Rookie winner Roczen gunning for more supercross success

Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen began his rookie Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship on a high note last Saturday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim with a big win. This Saturday night, Roczen brings the momentum and the points lead to Phoenix’s Chase Field.

Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson used a last-lap pass to become the winner of the opening race of the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 45,050 at Angel Stadium the first race of 2014 season left a lasting impression with an exciting night of competition in both the 450SX and 250SX Classes. At the end of a night full of anticipation for the season ahead, it was Roczen and Anderson who emerged victorious and control the early championship battles heading into the desert.

It was reigning three-time 450SX Class Champion Ryan Villopoto who set the tone early last Satuday night when the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider grabbed the lead out of the gate and led the first eight laps of the 20-lap Main Event comfortably. However, on lap eight Villopoto lost traction in a turn and went down, handing the lead to Roczen and dropping him to fifth.

Roczen paced the field for the remainder of the Main Event, but was challenged for the lead by Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart on lap 15. Stewart attempted to pass Roczen in the whoops but lost control of his bike and suffered a crash that took him out of competition. Roczen’s victory was the first of his 450SX Class career and was made even more significant for KTM when fellow Red Bull KTM rider Ryan Dungey made a late pass on Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed to give the brand a 1-2 finish. Villopoto rebounded to finish fourth.

“This is insane,” said Roczen on the podium. “I got off to a good start and was holding on really tight. When there were four laps to go, I realized that I could win.”

Anderson capped of a dominant evening for KTM in the first race of the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship. After taking the lead to start the 15-lap Main Event, Anderson was immediately challenged by Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely. The former race winners did battle before Seely took over the top spot on Lap 3. He maintained a comfortable margin on Anderson until the late stages of the race until Anderson made a final run that was capped off with an aggressive inside move on the final lap with two turns remaining. It was Anderson’s second career win and his second win in the last three races.

“The pass was [risky] on Cole (Seely),” said Anderson on the podium. “I didn’t want to be dirty but I had to put it in there, and I am glad it worked. I look forward to riding into Phoenix with the red number-one plate. This is only my second career win, so it is big for me.”

GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne rounded out the podium.

This weekend will mark the 16th time the gate has dropped for a 450SX Class race in Phoenix. An average of 44,430 fans have come out each year to see the sport’s greatest battle it out for their division’s prestigious championship titles at Chase Field. Stewart holds the record for most wins in the 250SX Class in Phoenix, and is tied with Ricky Carmichael for the most wins in the 450SX Class with four inside Chase Field.

During the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross stop in Phoenix, Honda/Muscle Milk’s rookie Justin Barcia captured the first 450SX Class win of his career in front of 50,109 fans. GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac won his second consecutive Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event.

The first race held at Chase Field was January 23, 1999, and Jeremy McGrath won the 450SX Class and Nathan Ramsey won the 250SX Class. Carmichael and Stewart are tied on the all-time win list in Phoenix at four in the 450SX Class. Stewart and Jake Weimer hold the record for most wins in Phoenix for the 250SX Class at two. Stewart and Dungey are the only riders to win both classes in Phoenix.

2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross – Anaheim results

2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross – Phoenix results

Past Winners in Phoenix