Three Different Winners in three events as SX visits Oakland

Three Different Winners in Three Races Headlines Monster Energy Supercross’ Visit to Oakland
Only 5-points Separate the Top Five 450SX Class Riders

Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will return to California’s Bay Area this Saturday night for its fourth race of the 2014 season. Oakland, Calif., and O.co Coliseum will host the world’s best riders for the seventh time in the championship’s 40-year history this Saturday, January 25 with Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely leading the 450SX Class and Western Regional 250SX Class standings, respectively.

Last weekend at Monster Energy Supercross’ “40th Anniversary Celebration Race,” Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed won the 42nd race of his career and his first since January 21, 2012 – nearly two years to the date. In winning, Reed became the third different rider to win a 450SX Class Main Event this season in as many races.

This season is shaping up to be as competitive as anticipated in the 450SX Class. Key racing highlights through three races:

· Six heat races, six different winners
· Six semi races, six different winners
· Three LCQ’s, three different winners
· Three main events, three different winners

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who entered the race in Anaheim as the points leader, and Roczen, who left Anaheim with the points lead, are the other two winners this season. Roczen’s advantage in the standings sits at one over Villopoto. In this epic points race, the top-five riders are separated by just five points, and through three races the points lead has changed hands three times, proving this championship is there for the taking.

Following his first Western Regional 250SX Class win of the season and his third straight podium result, Seely sits atop the points for the first time in three races. He carries a slim one-point advantage over Rockstar Energy KTM’s Jason Anderson, winner of the first two races this season.

Last Saturday night in Anaheim, the “40th Anniversary Celebration Race” provided one of the most memorable races in Monster Energy Supercross history as the top six riders in the 450SX Class championship battled over the course of the entire 20-lap Main Event. Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey secured the early lead and held a comfortable advantage through the first six laps before losing his balance and tipping over on Lap 6. This allowed Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart to take over the top spot, fending off the challenge of both Villopoto and Roczen. While attempting to pass Stewart for the lead on Lap 14, Villopoto went down and dropped back into a battle with Dungey for fifth. Out front, Reed put on a late charge to pass Roczen for second, and then make the winning pass on Stewart on Lap 17.

“I had 41 of these [wins] before tonight, and they came a hell of a lot easier than this one,” said Reed. “I am so proud and could not have done this without the hard work from my Discount Tire team. We all worked so hard in the off season, and it paid off in a big way tonight. I am so pumped.”

Reed’s first win aboard a Kawasaki also made him the first rider in Monster Energy Supercross history to win a 450SX Class Main Event for four different manufacturers (Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki).

Stewart and Roczen joined Reed on the podium, followed by Toyota/Yamaha/N-Fab/JGRMX’s Justin Brayton, Villopoto, and Dungey. Roczen’s third-place finish, combined with the fifth and sixth-place results from Villopoto and Dungey, moved the German rookie back into the championship lead, which he held following his first career win at the Anaheim opener.

In the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb grabbed his second straight holeshot before quickly giving way to Seely. The Honda rider pulled away from the field and went on to lead all 15 laps of the Main Event for his fourth career win. Through three Main Events in 2014, Seely has led 40 of 45 laps but had just a pair of runner-up finishes prior to the victory.

“It was an awesome night for our team,” said Seely. “We have done so much testing before and during the season and spent countless hours at the track, so it is nice to have the hard work pay off. I had some breathing room on the last lap, which was nice. We are going to keep the momentum going headed into next week.”

Initially Anderson followed Seely across the line in second, losing just three points. However, he was later penalized two positions for jumping through a wheels on the ground cross flag for a downed rider. As a result, Anderson fell to fourth place and lost the Western Regional Championship points lead. Rookie Webb was credited with second place, the first podium of his career, while Troy Lee Designs/MAVTV Honda’s Malcolm Stewart moved up to third.

The AMA issued a press release announcing the penalties:

“Two riders were penalized due to AMA Supercross Rulebook violations that took place during the 250SX Main Event of the third round of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 18.

“The AMA Supercross Race Director determined that Rio Rancho, N.M.’s Jason Anderson (No. 17) and Vista, Calif.’s Chris Proscelle (No. 193) violated Section 4.15, paragraph e of the 2014 AMA Supercross Rulebook.”

The rule states that in the presence of a white flag with red cross or flashing red light, riders must roll each jump individually without passing until clear of the area of concern. The stated penalty is a loss of positions gained, if necessary, as well as two additional positions in the final results.

As a result, Seely will carry the number one plate for the first time this season.

The first race in Oakland was January 18, 1979, when Jimmy Weinert won on a Kawasaki. A total of six races have been held in Oakland – 1979, 1980, 1984, 2011, 2012, 2013 – with only the last three serving as a race on the Western Regional 250SX Class calendar. James Stewart is the only repeat winner at the venue.

Last season in Oakland, Villopoto won his second race of 2013 with a dominant wire-to-wire performance. In the 250SX Class, Roczen won his first race of the season, making a late pass on Seely for the victory.

Previous race results: Angel Stadium Anaheim, Calif. January 18, 2014

Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
3. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM
5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
6. Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
7. Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki
8. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
9. Michael Leib, Menifee, Calif., Honda
10. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda

Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
1. Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 69
2. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 68
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 53
4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 53
5. Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 50
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 49
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 44
8. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 35
9. Dean Ferris, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 31
10. Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 29

450SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
3. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
7. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
8. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

450SX Class Season Standings
1. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 60
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 59
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 57
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 57
5. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 55
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 44
7. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 42
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 38
9. Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 30
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 26

Past Winners in Oakland

450SX Class
January 26, 2013 Ryan Villopoto
January 28, 2012 James Stewart
January 29, 2011 James Stewart
October 20, 1984 Ron Lechien
February 24, 1980 Kent Howerton
January 18, 1979 Jimmy Weinert

250SX Class
January 26, 2013 Ken Roczen
January 28, 2012 Eli Tomac
January 29, 2011 Broc Tickle