So, looks like Ryan Dungey is your 2015 Monster Energy Supercross Champion.
Well, not yet. But probably next week in Houston after the break. Certainly on April 18 in Seattle, I mean, Santa Clara.
It doesn't look like Dungey is going to hold back either and just finish. He blazed out front last week in St. Louis and won his sixth of the season. Now he needs just six points to finish off Eli Tomac for the title. Dungey holds an 80 point advantage over Tomac who moved into second-place for points, ahead of the injured Trey Canard. Four rounds remain with 100 points on the line and after Houston next week, 75 points remain. A win by Tomac and a third-place result by Dungey narrows the margin to 75 giving Dungey three races to get a one point advantage over Tomac.
Instead of pondering what-if scenarios like Dungey getting hurt a la Canard in the next week, and if he did, wouldn't he at least return for Las Vegas and just try and qualify and get a point? Besides Tomac would need to win out and with Ken Roczen coming back, Cole Seely tearing it up and even Davi Millsaps surging it's not a given Tomac could win four straight or at last three wins and a second-place finish.
Let's give the title to Dungey and figure out the rest of the field.
Tomac is looking like second-place but he isn't a lock either. Though based on his recent success, four podiums in the last five races, after the next round or two it'll become clear if he's the 2015 runner-up. Canard is likely to slip out of the Top 5 leaving third-place up for grabs to a whole mess of riders.
The rookie Seely has Top 4 finishes in the last five rounds including a second- and third-place finish. He's now in the running for Rookie of the Year and a Championship podium appearance would solidify that honor for him. He's six points back from third-place, currently occupied by Canard. He's also got a nice cushion over Chad Reed who is in fifth-place, 15 points back from Seely.
Rookies Jason Anderson and Blake Baggett bring their 165 points to the table and while not insurmountable need solid racing and some luck to catch Reed and Seely. Up until Round 11, Anderson seemed the easy nod for ROY but a rough outing in Indianapolis and then a crash leaving him with a one point race in Detroit allowed Seely to pass him by and look to be the better candidate. Anderson started the year with 10 straight Top 10 finishes including an opening round second-place. He got back on track with a third-place last week and if he remains in podium form to close out the season he's got a shot at third-place and ROY. If you average out Anderson's races minus the two miscues and add those points into his total he's just four back from Seely. Baggett has only one podium but has kept it close because he's raced in every Main and finishing no lower than 15th along with 10 Top 10s.
The fight to finish in the Top 10 overall should also be interesting between Brock Tickle, Andrew Short and Davi MIllsaps. Short grabbed the holeshot in St. Louis but that was about all he did, crashing shortly after and leaving the Main. He's expected back next week but is stuck between both Tickle and Millsaps two riders who've turned it on in recent weeks. Tickle rides an eight straight Top 10 finish streak while Millsaps has four including two fifth-place results. In the last five rounds Tickle and Millsaps have recorded 68 points while Short just 43.
Can Nick Wey keep up the momentum and finish in the Top 15 to end his career?
MotoSport rider Nick Wey is posting the best results of the season which is expected to be his last in his long career. Wey enters the break with two 12th place finishes and is in 18th place with 57 points. He'll no doubt be eying a Top 15 finish which is doable especially since two riders in front of him are done for the season though Justin Barcia might be back for Round 14.
Cooper Webb should wrap up the 250SX West title in Houston
The 250SX West class resumes next week after a two month break and like Dungey, the crown is more or less Cooper Webb's who has a 30 point lead over Jessy Nelson with two rounds left. Nelson needs a win and Webb to finish fourth or lower to push a final showdown in Santa Clara. Nelson, Tyler Bowers and Zach Osborne are within four points of each other so the fight for the Championship podium could offer some of the most exciting racing of the season.
Don't be surprised to see Josh Hansen on the box in the final rounds
Shane McElrath started the break on a high note finishing second in San Diego and though he's in fifth place, he's just 20 points back from Nelson. MotoSport rider Josh Hansen seems bound and determined to step on the box before the season ends which he almost did last time out finishing a season best fourth-place. Hansen is in eighth-place, 25 points back from third-place and his riding continually improved the last four rounds so with two months off expect him to have made the necessary adjustments to compete with the Top 5.
Marvin Musquin just about has the 250SX East class Championship wrapped up
The 250SX East class gets a month off before Marvin Musquin holds the crown. He's got a 20 point lead over Justin Bogle and with just a round remaining unless he doesn't show up and get at least 16th place, he'll be the 250 East Champ. Bogle boasts an even larger lead for second and the defending 2014 East Champion will have to settle for runner-up this time out. Unless Jeremy Martin flubs getting into the Main like he did in Indianapolis he should hold on to third and Joey Savatgy, despite taking third the last two rounds will take fourth.
With some help and great riding, Kyle Peters can finish in the Top 5 for the 250SX East season
RJ Hampshire, Anthony Rodriguez and James Decotis are all tied with 84 points and taking fifth-place on the season sounds better than seventh so expect them to ride as if it were for the Championship. MotoSport rider Kyle Peters is in the mix just eight back from the aforementioned three. His teammate Colt Nichols won't be racing for a Top 10 in the finalpoint standings as his announced Thursday that he had torn the ACL in his knee. Nochols is done for the season and his availability for Motocross is in question.
Mitchell Oldenburg, a MotoSport rider with Jimmy Albertson's team, is in 14th place. He'll need the best race of his career and some help to reach the Top 10.
Practice for Supercross Round 14 starts at 12 p.m. (CST) April 11 at NRG Stadium. Buy tickets online or at the box office, One NRG Park in Houston, TX.
2015 Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Dungey (296)
- Eli Tomac (216)
- Trey Canard (204)
- Cole Seely (198)
- Chad Reed (183)
- Jason Anderson (165)
- Blake Baggett (165)
- Ken Roczen (156)
- Broc Tickle (146)
- Andrew Short (137)
250SX West Class Season Standings
- Cooper Webb (136)
- Jessy Nelson (106)
- Tyler Bowers (104)
- Zach Osborne (102)
- Shane McElrath (86)
- Aaron Plessinger (81)
- Justin Hill (79)
- Josh Hansen (79) - MotoSport rider
- Alex Martin (75)
- Malcolm Stewart (69)
250SX East Class Season Standings
- Marvin Musquin (169)
- Justin Bogle (149)
- Jeremy Martin (125)
- Joey Savatgy (113)
- RJ Hampshire (84)
- Anthony Rodriguez (84)
- Jimmy Decotis (84)
- Kyle Peters (76) - MotoSport rider
- Martin Davalos (63)
- Kyle Cunningham (60)
