The Monster Energy Supercross series heads to University of Phoenix Stadium again in 2017. Photo by: Hoppenworld
The fourth round of the 2017 season will be just the second ever visit to University of Phoenix Stadium. It will also signify the championship’s first visit this season to a venue dedicated to football, as well as the first domed stadium on the schedule.
The Phoenix-area stop of Monster Energy Supercross is especially unique because it is one of just two cities in the history of the sport, along with Los Angeles, to host its round of the championship in three different stadiums, which also includes Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium (5 races from ’86-’98) and downtown Phoenix’s Chase Field (’99-’15).
The start straight on the expansive floor of University of Phoenix Stadium this weekend will span approximately 384 feet, making it the longest in the championship. Riders will be able to push speeds nearing an incredible 60 miles per hour.
The one-of-a-kind shape of the stadium’s exterior was built to resemble that of a barrel cactus, found in abundance in the Phoenix area, as well as a coiled snake, also abundant in the area’s desert landscape.
450SX Class Stats: Phoenix
2016 Podium:
- Ken Roczen
- Ryan Dungey
- Eli Tomac
The first 450SX Class race hosted in the Phoenix area was on May 10, 1986. Rick Johnson won on a Honda en route to capturing the championship.
Over the course of 16 seasons prior to 2010 no rider had ever earned his first-career victory in Phoenix. Since then, there have been three different first-time winners in the “Valley of the Sun” – Ryan Dungey (’10), Justin Barcia (’13), and Eli Tomac (’15).
Of the 15 different winners in Phoenix history, only four have won on more than one occasion – Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Dungey, Ezra Lusk, and James Stewart.
Lusk is the only rider in history to win at more than one venue in Phoenix. Dungey and Tomac will look to join him on this exclusive list on Saturday.
There have been six different winners over the past six seasons in Phoenix.
All-Time Wins by Brand in Phoenix (Last Win)
Honda: 7 (2015)
Kawasaki: 7 (2014)
Suzuki: 4 (2016)
Yamaha: 4 (2011)
KTM: 1 (2012)
All-Time Wins in Phoenix (Wins)
Ricky Carmichael (4)
James Stewart (4)
Ryan Dungey (2)
Ezra Lusk (2)
Brand Sweeps in Phoenix (450SX & 250SX)
1986: Honda – Rick Johnson & Willie Surratt
2003: Kawasaki – Ezra Lusk & James Stewart
2005: Suzuki – Ricky Carmichael & Broc Hepler
2007: Kawasaki – Ricky Carmichael & Christophe Pourcel
2013: Honda – Justin Barcia & Eli Tomac
Riders to Win in Both Classes in Phoenix
Ryan Dungey
Jeff Emig
James Stewart
Eli Tomac
David Vuillemin
Kevin Windham
First-Time Winners in Phoenix
2010: Ryan Dungey
2013: Justin Barcia
2015: Eli Tomac
Past Winners in Phoenix
1986: Rick Johnson, Honda
1987: Jeff Ward, Kawasaki
1991: Jean-Michel Bayle, Honda
1997: Jeff Emig, Kawasaki
1998: Ezra Lusk, Honda
1999: Jeremy McGrath, Yamaha
2000: David Vuillemin, Yamaha
2001: Ricky Carmichael, Kawasaki
2002: Ricky Carmichael, Honda
2003: Ezra Lusk, Kawasaki
2004: Kevin Windham, Honda
2005: Ricky Carmichael, Suzuki
2006: Ricky Carmichael, Suzuki
2007: James Stewart, Kawasaki
2008: James Stewart, Kawasaki
2009: James Stewart, Yamaha
2010: Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
2011: James Stewart, Yamaha
2012: Ryan Dungey, KTM
2013: Justin Barcia, Honda
2014: Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
2015: Eli Tomac, Honda
2016: Ken Roczen, Suzuki
250SX Class Stats: Phoenix
2016 Podium:
- Christian Craig
- Cooper Webb
- Joey Savatgy
The first 250SX Class race held in the Phoenix area was on May 10, 1986. Willie Surratt won on a Honda.
Phoenix has welcomed back-to-back first-time winners in the 250SX Class, with Cooper Webb taking the win in 2015 and Christian Craig emerging victorious in 2016. In total, seven different riders have earned their first career win in the desert.
There have been 20 different 250SX Class winners over the course of 23 seasons of racing in the “Valley of the Sun,” including eight different winners over the past eight seasons.
All-Time Wins by Brand in Phoenix (Last Win)
Kawasaki: 8 (2012)
Honda: 5 (2016)
Yamaha: 5 (2015)
Suzuki: 3 (2009)
KTM: 2 (2014)
All-Time Wins in Phoenix (Wins)
Nathan Ramsey (2)
James Stewart (2)
Jake Weimer (2)
First-Time Winners in Phoenix
1999: Nathan Ramsey
2000: Casey Lytle
2005: Broc Hepler
2007: Christophe Pourcel
2008: Jake Weimer
2015: Cooper Webb
2016: Christian Craig
Past Winners in Phoenix
1986: Willie Surratt, Honda
1987: Donny Schmit, Suzuki
1991: Jeff Emig, Yamaha
1997: Kevin Windham, Yamaha
1998: David Vuillemin, Yamaha
1999: Nathan Ramsey, Kawasaki
2000: Casey Lytle, Honda
2001: Ernesto Fonseca, Yamaha
2002: James Stewart, Kawasaki
2003: James Stewart, Kawasaki
2004: Ivan Tedesco, Kawasaki
2005: Broc Hepler, Suzuki
2006: Nathan Ramsey, KTM
2007: Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki
2008: Jake Weimer, Honda
2009: Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
2010: Jake Weimer, Kawasaki
2011: Josh Hansen, Kawasaki
2012: Dean Wilson, Kawasaki
2013: Eli Tomac, Honda
2014: Jason Anderson, KTM
2015: Cooper Webb, Yamaha
2016: Christian Craig, Honda
