Rookie Roczen Wins Opening Race of Monster Energy Supercross in Anaheim
Last-Lap Pass Gives Anderson the Win 250SX Class Victory
ANAHEIM, Calif.
(January 4, 2014) – In front of 45,050 fans inside a sold-out Angel
Stadium, rookie Ken Roczen won the opening race of Monster Energy AMA
Supercross, an FIM World Championship, aboard his Red Bull KTM. In
dramatic fashion, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason
Anderson captured the opening race of the Western Regional 250SX Class.
Three-time
Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto came out swinging in
the 450SX Class Main Event, piloting his Monster Energy
Kawasaki to the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award. On Villopoto’s back
wheel through the first turn was Roczen, followed by
Toyota’s/Yamaha/NFab/JGRMX’s Josh Grant.
Yoshimura
Suzuki’s James Stewart moved into third place on Lap 10, passing Red
Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey. While leading on Lap 9, Villopoto
crashed and handed the lead to Roczen, also allowing Discount Tire
Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed and Dungey to move into second and
third place, respectively. Villopoto remounted in fifth place.
Roczen Wins the Season Opener
Photo Credit: Chris Weedon
On
Lap 12, Stewart passed Reed for second place and chipped away at
Roczen’s lead, ultimately closing in on his rear wheel. While attempting
to get alongside Roczen in the whoops, Stewart suffered a race-ending
crash. On Lap 16, Dungey secured second place as he passed Reed.
“This
is insane,” said Roczen. “I got off to a good start and was holding on
really tight. When there were four laps to go, I realized
that I could win.”
Anderson Wins 250SX Class with Last-Lap Pass
Photo Credit: Chris Weedon
Roczen was joined on the podium by Dungey, giving KTM a 1-2 sweep, and Reed. Villopoto recovered to finish fourth.
Anderson
grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award and held down the lead in
the 250SX Class Main Event until Lap 4 when Troy Lee Designs/Lucas
Oil Honda’s Cole Seely moved into the lead. On the same lap, Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson moved into the third spot.
Wilson
and GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne traded places near the halfway point of
the race and the duel did not stop, lasting several subsequent
laps. In the second-to-last turn on the last lap, Anderson passed Seely
and rode to the second win of his career.
“The
pass was [risky] on Cole (Seely),” said Anderson. “I didn’t want to be
dirty but I had to put it in there, and I am glad it worked.
I look forward to riding into Phoenix with the red number-one plate.
This is only my second career win, so it is big for me.”
Anderson and Seely were joined Osborne on the podium, who eventually made his way past Wilson on Lap 12.
Monster Energy Supercross heads to Phoenix’s Chase Field next Saturday, January 11.
250SX Class Results
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM
- Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
- Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
- Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
250SX Class Season Standings
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 25
- Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 22
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 20
- Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 18
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 16
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 15
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki, 14
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 13
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 12
- Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 11
450SX Class Results
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
- Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 25
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 22
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 20
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 18
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 16
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 15
- Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 14
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 13
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 12
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 11
For
the first-time ever, the entire Monster Energy Supercross season will
air live on FOX Sports. FOX Sports 1 will air 13 races live and Fox
Sports
2 will air four races live, in addition to every race re-airing on FOX
Sports 2. The live Monster Energy Supercross programming on FOX Sports 1
and FOX Sports 2 also includes live coverage on the authenticated FOX
Sports Go app.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to
www.SupercrossOnline.com,
the official website of Monster Energy Supercross. To follow Monster
Energy Supercross on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, log on to
www.facebook.com/supercrossLive
www.Twitter.com/supercrosslive
and www.instagram.com/supercrosslive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at
http://www.youtube.com/supercrosslive. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig
dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld
Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and
stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions
include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and
Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is
a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live
family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment,
visit
www.feldentertainment.com.
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