Ryan Dungey got his first ever Daytona win last week now he's looking for another career-first: three-straight victories if he can pull off the checkered flag on Saturday at Indianapolis.
Dungey heads into Round 11 of the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross series as the heavy favorite. He's dominating the field, he won at Indy last year and by many accounts he's never ridden better. If he can repeat on Saturday history favors Dungey as the Champion. Only once since 2003 has the rider leading in points after Round 11 not gone on to win the Championship - Chad Reed led James Stewart by eight and lost by four in 2009.
All he has to do is stay healthy. Just ask Ken Roczen.
Roczen led by 12 points after Round 3 and hasn't been the same since a crash in Oakland. He tweaked an already injured ankle during practice at Daytona which left him out of the night show and reports indicate he'll miss even more time which ends any chance of the 2014 Motocross Champion bringing home the 2015 Supercross crown.
Dungey's 40 point lead over Trey Canard isn't insurmountable but even he finishes in third-place for the rest of the season, he still takes the title with Canard winning out. Dungey has not finished lower than fourth-place which happened once in Round 1. He's been on the podium ever since.
The rest of the season could very well be a showdown for second and third place on the Championship podium. Canard had a rough start at Daytona crashing in the first turn, remounting in 21st and finishing sixth! His speed keeps him in the hunt and on Dungey's tail, but unless Dungey hits the dirt a few times and finishes out of the Top 10, Canard's fight is to fend off a rapidly approaching Eli Tomac who has finished in second-place the last two weeks and if not for two one point round, Tomac would be in second.
If Roczen is indeed out for a few rounds, which could perhaps mean the rest of the season so he can get ready to defend his Motocross title, Chad Reed and Jason Anderson are in the hunt for not only Top 5 finishes but even the final podium. After Round 3, Reed was in 15th place, 50 points behind Roczen, he's now in fifth, tied in points with Anderson and likely to pass Roczen for fourth on Saturday.
All things remaining the same, Anderson should be a lock for Rookie of the Year as he has yet to finish out of the Top 10. Dungey is the only other rider to accomplish that feat this year. However, Blake Baggett got a career-high third-place at Daytona and is within five points of Anderson and Reed. Cole Seely, runner-up to Anderson's 2014 250SX West Championship is also in the mix, with a second-place finish at A3 and is just two points behind Anderson.
Jimmy Albertson hungry for a Top 15 finish
On the home front, Jimmy Albertson took 16th place for the fourth time this year, it was his second straight main and fifth in the last six. He's in 22nd place 14 points back from the idle Brett Metcalfe and Albertson seems intent on finishing inside the Top 15 this season.
"It's definitely attainable for me to get inside the Top 15," Albertson said. "The first of the season I don't think I was riding as well but the last three rounds I've been riding a lot better. I need to stay off the ground and ride a little more consistent."
Consistency lifting Nick Wey up the point standings
Nick Wey brought home his third Top 15 of the season at Daytona and fifth straight Main. He struggled at the beginning of the season but seems to have found his way, or is it wey? Either way, the veteran rider has stepped it up in what is likely his final season.
In the 250 East class, Marvin Musquin is about as unstoppable as Dungey but he's certainly catchable. It might be Round 11 for the 450 class but only Round 5 for the 250 East. Musquin has three wins and a second place for a 12 point lead in the standings. Fighting to catch him is last year's 250 class Motocross Champion Jeremy Martin who has three straight podiums, (1-2-3) respectively, and Justin Bogle, the defending 250SX East Champion has been on the podium every round but still looking for a win. Joey Savatgy is further back in fourth with 72 points and the rest of the field is quickly losing any chance at a final podium.
Kyle Peters inside the Top 10 for points
As for MotoSport riders, Kyle Peters had his best ride of the season at Daytona finishing in seventh, his second Top 10 and fourth Top 15, all of which put him in ninth place overall. Colt Nichols, Peters' teammate on the MotoSport.com/GPI/Honda Racing team finished in 15th at Daytona and is in 16th place in the standings.
Mitchell Oldenburg trying for second straight Top 10 finish
Mitchell Oldenburg, who rides with Albertson on the Arma Energy/MotoSport.com/Yamaha team, also had his best race of the season at Daytona finishing ninth. Despite missing Atlanta 2 because of a concussion and a one point race to start the season, Oldenburg is 15th in the standings.
Supercross Round 11 starts with practice at 12 p.m. (EST) and the Main event at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Buy tickets online, at local retail outlets, or at the box office, 500 S. Capitol Ave. in Indianapolis, IN.
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Dungey (224)
- Trey Canard (184)
- Eli Tomac (159)
- Ken Roczen (156)
- Chad Reed (140)
- Jason Anderson (140)
- Cole Seely (138)
- Blake Baggett (135)
- Andrew Short (109)
- Broc Tickle (107)
250SX East Class Season Standings
- Marvin Musquin (97)
- Jeremy Martin (85)
- Justin Bogle (84)
- Joey Savatgy (72)
- Martin Davalos (56)
- Rj Hampshire (54)
- Anthony Rodriguez (47)
- Vince Friese (46)
- Kyle Peters (43) - MotoSport rider
- James Decotis (42)
