The quality of racing throughout the stretch of racing on the West coast during the first half of the 2015 Supercross season was incredible. The battling between Cooper Webb, Tyler Bowers, as well as Plessinger, Nelson, and others, was seemingly unparalleled. 

As the series rolled East for the 250 East class' season opener in Arlington, Texas, no real on-track battling took place. In the main event, Marvin Musquin stole to the front, and, although the race was red flagged and restarted using the staggered restart method, taking Musquin's lead away and lining the field up all the way down the front stretch inside AT&T Stadium, Musquin was able to get right back into the lead and dominate the East group of 250 riders' 2015 season opener. 

That was one of two wins for Factory KTM last weekend, as Ryan Dungey dominated his main event - dominated the entire night, in fact. He won his heat race, then took the holeshot in the 450 main -  and led all 20 laps. It doesn't get any better than that, a perfect performance for Dungey, and a perfect night for KTM. 

When things concluded inside AT&T Stadium of Arlington, Texas, Marvin Musquin and Ryan Dungey were the points leaders for the 250 and 450 classes, respectively, meaning both red plates were to be on KTM machines at the next round (Saturday night in Atlanta). 

Beginning with the 250 East class and their heat races, the first race of the night showed just how difficult the track was, as plenty of crashes took place throughout the pack. Friese and Savatgy ran first and second in the 250 East class' heat one, and it was those two finishing first and second in the race, with Tonus, Lemoine, and Alix rounding out the top five in the night's opening race. 

Then came heat two. Things got off to a rocky start for Factory KTM and their star 250 East rider Marvin Musquin. In the opening lap of his heat race, he was struck from behind and found himself on the ground, way back in the pack. There was still plenty of racing to go, though, and Musquin was able to catch up a bit, just making it into the top nine for a transfer spot to the 250 main event. He got into the main, but it wasn't with a heat race win. This was the first sign this year that Musquin could be beat. Davalos took the win in the second 250 heat race. After these first two races of the night, 18 riders were set to go for the second 250 East main event of the year, with four more to be added in their last chance qualifier. 

The 450's took to the track next in their heat one. Point’s leader Ryan Dungey, with the red plate still on his KTM signifying that he is, in fact, the 450 class points leader, as well as Geico Honda's Eli Tomac, took to the lead. Dungey, arguably the most consistent rider in the sport, and Eli Tomac, who was fastest in practice before the racing at night, could not be caught in this first 450 race of the night. Ryan Dungey, Eli Tomac, Weston Peick, and Jason Anderson were the first four 450 riders to be added to the main event gate for the big bikes. 

In a stacked heat two for the 450 class, Davi Millsaps and Cole Seely found themselves on the ground early - in the first turn (both of them were able to get into the 450 main though, through their semi races later on in the program). Chad Reed and Trey Canard were the first two to the finish-line jump after one lap, with Roczen close behind. Canard eventually got by Reed for the lead, and took the checkers in the final heat race of the night. Trey Canard, Chad Reed, Ken Roczen, as well as Nicoletti made it eight in the gate for the 450 main, with the semis and LCQ races left before main event time. 

The final four gate spots for the 250 East main event went to Rodriguez, Kiesel, Audette, and K. Peters, who finished top four in the 250 LCQ.

Gate drop for the first of two semi races for the 450's saw Alessi at the front, but he wouldn't stay there after missing the triple and being passed. On lap two, it was Andrew Short, Cole Seely, Mike Alessi, Kyle Chisholm, and Josh Grant in the top five. At the checkered flag, those five riders were added to the 450 main event lineup. 

In semi two for the 450 class, Broc Tickle, Davi Millsaps, Blake Baggett, R. Stewart, and Hill were five more additions to the eighth 450 Supercross class main event of 2015, with only the 450 LCQ remaining before the two main events - and the final two races of the night. 

In the last qualifying race of Saturday night, the 450 LCQ, Weimer, Wey, Albertson, and Freeberg put themselves in the final four transfer positions early in the race. Weimer, Wey, Freeberg, and Clason were the top four at the checkered flag, as Jake Weimer won his second last chance qualifier of the year. 

Then came the main events. Both the 250 East and 450 Supercross class main events proved to be some of the best of the year thus far, with fantastic racing at the front and big crashes for top contenders. 

After the first lap of the first main event of the night, Marvin Musquin and his KTM were sixth over the finish-line jump, with Davalos on his Husqvarna at the front, hoping to get Husqvarna its first Supercross win since 2001 inside the Astro Dome - back when the class of the smaller bikes rode 125cc bikes. By the halfway points of the race, Davalos had to put in a serious fight, as Bogle, Musquin, and Martin had all caught up, and they were within four seconds. A fantastic battle to for the win and for the podium was brewing. With four laps to go, Justin Bogle got by Martin Davalos, who dropped all the way off the podium to fourth. With just two laps remaining, Jeremy Martin stormed from fourth on his Yamalube Yamaha to the lead, and took the white flag - leaving Bogle and Musquin in the dust. Jeremy Martin closed out the final lap of the 250 East main event to win his first of the year. It was a fantastic performance out of the Yamaha rider from Minnesota, turning some heads and some eyes; expect him to be a contender after such a strong ride tonight. 

After the exciting 250 East main event, their second of the year, the 450's started their engines for the final time of the night for their main event, and the final race of the night. 

Chad Reed immediately stole to the lead in the 450 main event, much like he did in his heat race. Nicoletti, filling in once again for an injured Justin Barcia, ran second on the opening lap (he fell out of the top 10 before the halfway point of the race). Ken Roczen, after a horrific crash in practice earlier in the day, was 15th on the first lap, while Trey Canard was ninth. On the third lap, it was Chad Reed, Weston Peick, Ryan Dungey, and Nicoletti taking up the top five positions. On lap six, Geico Honda's Eli Tomac went down hard, grabbing a little too much front brake after the stretch of the track that crossed the start straight, getting some road rash on his arm in return. Also on the sixth lap of the race, Ken Roczen had a very scary crash, being launched off his RCH Suzuki in the middle of a rhythm section; he dropped to 19th, but continued to jump the triple jumps and ride with at least a little intensity. At the halfway point of the race, Chad Reed's lead on his 22 Motorsports Kawasaki was hovering around 3.1 seconds, as point’s leader Ryan Dungey looked to catch up from second position. Reed took the white flag, beginning the final lap of the race in the lead - something he hasn't come close to doing all season long, as his stamina has been nonexistent until tonight in Atlanta. Chad Reed closed out the final lap of the night, winning his 44th Supercross event, his second inside the Georgia Dome, and his first win in 385 calendar days. 

250 East round 2 winner: Jeremy Martin

450 Supercross round 8 winner: Chad Reed

After a last few rounds with diminishing excitement, tonight's racing inside the Georgia Dome was extremely exciting, for both the 250 East group and the 450 Supercross class. Both classes will take to the track next in a week's time, next Saturday night inside the very same stadium in the very same city - on the very same dirt, albeit on a fresh track. 

Watch for a preview of next Saturday night's racing, round nine of the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross season, as well as the LIVE during race day. 

Follow the official Twitter account of the Racing section of VAVEL USA: @RacingOnVAVEL

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About the author
Aaron Durant
Eighteen-year-old aspiring motorsports journalist. I lead The Apex as its editor-in-chief. Read my work at TheApex.racing.