Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey took first blood on his RM-Z250 at the opening round of the AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship at Angel Stadium, Anaheim in California on Saturday night.
In an event hit by poor weather, 'Lites' class rider Dungey started in third, dropped to fourth and then took the lead on the eighth of 15 laps after a tough fight with Yamaha's Jason Lawrence.
He said: "It was definitely a great night and I put it together. I got slammed early on and dropped back to fourth but I took my time; was patient, and got back to the front just after the halfway stage."
In the Supercross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Mike Alessi had a successful debut in both the class and on the new Suzuki RM-Z450. After winning the last chance qualifier, Alessi got a good start in the main event and was racing for a podium spot. Focusing on finishing in less-than-stellar conditions, however, Alessi backed off and rode a smooth race, maintaining a strong sixth-place position until the race's end.
Team mate David Vuillemin also put in a smooth and consistent ride getting a good start and running in the top-10 for the entire 20 laps before finishing in 10th position.
Ryan Dungey
"It was a good race and definitely a great night. The whole Rockstar Makita Suzuki team prepared so much for this race. And the Suzuki RM-Z250 was working awesome - we were able to put it all together and come out on top. I was able to take my time and was patient and just let the race come to me so I could put in some good laps. Winning this race, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It's so good to just be racing again and I'm pumped to get the win."
Mike Alessi
"This first Supercross was a learning experience for me. It was pretty muddy this weekend but we tried to take the good with the bad and make the best of the situation. The bike was awesome and I got a great start and was in third when a few guys got around me. I was having a good race in fifth and riding a smooth pace because I didn't want to make any mistakes and fall. But with about four laps to go, I saw somebody coming up on me and I tried to put up a fight but I realized I was riding a little hard and I didn't want to ride over my head and crash. So I settled for sixth and now I'm just looking forward to next week's race at Phoenix."
David Vuillemin
"I haven't raced in five months so I was kind of rusty. And with the mud, we only had one practice and went straight to the race. My plan was to ride safe and smooth and not take any chances, especially with the weather being kind of sketchy. In the main event I made a few mistakes and some guys got past me, but overall I am satisfied. The bike was really strong and consistent and the team was great. I want to do better and I know I can do better; I'm just rusty from not racing. Now I'm just looking to build from here with better results."
Supercross Results
- Chad Reed (Yamaha)
- James Stewart (Kawasaki)
- Tim Ferry (Kawasaki)
- Grant Langston (Yamaha)
- Kevin Windham (Honda)
- Mike Alessi (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
- Davy Millsaps (Honda)
- Andrew Short (Honda)
- Nick Wey (KTM)
- David Vuillemin (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
Points (after 1 round)
- Reed 25
- Stewart 22
- Ferry 20
- Langston 18
- Windham 16
- Alessi 15
- Millsaps 14
- Short 13
- Wey 12
- Vuillemin 11
Lites Results
- Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
- Jason Lawrence (Yamaha)
- Justin Brayton (KTM)
- Daniel Reardon (Honda)
- Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki)
- Thomas Hahn (Kawasaki)
- Gavin Gracyk (Honda)
- Andrew McFarlane (Kawasaki)
- Chris Blose (Suzuki)
- Wil Hahn (Yamaha)
Points (after 1 round)
- Dungey 25
- Lawrence 22
- Brayton 20
- Reardon 18
- Stroupe 16
- Hahn 15
- Gracyk 14
- McFarlane 13
- Blose 12
- Hahn 11
