Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory supercross riders Jason Anderson and Martin Davalos struggle with crashes and slip backward in the series standings.
What started off with such promise at the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim has descended into a grind for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory racing team.
That’s not to say that Husqvarna’s re-entry into the hard-knock sport of supercross has been fruitless, but after the team’s 450cc star, Jason Anderson, finished second in the opening main event of the year, it wasn’t hard to imagine that a win in the premier class was far away. And with the early season performances turned in by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna riders by the Zach Osborne and Zach Bell in the West and Martin Davalos in the East, the team showed the makings of a contender for the 250cc regional titles.
Now, the team finds itself closer to the dividing line between a breakout season and a rebuilding year. Last weekend’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series round at Ford Field in Detroit definitely fell into the latter column. Anderson and Davalos both had rough nights, suffering crashes in their respective main events that left them unable to finish the night. Anderson left Detroit eighth overall in the 450cc standings while Davalos dropped to ninth in the 250cc East standings.
Anderson got off to mid-pack start in his heat race, but he continued to charge for the rest of the race, and he made a last-lap pass to finish third and earn a direct transfer to the main event. In the main, Anderson got a worse start, but he still put his Husqvarna FC 450 into the top-10 by the second lap and worked his way up to sixth place by lap seven. But it all came undone when he caught his foot in a rut in the rhythm section and suffered a spectacular crash. Anderson was unable to finish the race, and he dropped to eighth place in the 450cc rider point standings.
“After my toughest weekend of the year last weekend in Indy, I really wanted to rebound this weekend,” Anderson said after the race. “My practices were just average, but I felt really good when it was time to race. I qualified directly out of my heat race and felt like I was riding well. I got a decent start in the main and made my way into the top five. I thought I had at least a fourth in me, but then I went down hard in a rhythm section, and I’m pretty beat up.”
Earlier in the night, Davalos had a decent start in his heat race and put himself in qualifying position. After losing his timing in a rhythm section after the whoops, he dropped back in the running order, but he battled his way back to a fourth-place finish to qualify for the main. Davalos then got a top-five start in the main, but ended up crashing off the track in spectacular fashion. He was unable to finish the race, and is currently ninth overall in 250SX East rider point standings.
“It’s been a really rough season so far,” Davalos said. “I’m just happy I found out what is going on with me so I can work on it and make a plan on race day. My practices were solid all day. I was up around fifth in the main and was working on moving forward. I clipped the landing of a triple, and it shot me up into the berm. I hit another guy, and it caused me to pin it, and I flew over the berm onto the concrete. I’m feeling pretty sore from the crash, but hopefully I will be okay for St. Louis.”
Detroit Supercross Results
450cc Main Event
1. Eli Tomac-Hon
2. Ryan Dungey-KTM
3. Cole Seely-Hon
21 (DNF). Jason Anderson-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Point Standings (After 12 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey-271/5 wins
2. Trey Canard-204/2 wins
3. Eli Tomac-194/1 win
4. Cole Seely-180
5. Chad Reed-170/1 win
6. Ken Roczen-156/2 wins
7. Blake Baggett-154
8. Jason Anderson-145
9. Andrew Short-136
10. Broc Tickle-134
250SX East Main Event
1. Justin Bogle-Hon
2. Marvin Musquin-KTM
3. Joey Savatgy-Kaw
22 (DNF). Martin Davalos-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
AMA 250cc East Supercross Series Point Standings (After 6 of 8 rounds)
1. Marvin Musquin-144/4 wins
2. Justin Bogle-131/1 win
3. Jeremy Martin-103/1 win
4. Joey Savatgy-93
5. RJ Hampshire-84
6. Jimmy Decotis-69
7. Anthony Rodriguez-68
8. Kyle Peters-65
9. Martin Davalos-63
10. Vince Friese-58
Your Privacy Choices