Team Honda’s Cole Seely breaks the ice with his first 450cc win, while Ryan Dungey joins elite company with his second Monster Energy AMA Supercross title.
It was a night of firsts, and seconds, when round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series visited NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas tonight.
It was a historic occasion for Team Honda’s Cole Seely and the Austrian KTM brand, as Seely landed his first career AMA Supercross win, Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb earned his first career AMA 250cc West Supercross Championship and KTM celebrated its first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship title as a manufacturer.
And the man who gave KTM that coveted first AMA Supercross title? None other than Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, whose second-place finish in Houston mathematically eliminated GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, the only man who still had a chance to threaten Dungey for the championship. With that, Dungey clinched the title and earned the right to be called the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion with three races yet to be run.
It was Dungey’s first AMA 450cc Supercross title with KTM but his second career title, the first coming with Suzuki back in 2010 when he won the title with Suzuki as a rookie in the 450cc class. Winning the title put him in elite company, as he became the 10th rider in AMA Supercross history to win more than one premier supercross championship. He joined Bob Hannah, Jeff Ward, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto as a mult-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion.
“It feels amazing,” Dungey said right after receiving the number-one plate from AMA’s Kevin Crowther and FIM’s John Gallagher. “It’s really hard to put into words right now all that’s running through my mind. It just doesn’t set in just yet. It’s amazing, the accomplishment. I mean, in 2010 it was awesome to win it, but I fee like we earned it this time. [There were] a lot of tough moments to get to this point. This is amazing. We’ll let it sink in. There’s a lot I want to accomplish in my life yet. I hate to start talking about the next one, but a…We’re going to enjoy this.”
For his part, Seely was as dominant as any other winning this season, as he took the lead away from holeshot artist Andrew Short on the opening lap and went on to lead all 20 laps in the main event to land his first career 450cc supercross win. Seely rode smooth and fast, and he was never challenged for the lead once he passed Short.
“It’s unbelievable,” Seely said. “I got off to a good start, I got around Shorty [Andrew Short] and I put down some heaters, just tried to get as far out as I possibly could before Dungey could get into second, or Reed, or whoever. It was just unbelievable out there. It was so much fun. It felt kind of surreal because I had such a big gap on them that I could just cruise the last five laps. It’s so awesome. I’m so stoked for the whole team. I feel like I’ve learned so much this year, and I think I’ve moved into third in the points now, so I’m super-stoked. It has been such an awesome night. Wardy [rider coach Jeff Ward] is here, and Brian Lopes [trainer], and just everyone behind me. It has been so awesome.”
Dungey, meanwhile, got pinched on the start and rounded the first turn in 10th place, but he went to work quickly, passing Tomac on lap two and then following Toyota JGR Yamaha’s Justin Barcia through the field in the first five laps. Dungey had moved into fourth place by lap 10, and he needed only three more laps tp move past TwoTwo Motorsports/Discount Tire’s Josh Grant and Short for second place. Tomac passed Short on lap 17, but it was too little too late. Dungey crossed the finish line 7.4 seconds behind Seely to claim his second career Monster Energy AMA 450cc Supercross title.
Reaction to Dungey’s title among KTM’s management was swift and joyous, starting right at the top with
KTM CEO Stefan Pierer.
“To win any World Championship is an outstanding success and is of immense importance for KTM, but the US Supercross title is very special and highlights our huge commitment in the worldwide motocross sport,” Pierer said. “With tenacity we made it to the top in this sport, which releases a vast amount of emotions. I would like to thank all those that have been involved and helped to push forward this extremely important project, and of course, I’d like to thank Ryan who has had a great season in 2015.”
KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer added that winning the Monster Energy AMA title was one of his personal dreams come true.
“We started our Supercross race department completely from scratch in 2011, and what has been achieved in this very short time is outstanding,” Bierer said. “The key to everything, and I call it the best trip of my life, was my first meeting with [Red Bull KTM Motocross Manager] Roger DeCoster in the summer of 2010. Together with Roger we have formed the best and strongest team you can imagine. From there our worldwide race network has become stronger and it has been a 24-hour effort each day. With the full commitment of our R&D and Motorsports departments in Austria and the USA, we managed to create the best bike in a short time. However, we cannot perform without the best riders on our bike, which is why we are thankful to Ryan. He trusted us at a very early stage of the project. Ryan has set some major milestones for our company; first 450 SX win, first professional Motocross Championship title, and now he has brought our final goal of the 450 Supercross title. I would like to say thank you ‘team’ and thank you Ryan.”
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
Results: April 11, 2015 (Round 14 or 17
450cc Main
1. Cole Seely-Hon
2. Ryan Dungey-KTM
3. Eli Tomac-Hon)
4. Josh Grant-Kaw
5. Chad Reed-Kaw
6. Andrew Short-KTM
7. Davi Millsaps-Kaw
8. Broc Tickle-Suz
9. Justin Barcia-Yam
10. Justin Brayton-KTM
11. Blake Baggett-Suz
12. Kyle Chisholm-Kaw
13. Nick Wey-Kaw
14. Mitchell Oldenburg-Yam
15. Ben Lamay-Hus
16. Jason Anderson-Hus
17. Kyle Partridge-Hon
18. Tevin Tapia-Suz
19. Dustin Pipes-Suz
20. Killian Rusk-Yam
21. Nick Schmidt-Suz
22. Weston Peick-Yam
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Point Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey-318/6 wins*
2. Eli Tomac-236/2 wins
3. Cole Seely-223/1 win
4. Trey Canard-204/2 wins
5. Chad Reed-199/1 win
6. Blake Baggett-175
7. Jason Anderson-170
8. Broc Tickle-159
9. Ken Roczen-156
10. Andrew Short-152
11. Davi Millsaps-147
12. Josh Grant-128
13. Weston Peick-109
14. Justin Barcia-83
15. Kyle Chisholm-82
16. Jake Weimer-74
17. Phil Nicoletti-66
18. Nick Wey-65
19. Mike Alessi-48
20. Josh Hill-40
Brett Metcalfe-40
*Clinched 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship
250cc Main
1. Cooper Webb -Yam
2. Shane Mcelrath-KTM
3. Malcolm Stewart-Hon
4. Aaron Plessinger-Yam
5. Alex Martin-Yam
6. Justin Hill-KTM
7. Zach Osborne-Hus
8. Matthew Bisceglia-Hon
9. Chris Alldredge-Kaw
10. Tommy Hahn-Hon
11. Josh Hansen-Kaw
12. Jackson Richardson-Hon
13. Cole Martinez-Yam
14. Scott Champion-Yam
15. Trevor Reis-Yam
16. Ryan Breece-Yam
17. Johnny Jelderda-Hon
18. Aaron Siminoe-Kaw
19. Rhett Urseth-Kaw)
20. Chris Howell-Yam
21. Tyler Bowers-Kaw
22. Austin Politelli-Yam
AMA 250cc West Supercross Series Point Standings (After 7 of 8 rounds)
1. Cooper Webb-161/5 wins*
2. Zach Osborne-116
3. Shane McElrath-108
4. Jessy Nelson-106/1 win
5. Tyler Bowers-105
6. Aaron Plessinger-99
7. Justin Hill-49
8. Alex Martin-91
9. Malcolm Stewart-89/1 win
Josh Hansen-89
11. Tommy Hahn-67
12. Zach Bell-55
13. Matt Bisceglia-53
14. Jackson Richardson-48
15. Cole Martinez-47
16. Zack Freeberg-40
17. Chris Alldredge-38
18. Scott Champion-32
19. Michael Lieb-25
20. Austin Politelli-24
Trevor Reis-24
*Clinched 2015 AMA 250cc West Supercross Championship
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