AURORA, Ill (February 14, 2011) – Through six Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, races, 31 points separate the top five riders in the Supercross class’ season point standings as the parity-driven championship heads to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., leads the Supercross class points race and Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., leads the Western Regional Supercross Lites class points race.
Last weekend in Houston, before 45,859 fans, American Honda’s Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., captured his first career Supercross class victory as Stewart relinquished his points lead following two crashes in the main event. Houston served as the host city for the opening race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class championship, where GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., earned the victory. This weekend the Western Regional Supercross Lites class championship continues with Hansen, who broke bones in his left hand and fingers, protecting his eight-point lead over his teammate Broc Tickle in the championship.
GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centreville, Miss., started the Supercross main event in Houston with a commanding lead as Stewart and TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed went down in turn one. Bad luck struck Windham on Lap 10 when he crashed in a rhythm section. The crash allowed Canard to assume the lead and set up an exciting battle with defending Supercross class champion Ryan Dungey, which saw the two literally drag race to the finish line.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Canard. “It was an awesome race. I just tried to hang in there, because it was a tricky track. I made a mistake and (Ryan) Dungey gained a lot of time on me and from there I was just riding defensive. We had a bit of a rough week this week, but this makes it all better.”
Dungey finished second, almost clipping Canard at the line, and rebounded from his DNF one week ago.
“(The championship) isn’t over till it’s over,” said Dungey. “There’s still a lot of racing left. We came up a little bit shy and I just have to look forward to next weekend.”
Completing the podium was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., who overcame a bad start of his own, crossing the line in 12th on the first lap.
“That was a tricky (first) turn,” said Villopoto. “It was super tight but I got through there. There were definitely some close moments in that race. The name of the game when you’re at the top (of the standings) is consistency.”
Villopoto moved into the points lead, holding a nine-point lead over Stewart.
In the Eastern regional Supercross Lites class main event, Suzuki City’s Malcolm Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., grabbed the holeshot in his professional debut. He was quickly passed by Barcia and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, of Menifee, Calif., who gradually pulled away from the field. The pair of sophomore riders traded the top spot on several occasions before Barcia asserted himself in the lead and held on for the remainder of the race.
“That’s racing right there,” said Barcia. “If we didn’t put on a show, then I don’t know what will. We had a great race out there. I’m just so thankful for my whole team. Going that fast, that hard and that intense for 15 laps was crazy, but that’s what I’ve been training for.”
Wilson followed in the runner-up spot while his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., followed in third.
Monster Energy Supercross made its debut in San Diego on October 25, 1980 when Mike Bell won on a Yamaha. Seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath and Reed share the all-time AMA Supercross win record at Qualcomm Stadium with five while Stewart owns two wins. Kawasaki’s Todd Campbell won the inaugural Supercross Lites class on January 26, 1995. Stewart and McGrath are tied on the all-time win list with two in the Supercross Lites class.
After a day filled with rain, a well-groomed track greeted riders inside San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium for the fifth round of the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross. 51,843 Southern California fans braved the weather as Davi Millsaps, who now rides for the JGRMX/Toyota team, captured his first Supercross class victory of the season. Eventual Western Regional Supercross Lites class champion and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, won his fourth Supercross Lites class victory in five races.
Supercross Class Results: Houston
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
- Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Supercross Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 132
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 123
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 112
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 105
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 101
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 80
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 80
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 65
- Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 62
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 61
Supercross Lites Class Eastern Regional Results: Houston
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
- Ian Trettel, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
- Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
Supercross Lites Class Eastern Regional Season Standings
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 25
- Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 22
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 20
- Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 18
- Ian Trettel, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 16
- Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 15
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 14
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 13
- Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 12
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 11
Supercross Lites Class Western Regional Season Standings
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 113
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 105
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 91
- Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 84
- Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 70
- Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Germany, KTM – 69
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 60
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 60
- Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 58
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 51
Past Winners in San Diego
Supercross class
February 6, 2010: Davi Millsaps
February 14, 2009: James Stewart
February 9. 2008: Chad Reed
February 17, 2007: Chad Reed
February 11, 2006: James Stewart
February 19, 2005: Chad Reed
January 24, 2004: Chad Reed
February 08, 2003: Chad Reed
January 12, 2002: David Vuillemin
January 13, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 22, 2000: David Vuillemin
January 16, 1999: Ezra Lusk
February 07, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 11, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
February 05, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
February 06, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 08, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 09, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 10, 1990: Jeff Stanton
February 11, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 08, 1986: Rick Johnson
January 26, 1985: Johnny O’ Mara
November 16, 1982: Broc Glover
November 14, 1981: Broc Glover
October 25, 1980: Mike Bell
Supercross Lites class
February 6, 2010: Jake Weimer
February 14, 2009: Ryan Dungey
February 9, 2008: Jason Lawrence
February 17, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
February 11, 2006: Andrew Short
February 19, 2005: Nathan Ramsey
January 24, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
February 08, 2003: James Stewart
January 12, 2002: James Stewart
January 13, 2001: Justin Buckelew
January 22, 2000: Greg Schnell
January 16, 1999: Casey Johnson
February 07, 1998: John Dowd
February 10, 1996: Jeff Willoh
February 11, 1995: Damon Huffman
February 05, 1994: Ryan Hughes
February 06, 1993: Mickael Pichon
February 08, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 09, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1990: Ty Davis
February 11, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 08, 1986: Donny Schmit
January 26, 1985: Todd Campbell
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.
