​​​By David Wells​​

In a single moment, everything we knew about the 2017 supercross season went out the window as Ken Roczen came crashing to the floor at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on January 21.  

The Monster Energy Supercross championship battle we were hoping for was lost, and we're now left to wonder who can challenge new series leader Ryan Dungey following his Round 3 win -- his first of the season after back-to-back second-place finishes behind Roczen. 

With Roczen reportedly done for the season with a dislocated elbow and wrist as well as a fractured radius, Dungey looks to be in the driver’s seat for his third straight 450 SX crown with a seven-point lead in the standings.



While Roczen and Dungey entered 2017 as the clear favorites for the title, here’s a look at where six other preseason contenders stand heading into Round 4 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday night. 

Chad Reed (Yamaha)

11th place | 27 points

The veteran looked like he was in great shape prior to the season with his new Yamaha teammate, Cooper Webb. But Reed hasn't put up much of a fight with finishes of 20th, ninth, and seventh place to start the series. 

Jason Anderson (Husqvarna)

10th place | 36 points

Anderson fell all the way to 10th in the overall points chase after being disqualified from the Anaheim 2 main event when he punched Vince Friese in the back of the helmet as they left the stadium floor following their heat race. Friese took out both Anderson and Marvin Musquin in a 180-degree turn midway through their heat race, forcing the two wrecked riders to have to race in the semifinals in order to qualify for the main event. Anderson was told he was disqualified as he was lining up for his gate pick in the semis. Last year’s A1 winner now sits 33 points back from Dungey. 

Cooper Webb (Yamaha)

Ninth place | 36 points

The 450 SX class rookie is coming off of an illustrious 250 career, winning back-to-back supercross championships as well as the 2016 250 AMA Lucas Oil Motocross title. Webb looked to be a top contender in his rookie season riding for Factory Yamaha alongside teammate Chad Reed. Webb has made strides since Round 1, which saw him fall short of expectations in a 10th-place finish. Since then, Webb has picked up the pace and landed one spot short of the podium with his fourth-place finish at Round 3 in Anaheim. Webb looks to be improving with every round, but is still well off the race pace of the leaders.

Eli Tomac (Kawasaki)

Fifth place | 44 points

After suffering from what was said to be arm pump in Round 1, Tomac has not looked in control yet this season despite a couple of heat race wins. He now sits a full race back in points after three rounds. Team Kawasaki is left scratching its heads as it continues to work the bike setup to make the green rider comfortable on the track. 

Cole Seely (Honda)

Third place | 51 points

Seely is not to be ruled out as a contender—he won a supercross main event last year in Houston—but he had a lot to prove as Honda acquired the red-hot Roczen in the offseason. After fifth-, sixth-, and third-place finishes in the first three rounds, Seely finds himself sitting 18 points back and third overall in the standings heading into Round 4 in Glendale. 

Marvin Musquin (KTM)

Second place | 62 points

In the wake of his successful race schedule overseas during the offseason, Musquin has shown flashes of the speed it takes to be a champion. It doesn’t hurt that he shares a semifinal with the champion Dungey. Musquin sits seven points back from Dungey, and holds down the second spot in the championship chase. After finishing third overall in Rounds 1 and 2, Musquin continued to impress with his steady production by notching a second-place result in Round 3 behind Dungey when Roczen went down. Musquin looks to have the best shot at keeping Dungey from being only the fourth rider in history to three-peat as supercross champion, joining Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, and Ryan Villopoto. However, Musquin will have to pick up the pace in order to close the gap to Dungey. He has ridden some lonely laps at each round that were slightly off the pace of the two race leaders so far. After losing Roczen, we will look to Musquin to give Dungey a fight for the supercross crown. 

450 SX STANDINGS

1. Ryan Dungey (KTM), 69
2. Marvin Musquin (KTM), 62
3. Cole Seely (HON), 51
4. Ken Roczen (HON), 51
5. Eli Tomac (KAW), 44
6. Weston Peick (SUZ), 43
7. David Millsaps (KTM), 39
8. Joshua Grant (KAW), 37
9. Cooper Webb (YAM), 36
10. Jason Anderson (HUS), 36
11. Chad Reed (YAM), 27
12. Dean Wilson (YAM), 27
13. Broc Tickle (SUZ), 22
14. Justin Bogle (SUZ), 20
15. Blake Baggett (KTM), 19
16. Justin Brayton (HON), 18
17. Vince Friese (HON), 15
18. Jacob Weimer (SUZ), 11
19. Jake Weimer (SUZ), 10
20. Christophe Pourcel (HUS), 7