The 2016 Monster Energy Supercross series closes its books on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
Ryan Dungey may or may not mail in his final race (likely not) since he secured back-to-back Championships, and his third overall, last week in East Rutherford. He won the final race last year with Championship in-hand so expect more of the same.
However, Dungey's points lead and expected title grab during the last few rounds hasn't deterred other riders from stepping up the pace and not only proving to be legitimate challengers but have beat Dungey outright.
Ken Roczen has a two-race win streak on the line and in that stretch looked unbeatable. He's a lock for second on the Championship podium so no matter what happens Jason Anderson can't catch him. Anderson fell off the podium the last two rounds after four straight and can bookend his season with wins if he crosses the checkers first for Round 17.
Ryan Dungey has the girl, the trophy and back-to-back Championships but can he get a career-high nine win season?
His hold on third for the season is pretty strong with a 23 point lead over Eli Tomac who is also riding hot the last two rounds, coming in second to Roczen, after a less than spectacular season. (Really not that bad considering he entered the year with two new shoulders, a new bike and a new team.) Tomac looks dialed in of late, easily bested Dungey and if the last two rides indicate anything, Tomac is ready to take hold of the Motocross season much like he did last year before getting hurt.
Ken Roczen rides a two-race win streak heading into the final round of Supercross
Veteran Chad Reed has six straight Top 10 finishes and another assures his place in fifth to end the season. He's got a 19 point lead on Marvin Musquin who would probably be fighting for third-place if not for a get-off at Santa Clara that reinjured his surgically repaired wrist. He posted his worst finish of the year at Santa Clara, stayed on the sidelines at Indianapolis and still wasn't right upon his return at St. Louis but has managed respectable finishes in the last two rounds taking 10th and seventh-place.
Cole Seely is back after a three round absence to heal a chipped vertebra. He started the season taking third in the first two rounds and another third in Las Vegas ends his season the same way. A solid ride could move him past Musquin in the standings for sixth-place if Musquin still isn't 100 percent.
Down but not out - Trey Canard ejected from his bike off a triple last week but climbed back on and will race Saturday
Justin Brayton and Trey Canard have a battle for eighth-place, if indeed one fights for eighth-place. The two were tied in points heading into last week's race in New Jersey and Brayton now holds a three-point edge. Canard's high-flying crash in practice ignited a host of memes and based on the footage he really was riding (or maybe flying?) with angels because he not only didn't get injured (surely it hurt) after a casing a jump with his body but got into the Main and finished eighth.
A win is a win so don't expect anyone to lay down in the 450 class however do expect some bar-banging in the 250 class when both the East and West coasts converge for a Saturday Night Showdown and yes points count.
12th place or better guarantees Cooper Webb the 250SX West Championship
The 250SX West last raced at Santa Clara with Cooper Webb taking the checkers and a 16 point edge over Joey Savatgy. This title could already be wrapped up if not for that malfunction on Webb's bike that ended his perfect season in Round 4 in Oakland. It also briefly put him out of first-place, but his title chances in doubt but subsequent second-place results, wins the last two rounds and a Savatgy crash at Arlington put the defending Champ back on top with a most opportune chance to repeat.
There's some talk that Webb has an ailing wrist after a recent practice crash so if true he's not 100 percent. But he only needs a 12th place to clinch the title, assuming a Savatgy win. Throw in the East class and that puts more of a wrench in Savatgy's plans to win then it does Webb's goal of 12th place. Christian Craig has an outside shot but needs a win and another mechanical failure on Webb's bike and for Savatgy to finish off the podium.
Will the dance continue for Malcolm Stewart in Las Vegas?
The East has Malcolm Stewart up by 14 points over Aaron Plessinger. Stewart's been mostly consistent this year except for a multi-crash contest at St. Louis where he still managed eighth-place and salvaged some points. Stewart needs a 10th place to get his first career Championship assuming Plessinger wins. Jeremy Martin also has an outside shot, a bit closer than Craig but he's also in a must-win (he's got two so it's not out of the question) situation plus help from Stewart to finish 14th and Plessinger to take third or worse.
The 2016 Supercross finale opens its doors at 12 p.m. (PST) with opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. (PST) and racing at 7 p.m. (PST) Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Buy tickets online or at the box office. FOX Sports 2 provides television coverage the first hour then switches to FOX Sports 1. Check out the track map:
2016 Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Dungey (366) - 2016 Supercross Champion
- Ken Roczen (330)
- Jason Anderson (293)
- Eli Tomac (270)
- Chad Reed (232)
- Marvin Musquin (213)
- Cole Seely (207)
- Justin Brayton (186)
- Trey Canard (183)
- Weston Peick (125)
250SX East Class Season Standings
- Malcolm Stewart (160)
- Aaron Plessinger (146)
- Jeremy Martin (141)
- Martin Davalos (130)
- Shane McElrath (109)
- Tyler Bowers (108)
- Gannon Audette (105)
- RJ Hampshire (99)
- Anthony Rodriguez (78)
- Matt Bisceglia (68)
250SX West Class Season Standings
- Cooper Webb (170)
- Joey Savatgy (154)
- Christian Craig (147)
- Zach Osbourne (132)
- Colt Nichols (132)
- Mitchell Oldenburg (113)
- James Decotis (109)
- Kyle Peters (100)
- Kyle Cunningham (78)
- Jordon Smith (77)
