By Aaron Hansel and Steve Matthes
Ryan Dungey | Red Bull KTM | 2-2 for 2nd overall in 450MX
Ryan Dungey: I think overall it was really good. We had two second places, and that’s good. Kenny [Roczen] got away in the first one but we were able to maintain a gap and even close it down, which was good. But in the second moto, he’s really good when it gets choppy, slick and rough, kind of hardpack. He was able to get up the inside, and he made the pass. I didn’t want to let that happen. Then he gapped me a little bit and I was like, ‘Okay, we need to find our lines and figure this out.’ Then the gap stayed the same and I was able to close it a little bit, which was good. I definitely want to win, for sure, but we’re getting things started here in the outdoors. In supercross it’s different, you’re stiff all year. Then you go testing and you want to tell the guys it’s soft, it’s too loose. But I always get to Hangtown and it’s stiff, it’s rough. You have to keep that in mind. But the speed was there and the bike setup was good. You can critique it a little bit, and I trust the boys at KTM to keep advancing it and making improvements. And I’ll keep doing the work on my side. Round one was good and Kenny rode well today. We’re going to keep getting better week by week.
You’ve never won here. What is it about Hangtown for you?
That’s a valid point. I’ve won at every track but here. I don’t know, I mean, I’m not a slow starter by any means. Do you risk it all and throw it away and lose a lot of points? Or do you run it in, be smart, and keep building? I want to win, but somebody has edged me out each year I guess. We got some moto wins here, and it’ll happen, we’ll get there. I try not to look too deeply at it.
You were better in the second practice. Did you make any changes?
Actually we did. That’s another thing here, I never get it right. It always seems like there’s a three-second gap from me to the first place guy, especially when it’s flat. I think I’m more accustomed to riding the race line here instead of really going for a hot lap, hitting berms and switching up from outside to in and flowing the whole track. We made a change in the front, and a little in the rear, and kind of calmed the engine down. That was nice. We were off the pace in the first [session] but we were the fastest in the second, which was encouraging. After the first one I was like, ‘Oh man, we need something to happen here.’ The guys and I talked it over and I really feel like we came to a good conclusion on how to go forward. And even in the race the bike was working really well. A click here and a click there can make a world of difference. I’m Mr. Millimeter, you know, every little bit. They know I’m picky, but I try to make up for it with the riding once the bike is set. –Aaron Hansel
Eli Tomac | Monster Energy Kawasaki | 4-4 for 3rd overall in 450MX
Eli Tomac: Hangtown, it was big unknown for us, for the team and me. It started off really well with being fastest in practice. In moto one I was buried back there a little bit and ate a lot of roost early and was struggling. I eventually got to third place but wasn’t comfortable at all really and Blake [Baggett] ended up getting me back. I didn’t have very good lines and was missing some insides. It was disappointing. We made a few little changes and came back for moto two and went the right direction on one end of the bike but on the other end felt a little bit goofier. I don’t know, I was just kind of searching all day in the motos. But in practice it felt really good. It’s something I have to work on for sure.
Were you surprised when Baggett came back on you?
Yeah, I was surprised at him pressuring me and getting me back. I made the first pass on him and felt like I had the pace to go by him and pull him. Something must have changed, he got fired up or found some good lines. That was unexpected.
With your performance last year did you have any pressure or expectations coming in this year?
No. I think this is my sixth Hangtown now and there weren’t any nerves really. I was in the zone and ready to go do work. It wasn’t anything like last year, but there were no nerves creating any problems.
What is it you’re going to look at this week? What are you and the team going to work on?
I don’t know. I made changes between the motos and in the first moto I was struggling with one side of the bike and in the second I was struggling with the other side of the bike. I don’t know, maybe it was me not taking the right lines. There can be improvements from both of us to get to the front of the pack. –Hansel
Alex Martin | Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha | 8-2 for 2nd overall in 250MX
Alex Martin: Obviously we started off with a very smooth and fast track in practice so it wasn’t a very good indication of what was going to go down today. I didn’t have the greatest gate pick and I think I started around fifteenth and got myself up to eighth. It was a bit of a lackluster performance considering how I felt coming in. Everything has been really good and I was excited to put that on display but it didn’t happen. In the second moto I got off to a really good start but they red flagged it. Little bit of a bummer there, but decent on the restart, maybe sixth or seventh. I just put my head down and was charging. I think I got up to third and put my head down and kept motoring. That’s where fitness comes into play. I was happy. I felt comfortable, I was aggressive, and I was charging. It was a good performance and I was happy with it.
Was it rough out there?
It was pretty smooth, honestly. The last three years Hangtown has been one of the toughest, gnarliest tracks of the circuit. They got thrown a curveball with the weather forecasting rain, and coming from Millville, we know how that affects a track. I don’t think they ripped it or watered it like they would normally. We all had to ride the same track, but compared to the past it was a lot smoother. It started to show some signs of getting rough toward the end of the second moto, but for the most part it was pretty smooth.
What was it like battling with your brother out there?
It was fun! We grew up riding and racing against each other and it was good to be up there at the front of the pack battling. I was like, ‘Okay let’s get going Jeremy, let’s go through the pack together.’ But I think he came in a little under the weather, a little sick, and he just didn’t have that spunk. So I was like, ‘Okay well I’m going to go around you if you’re not going to keep going forward.’
We don’t often see a rider six or seven years into their career really start to turn the jets on. What’s been the difference for you lately?
Well, I’m coming off one of the worst supercross seasons I’ve had in a long time. But basically when we went on the break for 250SX West I switched up my training and started training with the team trainer, Gareth Swanepoel, and I think that kind of covered all the bases. There were some things I was neglecting and missing out on and I feel like I have the whole package now. And being on a factory Yamaha has made a big difference. I’ve been a privateer for the majority of my career, but this year and last year I’ve got some better equipment and have started to turn it on. It’s made a big difference. And when you’re on a factory team you have a lot of people giving you advice, and a lot of it is good advice that can help with training and bike setup. –Hansel
Andrew Short l BTOSports.com-KTM-WPS l 15-12 for 13th overall in 450MX
Racer X: Welcome back to the races. I think this is usually not a good track for you and your second moto was better.
Andrew Short: Yeah second moto was better. My speed was definitely my weakness today, and this track didn’t suit my style. I feel like when it’s hard packed and fast you have to go balls to the wall that’s not my style. I was expecting it to be sandier, rougher and softer, but I think with the rain they expected they did what should have been done, which was leave it harder so the water runs off. I think it was the worst Hangtown I’ve raced, but it’s not their fault. If I was prepping the track I would have done the same thing. Weird day for me. I didn’t expect the intensity at first, it caught me off guard. But I’m so stoked to race because at one point I didn’t think I’d be able to again. Hopefully my results get better, though, because if they’re like this all year it won’t be very fun! First moto start was good, but my eyes got wide, and that’s what I’m talking about with that intensity. Second moto was better. My endurance was good, but I definitely need some speed.
Well it’s not your first rodeo, you’ll figure it out.
I hope I can figure it out! I want to be into that top ten. [Justin] Bogle pulled a nac-nac in front of me over the big triple! I was just hoping to jump the triple and the guy in front of you is pulling a nac-nac over it. That gave me a chuckle. –Steve Matthes
Roger DeCoster l Team Manager, Red Bull KTM
Racer X: Ryan Dungey’s streak of never winning Hangtown continues. What did you think?
Roger DeCoster: Kenny [Roczen] was really good today and he deserved to win. For us, Ryan is always a little conservative at the first round, and it was the same this year. But I was happy the gap wasn’t as big as last year! Last year I was really concerned leaving here! Hopefully we can win next week.
Marvin? Did he have a goggle issue in the first moto or something?
Maybe he thought he had an issue but the issue was more him than the equipment or the goggles. I think he let himself get frustrated in the middle of the race and he started wondering about the bike and the wheels, he was looking around but we checked everything and there was nothing wrong with anything. We talked about what he needs to work on—he needs to work on himself, this 450 is a tough class. –Matthes
Phil Nicoletti l Autotrader.com/Monster Energy/Toyota Yamaha l 11-9 for 10th in 450SX
Racer X: Tenth overall, 11-9, decent rides and moved forward a little bit.
Phil Nicoletti: Yeah, it was good. First moto it’s hard to see where you’re at. First moto I was behind Bogle for a little bit, and then I got around him and he was on me for the rest of the moto. Second moto I was in a little bit better position. I was behind Marvin for a little bit, I should have latched onto his pace and I might have gotten a little closer to JG [Josh Grant]. I made a mistake and went off the track but I tried to come back and get JG. Yeah, the class is stacked so I’m happy to get a top ten. I’m pretty happy because this is probably the best base setup I’ve had to start the outdoor season. I’m looking forward to Glen Helen and I’m pretty sure we’ll get good starts there. –Matthes
Christian Craig l GEICO Honda l 15-8 for 12th overall in 250MX
Racer X: First moto was great, you went from 40th to 15th.
Christian Craig: Yeah, I hated going down in the second turn, but 40th to 15th, my speed was there. Second moto, the restart kind of ruined me, I got a good start in the first one and then they restarted it and I came out way back. I got out behind Cooper [Webb] and we went through the pack together. I made some passes and then I went down. [Austin] Forkner got by me and I almost got him on the last lap for seventh. I have speed to be top five and now my endurance is there. Glen Helen will always be rough so I’m looking forward to that. I’ve actually never raced a national there, but I did race a GP. It will be a first for me. I’ve got to get up toward that top five, for sure.
