KTM’s Ryan Dungey swept both motos of the 450 class at Thunder Valley in Lakewood, Colrodao, on Sunday. It was KTM’s first-ever 450 AMA National Championship victory (to go along with the Supercross victories that Dungey earned them earlier this year). Meanwhile in the AMA 250 National, Justin Barcia squeaked out the overall victory when Ken Roczen fell on the last lap (allowing Barcia to get a second in that moto to nip Blake Baggett’s 3-1.
Ryan Dungey (5) grabs the holeshot on Thunder Valley's steep uphill start. Photo: Hoppenworld
450 CLASS:
The big news was James Stewart’s crash in the rut section of the Lakewood track. Stewart had worked his way into the lead, when he cross rutted and went down. Although, he didn’t appear injured at first, he began to favor his right hand as he remounted. In the end Stewart could not continue or race the second moto
Dungey took over the lead after Stewarts crash and rode to an easy first moto victory and came back to win the second moto just as easily. Stewart lost the points lead...and fell to thir doverall in the season standings.
“I hate to win like that,” said Dungey. “James and I have pushed each other to new levels and although he won the first four motos (this season), it’s been good. Hopefully he heals up and comes back (next week). My game plan is always the same, to take it one race at a time. You can’t focus on the end result and we saw that today. I just do my own thing, put my best foot forward, and never underestimate anyone.”
Jake Weimer recorded a career-best second place finish (2-4), while Colorado native Andrew Short ave Team Chaparral Honda its first podium finish in third (7-2).
450 CLASS:
1. Ryan Dungey...1-1
2. Jake Weimer...2-4
3. Andrew Short...7-2
4. Nico Izzi...5-5
5. Brett Metcalfe...3-10
6. Mike Alessi...4-9
7. Justin Brayton...9-6
8. Michael Byrne...12-7
9. Billy Laninovich...11-8
10. Kyle Chisholm...10-11
11. Broc Tickle...35-3
12. Matt Lemoine...13-12
13. Shane Sewell...14-13
14. Josh Grant...8-19
15. Ryan Sipes...6-26
16. Derek Anderson...16-16
17. Ben LaMay...18-15
18. Vince Friese...15-18
19. Les Smith...20-14
20. Jimmy Albertson...37-17
Other notables: 23. Justin Sipes...23-22; 25. Austin Howell...34-21; 30. Kyle Regal...22-37; 38. Tommy Hahn...33-38; 40. James Stewart...38-40.
250 CLASS:
In the 250 Class, Justn Barcia started his day off strong by winning the first moto. Barcia took the lead from the start and ultimately stayed out front for all 16 laps, fending off the pressure of Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Germany. Blake Baggett was third with another one of his come-from-behind rides.
In Moto two, Barcia asserted himself and led the first six laps, before Blake Baggett came steaming past for the moto win. The overall would go to Baggett, if Ken Roczen finished second and to Barcia if he got second. It looked like Baggett had it as both he and Roczen passed Barcia.
However, on the final lap, Roczen and Barcia battled again for second, ending with Roczen falling to the ground and allowing Barcia to retake the position and ultimately the overall win.
“Last weekend was tough on me, but today was awesome,” said Barcia, who last won as a rookie during the 2009 season. “The first moto couldn’t have gone any better and the second moto was good too. I knew what I had to do (in the second moto). I rode my own race a little bit, but then I put on a hard charge at the end. Ken and I may have touched a little bit, but I just kept going.”
250 CLASS:
1. Justin Barcia...1-2
2. Blake Baggett...3-1
3. Ken Roczen...2-4
4. Eli Tomac...4-3
5. Marvin Musquin...5-5
6. Malcolm Stewart...8-6
7. Blake Wharton...6-9
8. Wil Hahn...10-7
9. Kyle Cunningham...9-10
10. Jake Canada...7-14
11. Ivan Tedesco...14-8
12. Gareth Swanepoel...13-13
13. Jason Anderson...12-15
14. Travis Baker...16-12
15. Hunter Hewitt...15-16
16. Jessy Nelson...22-11
17. Alex Martin...11-39
18. Zack Freeberg...17-19
19. Kyle Peters...20-17
20. Phil Nicoletti ...27-18
Other notables: 21. Killy Rusk...18-21;23. A.J. Cantazaro...40-20; 40. Garrett Eckman.
Red letter day for KTM – Ryan Dungey won the brand an AMA 450 National, earned the red plate as the points leader, lightened KTM's bonus pool by $100,000 and moved 35 points ahead of second place Jake Weimer. Photo: Hoppenworld
450 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 3 of 12 events)
1. Ryan Dungey...136
2. Jake Weimer...101
3. James Stewart...100
4. Mike Alessi...100
5. Andrew Short...97
6. Brett Metcalfe...84
7. Josh Grant...73
8. Nico Izzi...71
9. Broc Tickle...63
10. Kyle Chisholm...50
250 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 3 of 12 events)
1. Blake Baggett...139
2. Justin Barcia...123
3. Ken Roczen...120
4. Eli Tomac...117
5. Marvin Musquin...84
6. Blake Wharton...82
9. Kyle Cunningham...65
9. Jake Canada...62
10. Ivan Tedesco...51
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