HARD FACTS | THUNDER VALLEY NATIONAL STATS

LGH_Brian-Converse_250-Moto-1-start_GLen-Helen_05282016The start of the first 250 moto at Glen Helen last weekend. Photo: by Brian Converse.

By Kyoshi Becker

PRE-THUNDER VALLEY NATIONAL ROUND-UP

For the AMA Pro racers, the series is “finally” out of California. Many fans believe that the racing doesn’t really start until Colorado, but the two California rounds were stark contrasts to each other. Hangtown had weather issues, they expected rain and “rain prepped” their track, then when the rains were very light the result was less than ideal dirt conditions—making for a relatively easy day. Glen Helen, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Glen Helen didn’t expect rain, so they planned to be rough, gnarly and difficult. With its larger than life hills, the unique “unrhythm” section, huge jumps, long laps and unique fan friendly sections (sand, two-way, Hip Jump, Triple Step-Up and Talladega first turn) Glen Helen produced passing galore.

A few things were established this past Saturday. First, Ken Roczen is on fire. His performances have been dominant every moto. At Glen Helen, Roczen made no delay in the first moto, reeling in and passing Ryan Dungey to take the lead. While he established a huge lead from second, Roczen succumbed to a fork cap malfunction in the waning laps forcing him to slow considerably. The damage was done as the Jimmy Johns/RCH Suzuki rider lost three positions. Ryan Dungey took the win, and upon crossing the finish line looked back to find that Roczen wasn’t in sight. Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson rounded off the podium. Roczen came into the second moto with an obvious chip on his shoulder and blew the field away.

Eli Tomac was visibly frustrated for the second weekend in a row. It is quite hard to follow up on his dominating performances of last year (even though it only lasted for 5 motos). While Tomac is adjusting to the new bike, Ken Roczen and Ryan Dungey have only become faster and smarter on their rides. Jason Anderson and Trey Canard are competing for a distant fourth and fifth position at this point. Canard has shown a few good starts, but he also has thrown away every good start this season in a simple crashes.

In the 250 class, Alex Martin silenced the critics at Glen Helen. While he hasn’t proven he can put a season together, Alex has shown much improvement since the Supercross series. The elder Martin is battling his teammates, and the few riders who can compete with the Star Racing Yamaha crew. Glen Helen was a podium sweep for the Star team, with Alex Martin (first overall), Jeremy Martin (second) and Cooper Webb (third). Rookie Austin Forkner(Kawasaki) and Jessy Nelson (KTM) were the only non-Yamaha riders to make the podium in a moto at Glen Helen. While impressive for a rookie, it is still in doubt if Forkner back up his quick start in 2016 with another podium in Colorado? Joey Savatgy was not able to repeat the dominant performance he showed on the smoother Hangtown track on the rougher Glen Helen layout. Joey demonstrated good speed at Glen Helen, but it wasn’t near the front (thanks top bad starts).

114_3_thunder_valley track map
The 2016 Lakewood National track layout map—give or take a few features.

BASIC STATS

  1. The 2016 series is 16.6% complete.
  2. Thunder Valley hosted the first night National in 2008.
  3. The first professional motocross event to be held in Thunder Valley was in 2005. Ricky Carmichael swept both motos the following day for an overall win.
  4. The last Motocross des Nations held in the U.S. took place at Thunder Valley in 2010. Team USA won the event with Ryan Dungey, Andrew Short and Trey Canard.
  5. Lakewood, Colorado first hosted a National in 1979 at Lakewood Sports Cycle Park (a different track than used now). Mike Bell won the 500cc class and Bob Hannah won the 250cc (450) class.

LMP_8509_Brian-Converse_Ryan-Dungey-Win_Glen-Helen_05282016Ryan Dungey got his first win of the 2016 National season at Glen Helen. Photo: by Brian Converse.

450 CLASS NOTES

  1. A 250 two-stroke has never won in Thunder Valley. The first win was by Ricky Carmichael on a Suzuki RM-z450.
  2. Ryan Dungey has won at Thunder Valley as many times as Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart combined. Dungey has four wins in the 450 class, while the other two  have two wins each.
  3. Ryan Dungey is also the only rider to win on multiple brands. He has won on both a Suzuki and KTM at Lakewood.
  4. Ryan Villopoto and Ivan Tedesco both won a 450 overall and 250 overall at Thunder Valley.
  5. A Colorado local has never won the 450 overall. Eli Tomac won the first moto in the 2015 season, but had a season-ending injury in the second moto.

FASTEST 450 MAIN EVENT LAP TIMES

  • Hangtown Moto 1 – Ryan Dungey – 2:00.475
  • Hangtown Moto 2 – Ken Roczen – 2:02.776
  • Glen Helen Moto 1 – Ken Roczen – 2:26.867
  • Glen Helen Moto 2 – Ken Roczen – 2:29.604

TOP FIVE 450 POINTS

  • Ken Roczen – 93 Points
  • Ryan Dungey – 91 Points
  • Eli Tomac – 76 Points
  • Jason Anderson – 73 Points
  • Trey Canard – 62 Points

DSC_7303_Brian-Converse_Alex-Martin_Glen-Helen_05282016Alex Martin got his first overall win in the AMA Nationals last Saturday. Photo: by Brian Converse.

250 CLASS NOTES

  1. At Glen Helen, Star Racing Yamaha swept the podium for their first time ever.
  2. Glen Helen was also the first time brothers had finished 1-2 overall. Alex Martin took the overall win, and Jeremy Martin took second.
  3. Ryan Dungey was the first rider ever to win on a Suzuki in the 250 class at Glen Helen. He did the deed in 2009.
  4. Kawasaki has more wins in the 250 class at Lakewood than all of other brands combined. Suzuki, KTM and Husqvarna have no wins at Thunder Valley.
  5. Kawasaki also won the first seven years at Thunder Valley. Ryan Villopoto and Blake Baggett have multiple overall wins.

FASTEST 250 MAIN EVENT LAP TIMES

  • Hangtown Moto 1 – Cooper Webb – 2:01.669
  • Hangtown Moto 2 – Zach Osborne – 2:02.473
  • Glen Helen Moto 1 – Cooper Webb – 2:30.635
  • Glen Helen Moto 2 – Austin Forkner – 2:32.143

TOP FIVE 250 POINTS

  • Alex Martin – 79 Points
  • Cooper Webb – 77 Points
  • Joey Savatgy – 76 Points
  • Jeremy Martin – 75 Points
  • Aaron Plessinger – 63 Points

_DSC4818_Kyoshi_Christian Craig_Glen Helen_05282016
Christian Craig broke his lower leg in the first moto at Glen Helen when he landed on teammate Jordan Smith.

INJURIES

450 Class

James Stewart –  Injured shoulder at Hangtown. He ran 450 practice at Glen Helen, but couldn’t race. Matt Bisceglia will get a fill-in ride to fulfill Suzuki’s contract commitments.
Blake Baggett – Broken collarbone at Hangtown. Raced the first moto at Glen Helen, but pulled out of the second one due to pain. He may race Thunder Valley, but most likely will sit out until Mt. Morris.
Weston Peick – Crashed at Glen Helen and suffered a concusssion. Reportedly failed the concussion test for this weekend in Colorado.
Dean Wilson – No word on when he will return in the National season. Currently he’s practicing in Florida.
Ronnie Stewart – Injured shoulder and punctured lung. He is planning to return in Thunder Valley.

250 Class

Tristan Charboneau – It was a short 3-moto Pro career, but Tristan will be back when his broken collarbone heals.
Gannon Audette –
Recovering from a crash at Hangtown.
Chris Alldredge –
 Still recovering from a pelvis injury he suffered in Las Vegas.
Christian Craig – Broke his tibia and fibula landing on his teammate Jordan Smith. He is most likely out for the season.
Michael Leib – Needed surgery on an improperly healed navicular and talus.
Kyle Peters – 
Separated AC Joint.

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