As the AMA Supercross season comes to a close, the remaining group of top riders are scrambling for the FIM Championship’s second place slot. Ryan Villopoto secured the championship title back in Round 13, leaving second and third to riders such as Ryan Dungey, David Millsaps, Justin Brayton, and Jake Weimer.
In Round 16 at the Rice-Eccles Stadium of Salt Lake City, Utah, it was Ryan Dungey that stepped up to take the win, making a stupendous comeback in only his second race after sitting out five due to a collarbone injury.
Heat 1
Jake Weimer (Monster Energy Kawasaki) blasted out of the gate to pick up the holeshot award and kept up the pace throughout the heat. Just behind him, Andrew Short (Honda) kept the pressure on, but never managed to take the lead. A little further back, Broc Tickle (Kawasaki) and Mike Alessi (Suzuki) battled it out for third, with Tickle eventually making the move on Alessi to swoop it up.
Heat 2
Heat 2 was a close race between Dungey (Red Bull KTM), Millsaps (Yamaha), and Brayton (Honda Muscle Milk). Dungey seemed to have the holeshot on lock, but Brayton caught up to him in the first rhythm section and cut a nice line under him through the turn. Before too long, Millsaps passed Dungey and set his sights on Brayton. Millsaps would go on to make the pass on Brayton in the sixth lap and hold the position for the remainder of the race. Brayton never fell too far behind and took second, with Dungey coming in third.
Main Event
The 20 lap main event saw Millsaps take an early lead over Weimer and Dungey. The latter two rode each other hard for second place until the midway point when Weimer stuffed Dungey on a turn, knocking him off his bike before taking off through the whoops. Dungey recovered quickly and appeared more determined than ever to win the race.
By Lap 15, Dungey caught up to Weimer and passed him as he closed in on Millsaps. In the second to last lap, Dungey came upon his chance to pass Millsaps when the unfortunate Yamaha rider got caught up in some lappers. After this amazing comeback, Dungey rode his way into first as the crowd went wild. Millsaps and Weimer both made it to the podium, while Brayton and Alessi took fourth and fifth respectively.
Dungey’s win in Utah was his third of the season, placing him fourth in the overall standings with 232 points, just five points behind Brayton at 237. Meanwhile, Millsaps has claimed the number two position with 244.
Western Regional Supercross Lites ClassM
In the 250 class Main Event, Jason Anderson (Rockstar Suzuki) picked up the Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot award, leading Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) and Dean Wilson (Kawasaki) through the first lap. Wilson soon overtook Musquin for second while Eli Tomac (Honda) worked his way into third.
Tomac continued to charge hard, quickly overtaking Wilson and then snatching up first from Anderson in Lap 10. In Lap 12, Wilson slammed hard and retired from the race which allowed Tomac to score enough points to earn the championship title. Meanwhile, Anderson and teammate, Martin Davalos, claimed their best career finishes in second and third.
Supercross Round 16 Results
- Ryan Dungey (KTM)
- Davi Millsaps (Yam)
- Jake Weimer (Kaw)
- Justin Brayton (Hon)
- Mike Alessi (Suz)
- Broc Tickle (Kaw)
- Andrew Short (Hon)
- Josh Grant (Kaw)
- Robert Kiniry (Kaw)
- Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
- Matt Goerke (Suz)
- Weston Peick (Yam)
- Nick Wey (Kaw)
- Gavin Faith (Yam)
- Jason Thomas (Suz)
- Chris Blose (Kaw)
- Kyle Chisholm (Kaw)
- Jimmy Albertson (Suz)
- Kyle Regal (Kaw)
- Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Official Points Standings
- Ryan Villopoto (323)
- David Millsaps (244)
- Justin Brayton (237)
- Ryan Dungey (232)
- Jake Weimer (211)
- Mike Alessi (192)
- James Stewart (178)
- Brett Metcalfe (174)
- Kevin Windham (166)
- Brock Tickle (161)
