Monster Energy AMA Supercross meets for the second of three times this weekend at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., for Round 3.
After only two races, Anaheim I and Phoenix, there were two different winners and a major racer that will miss out the next couple of races due to injury. Defending champion San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart took the season opener at Anaheim I, and the SX rookie Ryan Dungey on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki grabbed the Phoenix win, not being challenged once at the 450-main event.
And who can forget the accident at Phoenix between rivals Stewart and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chad Reed? The crash, which may become the most famous of the season, left Reed with a broken left hand that led to surgery; the Number 22 rider will be out for up to six weeks.
After last week’s Phoenix win, Dungey took the nine-point lead in the championship over Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto. Dungey’s dominating performance made him the 53rd rider to take his first-ever main event win at Chase Field.
“I'm going to put in a good week of practice this week and work on what we've got to,” Dungey said. “We’re going to show up to Anaheim 2 ready. Getting the win in Phoenix was great, to get a win was cool, but Roger DeCoster always tells me ‘You’re only as good as your last race.’ So, I’m going to keep pushing.”
The tumultuous weather in California will also have much to do with the outcome of the race. The track crew is keeping things dry by covering each section of the track as they complete it for Sunday’s action, but depending on wather, the track can be perfect or a complete mud race.
In the AMA Supercross Lites West Championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer is looking for his third win of the season after winning the first two rounds. Weimer has won three of the last four Lites-class races in Anaheim.
The AMA Supercross class will air on CBS Sports at 1 p.m. (EST) Sunday, Jan. 24, and the AMA Supercross Lites class will air on SPEED at 10 p.m. (EST) Sunday.
For up-to-season results and standings, click here.
