Photo by: Hoppenworld
The 2016 Anaheim 1 Supercross and the opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series is officially in the record books. After the race, we gathered quotes from a myriad of riders. Check out what they all said about the opening night of ’16 below.
Jason Anderson: “I got my first win! Tonight at Anaheim 1 was awesome. I got off decent in the first start, but then they red-flagged it so I was a little bummed. My second start was mediocre, but I just started making my way forward and eventually took the win. I’m so pumped. The guys I was passing were waxing me last year, so to even be battling with them was a cool deal.”
Joey Savatgy: “We made the best of the situation tonight,” said Savatgy. “We saved some valuable championship points. I had a decent start in my heat race and feel I rode well. Moving into the Main Event I had a pretty solid start but it didn’t take long before someone ran into me, and their bike ended up getting stuck to mine. I had to get off my bike to untangle his from mine, and it ended up claiming my chance at the podium. I was able to salvage some good points for the championship, and there are two more points paying rounds than last year, so anything is possible. I know we have the speed to run at the front and I’m very capable of racing for podiums and wins. I’m looking forward to riding during the week, putting down some laps, and working on what I know I need to improve. My Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki and I will be coming out swinging at San Diego.”
Eli Tomac: “After a great heat race, my KX450F got me off to an amazing start in the Main Event and I almost grabbed the holeshot. Overall, my speed was a little off of the pace of what it takes to win but I’m happy with my results. Considering how much time I had to take off riding, it was a successful weekend.”
Christian Craig: “I was feeling confident after practice. Got a holeshot in the heat and led for four laps. Cooper [Webb] passed me where a rider was down and yellow flags, I didn’t know you could pass through there, kind of a mistake on my part not knowing the rule. Ended up second. Went into the main and knew I could run top five or get on the podium. I ended up tangling out of the gate with someone. Made some quick passes, was going to pass [Joey] Savatgy and I clipped his front wheel. Pretty much ended my night, my wheel hit his footpeg and it broke a couple spokes in my front wheel, I had to pull into the mechanic’s area to get them pulled out. I went back out there and salvaged what I could. I’m healthy and looking forward to next weekend to show what I’ve got.”
Cooper Webb: “It was awesome! It was a picture perfect day from practice through the heats and the main event. It was a tough one. I actually had a good start, but Jessy [Nelson] got the holeshot and pulled away pretty quick. I knew it was going to be a hard one, but I just had to put my head down. I just did that and just came out strong in the end. I’m glad I could start it off on the right foot.”
Ken Roczen: “It was a very, very rough night for me. We started off in the heat race and I got cleaned out right away. My bike was just way too banged up to go on, so we had to get everything fixed to be ready for the semi. In the main, my start wasn’t that great. I was pretty far to the outside so that made it tough. On the restart after the red flag, I tried to cut to the inside and went down in the second turn so I had to come from dead last and pass guys one by one. I think it turned out to be a decent ride. We got up to fifth and salvaged some decent points. “It’s a big confidence builder for the whole team to come from dead last and finish fifth. Obviously, it’s not where we want to be but it is what it is for this night. Luck was definitely not on our side tonight so I’m glad to come out of here healthy. A lot of people crashed.
Weston Peick: “[Talking about fight with Vince Friese] “I was very emotional in the moment and I apologize for my actions,”
Zach Osborne: “Today was a good day for the whole team. It’s awesome for us to leave Anaheim 1 with Jason earning the red plate and me landing on the podium with third in the championship. I had good lap times all day. I went out and won my heat race, and rode a little conservative in the main event but still pulled off a podium so it’s been a great day.”
Broc Tickle: “All in all, it was pretty rough. I struggled throughout the day. I had a hard time getting comfortable and the track was awkward for me. As the day went on, I improved and ended up 11th in the main, so that’s not too bad. Obviously, not where I wanted to be so I’m looking forward to improving next week. I just need to work on some little things. I know where I belong. The way I’ve been riding during the week has been really good so I’m disappointed to finish 11th. We’re going to work on some stuff this week and hopefully that will help us be better for San Diego.”
Jordon Smith: “The night was pretty good. I started out really good in the first practice, but in the last practice I started making a few mistakes. I didn’t qualifying quite how I wanted to—ninth I think. In the heat race I got a really good jump out of the gate, and I almost went down in the first turn. I came back good. I rode a smart and smooth race to come back to fifth. I got a good start from the very inside gate in the main. I was running up front in third for a little over a third of the race I think. I was just a little nervous at the front and I ended up tucking the front end. I got up, tried to catch the guys in front of me and ended up 5th. Overall it was a good night and a good start to the season.”
Christophe Pourcel: “I was in a good position in the main, but the red flag wasn’t good for me. I ended up outside and didn’t get a good start. I know I have the speed, and Jason is riding good so I can learn from him, too. I’m going to keep pushing and will try to be in the top five.”
Mitchell Oldenburg: “I’m so happy to be back with such a great group of people [on the TLD team]. I was looking for a little better night, but getting out of the first round healthy is always a good goal to have, so I’m excited to line up next weekend in San Diego.”
Ryan Dungey: “I’m really happy to earn a 2nd place result here at Anaheim. I had a small tip over that cost me tonight but to charge back into a podium spot is a good way to end the first round. I was able to earn some valuable points in the championship and I am very satisfied with this result.”
Jimmy Decotis: “Yeah, that was a career best [talking about his 4th place in the main event]. Normally I would be stoked as a privateer, but it’s one spot off of where we want to be now. My lap times were good, though. Only a second off of Coop [Cooper Webb] and [Jessy] Nelson and I was the third best guy in that main event. It’s something to build on. Coming into this race on Wednesday we were still contemplating on whether I should do east or west, and I didn’t feel I was all the way ready. I guess I pulled it through.”
Wil Hahn: “The day was full of jitters. I’m excited to start racing again but after injuring myself at this race last year, I was definitely nervous. Unfortunately my nerves affected my racing, but our goal was keep the bike on two wheels and finish strong, which is exactly what we did. I can’t complain as my new 2016 KX450F was better than ever, and I am happy to be going to round two.”
Cole Seely: “On the restart I got off to a great start and felt awesome out there until about the halfway point. But this is a great way to start the season and if you had told me yesterday that I would be on the podium today, with all this California rain, I would have been thrilled.”
Mitchell Harrison: “It was a hectic day. Timed qualifying went pretty good with an eleventh overall, which I think is good for me. In the first race I had a couple crashes, so I got that out of the way. In the first heat race, I got boggled up in the first corner. Someone was laying on me and then I went down again on the first lap. I had to go to the LCQ. I won the LCQ, so that was good. It was a big learning experience. In the main, I got kicked a little sideways and went down on the dragons back on the first lap. Other than that, I came back from last to eleventh and I had times running in the top five, so next week is going to be better.”
Marvin Musquin: “It was tough. It was hard to be smooth on the track. It was rutted and soft and the 450 was new to me. The 450 is a big change and I had some time on it, but not so much. Since I had surgery on my hand not a long time ago. I wish I could get better starts, but it was a weird start today. Overall, I’m in one piece, we learned some things and we’ll get better for the next time. We’re going to work hard next week again and I feel like I just want to get better every weekend.”
James Stewart: “[After qualifying] I’m encouraged by how I feel in the comeback. I’m excited, the whole team is excited and it’s great to be back in the competition.”
Mike Webb: “[Suzuki team manager on James Stewart] James came in ready to race,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Mike Webb. “Everything was going to plan, maybe even better than we expected. He was strong in timed qualifying, went out and qualified directly into the Main from his Heat race, had a great start in the final and then out of nowhere he ends up on the ground due to no fault of his own. It’s a real shame for all the work he put into this comeback, but I’m hopeful he’ll be able to bounce back soon and quickly put this behind him.”
Chris Alldredge: “I had a lot of ups and downs tonight. I ended practice tenth, which is definitely better than last year. In my heat race I pulled my first holeshot, which was a great feeling for me, and ended up coming home in second. In the Main Event, I had a good gate pick but a bad start and ended up going down three times with three different riders. I was able to work my way back through the pack to around tenth, I felt really good and my KX™250F was working really well. With a few laps to go I made a mistake and went over the bars in a rhythm section, and threw my race away. Not a spectacular night but I’m really happy with my riding and can build off it leading into San Diego.”
Justin Bogle: “My starts were really good, but I’m not really there speed-wise yet, so it was hectic. I learned a lot from those guys. Main event was just tough, I got shuffled back pretty quickly. Coming in, the way I came in, whatever, I’ve been here before starting the season off with injuries, it’s not an excuse, but I haven’t done a twenty lapper in months. So, here goes the roller coaster. The good news is, we’ll do it again next weekend.”
Jessy Nelson: “[On just missing two wins in a row at A1] It would cool, but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about getting good points and trying to get the west coast title. I’m doing everything I can. This week was kind of rough coming into it with not riding. I struggled with the track. I really didn’t put any good laps in. I kind of just rode around. It’s always good to start the season on the podium and have a good base to move forward with. It felt good to be out front again and hopefully we can make the lead stick until the checkers next weekend in San Diego.”
Kyle Peters: “Yeah, it’s not where I want to be, but we’ll definitely take it for the day I’ve had. In the first qualifying practice I ended up on the ground three different times, and I broke some ribs in the process. We made the best of it and got through the night somewhat healthy. On to San Diego. ”
