Dungey Becomes Fifth Different Monster Energy Supercross Winner with First Victory of Season in Indianapolis
Cianciarulo Races to Second Career Eastern Regional 250SX Win
In front of 59,919 fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey captured his first win of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season on a night that resulted in a major shakeup in the 450SX Class standings. In the third race of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo captured his second career victory to extend his points lead.
Smartop MotoConcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi secured the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award to start the 20-lap 450SX Class Main Event and was followed by Dungey and GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac. Behind them several of the championship’s leading title contenders encountered misfortune, as Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, the 450SX Class points leader, and Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, second in the standings, crashed on the start straight. Just a few feet in front of them, Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, third in the championship, crashed in the first turn. All three riders were able to get back on their bikes and re-enter the race at the tail end of the 22-rider field.
Out front Alessi had established a gap over Dungey and Tomac, but Dungey soon closed the deficit and made a pass for the lead on Lap 4. Once out front, Dungey pulled away to a comfortable margin. Tomac battled with Alessi for the runner-up spot for several laps until Alessi crashed on Lap 12. Meanwhile, Villopoto had mounted an impressive charge through the field and moved into fourth following Alessi’s crash while Roczen went down on the same lap while running eighth.
Dungey continued to pull away and won his 14th-career 450SX Class Main Event by nearly seven seconds.
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“We needed that win, it’s been a long season,” said Dungey, who became the fifth different 450SX Class winner this season. “The track got really torn up tonight, but it feels good [to get the win]. I got up front pretty early and was able to hold a good pace, and not do anything stupid. It was one of the toughest races of the season for sure. We have to keep taking [the championship] one race at a time. It’s a great series with a lot of good riders so you have to just keep plugging away.”
Tomac posted a career-best finish in second, as did Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Cole Seely in third in his first 450SX Class start of the season filling in for injured riders Justin Barcia and Trey Canard. Villopoto held on for fourth, with Stewart finishing seventh and Roczen 21st as a result of a DNF.
The championship standings experienced a shakeup as a result of the contenders’ various fortunes. Villopoto maintained possession of the lead, which now sits at 23 points over Dungey, who jumped from fourth to second. Roczen fell to third and faces a 26-point deficit, while Stewart dropped to fourth and is 30 points behind Villopoto.
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The Factory Metal Works Honda’s Vince Friese began the 15-lap Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event by racing to the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos and Cianciarulo in tow. Shortly thereafter Davalos took over the lead while Cianciarulo followed into second. GEICO Honda’s Matt Bisceglia moved into third a short time later. Davalos led the first six laps of the race but crashed, allowing Cianciarulo to move into first and Bisceglia into second. Davalos remounted in third.
Cianciarulo opened a comfortable lead over Bisceglia, which allowed him to maintain the position despite a brief fall on Lap 7. Once back on two wheels, Cianciarulo pulled away again to win by over five seconds.
“I’m definitely happy with my ride, it was more of a smart race for me,” said Cianciarulo. “I knew the whoops would be key because they really deteriorated. I had a couple close calls early on, but was able to keep it close to Martin [Davalos]. He made a mistake and I was able to capitalize on it. I almost gave it back a little bit later, but I got back on the bike quick and kept the lead.”
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Davalos recovered from his crash to finish second, while GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle passed his teammate late to secure his second straight third-place result.
Cianciarulo extended his lead in the 250SX Class Eastern Regional Championship to five points over Davalos. Bogle moved into third, 16 points out of the lead.
Monster Energy Supercross visits Daytona Beach, Fla., and Daytona International Speedway next Saturday, March 8, for the 10th race of the 2014 season. Live broadcast coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Indianapolis
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
- Matthew Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Honda
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Kawasaki
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 72
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 67
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 56
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 54
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 48
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM, 40
- James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 34
- Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda, 33
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 33
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda, 30
450SX Class Results: Indianapolis
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
- Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
- Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 184
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 161
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 158
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 154
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., 143
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 111
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 109
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 109
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 93
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 93
Toyota Triple Challenge Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 39
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo Wash., Kawasaki, 38
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 38
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 37
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 31
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 23
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 22
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 16
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 14
KTM Jr. Supercross Challenge
- Avery Fraley, Hickory, N.C., KTM
- Leland Patterson, Lenoir City, Tenn., KTM
- Christian Kincaid, South Point, Ohio, KTM
- Wryder Huffman, Clifton, Colo., KTM
- Ethan Marsh, Monrovia, In., KTM
- Stephan Kozopas, Spencer, Ohio, KTM
- Cole Forbes, Richmond, Va., KTM
- Teegan Fleming, Oakwood, Ill., KTM
- Shayla Skalnik, Smyrna, Tenn., KTM
- Carter Toal, Columbia, Ill., KTM
- Zak Mcvey, Delta, Ohio, KTM
- Chelby Hinton, Dubberly, La., KTM
- Justin Mallgren, Commack, N.Y., KTM
- Evan Matthews, Cataldo, Idaho, KTM
- Connor Sheirer, New Castle, Penn., KTM
KTM Report
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey took his first 450 SX win of the season at the ninth round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series at Lucas Oil Stadium in front of a packed crowd to move up to second place in the championship point standings.
Teammate Ken Roczen got pitched off after the start in a four-rider incident. He fought hard to get back in the top ten but then crashed out in the second half of the race, flew over the handlebars and had to retire. He was eventually classified at twenty-first, but stays in third place in the championship.
Dungey was on the gas from the first practice right through to the final checkered flag. He turned the fastest qualifying time in the first timed practice to have the first gate pick in his heat. He and Roczen were placed in the same heat and Dungey came around the first corner in third while Roczen sat about mid-pack.
Dungey spent the first half of the heat race reeling in Justin Brayton. He made a pass to take over second position at the three lap mark and then began to chase the lead ride. Dungey charged forward and came within two bike lengths of the lead rider before the checkered flag for an easy transfer to the main event. Meanwhile, Roczen struggled to find his rhythm in the heat race and finished fifth just one spot away from qualifying. The German rider then easily pulled the holeshot in his semi and led every lap to easily secure his place in the final race.
When the main race action got underway Dungey was second out of the gate behind holeshot winner Mike Alessi. Roczen had a good jump but got pinched off by Ryan Villopoto, Josh Hill and James Stewart when all four riders collided and crashed around the first corner. Roczen, then at the back, spent the first half of the race fighting to get back in the action.
Out front, Dungey used the first four laps to determine where to make a pass for the lead and his opportunity came on a big sweeping turn before the sand section. Once in the lead, he was never challenged for the remaining laps and sealed his first win this season by a margin of 7 seconds.
“This win was a long time coming,” stated Dungey. “It feels so good to finally be on the top step. The track was really tough tonight. It was very soft and technical with a lot of big ruts. We are only halfway into the season and I’m finally gaining some points toward the championship. My goal is to remain consistent as you never know what can happen with eight rounds remaining. I want to give a big thanks to the entire Red Bull KTM Factory Team for their hard work.”
Back on the track, Roczen had worked his way up to ninth place by the thirteenth lap of the race. He then overtook Justin Brayton for eighth but then made a mistake in a rhythm section and crashed over the handlebars. Roczen walked away from the crash but was clearly shaken. He pulled off after the incident and did not finish the race.
“I hit the ground pretty hard after my crash off the start when I got caught-up with Villopoto,” stated Roczen. “I pushed hard for the next few laps, but then I cased a triple in a rhythm section which sent me flying over the bars. I feel really beat up and am disappointed to not finish the race but am thankful I am okay and will be back to race Daytona.”
Heading to the tenth round of the season, Dungey has now jumped up to second overall in the point standings while Roczen remains third overall, despite not finishing the Indianapolis Supercross.
In other news, the team also announced Saturday that Australian factory rider, Dean Ferris, who was contesting the 250-class West Coast Championship for Red Bull KTM has broken his wrist in a training session. The incident happened back home in Australia while the competition was in recess while the 250-class races for the East Coast are underway. Marvin Musquin of France, the team’s second 250-class rider is also still recovering from injury.
