Ryan Dungey shakes off last weekend’s runner-up finish and collects his fourth Monster Energy Supercross win of 2016 at Petco Park.
It appears that the only way an exciting 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series main event can be assured is for reigning series champion Ryan Dungey to get a bad start and thus be forced to pass his way through the field to battle for the win.
Because when the Red Bull KTM star gets the holeshot, the opposite takes place; it’s practically no contest. That was certainly the case when the series made its second and final stop at Petco Park in San Diego, California, where Dungey pulled the holeshot in the main event and handily collected his 26th career AMA 450cc Supercross win.
It really wasn’t even close, at least not as close as Dungey’s 2.36-second margin of victory might suggest. The Minnesotan who now calls Clermont, Florida, home, shot right to the front of the 22-rider field at the start of the 20-lap main event and never put a wheel wrong for the rest of the race, leaving the rest of the pack behind to sort out the also-rans.
“I had about a 3- or 4-second cap on Cole [Seely], and I could see Ken [Roczen], too, on the rhythm lanes. I just tried to keep the pressure down. I was really just trying to get the rear to hook up on this slippery dirt. That was a tough on all night for all of us. I got off to a good start—that was the main thing—and just got out front and tried to start clicking them away.”
Dungey got his night off to a good start by winning the first 450cc heat race, while BTO Sports KTM’s Davi Millsaps came through to win the second heat race—his second in as many weeks. When the gate dropped for the main event, Dungey tiptoed around the extreme inside of the right-handed first corner to just edge Red Bull KTM teammate Marvin Musquin for the holeshot. That was the last time that he would be challenged as he clicked off ultra-consistent laps all the way to the finish.
Behind Dungey, the battle for the remaining podium positions was slightly more interesting as Team Honda/HRC riders Cole Seely and Trey Canard moved into second and third place respectively with last week’s winner Ken Roczen fourth and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac fifth after Musquin got bucked out of the saddle and fell back into the pack. But if Seely was putting together an impressive ride through the first 10 laps, then Canard was even more so, appearing to have bounced back fully from the arm injury that had sidelined him earlier in the season. Canard held off the determined Roczen until lap 12. Once Roczen was third, the top three positions were set, and there was no catching Dungey.
“It’s nice to get another win,” Dungey said. “Valentine’s Da y is tomorrow, and it will be nice to celebrate that with my sweetheart, Lindsay. It was a good night, man. We had to overcome a few things [with the bike] We were king of fighting it a little bit, but that’s racin’. This track was tough tonight.”
Seely ran as much as 4 seconds behind Dungey during the race before closing that gap slightly again as the race drew to a close. It was his best finish of the season, eclipsing the pair of third-place runs he already enjoyed at the first two rounds of the season.
“It was good,” Seely said. “I’ve been in kind of a funk the past two weekends, and I am very thankful to my team for helping me and working with me. I definitely felt more comfortable out there. Dunge [Dungey] didn’t make any mistakes, and was just able to run a little bit faster pace than me. I’m still happy with second.”
Roczen cruised home third on his RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Suzuki, holding back a late-race advance by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson, who finished fourth.
“Tonight I have to be satisfied with third place,” Roczen said. “Obviously we want to win, but I didn’t really feel too comfortable all day. We made a bunch of changes on the bike, but… We salvaged a third, so that’s okay. We’re all healthy and ready to race again, so I’m going to stay positive and put in some good work again this week, and bounce back next week in Dallas.”
With the win, Dungey holds a commanding points lead over Roczen, 144-118, as the series heads to AT&T Park in Arlington, Texas, for round seven, next Saturday night.
2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Petco Park
San Diego, California (Round 6 of 17)
450 Main Event
1. Ryan Dungey-KTM
2. Cole Seely-Hon
3. Ken Roczen-Suz
4. Jason Anderson-Hus
5. Trey Canard-Hon
6. Eli Tomac-Kaw
7. Marvin Musquin-KTM
8. Chad Reed-Yam
9. Weston Peick-Yam
10. Justin Brayton-KTM
11. Davi Millsaps-KTM
12. Jake Weimer-Suz
13. Wil Hahn-Kaw
14. Andrew Short-KTM
15. Justin Bogle-Hon
16. Vince Friese-Hon
17. Christophe Pourcel-Hus
18. Phil Nicoletti-Yam
19. Mike Alessi-Hon
20. Nicholas Schmidt-Suz
21. Jeff Alessi-Suz
22. Tommy Hahn-Yam
2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Points Standings (after 6 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey-144/4 wins
2. Ken Roczen-118/1 win
3. Jason Anderson-111/1 win
4. Cole Seely-105
5. Chad Reed-103
Eli Tomac-103
7. Marvin Musquin-77
8. Justin Brayton-72
9. Davi Millsap-71
10. Jake Weimer-62
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