Jean Turner | February 27, 2016
Ryan Dungey won yet again, but it was anything but business as usual in the 450SX class in Atlanta, Georgia for round eight of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Dungey managed to nab the win, but only after his Red Bull Factory KTM teammate Marvin Musquin led 19 and a half of the 20 laps in the main.
Musquin got out to a great start, and finally had the clear track he had been waiting for all season. Musquin proceeded to run away with the lead with Dungey in tow, and through putting together some creative lines and great rhythms through the complicated Georgia Dome track, Musquin was able to keep a good grasp on the lead.
Ryan Dungey (center) celebrates a bittersweet win alongside his teammate Marvin Musquin (left) and Chad Reed (right). Photography by Hoppenworld
Dungey pulled up on his teammate multiple times, but he never made any aggressive moves. It appeared Musquin was headed for his career-first win… but just after the white flag came out, the KTM duo soon came up on lapped rider James Stewart, who appeared not to heed the blue flag that was waving alongside the white one. Stewart continued his way in the main line, making no attempt to get out of the way for the leaders, and as a result, Musquin was caught off guard and didn’t get a good drive out of the turn. He came up a little short as he attempted to triple out of the corner, which sent him bobbling and swapping through the rest of the straight. Stewart sailed up the inside, and meanwhile Dungey was barely able to stay clear of Musquin, who fumbled his way off the side of the track. Fortunately he was able to keep the bike upright and complete the rest of the lap, but he couldn’t stop Dungey from taking the win.
Second place marked a career-best for Musquin. The Frenchman showed a lot of class on the podium, commenting that he was happy with his night and called it a good race but he couldn’t help but find a sour note in his podium finish.
“James Stewart was in the way and I just got so scared of him. I just went sideways because I heard him coming,” Musquin explained. “He was a lap down and I’m really mad right now because I feel like the win was for me. Even with that mistake, it was still a great race and I’m happy for the team. Second is my best result ever.”
His teammate Dungey agreed, calling it a bittersweet win.
“A win’s a win, but I really feel for Marvin right now, man. He rode his heart out,” Dungey said. “He rode an amazing race and at the end I’m so glad we didn’t connect because it was so close – a little too close. I’m glad Marvin didn’t go down and he was able to recover and get second but that guy’s the winner tonight. He rode amazing.”
Factory Yamaha’s Chad Reed rode an impressive – albeit somewhat lonely – race to round out the podium in third. It was a marked improvement for Reed, who hadn’t been on the podium since round three at Anaheim 2. Reed managed to get his results back on track following his 12th place finish in Arlington, and some misfortune from riders such as Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen and Cole Seely might have also helped a little.
Roczen got buried off the start, and had his work cut out for him simply reaching the top-10. Sixth place is all he would salvage in Atlanta.
Anderson was an early top-five runner in the main event, battling with Justin Brayton for fourth, but Anderson made a block pass on Cole Seely and the two made contact which sent them both to the ground. Anderson would make his way back into seventh while Seely only salvaged a tenth-place finish.
Atlanta Supercross 450SX Main Event Results
- Ryan Dungey (KTM)
- Marvin Musquin (KTM)
- Chad Reed (Yam)
- Davi Millsaps (KTM)
- Justin Brayton (KTM)
- Ken Roczen (Suz)
- Jason Anderson (Hus)
- Justin Bogle (Hon)
- Christophe Pourcel (Hus)
- Cole Seely (Hon)
