Ken Roczen wins Phoenix AMA SX

AMA Supercross 2016 – Round Five – Phoenix

Ken Roczen Races to First Monster Energy Supercross Win of 2016 at University of Phoenix Stadium

Ken Roczen (middle), Ryan Dungey (right) and Eli Tomac rounded out the podium in Glendale - Photo Credit: Simon Cudby — Ken Roczen (middle), Ryan Dungey (right) and Eli Tomac rounded out the podium in Glendale – Photo Credit: Simon Cudby

KTM’s Davi Millsaps won his second SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award before Roczen passed him for the lead on the opening lap. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac, who started fourth, took over third place on the opening lap and advanced to second place on Lap 2, dropping Millsaps to third.

Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely passed Millsaps for third on Lap 4. Dungey, who started in 10th place and positioned himself in the top five on Lap 3, moved around Seely for third on Lap 5 when the Honda rider stalled his bike. On Lap 15 Dungey passed Tomac for second, where he would eventually finish.

Ken Roczen captured his first win of 2016 tonight - Photo Credit: Simon Cudby — Ken Roczen captured his first win of 2016 tonight – Photo Credit: Simon Cudby

Roczen took the checkered flag over four seconds ahead of Dungey, while Tomac held on for third place.

Roczen now has five wins on his career, winning two each of his first two seasons in the 450SX Class. It was his first win since the second race in Anaheim in January of the 2015 season, 18 races ago. Roczen missed the final eight races of last season with injury.

“We have been working really hard and it paid off,” said Roczen. “This was a tough track tonight. We got the job done.”

Despite having his three-race win streak come to an end, Dungey’s podium streak dating back to last season when he won the 450SX Class title now sits at 21 races. That’s also the same points advantage he now holds over Roczen in the championship standings.

“I made some good, clean passes after that bad start,” said Dungey. “I made passes where I could and had a great race.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, who finished fourth, sits third in points, 26 points behind Dungey.

450SX Class Results

Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif. Kawasaki

450SX Class Championship Standings

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 119
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 98
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 93
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 90
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 88
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 83
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 63
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 61
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 61
Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 53

Christian Craig Captures First-Ever Western Regional 250SX Class Win

In the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, GEICO Honda’s Jimmy DeCotis picked up his second Holeshot Award of the year, leading his teammate Craig through the first turn. Craig made the pass for lead shortly thereafter.

Defending Western Regional 250SX Class Champion Cooper Webb, who rides for the Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha, started in seventh and made his way into the top three by the second lap and then moved into second place on Lap 3.

A good start was key at tonight's first-ever race at the University of Phoenix Stadium - Photo Credit: Simon Cudby — A good start was key at tonight’s first-ever race at the University of Phoenix Stadium – Photo Credit: Simon Cudby

Points leader and last week’s winner Joey Savatgy put his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki into third place on Lap 5 after starting eighth. On Lap 9 while attempting a pass for the lead, Webb crashed but did not lose any positions, remounting right in front of Savatgy.

Fresh out of retirement, Craig was able to win the first race of his career - Photo Credit: Simon Cudby — Fresh out of retirement, Craig was able to win the first race of his career – Photo Credit: Simon Cudby

Craig crossed the line nearly three seconds ahead of Webb to join the Monster Energy Supercross win ranks with his dad, Mike Craig. Webb finished second, rebounding from a career-worst 21st-place finish last weekend, with Savatgy third.

“To come out of retirement and get my first win ever is amazing,” said Craig, who last raced full time in 2013. “On the last lap the crowd was so loud; it was awesome.”

“I didn’t get a great start so I was playing catch up,” said Webb. “Then I crashed and threw away any hopes of getting the win.”

Webb and Savatgy now share the points lead at 98. Craig moved into third place, 11 points out of the lead.

Action resumes next Saturday night with the second Monster Energy Supercross race at San Diego’s Petco Park on Saturday, February 13.