MILLVILLE NATIONAL: 8 DOWN, 4 TO GO FOR DUNGEY & MARTIN

On Jul 19, 2015 Last updated Jul 19, 2015

Ryan Dungey ran Justin Barcia down in both motos, passed him and pulled away.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUBTRACTION: Ryan Dungey came home to Minnesota with a 44-point lead over Ken Roczen…and won both motos with ease. The 44-point lead was a big points lead, but in the trenches you don’t feel comfortable until you have a 50-point lead. Why? Because each moto win pays 25 points, if you can get a 50-point lead will effectively shortened the season by one race for your competition. So, with four races to go in the 2015 AMA season, and a now 56-point lead over Ken Roczen, Ryan Dungey has only left K-Roc with three races to catch him in points. Dungey has removed what happens at the final round in Indiana on August 22 from the Championship equation.

MUD MAGNETS: Because of the muddy track the race program was shortened. The Last Chance qualifiers were eliminated and the top 40 in 250 and 450 times were put directly into the National. There were 76 riders in the 250 class and 66 in the 450 class.

Justin Barcia has come out of nowhere to move into third in 450 National points and is only 13 points behind Ken Roczen for second in points.

MILLVILLE FINAL RESULTS: 450 CLASS
1. Ryan Dungey (KTM)…1-1
2. Justin Barcia (Yam)…2-2
3. Blake Baggett (Suz)…4-3
4. Ken Roczen (Suz)…3-4
5. Jason Anderson (Hus)…6-6
6. Broc Tickle (Suz)…5-7
7. Fredrik Noren (Hon)…8-5
8. Christophe Pourcel (Hus)…9-8
9. Phil Nicoletti (Yam)…7-10
10. Josh Grant (Kaw)…10-9
Other notables: 11. Kyle Chisholm; 12. Jesse Wentland; 13. Jason Brooks; 14. Andrew Short; 15. Kyle Cunningham; 23. Justin Brayton; 28. Weston Peick.

When Blake Baggett (4) passed Ken Roczen late in the second moto to clinch the final 450 podium spot it was bittersweet for the two Suzuki teams. Yoshimura was happy to have Baggett on the podium, but RCH lamented the points that Baggett’s pass cost Roczen in the title chase.

THE CHECK CLEARED: We doubt that Ken Roczen is kicking himself about leaving KTM, and the significantly better 450SXF Factory Edition, but it is obvious that he isn’t gelling with either the Suzuki or his RCH team. If he’s riding with a secret injury, then he’s still strong enough to gap everybody but the people who matter (Dungey and Barcia have him handled as of late). When the number one plate is on your bike there is little solace in knowing that the check cleared…you want to repeat.

BAILED OUT: Josh Grant was a victim of Chad Reed pulling out of the AMA Nationals to have his shoulder worked on…and then pulling the rug out from under all of the TwoTwo Motosports personnel. Josh Grant lucked out when Wil Hahn got hurt in training and Grant got the call to fill-in at Team Kawasaki…and not just to fill in until Wil comes back, but for the rest of the 450 Nationals. Grant went 10-9 in Millville

Cole Seely missed the last two races with a hamstring injury and didn’t make it out of practice this week before a crash injured his shoulder.

WHEN IT RAINS: Cole Seely missed to two rounds with a hamstring tear, but came back to the fold in Millville, Minnesota. It didn’t last long. Cole crashed in the second timed qualifying session and hurt his shoulder. He still set the 10th fastest time, but his spot went to an alternate (the 41st fastest rider Gavin Kadlec). Gavin went 28-33.

GOOD KNEE: Also making a comeback was Andrew Short, who has been out with a broken knee cap. The knee cap may be healed, but Andrew wasn’t his normal self as he went 16-15 for 14th overall.

2015 AMA 450 NATIONAL POINTS STANDING
(After 8 of 12 races)
1. Ryan Dungey…353
2. Ken Roczen…297
3. Justin Barcia…284
4. Blake Baggett…250
5. Jason Anderson…227
6. Broc Tickle…220
7. Christophe Pourcel…211
8. Phil Nicoletti…176
9. Weston Peick…171
10. Fredrik Noren…161

Cooper Webb’s 1-2 best hometown hero Jeremy Martin’s 3-1 in front of a partisan crowd in Minnesota.

HOMETOWN HERO: The pressure was on. For Jeremy, winning at Millville was required. He had to win at the track that his family owns. Partially for local hero status, but largely because he is leading the AMA 250 National Championship points. Martin set the fastest time in the muddy practice session with a 2:24.11. That was 3 seconds faster than the next fastest man. However, Martins 3-1 wasn’t good enough to dislodge star teammate Cooper Webb’s 1-2, but it was better than Musquin’s 8-3.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: Cooper Webb’s return to the AMA Nationals is nothing short of amazing. He started the season at Hangtown with a 3rd in moto one and then got hurt in moto two. He sat on the sidelines through Glen Helen, Thunder Valley, Muddy Creek and Mt. Morris, before returning for Budds, Red Bud and Millville. Since coming back Cooper has gone 6-14-2-5-1-2. Even after missing half of the season so far, he is up to 14th in 250 National points and will probably make the top ten after Washougal, Unadilla, Miller and Indiana.

Justin Hill.

THE LAST ORANGEMAN: Justin Hil hasn’t bounced back from his injury as quickly as Cooper Webb. After putting in good performances at Hangtown and Glen Helen he missed four Nationals and has struggled ever since. Hill’s last four moto scores have been 11-15-17-16. Not what anyone expects from a full-blown factory KTM rider. Even worse for Hill is that he is behind Troy Lee Design’s KTM riders Mitch Oldenburg, Shane McElrath and Jessy Nelson..not just in points, but on the track.

Marvin Musquin had a good day go bad when he stuffed the front end into a sippy hole while leading the first 250 moto.

MILLVILLE FINAL RESULTS: 250 CLASS
1. Cooper Webb (Yam)…1-2
2. Jeremy Martin (Yam)…3-1
3. Joey Savatgy (Kaw)…2-4
4. Marvin Musquin (KTM)…8-3
5. Zach Osborne (Hus)…7-7
6. Aaron Plessinger (Yam)…6-9
7. Jordan Smith (Hon)…12-5
8. Shane McElrath (KTM)…11-6
9. R.J. Hampshire (Hon)…5-12
10. Alex Martin (Yam)…4-15
Other notables: 11. Matt Bisceglia; 12. Jessy Nelson; 13. Kyle Peters; 17 Justin Hill; 22. Hayden Melross; 39. Max Groom; 40. Christian Craig.

Jeremy Martin may not have won the overall at Millville, but he gained 12 points on Marvin Musquin in the title chase.

2015 AMA 250 NATIONAL POINTS STANDING
(After 8 of 12 races)
1. Jeremy Martin…343
2. Marvin Musquin…324
3. Zach Osborne…235
4. Joey Savatgy…231
5. Alex Martin…213
6. Jessy Nelson…205
7. Adam Cianciarulo…178
8. Aaron Plessinger…169
9. Matt Biscelgia…163
10. Jordan Smith…157

Photos: John Basher, KTM