Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey picked up his first podium finish of the 2015 season at Round 2 of the AMA Supercross on Saturday night at the Chase Field Stadium in Phoenix.
Dungey started the day well with a strong start in his 450SX heat and would go on to finish second to transfer to the Main Event with a great gate pick. His Red Bull KTM Factory team-mate, Dean Wilson was in the second heat and had a top five position for the first two laps before a crash spoilt his chances of an automatic advancement to the Main. Wilson then went on to claim his slot via the semi-final where he finished second.
Dungey started strongly in the Main and fought it out with Eli Tomac for holeshot honours. But a couple of mistakes in the first lap dropped him down to fourth place when he settled for the first half of the race. He then applied pressure on Weston Peick in third and made his pass stick with three laps to go.
Dungey then went after Ken Roczen in second place but ran out of available laps to allow him to steal second place. His podium at the Phoenix Supercross was his first of the current season and Dungey is now second in the overall point standings.
“This wasn’t a bad result,” stated Dungey. “But I definitely want better. I’m glad to be on the podium and am looking to keep this momentum going into the race next weekend.”
British pilot, Wilson earned a top 10 start in the Main and was sitting sixth at the midway point before arm pump caused him to drop back in the rankings. He went on to finish 17th.
250SX West
Phoenix also hosted Round 2 of the 250SX class West Coast competition, which saw Jessy Nelson, riding for Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/ KTM pick up a podium third to remain in the points lead by six points.
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Justin Hill finished sixth overall after winning his heat to advance to the Main Event with the top gate pick. He was back at 17th place at the start of the Main but quickly moved up to 13th in the opening lap. By the halfway point Hill had moved up to seventh and went on to finish the race in sixth place.
“Overall, I was hoping to be in podium contention tonight,” Hill said. “I struggled with a head cold earlier this week and it affected my riding tonight. I am hoping to feel 100 per cent this next week and come back stronger for the next Anaheim event.”
