Red Bull/KTM Race Report: A2
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Red Bull/KTM Factory Supercross rider Ryan Dungey earned fourth overall for the second consecutive weekend at the fifth round of the AMA Supercross Series at Angel Stadium.
A sold out crowd was on hand for the fifth round of the series. Dungey looked great all day finishing the timed practice sessions with the fourth fastest time. He was placed in the first Supercross class heat race. He had a great jump off the gate rounding the first corner in third position. After one lap he was able to move around Josh Hansen to take over second place. He then set his sights on the early leader James Stewart. On the fourth lap of the heat, Stewart suffered a crash on his own which allowed Dungey to sneak pass. Dungey moved into the lead and went on to take the heat win.
Dungey’s heat win earned him a great gate choice for the main event. He chose a spot in the middle of the starting gate. When the gate dropped he leaped forward and found himself in sixth place at the end of the first few corners. It took him four laps to pass Davi Millsaps but he finally got around him with a smooth inside pass through a corner. Dungey spent the remainder of the first half of the race reeling in the fourth place ride of Justin Brayton. On the twelfth lap of the main event, he was able to secure the pass on Brayton in the same corner he passed Millsaps and took over the position. He continued to knock off impressive lap times throughout the remainder of the event but the top three riders had already pulled out to a sizeable gap that he was not able to close.
“I am not pleased to finish off the podium for a second weekend in a row. I had a better start in the main event this weekend but I struggled to make my passes and allowed those guys to move ahead. I will continue to work on my starts for next weekend and make sure I get my KTM back on the podium to remain in the points chase for the championship,” stated Dungey.
Next Round: San Diego, CA – February 11, 2012
AMA Supercross Class Results –
3) Chad Reed
4) Ryan Dungey – KTM
8) Mike Alessi
10) Broc Tickle
11) Jake Weimer
12) Kyle Chisholm
13) Nick Wey
14) Andrew Short
15) Weston Peick
16) Kyle Partridge
17) Justin Sipes
18) Jimmy Albertson
19) Jeff Alessi
20) Josh Hansen
AMA Supercross Class Overall Point Standings –
1) Ryan Villopoto – 108
2) Chad Reed – 105
3) Ryan Dungey – 103
4) James Stewart – 95
5) Kevin Windham – 72
Red Bull/KTM Factory rider Marvin Musquin made another trip to the podium at the fifth round of the AMA West Supercross Lites Series with a third place result in front of the sold out Angel Stadium crowd.The two-time MX2 World Champion is focusing on consistency at this point in the series and has accomplished his goal the past two weekends. For the final Anaheim event, Musquin wowed the audience with a near holeshot in his heat event followed by a quick pass into the lead. He led the first three laps of the heat race before pressure from Eli Tomac forced him into making a mistake enabling Tomac to move into the lead. Tomac went on to take the heat win while Musquin finished a close second place.
Musquin’s second place heat finish earned him a top gate pick for the main event. “I really focused on my starting technique this week during my training,” remarked Musquin. “I have struggled at a few rounds with poor starts and it makes it too hard to come through the pack when I don’t put myself in good position from the start.”
His hard work paid off as he quickly propelled his KTM off the line to garner a fourth place start in the main event. Within the first lap he moved his 250 SX-F into third position behind Eli Tomac and Cole Seely. Musquin was able to maintain third place throughout the 15-lap main event despite heavy pressure from Dean Wilson in the final five laps. “I could feel that Wilson was close but I just continued to ride my own lines and I was able to hold him off and secure the podium spot,” commented Musquin.
Musquin’s third place finish moved him to third overall in the point standings. With three rounds remaining Musquin is only 7 points shy of second place.
Next Round: San Diego, CA – February 11, 2012
AMA West Supercross Lites Race Results –
1) Eli Tomac
2) Cole Seely
3) Marvin Musquin – KTM
4) Dean Wilson
5) Nico Izzi
6) Michael Leib
7) Matt Moss – KTM
8) Vince Friese
9) Travis Baker
10) Martin Davalos
11) Ryan Sipes
12) Killy Rusk
13) Billy Laninovich
14) Bruce Rutherford
15) Gareth Swanepoel
16) Jean Carlo Ramos
17) Ryan Marmont – KTM
18) Topher Ingalls
19) Gavin Faith
20) Jason Anderson
AMA West Supercross Lites Overall Point Standings –
1) Eli Tomac – 113
2) Dean Wilson – 91
3) Marvin Musquin – 84
4) Cole Seely – 79
5) Zach Osborne – 67