Ken Roczen Proved to be #WhosNext as Monster Energy Supercross Heads to Phoenix this Saturday Night
Nelson Pulls off Huge Opening 250SX Class Race Win in Anaheim
History repeated itself last Saturday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California when RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Suzuki’s Ken Roczen won the opening race of the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, for the second consecutive season.
Like last year, Roczen will bring the AMA SX 450SClass points lead into Phoenix’s Chase Stadium this Saturday night. In the Western Regional 250SX Class Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil KTM’s Jessy Nelson, who had never made a podium appearance, won the first Main Event of the season and his career.
Some key insights to watch heading into this Saturday night’s race include:
- Roczen can become the first Suzuki rider in history to win the first two races of the year.
- With a win this weekend, Eli Tomac or Jason Anderson can join James Stewart and Ryan Dungey as the only riders to win both classes in Phoenix.
- Dungey earned this first 450SX Class win of his career and gave KTM their first-ever win in Phoenix.
- Anderson gave Husqvarna their first podium finish in the 450SX Class since December 4, 1976; can he start a podium streak?
- Davi Millsaps and Tomac, who were considered front runners for the top positions heading into the season, finished 18th and 19th respectively, how will they bounce back?
- Reed, who has two 450SX Class titles, turned in a 10th place finish at the season opener, how will he bounce back?
- Nelson’s win marked the first win and podium of his career, how will he follow up his performance?
  Click the video below to watch the Race Day Video from the first round at Anaheim
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Smartop Motoconcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi grabbed the early advantage in the 20-lap 450SX Class Main Event by racing to the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award with BTO Sports KTM’s Andrew Short and Roczen in tow. By the end of the opening lap, Roczen secured the lead and rode to the third win of his career.
“Everything has been awesome with the team and it’s good to get the first win out of the way, both for myself and for them,” said Roczen. “There are a lot of good guys out there so I’ll need to stay consistent [this season]. It’s good to come out of here healthy and we’ll just keep the ball rolling.”
After winning the Monster Energy Cup back in October, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Millsaps crashed twice in the Main Event, and GEICO Honda’s Tomac, followed suit.
Short’s hold on second was also short lived as rookie Anderson took over the position aboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine on Lap 2. Eventually Team Honda’s Trey Canard took third away from Short on Lap 9 and the top three remained the same for the final 11 laps.
Nelson had a perfect start to the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event as he captured the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award ahead of GEICO Honda’s Matt Bisceglia and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne. The rest was history for Nelson as he set a blistering pace for the remainder of the race.
“This is a great way to start season and hopefully there’s more to come,” said Nelson, who became the 97th different 250SX Class Main Event winner in history. “It was a great night and I can’t complain. I think the team’s switch to KTM has been huge and I think it’s a big part of this. This [win] is just a big shock.”
Behind Nelson, Osborne asserted himself into second and ultimately maintained the runner-up spot throughout the entirety of the Main Event. The battle for third, however, became a three-rider showdown in the early stages between Motosport.com Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, Red Bull KTM’s Justin Hill and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers. Hill was able to make the move past Hansen for the position on Lap 4 and Bowers followed suit a short time later. Hill appeared to have a comfortable margin over Bowers, but the reigning four-time AMSOIL Arenacross Champion closed the gap and eventually made the pass on Lap 10, carrying it through to the finish to claim the final spot on the podium.
During last year’s 450SX Class Main Event in Phoenix, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto scored the first win of the season and his first-ever win in Phoenix. In the 250SX Class, Anderson won his second consecutive race of the season.
AMA Supercross 2015 – Round One Anaheim Image Galleries
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Alex Martin, Millville., Minn., Yamaha
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
- Michael Leib, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Justin Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 25
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., KTM, 22
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 20
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM, 18
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha, 16
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 15
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 14
- Alex Martin, Millville., Minn., Yamaha, 13
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki, 12
- Michael Leib, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 11
450SX Class Results: Anaheim
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
- Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki, 25
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 22
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda, 20
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 18
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 16
- Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha,15
- Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 14
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 13
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki, 12
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 11
Shift Anaheim 1 gear now in stores
Past Winners in Phoenix –Â 450SX Class
- January 11, 2014: Ryan Villopoto
- January 12, 2013: Justin Barcia
- January 14, 2012: Ryan Dungey
- January 15, 2011: James Stewart
- January 15, 2010: Ryan Dungey
- January 10, 2009: James Stewart
- January 12, 2008: James Stewart
- January 13, 2007: James Stewart
- January 14, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
- January 15, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
- January 10, 2004: Kevin Windham
- January 11, 2003: Ezra Lusk
- January 26, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
- January 27, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
- January 29, 2000: David Vuillemin
- January 23, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
Past Winners in Phoenix – 250SX Class
- January 11: Jason Anderson
- January 12, 2013: Eli Tomac
- January 14, 2012: Dean Wilson
- January 15, 2011: Josh Hansen
- January 15, 2010: Jake Weimer
- January 10, 2009: Ryan Dungey
- January 12, 2008: Jake Weimer
- January 13, 2007: Christophe Pourcel
- January 14, 2006: Nathan Ramsey
- January 15, 2005: Broc Helper
- January 10, 2004:Â Ivan Tedesco
- January 11, 2003:Â James Stewart
- January 26, 2002:Â James Stewart
- January 27, 2001:Â Casey Lytle
- January 23, 1999:Â Nathan Ramsey
James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael are tied on the all-time 450SX Class win list with four each. Stewart and Nathan Ramsey are tied on the all-time 250SX Class win list with two each.
