lead in the championship standings.
Dungey scrambles back to fourth in 450 class
Roczen’s teammate Ryan Dungey put in a tremendous ride at the fifteenth round of his main 450 class event to rebound after a first corner crash to finish fourth.
Dungey launched his evening with a strong ride in his heat where he was fourth at the start, quickly moved into second and carried the position through to the flag for easy qualification to the main event. But riders were faced with a quickly deteriorating track as they lined up for the main event. Rainfall from earlier in the day had left the track very muddy and it was now deeply rutted and slick in the straights.
Dungey managed to get a decent jump off the start in his main event but collided with multiple riders in the first corner. He quickly recovered and had moved into fourteenth place by the end of the lap. He then set about picking off riders in a remarkable charge through the pack and 10 laps into the race he was up to fifth. He then inherited fourth place when Trey Canard crashed but despite impressive lap times was unable to move up the order, going on to finish fourth.
“I am really bummed that I suffered a crash in the first corner,” remarked Dungey. “I am happy with my ride back through the pack but I lost some valuable points in the championship tonight. I am really looking forward to the final two rounds where I feel like I can battle for the win and hopefully get on the top step of the podium for my team before the end of the series.”
With two rounds remaining, Dungey, now in third and trailing second placed Davi Millsaps by one point, sits 26 points down in the championship point standings.
Next Event: April 27, 2013 – Salt Lake City, UT
US SX Seattle
250 West Main Event Results:
1, Ken Roczen – KTM
2, Eli Tomac – HON
3, Zach Osborne – HON
4, Cole Seely – HON
5, Tyla Rattray – KAW
6, A. Politelli – HON
7, Ryan Sipes – SUZ
8, J. Savatgy – KTM
9, Martin Davalos – KAW
10, Jason Anderson – SUZ
11, Malcolm Stewart – KTM
250 West Point standings:
1, Ken Roczen – 163
2, Eli Tomac – 143
3, Cole Seely – 113
4, Zach Osborne – 102
5, Jason Anderson – 99
450 Main Event Results:
1, Justin Barcia – HON
2, Ryan Villopoto – KAW
3, Davi Millsaps – SUZ
4, Ryan Dungey – KTM
5, Jake Weimer – KAW
6, Mike Alessi – SUZ
7, Broc Tickle – SUZ
8, Justin Brayton – YAM
9, Andrew Short – KTM
10, P Nicoletti – YAM
450 Point standings:
1, Ryan Villopoto – 321
2, Davi Millsaps – 296
3, Ryan Dungey – 295
4, Justin Barcia – 245
5, Chad Reed – 213
Bradley Ray wins Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup opener in Austin
British rider Bradley Ray stole an impressive win on Saturday on the Circuit of the Americas in the opening race of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Ray dominated the final stages of what is usually a close call in this hard fought competition crossing the line six seconds ahead of pole man Karel Hanika of the Czech Republic. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu of Turkey took the minor place.
Ray was fourth off the grid but wasted little time in gaining control of the lead and then set about opening up a significant lead. This left Razgatlıoğlu, the 16-year-old Turk to battle it out with Hanika, Stefano Manzi, Scott Deroue, Manuel Pagliani, Diego Perez and Tarran Mackenzie.
Manzi went straight over the handlebars in lap five of 12 when the 14-year-old Italian’s rear wheel clipped Deroue’s elbow in one of the 20 corners on this new circuit. Deroue, who finished very strongly at the end of the 2012 season managed to stay upright during the exchange.
By then Ray was gaining about two seconds per lap and looked comfortable
“It wasn’t that easy. I knew from the start that I had to go with Hanika, he was quicker than all of us in practice. I managed that then I realized that I could go quicker so went in front.”
Hanika and Razgatlıoğlu both confirmed they wanted to revise bike settings from the second race on Sunday.
It is a new circuit for everyone, the first ever motorcycle race at the Circuit of The Americas and the first race of the season with the brand new Moto3 spec KTM RC 250 R so riders are both learning the track and learning how to best set up their bikes.
Next race Sunday 22:00 CET
Red Bull Rookies MotoGP Cup Race One at Austin Texas
Note: All riders on KTM RC 250 R bikes
1, Bradley Ray, UK, 28:58:.931
2, Karel Haneka, Czech Republic, 29:05.339
3, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey, 29:05.498
4, Manuel Pagliani, Italy, 29:06.498
5, Diego, Perez, Spain, 29:06.582
6, Scott Deroue, Netherlands, 29:07.525
7, Jorge Martin, Spain, 29:13.751
8, Marcos Ramirez, Spain, KTM 29.14.814
