Ryan Dungey saw his moto win streak come to an end today but his overall win streak is still going strong after the Red Bull KTM rider trounced the field in the tie-breaking second moto at the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship round at Washougal MX Park in Washougal, Washington.
Ryan Dungey
Dungey’s 10-moto win streak came to an end at the hands of MotoConcepts Suzuki rider Mike Alessi in the first moto, and Alessi certainly earned it.
Alessi nailed the holeshot in the first 450 moto and led it the whole way but it wasn’t easy.
After having to pass a few riders right after the start, Dungey settled into second place and slowly reeled in the Suzuki rider. He followed Alessi around for a number of laps before sliding out and giving Alessi a substantial lead, but Dungey wasted no time reeling Alessi back in again. But, but that time, the race was well into the second half. Although Dungey certainly had his chances, he simply could not get around the Suzuki rider who protected his lines in every turn and over every jump.
Alessi never gave up and managed to hold Dungey off to take the win, his first of the season. He is the only rider other than Dungey and James Stewart to win a moto in the 450 class this season.
“This is something I really wanted [a moto win],” said Alessi. “I was doing my best to protect the inside lines. I knew if he was going to pass me, he’d have to do it on the outside, so I held tight on the inside.”
The win was the first for Alessi’s MotoConcepts team, which is based in Spokane, Washington.
“Nobody believed in the team or me,” said Alessi. “We were considered kind of the underdog, so it’s nice to get the win.”
In the deciding second moto, Dungey managed to grab the all-important holeshot and obviously wanted no part of Alessi and ran off with the win, unchallenged.
Dungey chases Alessi.
Alessi ran second the whole way, unable to mount any kind of attack on Dungey. Alessi admitted that he didn’t have the speed to win both motos. “That is something I have to work on, but I know what it feels like to win again, so that will help.”
Duney’s 2-1 gave him his sixth overall win of the season, while Alessi’s 1-2 gave him second overall.
Andrew Short joined Dungey and Alessi on the podium after all was said and done. The Chaparral Honda rider made use of good starts and ran consistently all day, going 4-3 for third overall.
Fourth overall went to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer with a 3-4, edging out Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle and his 6-4.
Honda Muscle Milk’s Tommy Hahn finished sixth overall with a 7-7, while Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki’s Kyle Chisholm (8-10), Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Christian Craig (10-9), Peick Racing’s Weston Peick (9-11) and Jeff Ward Racing’s Josh Grant (17-6) rounded out the top 10 overall.
Dungey enjoys a commanding lead in the championship. He’s a full 80 points ahead of Alessi with four rounds to go.
Weimer sits comfortably in third, 33 points clear of fourth place Short.
Josh Hill, who hasn’t raced an outdoor National in almost exactly two years, made his return to racing at Washougal and finished 22nd overall after going 28-19 on the Hart & Huntington Kawasaki.
There were quite a few prominent off-road racers in the field, such as Robby Bell, Colton Udall and Kevin Rookstool. Rookstool, who is certainly not new to motocross, had the best result, going 16-13 for 15th overall. Bell went 18-26 for 21st overall, and Udall went 23-22 for 25th overall.
RESULTS
450 OVERALL
1. Ryan Dungey (KTM) 2-1
2. Mike Alessi (Suz) 1-2
3. Andrew Short (Hon) 4-3
4. Jake Weimer (Kaw) 3-5
5. Broc Tickle (Kaw) 6-4
6. Tommy Hahn (Hon) 7-7
7. Kyle Chisholm (Kaw) 8-10
8. Christian Craig (Hon) 10-9
9. Weston Peick (Suz) 9-11
10. Justin Brayton (Hon) 5-36
