Roczen Now Second in US SX 450s Championship Points
OutdoorHub 02.10.14
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had another solid night in Rd. 6 of the US Supercross Championships at San Diego with Ken Roczen on the podium in third to be second in the points of the 450-class after six of 17 rounds in this tough competition. Factory teammate Ryan Dungey finished fourth on the night and is sixth in the standings.
Meanwhile Jason Anderson had another strong ride in the 250-class West Coast Championship on his Rockstar KTM to finish second and reclaim his red plate as championship leader.
Good day out for Roczen and Dungey
The Red Bull KTM factory 450 duo remained close throughout the day constantly matching each other’s practice times. It was Roczen who turned the fastest lap in the first timed practice followed closely by Dungey. In the final practice, Roczen and Dungey both picked up top three times to garner great gate picks for the heat races.
Roczen was out in the first 450SX heat where he pulled a massive holeshot and took the early lead. The German rider went on to pull a seven-second lead in the six-lap heat to pick up the top gate pick for the main event.
Dungey was also impressive in the next heat, starting at fourth at the gate drop. He capitalized on a crash by the lead riders in the second corner, moved into the lead and went on to win the race for second gate pick in the final.
Main event action
When the gate dropped for the main event, Dungey leaped out front and rounded the first corner in fourth place while Roczen was at sixth. Then Dungey made a mistake in the rhythm section of the second lap, managed to recover from a near crash but dropped two places. This let Roczen past into fourth place and he began to close on third placed Chad Reed.
Meanwhile, Dungey was in a battle of his own with Justin Barcia for fifth but Barcia crashed on lap nine allowing Dungey to take the position. Then Roczen made an inside pass on Reed to move into podium contention while behind him Reed and Dungey began to close in. The three-way battle continued into the final when Reed came unstuck trying to pass Roczen. Dungey successfully dodged Reed’s fallen bike and advanced up to fourth behind his teammate.
“I had a few struggles tonight,” commented Roczen. “Overall, I am really happy to be on the podium. It is important to be consistent in the championship hunt and every podium finish helps toward the point standings.”
Another top 10 finish for Red Bull KTM Factory rider Dean Ferris
The factory team’s Australian rookie Dean Ferris continued his run of consistently picking up points in the 250-class West Coast Championship with a tenth place in the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
Ferris had a hard crash in the final practice session and injured his thumb. Riding in the first 250SX heat, he was third at the gate drop but got pushed back in the second corner and dropped to eighth place. He managed to move up two positions to qualify for the main event.
Ferris got a mid-pack start in the main event but his thumb injury was a handicap, he said. “It hurt pretty bad after my practice crash, but I knew this was the last race before the break so I wanted to try and get some points.” The Australian rider has time to recover and return fit for the next East Coast round in his championship in April.
Next Event:
Dallas, TX – February 15, 2014 for 450-class and the opening event of the 250-class East Coast Championship
(250-class West Coast Championship resumes Seattle, WA – April 12, 2014)
Results AMA US Supercross
Rd. 6 of 17 at San Diego
450 SX Class
1, James Stewart, 25
2, Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, 20
3, Ken Roczen, KTM, 22
4, Ryan Dungey, KTM 18
5, Wilson Pieck, Suzuki 16
Other KTM
10, Andrew Short, KTM, 11
13. Ivan Tedesco, KTM, 9
15, Matthew Goerke, KTM, 6
450 SX Championship Points after Rd. 6
1, Villopoto, 126
2, Roczen, KTM 117
2, Reed, 111
Other KTM
6, Dungey, 76
8, Short, 72
13, Tedesco, 46
20, Goerke 26
450-class Manufacturer’s points after Rd. 6
1, Kawasaki 142
2, KTM 125
3, Suzuki 116
Rd. 6 San Diego
Results 250SX Class (West Coast Championship)
1, Justin Hill, Kawasaki, 25
2, Jason Anderson, KTM, 22
3, Malcolm Stewart, 18
4, Cole Seely, Honda 16
5, Shane MacElrath, Honda
Other KTM
10, Dean Ferris, Australia, 11
250SX Championship Points after Rd. 6
1, Anderson 131
2, Seely 127
3, Wilson 97
4, Cooper Webb, 92
Other KTM
10, Ferris, 63
Manufacturers Standings after Rd. 6 of 250s
1, KTM 131
2, Honda, 129
3, Kawasaki 124
