AMA SX 2015 Rnd 6 San Diego Supercross Image Gallery D – Images by Hoppenworld
AMA SX 2015 Rnd 6 San Diego Supercross Image Gallery D – Images by Hoppenworld
Monster Energy Supercross Championships – Round 6 – San Diego
450SX Report: Ken Roczen pulled the handy holeshot and led the race for three laps, but on lap four Trey Canard caught the German and the two traded the lead a couple of times before Canard finally got far enough away from a possible pass and once up front Canard pulled out to a fairly comfortable lead, but it was short lived.
Just past half way Roczen took advantage of lapped traffic and began chipping away at Canard’s lead and then in the closing laps Roczen actually sliced under Canard to nearly get the lead but then messed up the next rhythm section.
Canard got cleanly by a lapped Nick Wey, but Roczen got stuck behind him for a few turns. That was all the breathing room Canard needed. In spite of a last-ditch charge by Roczen, Canard was able to hold on to earn the victory.
In spite of putting himself squarely in the title hunt, Canard shrugged at the suggestion that he’s now a title contender this early in the season. “There’s a long way to go,” said Canard, who hasn’t won two Supercross races in a season since 2011. “This is round six of 17, so we’ve got a lot of racing, but I tell you, it’s great to win!”
“I just tried to ride smooth and consistent. The track was really slick, so it was easy to make mistakes. I made a couple, towards the end especially. I’m so grateful to be able to do this and I want to keep doing it and have fun.”
“Overall that was a super-fun race,” said Roczen. “We battled quite good, but I’m mad because I didn’t ride that good. I clipped too many things, made too many mistakes. I noticed that, but kept doing it and that’s what cost me big time. I got screwed up with lappers a couple of times and that cost me big. I wish we would have had another lap.”
Series leader Dungey turned in yet another solid ride. “At that 10-lap mark the track started really going away, we were trying to catch Ken, the lappers were tough, but no excuses, we gave it our best. I kind of fought it today a little bit, so I’m happy. I rode much better in the main than I did in my Heat.”
Chad Reed scored his second-best finish of the season with a fourth. That moved him up a couple of spots in the standings to seventh while Eli Tomac fought back after sliding out and falling while trying to pass Reed on the second lap. He ran as far back as 14th on the third lap before mounting what was undoubtedly the best charge of the night.
Chad had this to say in an interview with RacerX. “The track started going away from me a little bit. It was getting rough, and I felt like I didn’t adjust to that. I had three or four laps where I was just banging out the laps, and I felt good. Dunge and I were taking some time out of Kenny. Then I made a mistake and I kind of didn’t adapt. It got to the point where the gap with Dungey was too big. Then I took a peek and saw Eli there, so I just kind of used up that time. He took three seconds out of me on one lap; I got held up by [Jimmy] Albertson pretty good. Eli [Tomac] tried to hook me up pretty good tonight! My $3,500 footpeg, he broke that.”
Rookie standout Cole Seely took sixth, followed by fellow first-year campaigner Blake Baggett in seventh. Andrew Short, Broc Tickle and Jason Anderson rounded out the top 10.
450SX Class Results: San Diego
1. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
6. Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda
7. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna
11. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Cal, Kawasaki
450SX Class Season Standings – After Round 6 of 17
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 127
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki, 118
3. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda, 109
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 100
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 85
6. Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda, 82
7. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 75
8. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha, 71
9. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 68
10. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 66
14. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Cal, Kaw, 40
250 West Report: Zach Osborne nailed the holeshot on his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna but it was Bowers who quickly made his to the lead and immediately opened up what would normally be a winning lead. Malcolm Stewart came up short on a jump on the first lap and crashed hard while Webb, who crashed heavily during qualifying went to second and McElrath took over third, both getting by Osborne.
Bowers pace remained steady while Webb kept charging and on lap nine Webb made a clean inside pass on Bowers and there was no response from the former Arenacross Champ. Bowers seemed to be losing steam and McElrath took advantage and also got by Bowers to take second on his Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Red Bull KTM.
That was the way they finished. It marked the first podium finish of the season for McElrath, whose previous best result of the year was sixth.
“I wasn’t going to race tonight,” explained Webb. “My crash was gnarly and I’m just thankful to walk away from it. I knew tonight was going to be a fight. I told myself I can hurt as much as I want tomorrow, but there’s no better feeling than winning.”
Josh Hansen had his best ride of the season with a solid fourth place ahead of Alex Martin, Osborne, Zach Bell, Jessy Nelson, Tommy Hahn and Chris Aldridge.
Webb’s lead in the Western Regional 250SX Class standings now sits at 30 points over Jessy Nelson, while Bowers is 32 points behind in third. The championship will take a midseason break, giving way to the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, and will return on April 11 in Houston.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: San Diego
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
2. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
3. Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
5. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
6. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna
7. Zach Bell, Cairo, Ga., Husqvarna
8. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Cali., KTM
9. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
10. Chris Alldredge, Powell Butte, Ore., Kawasaki
12. Jackson Richardson, Wildomar, Cal, Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings – After Round 6 of 9
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 136
2. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 106
3. Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 104
4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna, 102
5. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 86
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha, 81
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM, 79
8. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki, 79
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 75
10. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 69
16. Jackson Richardson, Wildomar, Cal, Honda, 39
The series moves to the Dallas Supercross next Saturday (Feb. 14) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
