Due to some rain overnight, the race day scheduled was revised and reduced to only two practices instead of the usual three. Rain in the second practice made for slower times and Ken Roczen’s fastest lap time in the opening session remained fastest of the practices. Ryan Dungey qualified 7th fastest.
Both riders were allocated the second heat race. Dungey got a good start on the KTM 450 SX-F and was among the frontrunners rounding the opening turn. He soon moved into second spot which he maintained until the races end. After spinning on the start line, Roczen was positioned mid-pack through the first turn working his way to 9th spot by the completion of the opening lap. He continued to gain ground on those ahead of him and was in sixth place with two laps to go. Roczen went on a tear charging hard on the final lap to get by both Josh Grant and Andrew Short securing the final transfer spot finishing 4th.
Come main event time, the rain started to fall making the track conditions very challenging. Both Dungey and Roczen didn’t get great starts and were buried mid-pack in the first turn. Dungey was positioned 10th ahead of Justin Barcia and Roczen was a spot back in 12th. A three-way battle between the trio ensued for the majority of the race with all three trading places at some point. With Dungey leading chase he had rallied his way to 5th spot by lap six. He held onto this spot until lap 15 at which time a harder charging Barcia successfully got by. A lap later Dungey lost another spot, this time to his teammate Roczen who too was on the move. At this time Dungey made several small mistakes and he was forced to settle for 6th overall with Roczen finishing ahead in 5th place.
“I didn’t get a great start but I feel I rode a pretty good race considering I was coming from a fair way back after a terrible start,” said Roczen. “The leaders just got too big a lead for me to catch up with the track conditions. It was a pretty tough track and it got very rutted but I think I rode a solid race considering.”
“The track was technical and I fought it quite a bit tonight,” explained Dungey. “I didn’t ride anywhere near as good as I should have. I got a terrible start and was buried mid-pack early in the opening lap. Both Ken and I had to come from quite a ways back. I had moments where I started to get it together but mistakes here and there really cost me. I’m not happy with sixth place but unfortunately I have to take it.”
Next Round: May 3, 2014 - Las Vegas, NV
Results 450SX Class East Rutherford
1. Ryan Villopoto (USA), Kawasaki, 18:37.193 min (20 laps)
2. Eli Tomac (USA), Honda, +9.757 sec
3. Josh Hill (USA), Suzuki, +12.203
4. Justin Barcia (USA), Honda, +15.030
5. Ken Roczen (GER), KTM, +16.394
Other KTM
6. Ryan Dungey (USA), KTM, +27.254
8. Andrew Short (USA), KTM, +58.197
Standings 450SX Class after 16 of 17 rounds
1. Villopoto, 343 points
2. Dungey, 282
3. James Stewart (USA), Suzuki, 271
4. Roczen, 265
5. Barcia, 232
Other KTM
6. Short, 207
- KTM's Official Press Release
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