Two Podium Seconds for Musquin and Roczen in Seattle
OutdoorHub 04.22.12
Red Bull/KTM Factory riders Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen made it a night to remember for the team in Seattle Washington with Musquin taking second in the SX Lites West Coast and Roczen doubling the fun in the Supercross division riding the KTM 350 SX-F.
Musquin started the day with early successes nailing the holeshot in the second Supercross Lites to lead every lap and take his first heat win of the season. But the French rider didn’t manage the great start he wanted in the main event and came around the end of the lap one in eleventh place. He quickly set to work to make passes and by the halfway mark was up to sixth. Then in Lap 10 he set the fastest lap time of the entire race and closed in on the battle for third. Marvin then shot past Will Hahn and then Cole Seely to move into third and with a lap to go he made the pass on Eli Tomac and carried second place through to the checkered flag.
“Overall I am happy with my result tonight,” Musquin said. “To be on the podium is a great way to finish at the final few rounds.”
There was more action for the Red Bull KTM Factory team when Ken Roczen earned his first Supercross class career podium aboard his KTM 350 SX-F, which was a great ride for the German teenager who has been contesting the SX Lites East competition this season.
The race also saw the highly anticipated return of factory teammate Ryan Dungey after a six-round injury break with a broken collarbone.
Both Dungey and Roczen did well in their SX heats. Roczen showed his KTM 350 SX-F had the power to run out front when he pulled the holeshot in the first and went on to finish second behind Ryan Villopoto. Dungey did not earn the holeshot in his heat but quickly assumed control of the race and led every lap to take his third heat win of the season.
In the main event, it was Roczen who piloted his KTM 350 SX-F out front early to be second in the first corner while Dungey settle in at fifth. Then Roczen and former teammate leader Andrew Short began a battle for the lead that lasted the first half of the race while Dungey began to reel in Justin Brayton for fourth. Then on Lap 8 Dungey made the pass on Brayton but clipped his wheel and crashed. He quickly recovered but lost two positions, going on to finish in sixth place.
Dungey, aware of the fact that he was short on recent practice too the long term view. “Finishing sixth tonight is definitely not where I want to be,” he said. “However, the best way to improve in racing is to race and that is what I intend to do for the next few rounds to help me improve and prepare for the outdoors.”
Meanwhile out front Roczen was having the race of his Supercross class career as he was still holding down second. He held his pace and finished on the podium alongside his good friend Andrew Short who took his first career win.
“Tonight was such an amazing night,” remarked Roczen. “I had a great heat and a great main event. I am so happy to be on the podium and I am even more excited for my friend ‘Shorty’ (Andrew Short) to get his first win. We had a great battle at the beginning of the race and it was really exciting to compete for the win.”
