Ryan Dungey Clinches Third Supercross Championship at MetLife Stadium

(Photo by Jeff Auger – Double G Media)

In front of 59,311 energized fans at MetLife Stadium, RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen dominated en route to a second straight win in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, but it was Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey who walked away with his second consecutive 450SX Class title.

In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, championship leader and GEICO Honda rider Malcolm Stewart grabbed his second victory of the season to extend his points lead heading into the final race of the season.

Ryan Dungey has been the toast of Monster Energy AMA Supercross for some time, but repeating as champion could be his most significant accomplishment.

Dungey clinched his third championship — and second in succession — by finishing fourth in the 450SX main event Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., behind winner Ken Roczen, runner-up Eli Tomac and Cole Seely.

Considering Dungey’s recent accomplishments, including eight wins this season, the cover of a Wheaties box and an ESPY award, Dungey is at the top of his game. Dungey will seek a career-best ninth victory this season next weekend at the season finale.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Stewart extended his points lead with a win over Martin Davalos and Jeremy Martin heading into next weekend’s season-finale in Las Vegas, where the 250SX East and West riders will square off in the same race to determine two champions.

Malcolm Stewart will be hoping for a similar night to the one he had this Saturday night, after he won his heat race and took the lead in the main early. Then, to the delight of the crowd, he celebrated his victory with some dance moves on the track.

Stewart extended his points lead to 14 points over Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger, who started 15th but battled his way through the field to pass 10 riders an earn a fifth-place finish. Martin sits third, 19 points out of the lead. These three riders are the only ones with a mathematical shot at the championship heading into the final race next weekend, when the Eastern Regional Championship and Western Regional Championship converge in a head-to-head battle to crown a champion in each region.

The 2016 season will come to an end next Saturday, May 7, with the Monster Energy Supercross Finals from Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium. Action gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT.