SALT LAKE CITY (April 30, 2011) – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won his sixth Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race tonight at Rice Eccles Stadium in front of 39,329 fans. GIECO Honda’s Eli Tomac rode a flawless 15 laps en route to his second Western Regional Supercross Lites class win of the season.
Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., opened the Supercross class main event with the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot with TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., in tow. Villopoto started fourth and moved into third place on lap 2.
Villopoto moved around Reed on lap 8 to secure second place. On the same lap, Stewart crashed and moments after remounting, he crashed again and lost several positions, handing the lead over to Villopoto. Reed moved into second and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey moved into third, where they would finish. Stewart finished 10th.
Villopoto has a nine-point lead over Reed heading into the finals next weekend at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium
“We have all done our work this year, and it is paying off,” said Villopoto. “It is a lot easier going into Vegas with a nine-point lead. Hopefully, I will be standing on top of the box next weekend.”
Tomac started the Western Regional Supercross Lites class main event with the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, who came into tonight’s race two points out of the championship points race, and his teammate Broc Tickle following in second and third, respectively.
On lap 2, Hansen attempted to make a pass on Tomac and crashed. Following the crash Hansen was stuck under his bike and lost valuable positions before re-joining the race near last place. On lap 7, Red Bull/KTM Racing’s Ken Roczen moved around Tickle to assume second place.
“Tonight’s track was technical, and it was hard to make passes,” said Tickle. “I am not happy because I wanted to win. I want to be strong heading into Las Vegas next weekend.”
Roczen finished second and Tickle finished third. Tomac moved within two points of Tickle’s championship points lead heading into next weekend’s season finale.
“That was out of control for me tonight,” said Tomac. “Hansen (Josh), and I got into one another, and I had to lean into him; that’s just racing. I’ve dreamed of winning the championship as a rookie, and I am getting closer.”
The Monster Energy Supercross finals take place next weekend at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, where the Supercross class, Western/Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class champions will be crowned.
Tonight’s Supercross class race will air tomorrow on CBS Sports at Noon EST. The Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.
Supercross Class Results: Salt Lake City
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
5. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
8. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha
9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha
10. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 318
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 309
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 306
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 295
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 255
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 214
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 202
8. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 172
9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 153
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha – 139
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Salt Lake City
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
3. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
4. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda
5. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
6. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
8. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
10. Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 165
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 163
3. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 151
4. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 131
5. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 124
6. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 111
7. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 105
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 105
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 95
10. Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki – 68
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.
