Photos by: Hoppenworld
Round number two of the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, headed to San Diego, California’s Petco Park and HRC / Honda’s Ken Roczen and Troy Lee Designs / KTM’s Shane McElrath both made it two in a row. San Diego may have had the same winners, but this was a very different night.
In Anaheim last week, Roczen looked unstoppable, and in contrast to that, at round two Red Bull / KTM’s Ryan Dungey was passed by the #94 and stayed glued to his rear wheel for all of the record 24 laps. At the end of the day, the podium was once again Roczen on top with Dungey and Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin in second and third, but the fans left thinking that this 17-race championship had only just begun.
In the 250SX main event, Troy Lee Designs / KTM’s Shane McElrath backed up the first win of his career with yet another huge “W”. Shane came back from a mistake early in the race to pass his way to the lead and held off the charging Monster Energy / Pro Circuit / Kawasaki rider Justin Hill. Hill crossed the line in second, with Star Racing / Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger finishing with his second podium on the year.
Below, check out what some of the top finishing 250SX and 450SX riders had to say about their 2017 San Diego SX main events.
Ken Roczen: (1st in 450SX) “I wish I could of jumped into my suit real quick, but I didn’t have enough time. (laughs) It was an awesome race. I was third coming around the first turn and then found myself behind Ryan [Dungey]. I watched what he was doing and I got peppered pretty good from the roost and stuff. I was behind him and was able to make the pass by the mechanics area. I rode my own race. I knew it was going to be a tough one, just because the track broke down so much. I didn’t want to get ahead of my self. I rode conservative and really tried to hit my marks. I think I could of switched up my lines here and there, but sometimes with the track being this rough it could be a risk. You could end up taking a line that ends up worse. We just had to hit our marks and do all the rhythms at all times. Overall, though, I’m happier with how this weekend turned out over last weekend.”
Shane McElrath: (1st in 250SX) “That was a really tough race, but we train hard for moments like this. It’s not supposed to be easy and our team manager has been reminding us that we’ve put in the work to be right here. It was a really hard track and pretty demanding. There were a few times I felt like I was going to go down, but managed to keep it up. I am so happy to give this to my team two weeks in a row. I’m ready to go back to Anaheim and do what we can to keep it going next week.”
Ryan Dungey: (2nd in 450SX) “Nah, it’s good. We started out the day really nice and last weekend that wasn’t the case. We were trying this and trying that. I tried to really put my efforts into the track and it was nice having the fastest time going into the night show. I had a decent heat race, made a couple changes going into the main and I felt much better. We were pushing the pace. I was out front first, he got by and the pace stayed the same. It was going to be a fast pace until the end regardless. We all took the same lines and I don’t blame him ’cause I was in that line. I didn’t want to try anything different ’cause it was really rough. They didn’t have much time to do much maintenance [on the track] so the track was even more rough after the 250’s. A few things got changed, and a lapped rider in the way would make you venture off a little bit. I found a couple of good lines towards the end and I picked up on a few things. With Kenny out front I just tried to keep that pressure on him. I feel like I accomplished what I wanted to coming into this weekend. Stuff with the set up, a couple changes here and there, but minor really. I was happy with the weekend moving forward.”
Justin Hill: (2nd in 250SX) “I kind of got pinched off on the start. I think [Josh] Hansen hit the gate. Then [Jeremy] Martin jumped, I flinched and Justin [Hill] kind of came over on me. It was alright. I had to charge from like 10th or something. I had some great battles throughout the race. I ran it in (laughs) a little hard on Justin there. I tripled into a corner and I should of doubled. (laughs). It was one fun and one of the harder SX races I’ve raced. These guys rode great and they earned their spots.”
Marvin Musquin: (3rd in 450SX) “I was really happy about my start. I was trying to be really aggressive and pass Ryan [Dungey]. I went on the inside to double and it wasn’t the rhythm we were used to doing. I tried to jump on to the next table and I don’t know what happened but I thought I was going to crash. I was up in the air and all I could see was the sky. I was like “Oh my gosh.” I thought I was going to die. I don’t know how I didn’t crash. I rode through the big puddle and back on the track. Then I was like, “What are you doing?” I’m really glad to be on the podium. It was a good race. I was trying to keep up the pace with those guys [Roczen and Dungey] but at the end they were going really fast. I couldn’t do more and I just tried to save third place.”
Austin Forkner: (6th in 250SX) “We got a lot faster as the day went on. A few changes to the bike throughout the day lead to being able to loosen up and ride better. In the heat we got the holeshot and raced really hard for third. In the Main Event we had a great start but tangled with another rider and dropped back to eighth. I felt a little tight but made some solid passes and overall rode well. The lap times were competitive and we’re making progress, so we are happy so far.”
Josh Grant: (11th in 450SX) “The weekend isn’t exactly what we wanted, but there are still a lot of positives to take out of it. I went down in the first heat but bounced back with a solid second in my semi. In the Main Event I started 15th and worked hard to get up to 11th, which is really all the track would allow for. It was really difficult for anyone to make up a ton of time on this track.”
Jimmy Decotis: (6th in 250SX) “This weekend was a tough result. I’ve been riding really good and I feel my time is coming. I executed the main event start perfectly and laid down 8 solid laps, I felt smooth and comfortable out front just hitting my marks and staying focused. Around lap 10 I suffered from a pretty bad cramp in my stomach I think from eating too close to the main event. I also had a few mental errors that cost me big. It was my first time leading multiple laps and I struggled a bit at the half way mark. I think I showed myself and this industry that once I figure out my 15 minute motos I can be a threat. I always thought I could win but last night showed me deep down that I have the ability to win a main event. I was extremely bummed after that race and I really have to thank my crew at GEICO Honda for keeping me positive. I know what to take from this night and I’m looking forward to getting some redemption in these next couple weeks.”
Jason Anderson: (4th in 450SX) “For sure I’ve definitely heard about how crappy my starts have been lately a lot. It’s all good, but I’ve got to get it together. I got a holeshot in the heat race and was able to win that. In the main event I was pretty good, but I had Davi [Millsaps] on the inside of me that was a little bit a ahead of me and I had to chop the brakes. Once you’re in the middle of the pack, it’s wild back there. I saw my training teammate, Marvin [Musquin], almost have a loopout Larry moment out there in front of me. I made it through the first lap and through the pack, but I need to get it together and get out front and battle with those guys. We’re getting smoked right now.”
Jeremy Martin: (7th in 250SX) “Round 2 at Petco park in San Diego was a bit rough. Qualified third fastest after a big get off in practice. Struggled in the main event due to some mistakes I made on the opening lap! I was so cranked up to get the start, once Josh Hansen went and hit the starting gate it moved and I smashed it. That was a big mistake. Then later in the lap, I lost the front right before the triple. I sent it in trying to pass someone and lost the front when I landed. From there I put my head down and charged my way from last to 7th place on the night. Looking forward to Anaheim 2.”
Cole Seely: (5th in 450SX) “I’m just finding my groove with my starts right now. I got to a good start in the semi and in the main so I might of found something there. It’s always a bummer having to race the semi. But then again, you get to stay warm and see how the tracks developing so it’s not that bad. It’s a long year and my goal each race is to keep getting better,” said Seely. “I’m thankful that I was able to come away healthy after seeing a lot of people go down on this track.”
Martin Davalos: (4th in 250SX) “I took some positive things out of this race. It’s still kind of frustrating that I lost the race with a lap and a half to go, though. I made a mistake twice in the rhythm section and it allowed the guys behind me to catch up. It’s only the second race, but I just wanted to win so badly. Hopefully we get some good weather this week so I can get some solid training in. I’m looking forward to the next round.”
Eli Tomac: (6th in 450SX) “The day started off well,” said Tomac. “I had a great start in Heat 1 and lead for the majority of the race. My jump out of the gate in the main was great but I let off early and came around Turn 1 inside the top 10. I quickly made my way into the top five but just hit a wall around the halfway mark and lost my momentum. Overall we learned a lot tonight and it’s only the second race, lots more to come.”
Tyler Bowers: (11th in 250SX) “I definitely had more juice in the tank this weekend. I rode well in the heats and showed what I had for a few laps in the main when I was battling with some of those guys. Just need to work on holding that intensity and there’s no reason I can’t run up front like that. Definitely a good weekend to build on along with a lot of positives we can take into this coming week.”
Broc Tickle: (13th in 450SX) “There were a lot of positives. I made it out of the heat race directly into the main and that’s the first time I’ve done that since the series adopted the new format with timed races. The track was fun and I felt like I was flowing well. Unfortunately, I got a bad start in the main and I had my work cut out for me from there. I struggled a little bit with my lines and pulling it all together but those are things we’ll work on this week.”
Hayden Mellross: (9th in 250SX) “Mate, I feel good after that one. All day the bike was working great and I put together some solid laps in qualifying and was pushing myself in the heat. I didn’t back down and ended up hitting the deck, but it’s no big deal. A bit of a bummer being bumped off in the main, but I was happy with how I rode all the way until the end. I didn’t give up and was able to put in a career-best 9th.”
Justin Bogle: (10th in 450SX) “Overall, San Diego was better than the week before. We still have a lot of room to improve but practice was better and we qualified a lot better than we did at Anaheim (Calif.). We qualified for the main right out of the heat race, which was a big plus. Got in the main event and just got a bad start again. It’s tough to make it through with these guys when you start in 18th-place. We’ll do some work on starts. That’s been one of my strengths so I’m not too concerned. I’ll get it figured out. We’ll dial some things in, make a few minor adjustments and keep it moving. With a good start, I’m very confident I can be up front. We’ll keep trying to improve and come back with the intent of being better than the week before.”
Blake Baggett: (20th in 450SX) “Tonight wasn’t my night. I have the speed to race up front. We will make some changes and look forward to next weekend at A2 for a better finish.”
Davi Millsaps: (8th in 450SX) “It was a tricky night. I got the semi win, and it felt good to be up front. We are making progress and I’m ready for next weekend at A2.”
