Saturday Night Live: Houston

Houston, TX HoustonMonster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

Houston has a rich history in Monster Energy Supercross. It’s hosted a supercross race every single year that the championship has existed. It’s hosted combined East and West Region 125 races. And now, it can say it hosted the championship runs of Ryan Dungey and Cooper Webb.

Let’s start with Dungey. When the season started, many pointed to Ken Roczen as the next in line. Or Eli Tomac. Or, maybe, Trey Canard. Or Chad Reed. Even Davi Millsaps. Dungey, like he’s done on so many occasions, flew under the radar. A fourth at the opener didn’t sooth the concerns. Then, Dungey began to plug away. A third in Phoenix. A second at A2. Followed by another second in Oakland. Dungey finally broke through for his first win in the third visit to Anaheim. Then he reeled off five of the next eight and took firm control of the championship. In fact, he entered Houston with a resounding eighty-point lead over Eli Tomac. Tonight was tough on Dungey. Yes, he finished second but it wasn’t easy. He had to fight through traffic to get there. But, in the end, he did more than enough to clinch his second 450SX championship.

“The last two weeks were tough,” he said post-race. “The first one was sweet. It was special. This one I felt better throughout the season.”

Ryan Dungey clinched his second 450SX title and has a new deal with KTM. Photo: Cudby

After the race, KTM announced they have re-signed Dungey for two more years through 2017. “I’m extremely happy that Ryan has chosen to commit another two years to the Red Bull KTM team,” explains Red Bull KTM team manager Roger DeCoster. “I have worked with Ryan for many years and can honestly say he’s is in the best shape of his career right now.”

The 250SX West Region returned this weekend following a more than two month layoff and Cooper Webb entered with a thirty point lead. Jessy Nelson would sit out the race due to a crash a few weeks prior to the race, which meant if Tyler Bowers, 32 back, won, Webb could finish fourth and still clinch. It went a little differently. Webb didn’t step off the gas and powered through the field to clinch his first supercross title in just his second year.

“If you’re a real racer you want to win, regardless of the circumstances,” Webb said after the race. “It’s unreal.”

Cooper Webb celebrates his first championship. Photo: Cudby

Yamalube/Star Racing has now won two straight championships. Photo: Cudby

Overshadowed by ALL the championship hype was Cole Seely. In his first year in 450SX, Seely has progressed throughout the season and seemed poised to finally breakthrough for his first career 450 win. In Houston, Seely quickly moved around Andrew Short and broke out to, at one point, a 12 sec lead and cruised to the win. “It was amazing,” he said after the race. “It was unreal. I couldn’t believe what was going on.”

Cole Seely won his first career 450SX race Saturday night. Photo: Cudby

Eli Tomac rode to a strong third. He rounded the first lap in eighth and had to fight through the pack.

Chad Reed and Jason Anderson looked primed for returns to the podium. But they tangled in the corner after the finish when Reed took the inside to block Anderson, but Anderson followed the line. Anderson had another crash in the race and finished sixteenth. Reed rebounded to finish fifth behind teammate Josh Grant who put in a season-high fourth.

Another solid performance from Shane McElrath in Houston. He led for six laps and finished second—his second straight podium performance. Malcolm Stewart overcame a trip to the LCQ and a bad start to round out the podium.