Photography by Mike Emery
Ryan Dungey looked as good as he has all season in the second consecutive week of racing in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. The Red Bull KTM rider simply dominated after taking the lead from Weston Peick on lap six. He then pulled away to a convincing 5.739 second margin of victory over a resurgent Eli Tomac. Trey Canard took third, staying squarely in the championship hunt, but losing ground to Dungey in the points chase. After the victory Dungey now pushed his lead in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series to an even 30 points as the season heads the moves past the halfway point and heads to Daytona.
Dungey became the first three-time race winner of the season before 53,537 fans. The race was also attended by several of NASCAR’s biggest drivers, with both series racing in Georgia’s capital city. Jimmie Johnson, who is a six-time champion and winner of 70 Cup races, served the Grand Marshall at tonight’s race.
Peick took the holeshot and led his first laps of the season in the early going, looking strong aboard his throwback-inspired JGR Yamaha.
Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed, who won last week’s race, followed Peick in second place with Dungey in third. Reed made a pass on Peick during the opening lap, but Peick answered back and took back the lead. Reed crashed on lap two and remounted in 13th place. Team Honda HRC’s Trey Canard took over the number-three spot on lap five, and on the same lap, Dungey started finding his rhythm, made a strong drive over a section of jumps and landed inside Peick in a 180-degree left hander and took over the point. From then on it was all Dungey, helped by a back-and-forth battle behind him between Peick, Tomac and Canard.
Suzuki was well represented with RCH Soaring Eagle Jimmy Johns Suzuki’s Broc Tickle scoring his best result of the season with fourth and Yoshmiura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett continuing to build on a strong rookie campaign in fifth.
Series contender Ken Roczen was bothered by an injured foot and ankle from his wicked crash last week and soldiered on to finish eighth, dropping him further in the championship hunt.
“I just tried to keep pushing,” Dungey said of how he kept his focus with a big lead. “I just want to stay consistent and keep my lap times down there. The track was tough, definitely slippery, really tight and technical and setting yourself up was important. I’ve got to give it up to the whole Red Bull KTM. It’s a big team effort.
“The holeshot wasn’t really there tonight, but we stuck around next to Chad. Chad had a mistake unfortunately, but the bike felt awesome. I’m just really happy for the team and everybody and all the support that goes behind us. It’s good to get this third win, but we’ve still got a long ways to go, so we’ll keep after it.”
Dungey’s second place at the first race in Atlanta and his win tonight earned him the inaugural “Duel in The Dome” trophy.
Tomac bounced back after a rough spate. “I crashed three weekends in a row,” he said. “so that gets old as a racer. Now to be back up here is good. I was just missing a little bit of fight there at the beginning of the race.”
Canard said he is still seeking the right combo to catch a good start.
“I’ve done about all I can think to do short of going to a pawn shop to by a good start,” Canard joked. “I’m grateful to be up here. Obviously disappointed with the points leader winning the race and getting third, but you do what you can, do the best you can and that’s all you can ask for. This thing is far from over. I’ll just keep doing my best and see what happens. I’ve got to give a huge shout out to the Honda/HRC team and to the lord. I’m so grateful to be up here and represent everyone I stand for.”
Racing continues next Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
450SX Class Results: Atlanta
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki
- Josh Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna
- Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 199
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda, 169
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki, 156
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 137
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna, 126
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 124
- Cole Seely, Laguna Beach, Calif., Honda, 120
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 115
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 100
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 96
