AMA Supercross

Jason Anderson Wins Action Packed 2016 AMA Supercross Season Opener

Webb Starts Western Regional 250SX Class with Big Win

Posted:

Sunday, January 10th, 2016

6:00 PM

Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jason Anderson win his and the brand's first-ever 450SX Class Main Event at the season opener tonight.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 45,050 at Angel Stadium, Anderson became the class' 60th different winner all time. In a season headlined by the unparalleled depth of talent in the field, six different riders were in position to finish on the podium during the 450SX Class Main Event.

The 450SX Class race was initially halted by a red flag when Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing's James Stewart and Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey collided on the second lap. Stewart was unable to line up for the restart.

Team Honda HRC's Cole Seely captured the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award after the restart of the 450SX Class Main Event, while Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha's Justin Barcia moved into second place in the second turn.

On Lap 3, Team Honda HRC's Trey Canard and Dungey collided and Dungey went down, remounting in seventh place. Canard advanced to third place on Lap 5 and second place on Lap 6. Anderson took over third place on Lap 7 and advanced to second place on Lap 8.

Anderson (center) won his first 450SX Class race. - Credit: Simon Cudby

Anderson passed Seely, who led the first 12 laps of the race, to take the top spot on Lap 13. The second-year premier class rider never looked back on his way to a career milestone.

"Honestly, I just felt great out there tonight," said Anderson on the win. "I was coming through the pack and just made it happen. You work hard to do this as a kid, and it feels great."

On the race's last lap, Dungey passed Seely for second place.

"I got off to a good start on the restart but crashed," said Dungey. "I am glad to have rebounded and to have a solid finish."

Eli Tomac on his return to racing after crashing out mid way through last years Motocross championship finished in 4th position with Ken Roczen in fifth.

Australia's Chad Reed made a positive return to the Factory Yamaha team, qualifying directly into the nights main event via his heat race, before working his way forward in the main event to finish in 6th position.

Lawson Bopping also flew the Australian flag at the season opening round, qualifying into the stacked main event via the Last Chance Qualifyer aboard his DPH Yamaha.

An early mishap left him well down the order in the main event,with Bopping eventually finishing the race in 21st position.

Joel Newton and Jarrad Hockley also made the big trip from down under in an effort to qualify for the A1 night show, with both riders gaining some vauluable experience, but unfortunatley missed qualifying for the night show with Newton qualifing in 49th and Newton in 53rd.

Webb (center) carries points lead into San Diego next Saturday - Credit: Simon Cudby

Defending Western Regional 250SX Class Champion Cooper Webb, who rides for the Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha team, made a statement tonight by winning the class' opening race of the championship.

Troy Lee Designs/GoPro/Red Bull/KTM's Jessy Neson opened the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event with the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award with GEICO Honda's Jordon Smith and his teammate Jimmy DeCotis following in second and third, respectively.

Webb pulled into third place on Lap 1 before taking over second place on the following lap. While riding in third place, Smith crashed and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Zach Osborne took over third place.

Webb passed Nelson for the lead on Lap 10 and rode the seventh win of his career.

"It's awesome to start the season like this," said Webb. "I don't like to lose so this really makes tonight great. I was patient and pulled it off. I'm look forward to next weekend in San Diego."

It was a great night for Australia's Hayden Mellross racing in his first ever AMA Supercross event. After qualifying in 22nd position aboard his 51Fifty Yamaha in the 250 West class, a 8th place finish in his heat race sent him through to the nights main event.

With a top ten start, Mellross put in a solid main event, crossing the finish line in an impressive 11th position.

It was a tougher night for Australia's other two riders in the 250 west class, with both Jackson Richardson and Geran Stapleton crashing out of their heat race.

While Richardson was able to line up and qualify for the nights main event via the LCQ, Stapleton's crash put him out of action for the remainder of the evening.

Richardson suffered more bad luck in the main event, crashing out on lap five.

Round two of the 2016 Monster Energy Supercross Championship will take place in San Diego next Saturday the 16th of January.

450SX Class Results
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., KTM
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM

450SX Class Championship Standings Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna - 25 Pts
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM - 22 Pts
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda - 20 Pts
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki - 18 Pts
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki - 16 Pts
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha - 15 Pts
Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda - 14 Pts
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM - 13 Pts
Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., KTM - 12 Pts
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM - 11 Pts

Western Regional 250SX Class Results
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna
Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda

Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha - 25 Pts
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM - 22 Pts
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna - 20 Pts
Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda - 18 Pts
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda - 16 Pts
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha - 15 Pts
Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha - 14 Pts
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki - 13 Pts
Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM - 12 Pts
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda - 11 Pts

Top Image: Anderson won his first 450SX Class race.

Credit: Simon Cudby