Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns from its lone off weekend of the 2015 season tomorrow night with its annual visit to Houston's NRG Stadium. A pair of titles are up for grabs for 450SX Class points leader Ryan Dungey as well as Western Regional 250SX Class Championship leader Cooper Webb, as both riders carry comfortable advantages over their respective fields. With another strong outing, both riders could wrap up the 2015 crowns early.
450SX Class
Red Bull KTM
#5 Ryan Dungey
Current Championship Position: 1st
St. Louis Start: 1st
St. Louis Finish: 1st (+/-0)
2015 Average Finish: 1.8
At the previous race in St. Louis, Dungey was dominant en route to a career-high sixth win of the season. With an 80-point lead over his closest competitor, Dungey needs to finish third or better on Saturday to clinch his second 450SX Class title.
"The team has built an incredible bike this season," said Dungey. "I was able to get off to a good start in St. Louis. I was then able to focus on my opening laps and then settle in and focus on the win. I am so happy with my KTM and everyone that has been behind me on the team."
GEICO Honda
#3 Eli Tomac
Current Championship Position: 2nd(-80 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 7th
St. Louis Finish: 2nd (+5)
2015 Average Finish: 6.2
Tomac has been strong the past two races, earning a win and a runner-up finish, but will likely need to grab his third victory of 2015 in order to prevent Dungey from clinching on Saturday night.
"It was nice to have a weekend off," said Tomac. " We were going for 13 weeks in a row, and that's a long time. It was good time off. Everyone wanted a little bit of a recharge. I'll be able to keep that momentum going. Not much is going to change, I don't think, and I'm excited to take this GEICO Honda to Houston."
Team Honda HRC
#41 Trey Canard
Current Championship Position: 3rd(-92 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: DNS
St. Louis Finish: DNS
2015 Average Finish: 4.3 (11 Main Events)
Canard is sidelined for the remainder of the 2015 season with a broken arm.
#14 Cole Seely
Current Championship Position: 4th(-98 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 9th
St. Louis Finish: 4th (+5)
2015 Average Finish: 6.6
Seely is six points from surpassing his teammate for third in the 450SX Class standings and will be in search of the first premier class win of his career.
"St. Louis was tough," said Seely. "I got off to a horrible start, so I just tried to be smart about line selection and pick my way through the guys. I got into fourth and felt like I was catching Jason [Anderson] but got a really bad side cramp when I had to avoid a lapper. I made a jerking motion to move out of the way and under my ribs cramped up right away, so I had to just try to maintain the pace I had and hope that Jason would make mistakes, which never happened. The last five laps were tough. I prefer a track that's more technical, where you need to be precise in each section. I really want to be on the podium, but I'm happy with how far I was able to make it through the pack for fourth."
Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports
#22 Chad Reed
Current Championship Position: 5th(-113 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 12th
St. Louis Finish: 8th (+4)
2015 Average Finish: 7.7
Reed is currently in the midst of a six-race top-10 streak.
Yoshimura Suzuki
#4 Blake Baggett
Current Championship Position: Tied for 6th(-131 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 11th
St. Louis Finish: 10th (+1)
2015 Average Finish: 8.5
Baggett has endured some ups and downs in recent weeks, but is ready to get back on the podium for the second time this season.
"I came into St. Louis under the weather a little bit," said Baggett. "I got 10th and I'll take that. I left healthy and enjoyed a week off where we could do some outdoor testing. I'm getting ready for that and looking to regroup for the final rounds of the supercross season."
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory racing
#21 Jason Anderson
Current Championship Position: Tied for 6th(-131 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 3rd
St. Louis Finish: 3rd (+/-0)
2015 Average Finish: 8.8
Anderson was strong in St. Louis, earning his first podium finish since a second-place effort at the opening race.
"I think things are going in the right direction," said Anderson. "It took 12 races too long, but we got a podium and I'm just pumped. All day was good, I was kind of not used to riding up front because it's been a while since I've done it, but it felt good up there. I was riding really good and trying to change up my lines with the track conditions. I'm trying to make smart decisions out there and I think that helped me stay in the podium hunt. All in all I'm happy to put my Husqvarna up on the podium and really pumped for my team. That was something we needed going into the break."
RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's Suzuki Factory Racing
#94 Ken Roczen
Current Championship Position: 8th(-140 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: DNS
St. Louis Finish: DNS
2015 Average Finish: 5.9 (9 Main Events)
Roczen was scheduled to make his return to action in Houston after an ankle injury sidelined him for the last four races, but an announcement from RCH Racing confirmed he'll forego Houston with a hope of returning for one of the final three races.
#20 Broc Tickle
Current Championship Position: 9th(-150 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 6th
St. Louis Finish: 9th (-3)
2015 Average Finish: 9.1 (12 Main Events)
Since returning from injury at the sixth race of the season in San Diego, Tickle has not finished outside the top 10. He is one of just two riders with that distinction.
"I went back home and regrouped during the break," said Tickle. "I think it was good for me. I've been training like crazy during the week and it's not working, so I went back home, worked on what we needed to get better and will come to Houston 100-percent ready."
BTO Sports KTM
#29 Andrew Short
Current Championship Position: 10th(-159 behind leader)
St. Louis Start: 22nd
St. Louis Finish: 22nd (+/-0)
2015 Average Finish: 10.7
Short escaped serious injury following a big crash in the St. Louis Main Event, mere feet after capturing the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award. The Houston stop is considered his hometown race.
"St. Louis was one of my better races. I was finally starting to feel better," said Short. "I ended the night with two holeshots and a Heat Race win. Unfortunately I had a big get-off after the second holeshot [in the Main Event]. I am happy I'm starting to feel better on the track and I am looking forward to Houston."