ELLENTON, Fla. (January, 25 2016) – As Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, makes its annual return to Oakland’s O.co Coliseum this Saturday night, defending 450SX Class Champion and Red Bull KTM rider Ryan Dungey hopes to extend his two-race win streak to three against the world’s top racers. Reigning Western Regional 250SX Class Champion Copper Webb has swept the first three races of the 2016 season aboard his Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha and aims to add another win to his already dominant season.
Saturday night’s race will air live on FS1 and the FOX Sports Go app at 10:00 p.m. EST/ 7:00 p.m. PST.
On Saturday, January 30, fans can Log on to www.SupercrossLive.comto watch Race Day Live with Jim Holley and Andy Bowyer at 12:50 p.m. PST/3:50 p.m. EST
Some key insights to watch heading into this Saturday night’s race include:
- Can Dungey earn his 25th career win this weekend?
- Dungy is eighth on the all-time 450SX Class win list, just three behind Bob Hannah. Can he close the gap to two this weekend with a win?
- Through three races, there have been two different winners. Will we see a third different winner in the 450SX Class?
- With a start this weekend, Chad Reed will move into sole possession of third place on the all-time 450SX Class start list.
- For the first time in history, six different brands have been in the top six in each of the first three races. In addition, the same six riders have filled those positions: Dungey (KTM); Reed (Yamaha); Jason Anderson (Husqvarna); Cole Seely (Honda); Eli Tomac (Kawasaki); Ken Roczen (Suzuki). Can they extend their streak to four?
- The first rider to win two races in a season has gone on to win the championship in 26 of 42 seasons (62%). The first rider to win three races in a season has gone on to win the championship in 30 of 42 seasons (73%).
- With a win this weekend, Webb, who is 18th on the all-time 250SX Class win list, can tie Mickael Pichon, Ivan Tedesco, Dungey and Marvin Musquin for 14th place on the all-time win list.
Last Saturday night at the second of two races held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, Dungey made his move in the 20-lap 450SX Class Main Event on Lap 3 to pass early leader, BTO Sports/WPS/KTM’s Davi Millsaps, and ride to the 24th win of his career. Tied with James Stewart at fifth on the all-time 450SX Class podium list, Dungey can move into sole possession of the position this weekend in Oakland if he finishes within the top three. Another top-three finish effort would also extend Dungey’s impressive podium streak that now sits at 19 dating back to last season.
“I had to charge the first five laps,” said Dungey after his win last Saturday night. “Chad [Reed] was on it tonight, and I know he wanted to get his ninth win here in Anaheim.”
Monster Energy 360fly/Chaparral/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Chad Reed finished second for the second consecutive weekend, earning his 129th career podium finish. Just 13 points behind Dungey in season standings, Reed looks for the 45th win of his career and first-ever in Oakland.
“You know, last week, I was happy, and I keep telling myself this year that I want to be appreciative for seconds and just being up on the podium,” said Reed. “But, man, I’m a competitor. I’m a little bummed with that ride. I felt it was a really fun track, a lot of challenges out there with the whoops and the ruts, and I would call that a track that normally suits me. And I struggled; I struggled all day. So, to struggle and not feel 100%, to get a second (place finish), I’m really happy. I think consistency is the key. It takes 17 rounds, and I’m aware of that. We’ll take the little things, and try to build on it for next week.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, who scored the first win of his career at the season opener in Anaheim, sits third in season standings. Anderson has been consistent, finishing fifth in the last two races (He finished third in San Diego but was later penalized by race officials for jumping during a red cross flag situation for a downed rider that requires riders to keep wheels on the ground).
With Dungey out front, only three points separate positions second through sixth as the battle for second place heats up in Oakland.
Chasing after the 10th win of his 250SX Class career, Webb brings an 18-point lead into Oakland, a city where he has yet to earn a win. Once again, Webb made up for a les-than-perfect start last weekend in Anaheim but found the speed to catch and pass early race leader Christian Craig on Lap 10.
“It (the race with Craig) was really fun, actually,” said Webb. “I hadn’t had a battle like that in while. We were battling each other back and forth. I was kind of hoping that neither of us would take each other out, and we were allowing Zach [Osborne] to catch us, so, it was almost a three-way battle there for a bit. I’m just pumped with the whole night. All day, I kind of struggled with settings and the track. I went from being one of the slowest guys in the whoops to the fastest in the main. It was just, overall, a good day. To win like this is awesome. I love it!”
After finishing in a season-best second place last weekend, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne sits second in season standings. Looking to build off his sixth-place finish at last year’s race in Oakland, Osborne would like to pick up his ninth-career 250SX Class podium.
Following an eighth-place finish at the season-opening race, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy, who is third in season standings, has finished second and fourth, respectively, in the last two races.
Like the 450SX Class, the battle for second place is one to keep an eye on. Positions second through 10th are separated by just six points.
450SX Class Results
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
- Jacob Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 72
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 59
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 57
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 55
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 54
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 51
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 36
- Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 35
- Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 33
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 31
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna
- Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda
- Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 75
- Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna – 57
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 53
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda – 51
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 47
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha – 43
- Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda – 42
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda – 36
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 30
- Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 28
During last year’s 450SX Class Main Event in Oakland, Team Honda HRC’s Trey Canard earned his fourth career 450SX Class victory with his win in Oakland. The win was his first since Dallas in 2011, breaking a 58-race winless streak. In the 250SX Class, Malcolm Stewart became the 99th different rider to win a 250SX Class Main Event with his victory in Oakland. The win happened on his 36th career 250SX Class start.
The entire 2016 Monster Energy Supercross Championship will air live on FOX Sports, including two races on the FOX broadcast channel. In addition, the authenticated FOX Sports Go app will live stream each race.
As a precursor to the live television, don’t forget to catch all of the pre-race coverage with Supercross Race Day Live presented by AMSOIL, which will stream on SupercrossLive.com from 12:50 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. local race time each Saturday during the season. Practice, qualifying, behind the scenes features, and key rider interviews will all be highlighted on the Supercross Race Day Live presented by AMSOIL webcast.
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.
