Different bike same result for Ken Roczen.
Roczen became the fourth rider since 2000 to take back-to-back season opening Supercross wins with his dominating Round 1 performance on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim to start the 2015 season.
Roczen, who traded in last year's KTM for a Suzuki, sped past holeshot winner Mike Alessi and had little trouble fending off the 2014 Western Region Champion Jason Anderson who looked impressive in his rookie start on a Husqvarna in the 450 class by taking second. Trey Canard grabbed the third spot by Lap 9 of the 20 lap race and rounded out the podium.
"Everything has been awesome with the team and it's good to get first win out of the way, both for myself and for them," said Roczen, the 2014 Motocross Champion. "There are a lot of good guys out there so I'll need to stay consistent. It's good to come out of here healthy and we'll just keep the ball rolling."
Jimmy Albertson missed out on the main event at Anaheim 1
MotoSport sponsored riders, at least in the 450 class, had a rough time to start the new year as Jimmy Albertson finished sixth in the LCQ, not high enough to qualify for the Main, and Fredrik Noren took the dreaded DNF, also in the LCQ. Both riders faced some of the stiffest competition to ever line up at the gates for Supercross.
The 2015 Supercross season did not start without some controversy as the FIM, just a few weeks ago, gave James Stewart a retroactive 16-month suspension for failing a drug test in April at Seattle Supercross. Four-time defending Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto is also out this year as he finishes his career overseas in the MXGPs.
Fredrik Noren didn't finish the LCQ
Though two of the strongest competitors and most popular riders stayed at home, fans still filled Angel Stadium to cheer on the likes of Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, Broc Tickle, Davi Millsaps and Eli Tomac, among others. Dungey, runner-up to Villopoto's Championship season last year took fourth at A1 while the much anticipated return of Millsaps, who won the Monster Cup in October after more than a year and a half away from racing, took 19th after crashing twice. Tomac, who won two Supercross events in Europe during the off-season also fell twice and settled on 20th place.
Josh Hansen placed thie highest of all MotoSport-sponsored riders
In the 250 Western Region, Jessy Nelson captured the holeshot as well as his first career victory after leading the field for all 15 Main event laps. Zach Osborne grabbed second and four-time Arenacross Champion Tyler Bowers took third.
MotoSport rider Josh Hansen fared well in his return to Supercross taking second place in Heat 1 and ninth in the Main. Veteran Tommy Hahn worked his way to a 14th place finish after starting 20th in the Main.
Tommy Hahn took 14th in the 250 class
Supercross heads to the desert for Round 2 on Saturday at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. Buy tickets online or at the box office, 401 Jefferson in Phoenix. Practice starts at 12 p.m. (PST) and gates drop at 6:30 p.m. (PST) for the Main event.
2015 Monster Energy Supercross Anaheim 1 Results
Anaheim 1 Supercross 450SX Class Results
- Ken Roczen
- Jason Anderson
- Trey Canard
- Ryan Dungey
- Andrew Short
- Justin Barcia
- Weston Peick
- Broc Tickle
- Mike Alessi
- Chad Reed
Anaheim 1 Supercross 250SX Class Results
- Jessy Nelson
- Zach Osborne
- Tyler Bowers
- Justin Hill
- Aaron Plessinger
- Shane McElrath
- Cooper Webb
- Alex Martin
- Josh Hansen
- Michael Leib
2015 Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ken Roczen (25)
- Jason Anderson (22)
- Trey Canard (20)
- Ryan Dungey (18)
- Andrew Short (16)
- Justin Barcia (15)
- Weston Peick (14)
- Broc Tickle (13)
- Mike Alessi (12)
- Chad Reed (11)
250SX Class Season Standings
- Justin Nelson (25)
- Zach Osborne (22)
- Tyler Bowers (20)
- Justin Hill (18)
- Aaron Plessinger (16)
- Shane McElrath (15)
- Cooper Webb (14)
- Alex Martin (13)
- Josh Hansen (12)
- Michael Leib (11)
