Ryan Dungey gave KTM its third win of the year with an exciting finish at the Salt Lake City Supercross. Photography By: Hoppenworld.com
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, APRIL 28 – Davi Millsaps came within two laps of becoming the sixth different winner of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series after jumping into the early lead and keeping it there for the next 18 laps at the Salt Lake City Supercross in Utah. A bobble, however, by the Toyota/JGRMX Yamaha rider enabled Red Bull KTM Ryan Dungey to move in for the kill and capture his third win of the year.
It was an exciting race to say the least with Millsaps grabbing the holeshot and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer settling into second after dropping Dungey to third. Weimer and Dungey, who have had some get-togethers through out the year, went at it for a couple of corners until they came together again, with Weimer, this time, leaving Dungey on the ground on the eighth lap.
“I didn’t see [the pass] coming and that was my fault,” admitted Dungey. “My front wheel got a barrier in the corner and I went down. [After that] my focus was to run him down, and I did. I had a tough part of the middle of the season, and I knew I had the speed tonight. I just needed to be patient.”
Dungey got up quickly and charged back after Weimer, while Millsaps tried to maintain a small 2-3-second lead. Well past the halfway point, Dungey caught Weimer and made a clean pass on the Kawasaki rider who was hoping to get his first win tonight.
Dungey then went after Millsaps, who was getting held up by lappers, and was right behind him when Millsaps bobbled in a rhythm section, allowing the KTM rider to get past him. Dungey held on for the last two laps to take the win 1.4 seconds ahead of Millsaps and 6.8 seconds ahead of Weimer.
Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton finished well back in fourth, 13 seconds behind Weimer.
Fourth place went to MotoConcept’s Mike Alessi who started of in the same position, while Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle rounded out the top five, a season high for the Supercross-class rookie.
Last week’s winner Andrew Short, on the Chaparral-backed Honda, finished sixth, while Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki’s Josh Grant, Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s Robert Kiniry and Dodge/Hare & Huntington/Sycuan Casino Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers completed the top 10.
The race for second place in the championship opened up a bit with Millsaps gaining a few more points on Brayton. Just seven points separate Millsaps from Brayton with one round left.
Dungey is five points behind Brayton in fourth.
Weimer holds a secure fifth in the championship.
SUPERCROSS Results:
1. Ryan Dungey (KTM)
2. Davi Millsaps (Yam)
3. Jake Weimer (Kaw)
4. Justin Brayton (Hon)
5. Mike Alessi (Suz)
6. Broc Tickle (Kaw)
7. Andrew Short (Hon)
8. Josh Grant (Kaw)
9. Robert Kiniry (Kaw)
10. Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
11. Matt Goerke (Suz)
12. Weston Peick (Yam)
13. Nick Wey (Kaw)
14. Gavin Faith (Yam)
15. Jason Thomas (Suz)
16. Chris Blose (Kaw)
17. Kyle Chisholm (Kaw)
18. Jimmy Albertson (Suz)
19. Kyle Regal (Kaw)
20. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
