East Rutherford, NJ (May 1, 2016) – The 16th round of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, was held Saturday night inside the historic MetLife stadium. Rain threatened the forecast in the days leading up to the race, but sunny-blue skies prevailed for near perfect conditions. The track presented one of the most challenging layouts of the season, including technical rhythm sections that left minimal room for margin of error while riders used the SCORPION™MX32™PRO to put the power to the ground.
BTO Sports/WPS/KTM’s Justin Brayton rounded the first corner of 450SX Heat 1 just inside of the top five. The veteran meticulously picked off riders throughout the six-lap qualifier to cross the checkered flag in third, transferring directly to the Main Event. Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Weston Peick rode strong in 450SX Heat 2 to claim fourth place and a transfer position.
JGRMX rider Justin Barcia logged consistent laps in 450SX Semi 1, eventually passing his way into the fourth position and earning a spot in the evenings Main Event. BTO Sports/WPS/KTM’s fill-in rider Benny Bloss raced to the 450SX LCQ win by narrowly edging out Pirelli teammate Nick Schmidt aboard his TPJ Racing Suzuki.
Frenchman Cedric Soubeyras continued his recent string of impressive performances as he took the track for the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Heat 1. He kept the leaders within sight to grab a transfer position via his fourth place finish.
250SX Class Heat 2 began with MAD Racing/Dirt Candy Graphics/Suzuki’s Matt Bisceglia completing the opening lap just inside of the top-10, while Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki’s Jimmy Albertson was buried deep in the field. Bisceglia would finish in seventh, just ahead of the hard charging Albertson in ninth, transferring both riders to the Main Event.
When the gate dropped for the 450SX Main Event, Brayton powered his Pirelli SCORPION™MX tires near the front of the field to emerge with a third place start. He put his head down and engaged in the battle for the final podium position. At the checkered flag, the likeable KTM rider would finish in fifth, which matches his season-best finish previously set in Atlanta.
Peick began the 20-Lap final just inside of the top-10, eventually passing his way up the running order to run as high as seventh place. However, a mistake at the halfway point of the race cost him valuable time and he would finish 11th.
Competing in his first-career 450SX Main Event, the supercross rookie Bloss gained valuable experience en route to a 19th place while filling in for the injured Davi Millsaps. The privateer rider Schmidt was credited with 21st place as he extended his consecutive Main Event streak to 15.
In the 250SX Main Event, Soubeyras had his work cut out for him by circulating the opening lap near the back of the 22-rider field. He kept his head down while fighting for each position as he passed his way up the running order. The foreigner would mount a strong come-from-behind ride to finish in 10th.
Bisceglia got off to a good start and ran towards the front of the pack when the field of riders completed the opening lap. The Texan would fall victim to a mid-race bobble and settle for 11th place at the checkered flag. Albertson began the 15-Lap Main Event just inside of the top-20 due to an unfortunate racing incident that cost him several positions on the first lap. The Oklahoman based rider battled hard the entire race to finish 16th.
The final round of Monster Energy Supercross will take place next weekend on Saturday, May 7th from Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
450SX Class Results
- Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
- Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- 5. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
- Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
- Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
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11. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
15. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
19. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, MO., KTM
21. Nick Schmidt, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 366
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 330
3. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 293
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 270
5. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 232
6. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 213
7. Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 207
8. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 186
9. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda – 183
10. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 125
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
- Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
- Gannon Audette, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
- Dakota Alix, Jay, VT., KTM
- Luke Renzland, Hewitt, N.J., Yamaha
- 10. Cedric Soubeyras, Venasque, France, Kawasaki
– – –
11. Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Suzuki
16. Jimmy Albertson, Shawnee, Okla., Suzuki
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda – 160
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 146
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 141
- Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna – 130
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 109
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki – 108
- Gannon Audette, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki – 105
- RJ Hampshire, Brooksville, Fla., Honda – 99
- Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki – 78
- Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Suzuki – 68
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