Cycle News

VOL. 51 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 28, 2014 Once again, long-time rivals Chad Reed (22) and James Stewart (7) were dicing again. This time, Stewart made the move on Reed. but just wasn't able to match the speed of the three front-runners. The Red Bull KTM rider started the race in fourth and after passing Brayton, and then getting passed by Stewart, Dungey finished the race in fourth. "It was an okay night," said Dungey. "We got off to a decent start but kind of got shuffled out in that first rhythm lane. But once things settled down I moved into fifth and I was able to work my way up. "James got around me and I was working my way up to pass Chad, and I was right behind, but he just ran a good, consistent, no-mistake race and I was unable to capitalize on anything. So going forward, it was a good track, just a little bit slippery, but the bike was good. We'll take it back and try to make it a little bit better. All in all, I think from where we started to where we ended was not too bad. We want to be better, for sure, and we're shooting for more." Justin Brayton put his JGRMX/Toyota Yamaha into fifth at the end of the race, coming out on top of an end-of-therace battle with Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen. Brayton got off to a great start, coming out of the first turn in second behind Vince Friese before settling into third, where he ran for the first six laps. Eventually, Brayton was passed by Dungey and Roczen, but managed to get Roczen back before the end of the race to finish fifth. "I was bummed I didn't get a better start in my heat race, but it was actually not bad to go to the semi and get a little more track time," said Brayton. "I ended up getting a good start in the main, but I think I just struggled P71 Briefly... man. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just the way it is, and I put myself in that position." GEICO Honda's Zach Osborne battled up front again in the 250 main. He and Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/ Red Bull Honda's Cole Seely got into it for a while over fourth place. Osborne made one last push on Seely on the final lap but ended up going down, but he still salvaged a fifth. "Good points," Osborne said. "It's not what I want, but I got to lead some laps (in the heat race) tonight and was really close to winning the heat race. In the main event I finally started up there, but I just didn't really make the most of my situation. I knew I had a good gap [on sixth]. Obviously I didn't plan to wad it big, but I knew I had a big gap in case I came in hot and fell over or something. It was pretty spectacular. I'm fine. It was just a little mistake there on the last lap. I was going for fourth on Seeley down through the whoops. I missed a whoop and endoed it pretty good." OAKLAND NOTES: Privateer Vince Friese (The Factory Metal Works/ Honda) and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson claimed this week's Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Awards… Motosport. com/Peick Racing's Weston Peick was again riding well at Oakland and was working his way up and was seventh in the 450 main when a mechanical failure took him out of the race… Privateer Nick Schmidt (Milestone MX/DSC/Fly Racing/ Honda) qualified for his third 450 main event of the season at Oakland… Honda Muscle Milk's Justin continued on next page

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