Ken Roczen gives his new its first 450cc win, while Jessy Nelson earns his first career 250cc win with an all-new team at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
The pre-race hype prior to tonight’s 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series opener at Angel Stadium was, “Who’s Next.”
With reigning series champion Ryan Villopoto retiring from supercross to go and chase the FIM Motocross World Championship, the harsh and arguably unwarranted suspension of James Stewart and the silly season x-factor of new riders on new machines, Anaheim I was about as predictable as an earthquake. When it was all over, RCH/Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns Suzuki’s Ken Roczen stepped up to claim the first supercross win of 2015.
Roczen ran a virtually flawless race, grabbing the lead on the opening lap and leading every one of the 20 laps in the 450cc main to claim his third career Monster Energy AMA 450cc Supercross Series win and become the first back to back winner of the Anaheim opener since Villopoto (2011, 2012). It was also the first major AMA win for the team founded by former racers Ricky Carmichael and Cary Hart.
It was also a special night for the all-new Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory team, which enjoyed a podium finish in its Monster Energy Supercross Series debut when reigning AMA 250cc West Supercross Champion Jason Anderson finished second, to Roczen, proving that both he and Husqvarna have what it takes to be competitive in the 450cc class.
Third place went to Team Honda’s Trey Canard, who has been enjoying a tremendous career resurgence over the past four months. Canard had to battle his way through the pack after a less than stellar start, but he showed the poise and consistency that is sure to make him a factor in the points chase so long as he can stay healthy.
The AMA 250cc West Supercross main event at Anaheim I wasn’t any more predictable than the 450cc main, and when it was over, 20-year-old Jessy Nelson made his first supercross podium visit a special one as he went straight to the top, earning his first AMA 250cc supercross victory for the all-new Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/ Red Bull/ KTM team. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna scored another runner-up finish on the night with Zach Osborne, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers served notice that he is serious about adding a supercross title to his four AMSOIL Arenacross titles by finishing third.
450cc
The season got off on a bit of a sour note early in the day when Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Wil Hahn crashed in the first 450cc timed practice session of the day, suffering a probable broken arm. Hahn was transported to a nearby hospital and did not take part in the night’s race program.
It appeared as if Roczen was going to easily lock up the first gate pick for posting the fastest qualifying position when he posted a blistering 55.620-second lap on the very last lap of the first timed qualifying session, but GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac came back in the second session and stole away the top spot from Roczen with a quicker 55.023 to Toczen’s second-best time of 55.055.
Even so, Roczen got first crack at the track in a star-studded first heat heat that included former Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey, Toyota/JGR Yamaha’s Justin Barcia and reigning AMA 250cc West Champion-turned-450cc-contender Anderson on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory machine.
But instead of Roczen or Dungey, BTO Sports KTM’s Andrew Short held off Mike Alessi for the holeshot, with Dungey and Barcia slotting into third and fourth place respectively at the end of the first rhythm section. Roczen and Barcia both stole spots away from Dungey in the following turn, dropping him from third to fifth. Roczen then blitzed past Barcia for third place in a whoop section on lap two before coming after Alessi.
Roczen jumped alongside Alessi in a rhythm section along the stadium’s first baseline on lap three and methodically reeled-in and began pressuring him just before they crossed the finish line to start the last lap. Short did an admiral job of holding Roczen off in the final few sections to earn his first Monster Energy Supercross heat race win since 2010.
“I’m getting older—I just have more fun,” Short said. “It’s huge. I feel like, at this point in my career, I have nothing to lose. Just having fun, and this track really tends to…if you get a good start you’re in a good position.”
Justin Brayton pulled the holeshot in the second 450cc heat race, but Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Davi Millsaps waisted little time in passing Brayton for the lead in the first rhythm section. Before the halfway point, Brayton would lost places to Tomac, Canard and Reed as well. Tomac was on the move, and he cut to the inside of Millsaps in a left-hand turn to take the lead with three laps to go.
Before Millsaps could process that, Canard also scooted past, putting Honda riders in the top two spots. Canard got close to Tomac through the sand section on lap five, but Tomac was able to pull a comfortable lead over Canard and take the win, with Millsaps third. Afterward, Tomac described his move to pass Millsaps for the lead.
“Right now, through that rhythm there’s not a whole lot of option for a guy to go big or make up a lot of time, so you’ve just got to go old school, you know, pin it, scrub and take as much momentum as you can on and off the step-off [jump], and maybe cut inside,” Tomac said. ”That’s what was working for me, So. I’m excited a found a line there, and I’m feeling great.”
The first 450cc semi pitted a few factory stars who many insiders would view as capable of landing on the podium, including Toyota/JGR Yamaha’s Weston Peick and Team Honda’s Cole Seely as well as Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett. Peick landed the holeshot to start the race but former Canadian National Motocross Champion Brett Metcalfe snagged the lead immediately after that, leaving Baggett, Peick and Seely to battle for second place. Baggett got aggressive with Metcalfe on lap two. Seely and Peick would tangle, with Seely crashing and dropping all the way to last place. Peick recovered after tagging the Tuff Blox, but the incident allowed MotoConcepts/Smartop Suzuki’s Mike Alessi to move all the way to third place.
Baggett dogged Metcalfe on the last lap and briefly took over the lead, but the wily Metcalfe outran Baggett in the sand section and retook the lead, holding it to the finish for the win. Alessi finished third, with Peick fourth and Weimer taking the final transfer spot.
Red Bull KTM’s Dean Wilson, Barcia, Brayton and TwoTwo Motorsports/Discount Tire Kawasaki’s Josh Grant were among the 16 starters in the second semi. Grant got the holeshot, but Wilson and Barcia both shot past Grant in the first rhythm section. Barcia then cut to the inside of Wilson in the first right-hander after the finish line jump and charged into the lead. RCH Soaring Eagle Suzuki’s Broc Tickle moved into fourth-place, behind Josh Hill, with Grant and Wilson battling for the last transfer spot. Grant grabbed it, forcing Wilson to try his luck in the four-lap LCQ.
Wilson wasn’t the only one, as Seely was in the LCQ as well, and the two riders battled for the lead right at the drop of the gate, only to get passed by Kyle Partridge within the first few corners on the track. Wilson and Seely regrouped and repassed Partridge to run one, two, with Partridge third. 3DR Suzuki’s Tevin Tapia finished fourth to earn the final ticket to the 450cc main event.
The left side of the starting gate was clearly where everyone wanted to be for the 20-lap main event, but it was Alessi who took the holeshot by sweeping across the pack from the right side of the gate to just narrowly edge out Tomac through the first turn. Tomac had to back off to avoid going off the track, and that allowed Short and Roczen the opportunity to battle for the lead. Roczen wasted no time moving into the lead, and he was already pulling clear of Short field by the time they rounded the left-hand corner at the end of the first rhythm section. Anserson was third, ahead of Alessi, with Dungey fifth and Tomac sixth.
Anderson made the first move of the race when he got under Short on lap two take over second place, and he would attempt to run down Roczen, with whom he trains during the week. Tomac, meanwhile, saw his fortunes go south when he went over the bars and crashed just before the left-hand turn that leads to the short chute across the start straight. He was forced to remount at the back of the pack.
Millsaps passed Dungey on lap four and set out after Alessi, easily passing the Suzuki rider, but on lap five Millsaps got out of shape going through the whoops and veered off the track to the left, collecting a Tuff Block in the process. Millsaps lost several positions before he could find a spot to get back on the track and rejoin the race in 13th. Millsaps’ mistake moved Dungey to fourth and Canard to fifth. Went off the track again a lap later, dropping all the way down to 20th place.
Roczen looked like a machine as he ran out front, some 8 seconds ahead of Anderson by lap eight, while Short continued to run a strong race in third place. The best race on the track was between Canard in fourth and Dungey in fifth, the two riders running side by side through the sand section at one point. Canard passed Dungey with eight laps to go, while Dungey was left to battle with Short, who refused to yield to his fellow KTM rider. Dungey would finally make his way past Short and into fourth place with three laps to go.
There were plenty of heavy hitters farther back in the pack, as Peick ran sixth, ahead of former teammate Tickle, Alessi, Reed and Barcia, who passed Reed for ninth on lap 11. Barcia continued to move forward as the race progressed, working his way up to sixth place, ahead of his teammate, Peick.
Anderson made a minmal dent in Roczen’s lead late in the race, but there was no catching the German rider, who pancaked over the finish line jump to win the race by 4.19 seconds over Anderson, with Canard finishing third, 5.35 seconds behind Roczen.
“I have to say a huge thanks to the Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki factory racing team and everybody that is behind me,” Roczen said. “They have been doing a great job, and I adapted to the bike pretty quick. I felt good out there today. It is good to get the first one out of the way, and everything went as planned, so it was a solid ride out there.”
Naturally, Anderson was pleased with his performance, and he will be one to watch as the season progresses. He is confident that he can repeat his Anaheim results if not improve upon them.
“I’ve put in my work, and I felt solid out there, so I’m pretty stoked with how everything went tonight,” Anderson said. “I’m just looking forward to more of this as the season goes on, and I’m just going to try and be solid all season and hopefully come out with good results. I’m pumped to put my Husqvarna up there [on the podium]. It has been good.”
250cc West
Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Red Bull/ KTM had a fantastic night at Anaheim I as tea rider Jessy Nelson became the 97th rider to win in an AMA regional supercross since the division began. The race not only marked the first career win but also the first podium finish for the 20-year-old Nelson.
Interestingly, it was an old guard rider and not an unknown youngster who got the night rolling. Motosports.com/Fox/Supertech Kawasaki rider Josh Hansen surprised perhaps everyone and no one when he grabbed the holeshot in the first 250cc West heat race and led it for five of the six laps before Red Bull KTM’s Justin Hill caught and passed him to take the win. Hill had to recover from a less-than-stellar start, and it simply took him a few laps to reel-in the flying Hansen. Afterward, Hill said that he was looking forward to the main event.
“I’m ready to go,” Hill said. “Definitely [there is] a lot of pressure on me. I’m coming in as the only guy with wins last year. That gives me confidence, though. I rode a little tight in that heat. I’ve got to make a couple adjustments with myself. I think we’re going to have a good night.”
Heat race two was much more eventful, as Nelson pulled the holeshot, only to run wide in the first corner and tag the Tuff Blox, allowing GEICO Honda’s Matt Bisceglia to pull clear of a pack that included Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb. Bowers, the four-time AMSOIL AMA Arenacross Champion moved into second and ran about a half second behind Bisceglia, but he assumed the lead when Bisceglia got loose and crashed on lap three. Osborne then challenged Bowers briefly, but Bowers unceremoniously slammed Osborne off the track and reassumed the lead. Then Nelson banged into Webb and claimed the second spot on the final lap.
Bowers took the win, although his bump with Osborne drew the ire of FIM official John Gallagher.
“He [Gallagher] wasn’t too happy clearly, but I don’t come here to get second place,” Bowers said. “I got pushed before that. I’m not going to have a [situation as in] Minnesota where [Blake] Wharton cleaned me out in front of like 90,000 people again. I’m here for the season. I’m not here to play around. Like I said, I got bumped before that, so I bumped back.”
Osborne, who suffered a broken thumb in the incident with Bowers, was able to get the thumb taped up by his doctor and trainer, and he would come back to handily win the 250cc LCQ to make the main event.
Bowers used his fast heat race win to choose a spot right in the middle of the left side of the starting gate for the 15-lap main event, while first-heat winner Hill was two spots to Bowers’s left on the 22-man gate. When the gate dropped, Nelson emerged in the lead with Hansen, Osborne and Bisceglia right behind him. Hill and Bowers were right behind Bisceglia, and Bowers wasted no time in leaning on Hill, but Hill was able to get clear of the Kawasaki rider. Hansen was once again looking solid on third place.
Nelson enjoyed a 2.9-second lead over Osborne, who had another 4.6 seconds on Hansen through the first five laps of the 15-lap race. Hill and Bowers had caught Hansen by then, and the two started to pressure the veteran rider, with Hill making a quick pass of Hansen across the short chute that crossed the start straight to take over third place.
Hansen had dropped back to sixth place with three laps to go, and he was just ahead of Shane McElrath and Alex Martin, but McElrath stuffed Hansen in a left-hand corner and knocked him off the track, which cost Hansen a few positions.
Nelson went on to win the main event by 6.45 seconds over Osborne. Bowers was third, followed by Hill and Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger.
Nelson attributed his winning performance to “just being able to come in healthy and put in some solid months of training. Last year I came in a little injured, so that kind played a factor in my season, but this year I’m healthy, strong, and I can’t thank my team enough. It has been a long road, but it’s cool to be on top.”
Osborne had a podium finish in the bag, but he clearly concerned about his injured hand.
“Whenever Bowers and I came together earlier, I broke my thumb right at the joint,” Osborne said. “I put some heavy taping on with some SpiderTech tape on. My doctor, my trainer and my riding coach just pumped me up and I put it in the zone and blocked the pain out. I just have to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for this opportunity. I have to thank my wife, and my whole team for being behind me. My starts were great tonight, and that was a key to this podium.”
Bowers said that tonight went well for him.
“My goal here was to get on the podium and win if the opportunity arose,” he said. “I kind of messed up my start a little bit, got off to a bad start and wasn’t able to get to the front as quickly as I could. This track was a little difficult to pass on without running somebody over, and as you saw before, I got into a little bit of trouble for that, so I was trying not to do that in the main event. I worked my way into third place, and I was trying to catch the leaders but ran out of time.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series continues next weekend with round two at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, January 10.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, California
Results: January 3, 2015 (Round 1 of 17)
450cc Main
1. Ken Roczen-Suz
2. Jason Anderson-Hus
3. Trey Canard-Hon
4. Ryan Dungey-KTM
5. Andrew Short-KTM
6. Justin Barcia-Yam
7. Weston Peick-Yam
8. Broc Tickle-Suz
9. Mike Aless-Suz
10. Chad Reed-Kaw
11. Jake Weimer-Kaw
12. Blake Baggett-Suz
13. Justin Brayton-KTM
14. Cole Seely-Hon
15. Dean Wilson-KTM
16. Josh Hill-Yam
17. Brett Metcalfe-Suz
18. Josh Grant-Kaw
19. Davi Millsaps-Kaw
20. Eli Tomac-Hon
21. Kyle Partridge-Hon
22. Tevin Tapia-Suz
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Standings (After 1 of 17 rounds)
1. Ken Roczen-25/1 win
2. Jason Anderson-22
3. Trey Canard-20
4. Ryan Dungey-18
5. Andrew Short-16
6. Justin Barcia-15
7. Weston Peick-14
8. Broc Tickle-13
9. Mike Aless-12
10. Chad Reed-11
11. Jake Weimer-10
12. Blake Baggett-9
13. Justin Brayton-8
14. Cole Seely-7
15. Dean Wilson-6
16. Josh Hill-5
17. Brett Metcalfe-4
18. Josh Grant-3
19. Davi Millsaps-2
20. Eli Tomac-1
250cc West Main
1. Jessy Nelson-KTM
2. Zach Osborne-Hus
3. Tyler Bowers-Kaw
4. Justin Hill-KTM
5. Aaron Plessinger-Yam
6. Shane McElrath-KTM
7. Cooper Webb-Yam
8. Alex Martin-Yam
9. Josh Hansen-Kaw
10. Michael Leib-Hon
11. Zach Bell-Hus
12. Scott Champion-Yam
13. Matt Bisceglia-Hon
14. Tommy Hahn-Hon
15. Trevor Rice-Yam
16. Nico Izzi-Yam
17. Austin Politelli-Yam
18. Ryan Breece-Yam
19. Zach Freeburg-Yam
20. Cole Martinez-Yam
21. Darryn Durham-KTM
22. Malcolm Stewart-Hon
AMA 250cc West Supercross Championship Series Standings (After 1 of 8 rounds)
1. Jessy Nelson-25/1 win
2. Zach Osborne-22
3. Tyler Bowers-20
4. Justin Hill-18
5. Aaron Plessinger-16
6. Shane McElrath-15
7. Cooper Webb-14
8. Alex Martin-13
9. Josh Hansen-12
10. Michael Leib-11
11. Zach Bell-10
12. Scott Champion-9
13. Matt Bisceglia-8
14. Tommy Hahn-7
15. Trevor Rice-6
16. Nico Izzi-5
17. Austin Politelli-4
18. Ryan Breece-3
19. Zach Freeburg-2
20. Cole Martinez-1
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