Ken Roczen and Ryan Dungey looked impressive to fans throughout the entire day as both riders turned practice times inside the top five to qualify with a great gate pick in their heat races. It was Roczen who was placed in heat one where he earned a seventh place start. He moved as high up as third in the opening laps of the heat before dropping to fifth. Under the new format, only four riders transfer from each heat, so unfortunately, Roczen’s fifth place result sent him to the semi.
Dungey was up next in the second 450 Supercross class heat where he earned a sixth place start off the line. On the second lap, he moved into fifth place. A lap later, he secured fourth and was able to hold on for the remaining laps to qualify into the main event.
Roczen then reappeared on the gate for the semi. He took the holeshot in his semi and went on to lead every lap to easily pick up a transfer spot in the main event.
Main Event
When the gate dropped for the main event, Roczen launched his KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition motorcycle off the line to secure a second place start while Dungey was a few spots back in seventh. Ryan Villopoto led the race early on with Roczen in tow. The two riders remained close for the opening laps while the remainder of the pack battled it out behind them. Dungey moved quickly in the beginning laps to move his KTM into the top five. Right before the halfway point Dungey was able to pass Josh Grant to move into fourth. Meanwhile, Villopoto and Roczen were tightening their battle. As they came out of a rhythm section into a left-handed corner, Villopoto overshot the turn and crashed, allowing Roczen to take over the lead. At the same time, Dungey began a battle that would last the next eight laps with Chad Reed and James Stewart for a top three spot.
As the crowd began to rise to their feet, the train of Stewart, Reed and Dungey began to close on the lead ride of the rookie 450 rider, Roczen. On the fourteenth lap, Stewart crashed through the whoops while trying to gain on Roczen. The crash destroyed his bike and put him out of the race. His departure allowed Roczen to stretch his lead while also moving Reed to second and Dungey into third. With three laps to go, Dungey caught and made a pass on Reed to takeover second behind his teammate. Roczen held strong and led the remaining laps to clinch his first-ever 450 career Supercross win with Dungey finishing second behind him.
“This is an amazing feeling,” remarked Roczen. “Not only to get my first win but to get it at the opening round is amazing. I have been working very hard during the off-season and I am so glad the hard work has paid off. Congrats to my teammate, Ryan Dungey, it is great to share this moment on the podium with him.”
Roczen and Dungey will head to the next round sitting first and second in the overall point standings.
Next Round: Phoenix, AZ – January 11, 2014
Results 450SX class Anaheim 1
1. Ken Roczen (D), KTM, 19:43.636 min (20 laps)
2. Ryan Dungey (USA), KTM, +3.186 sec
3. Chad Reed (USA), Kawasaki, +9.228
4. Ryan Villopoto (USA), Kawasaki, +13.886
5. Justin Barcia (USA), Honda, +20.668
Other KTM
9. Andrew Short (USA), KTM, +41.795
Standings 450SX class after 1 of 17 rounds
1. Roczen, 25 points
2. Dungey, 22
3. Reed, 20
4. Villopoto, 18
5. Barcia, 16
Other KTM
9. Short, 12
- KTM's Official Press Release
Supercross LIVE interviews Roczen after the race
Supercross LIVE interviews Dungey after the race
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