Pirelli Riders Charge to Season Best Finishes in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif. (USA) January 23, 2016 – The third round of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, was held Saturday night inside Angel Stadium for its second and final time of the 2016 tour. Throughout the afternoon, scattered clouds with chance of showers hovered the sky, ultimately holding out for near perfect conditions. Pirelli’s recently debuted SCORPION™ MX32™ PRO rear motocross tire looked to be the ultimate choice as riders searched for any edge they could get over their competition.

BTO Sports/WPS/KTM rider Davi Millsaps started just inside the top five of 450SX Heat 1, but made quick work by passing for the lead before the completion of lap one. Once into the lead, the No.18 rode flawlessly all the way to the checkered flag, claiming his first heat race win of the season. BTO Sports teammate Justin Brayton logged strong, consistent laps to grab the fourth and final qualifying position in 450SX Heat 1.

Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha riders Weston Peick and Phil Nicoletti found themselves battling at the front in 450SX Semi 2. In his first race back, Peick rode brilliantly for the win, while Nicoletti rode well to finish in third place as both riders transferred to the Main Event. TPJ Racing privateer Nick Schmidt fought hard in 450SX Semi 1 to finish fourth and qualify for his second consecutive Main Event.

Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki’s Kyle Cunningham continues to improve as he claimed the fourth position and transferred directly to the Main Event in 250SX Heat 1. Australian Luke Clout is filling in for the Yoshimura/Dirt Candy Graphics/Suzuki team and earned his spot in the Main Event by winning the 250SX LCQ.

Millsaps captured the 450SX Main Event holeshot, marking the second week in a row a Pirelli-supported rider lead the field around the first turn. He would lead the first three laps and ride hard the entire Main Event, recording a season-high finish in seventh position. Following Millsaps across the line was teammate Brayton, who rode strong to eight place, his third straight top-10 finish of the season.

Peick spent most of the race battling for position inside of the top-10, however, a late race mistake cost him several positions. He would go on to finish 14th place. Schmidt improved on last week’s performance, earning 17th position on his privateer-powered TPJ Racing Suzuki.

Nicoletti who is filling in for injured teammate Justin Barcia, looked to build on last weeks finish, but unfortunately suffered from an early race bobble that put him at the tail end of the pack. He rode hard but ultimately pulled off just past the halfway mark and would be credited with 21st position.

In the 250SX main event, Cunningham started outside of the top-10 aboard his Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki. As the race wore on, he battled through the field of riders for a season-high eighth place. It marked his second consecutive top-10 finish. Clout finished 14th, gaining valuable experience in his first-ever Monster Energy Supercross.

The series will move north for the fourth round of Monster Energy Supercross at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on Saturday January 30, 2016. 

450SX Class Results

1. Ryan Dungey (KTM)

2. Chad Reed (Yamaha)

3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

4. Eli Tomac (Kawasaki)

5. Jason Anderson (Husqvarna)

6. Cole Seely (Honda)

7. Davi Millsaps (KTM)

8. Justin Brayton (KTM)

9. Marvin Musquin (KTM)

10.  Jacob Weimer (Kawasaki)

- - -

14. Weston Peick (Yamaha)

17. Nick Schmidt (Suzuki)

21. Phil Nicoletti (Yamaha)

450SX Class Championship Standings

1. Ryan Dungey (KTM) - 72

2. Chad Reed (Yamaha) - 59

3. Jason Anderson (Husqvarna) - 57

4. Cole Seely (Honda) - 55

5. Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) - 54

6. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) - 51

7. Davi Millsaps (KTM) - 36

8. Justin Brayton (KTM) - 35

9. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki) - 33

10.  Marvin Musquin (KTM) - 31

Western Regional 250SX Class Results

1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)

2. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)

3. Christian Craig (Honda)

4. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)

5. Jimmy DeCotis (Honda)

6. Jordon Smith (Honda)

7. Kyle Cunningham (Suzuki)

8. Colt Nichols, Muskogee (Yamaha)

9. Mitchell Oldenburg (KTM)

10.  Kyle Peters (Honda)

- - -

  14. Luke Clout (Suzuki)

Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) - 75

2. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna) - 57

3. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki) - 53

4. Jordon Smith (Honda) - 51

5. Jimmy DeCotis (Honda) - 47

6. Colt Nichols (Yamaha) - 43

7. Christian Craig (Honda) - 42

8. Kyle Peters (Honda) - 36

9. Mitchell Oldenburg (KTM) - 30

10.  Kyle Cunningham (Suzuki) - 28