CAN CHAD REED RETURN?

photo credit to usatoday.com

Two time Supercross Champion Chad Reed was on a tear at the start of the 2014 Supercross season . Winning two of the first five races of the season, he had all the momentum he needed for a win coming into his favorite stadium (Qualcomm). He crashed into the back of Ken Roczen on the last lap while battling for third. He broke three bones and was out for the rest of the season. Just like 2012 when he was riding better than ever, injury would strike again. Chads MX season hasn't gone as well as he (or everyone else) had hoped; but if you compare this year to his season last year 2013 was far worse. I think Chad has two more years left in him, if he can get back on track I could see him picking up where he left off winning and running up front. But if his season is anything like his outdoor season I think 2015 could be his last.

OLD BATTLES NEW DAY

photo credit to geicohonda.com

  When 2013 MX Lites Champion Eli Tomac got hurt three weeks before the opening round of the MX series at Glen Helen it was a game changer, to say the least. From the start it has been a KTM showdown between Ken Roczen and 2010 & 2012 Champion Ryan Dungey. Through the first eight rounds they have won ten out of the sixteen Moto's, with Roczen winning seven to Dungeys three. At Round Five Eli Tomac would return to the series- and return he did.  With a string of podium finishes, including sweeping the Moto's last weekend at Spring Creek, Eli has shown the speed and strength to finish in the top three every Moto.  This leads to the question of what could have been if he had started off this season healthy? Eli ran down Roczen in Moto One and I can't think of a time that has happened all year to Ken. With eight rounds to go, I see Tomac winning half of the remaining Motos, with Roczen winning two and Dungey winning two as well.

Dungey VS Roczen

Ken Roczen vs Ryan Dungey

In 2010 Ryan Dungey had a year most riders could only dream of: winning the SX and MX titles in his rookie year. It's now 2014 and Ryan Dungey has 1 SX title and 2 MX titles to his name. When the defending champion pulled out of the season due to knee surgery, everyone had to have Dungey picked as the title favorite, and I have to say I had those thoughts as well. I had strong hopes for Eli Tomac, the defending 250 champion, but a late SX injury put those flames out.

The only other person I could see in the running with Dungey was Ken Roczen-former world MX champion. I knew he would be strong at the outdoors after seeing him ride a 250 for the last couple years (and at times posting better times than Dungey on a 450). 

Ryan Dungey (the 2010 and 2012 champion) came into this season with lots of confidence after finishing second in the 2013 Supercross season, and knowing Ryan Villopoto would be out for the season. He came out at round one going 3-1 and taking first overall. He showed that he is the guy to beat if anyone else wants a chance at this title. Ryan's finishes in the first six rounds are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2nd and 3rd. He is doing what Dungey does, which is to stay on the podium as much as you can. He has all but done that to this point, and it would be working if it weren’t for Ken Roczen who is pulling away little by little every race. Dungey needs to start making these wins happen and not just wait for the right time.

Roczen came out strong and was a corner away from winning both motos at Round 1 at Glen Helen. In his first 6 races he has placed 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd 1st and 1st. He is on his way to his first MX championship in America. Roczen has been the man this year and his results can back that up. I see no reason Kenny can't win this title he is proving that he does not just have speed, but also the consistency to do it.

photo credit (promotocross.com)