AURORA, Ill (April 4, 2011) – With 13 races of the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season in the books, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto rides into St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome with a slim, six-point lead over TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed in the Supercross class’ season point standings. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson closed the gap on Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class points leader Justin Barcia, who rides for the GEICO Honda team, with his second consecutive win last weekend at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In a season driven by parity, five Supercross-class riders have earned main event wins, including Villopoto, Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, American Honda’s Trey Canard and Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart. The pack is separated by 21 points and the championship will undoubtedly go down to the finale at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
Opening the Supercross class 20-Lap Main Event, Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi charged through the pack to claim the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot in Arlington last weekend. Canard quickly blew past Alessi to take the lead followed by Reed and Dungey in tow.
Canard made the most of the open track ahead of him, riding a flawless 20 laps en route to his third Supercross class win of the season.
“I’m so grateful,” said Canard. “I knew I needed another good start and it happened again. I tried to put in (20) solid laps, (but) the whoops were really tough. We’ll see (about the championship). I’m just going to keep doing the best I can. That’s all I can control.”
Behind Canard, a four-way battle between the title contenders ensued. Reed and Stewart battled for second place while Dungey and Villopoto trailed closely, waiting for their chance to capitalize on a mistake.
Midway through the race, just a few paces behind Reed, Stewart ran into issues in the whoops section and subsequently collided with Reed, sending him flipping off the track. Stewart lost his runner-up position to Dungey. Reed was not as fortunate as the impact forced him off the track, with the bike resting on top of him. This incident allowed Villopoto to take control of third place. In the end, Stewart finished fourth and Reed managed to spring back from 15th to finish eighth.
As Dungey and Villopoto took over second and third, respectively, Villopoto capitalized on a mistake by Dungey and assumed the second-place position.
“Tonight was crazy,” said Villopoto, who finished second overall. “I got an ok start. There was a little problem with my bike, but nothing major. I just kept plugging away and things worked in my favor. The track was really tough for 20 laps, so sometimes you just got to sit back and let things happen.”
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class championship, Barcia opened up the 15-Lap Main Event at the head of the pack to claim the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot. Late on Lap 1, DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes, who trailed Barcia through the first turn, made a quick pass on him to take over the lead. Several laps later, Barcia reclaimed the lead trailed by Sipes and Wilson. On Lap 5, Sipes ran into issues on the track and pulled out of the race, leaving the abandoned spot for Wilson.
For several laps, Wilson progressed on Barcia’s lead and, late on Lap 12, staged a quick pass to take over in front. On Lap 14, Wilson put the race winning move on Barcia and managed to hold the lead through the finish line, marking his third win of the season.
“This (win) means so much,” said Wilson. “It wasn’t an easy race. I’ve been battling the stomach flu all day. I just kept pushing and didn’t give up. It went all the way to the last lap, which was fun for everyone here. I made a pass on him and he got me back, then I got by again, he stuffed me and I stalled. I had one last chance to get him and I stuck it.”
Last year in St. Louis, Dungey won his fifth Supercross class main event of the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross season at the Edward Jones Dome in front of a nearly sold-out crowd. Barcia won the final race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class championship to lock in second overall in the season standings.
Supercross Class Results: Arlington
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
- Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Yamaha
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Supercross Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 255
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 249
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 248
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 239
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 234
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 174
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 150
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 141
- Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 129
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 114
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Arlington
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Gannon Audette, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
- Tyler Bright, Sumter, S.C., Honda
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 160
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 147
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha – 119
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 114
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda – 109
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 96
- P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 80
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 73
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 59
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 56
Past Winners in St. Louis
Supercross Class
- April 17, 2010: Ryan Dungey
- March 21, 2009: Chad Reed
- April 19, 2008: Kevin Windham
- March 3, 2007: Ricky Carmichael
- February 18, 2006: Chad Reed
- March 5, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
- March 13, 2004: Chad Reed
- March 22, 2003: Chad Reed
- April 06, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
- March 31, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
- March 18, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
- March 27, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
- March 28, 1998: Kevin Windham
- April 05, 1997: Jeremy McGrath
- April 27, 1996: Jeff Emig
Supercross Lites Class
- April 17, 2010: Justin Barcia
- March 21, 2009: Blake Wharton
- April 19, 2008: Trey Canard
- March 3, 2007: Ben Townley
- February 18, 2006: David Millsaps
- March 5, 2005: Grant Langston
- March 13, 2004: James Stewart
- March 22, 2003: Branden Jesseman
- April 06, 2002: Chad Reed
- March 31, 2001: Travis Pastrana
- March 18, 2000: Travis Pastrana
- March 27, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca
- March 28, 1998: Ricky Carmichael
- April 05, 1997: Stephane Roncada
- April 27, 1996: Kevin Windham
SPEED will broadcast the Supercross Lites class race at 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST and will also broadcast the Supercross class race at 3:30 a.m. EST/12:30 a.m. PST on April 15, 2011.
The first AMA Supercross race was held inside the Edward Jones Dome April 27, 1996, and Kawasaki’s Jeff Emig, a Missouri native, won the main event, snapping Jeremy McGrath’s 13-race win streak. In front of his hometown crowd Emig notched his first Supercross class win for Team Kawasaki. Reed and Carmichael are tied on the all-time win list in St. Louis with four. Windham, Carmichael, and Reed have all won in both classes at St. Louis.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.
