Sunday, January 8, 2017

Roczen Dominant En Route to Season Opening Monster Energy Supercross Victory in Anaheim

Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 7, 2017) - The 2017 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, opened to a sold out crowd of 45,050 fans on Saturday night inside Angel Stadium. Following the most high profile move of the offseason, Team Honda HRC's Ken Roczen earned a dominant victory in his championship debut with the team, leading the entirety of the 450SX Class Main Event for his 10th career win. In the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM's Shane McElrath captured his first career win, also leading the entire race.

 Roczen took his third Anaheim opener win in his championship debut with Team Honda HRC.
Photo: Feld Entertainment, Inc. 
 
The 450SX Class Main Event started with Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Marvin Musquin narrowly edging out Roczen for the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award, but it was Roczen who emerged from the fray with the lead. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac also pushed to the front and got alongside Musquin, but eventually settled into third. Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey found himself as far back as eighth, but eventually put his Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine into fifth.
 
Roczen was able to pull away early, and soon a battle for second ensued between Musquin and Tomac, with the Kawasaki rider assuming the position two minutes into the race. Just a short time later, Dungey, who moved up to fourth, closed in on the rear fender of his teammate, eventually moving into podium position. The lead group stabilized for several minutes until Dungey erased his deficit to Tomac and made the pass for second. Tomac would continue to lose positions and eventually dropped off the podium, with Musquin reclaiming control of third.
 
Roczen took the checkered flag more than 16 seconds ahead of Dungey, for this third Anaheim opener win in four years. It ties him with Chad Reed and James Stewart for the most Anaheim opener wins of all time. He also becomes the first rider in history to win the Anaheim opener aboard three different brands of motorcycles.
 
"It's like I've been saying [all week], I'm just bringing that much more focus [into the season] and I'm super fit," said Roczen. "I had a lot of fun out there. The track got rough, and since they tamed it down it helped out a lot once it got rough. We've got to keep our head on our shoulders, bottom line."
Dungey began his title defense with a runner-up effort.
Photo: Feld Entertainment, Inc. 

Dungey's runner-up effort equals his result from a season ago at the Anaheim opener, from which he mounted a run that carried him to a second consecutive title.
 
"[Ken] rode great. From where I was at [coming off an injury] to have the first big race, this gets my feet back in the game," said Dungey. "All we've done is testing and we've been waiting to get into a race. This was a true challenge. There was a good distance between first and second and that's a challenge. I'm looking forward to closing that."
 
Musquin rounded out the podium in third.
 
Roczen will carry the red number plate into the next round as the points leader, holding a three-point lead over Dungey.
Musquin's third-place finish gave KTM two of three spots on the podium.
Photo: Feld Entertainment, Inc. 

The Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event began with McElrath edging out Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Martin Davalos for the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award. Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Dan Reardon followed the lead pair, but soon gave up the position to 51Fifty Energy Drink Yamaha's Hayden Mellross, until Mellross was forced to pull off the track and out of the race. That allowed Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha's Aaron Plessinger to take over third.
 
The early pace by McElrath allowed him to open a gap over Davalos and the rest of the field, which he ultimately maintained through the remainder of the race. Davalos held on to second for the majority of the race, but Plessinger continued to close the gap until he ultimately made the pass with about six minutes remaining.
 
McElrath crossed the finish line just over two seconds ahead of Plessinger, who made a late charge. The KTM rider becomes the 103rd different winner in the history of the 250SX Class.
 
"[Winning] doesn't really have a feeling, so it's hard out put it into words. The whole time out there riding I was tired, but [my opponents] were tired too. It was 'keep pushing, keep pushing,' 'one more lap, one more lap.' When I crossed the finish line I wanted to let go of the bike. It's unreal."

McElrath became the 103rd different 250SX Class winner in history.
Photo: Feld Entertainment, Inc.
 
Davalos followed McElrath and Plessinger in third.
 
For the first time in his career, McElrath will carry the red number plate as the championship leader next weekend. He holds a three-point lead over Plessinger.
 
The 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season continues next Saturday, January 14, with the second round from San Diego's Petco Park. The action can be seen live on FS1 starting at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
Plessinger (23) and Davalos (30) completed the 250SX Class podium.
Photo: Feld Entertainment, Inc. 

Monster Energy Supercross
Angel Stadium - Anaheim, California
January 7, 2017
 
450SX Class Results
  1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda
  2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
  3. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
  4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
  5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
  6. Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
  7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., KTM
  8. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
  9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki
  10. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha 
450SX Class Championship Standings
  1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda - 25
  2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM - 22
  3. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM - 20
  4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna - 18
  5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki - 16
  6. Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda - 15
  7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., KTM - 14
  8. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki - 13
  9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki - 12
  10. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha - 11 
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
  1. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
  2. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
  3. Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
  4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
  5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
  6. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
  7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
  8. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki
  9. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
  10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Honda 
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
  1. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM - 25
  2. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha - 22
  3. Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna - 20
  4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM - 18
  5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki - 16
  6. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda - 15
  7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha - 14
  8. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki - 13
  9. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda - 12
  10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Honda - 11 

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross,  please log onto www.SupercrossLIVE.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or follow us via our social channels below:   
 
For all media requests, please contact Sean Brennen at sbrennen@feldinc.com / (703) 448-3664.
 
About Feld Entertainment:
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com.
 
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FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX's wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets.  Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships.  FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports.  In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com and Yardbarker.com.  Also included in the Group are FOX's interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.
 
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
 
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