Australian Chad Reed has made it very clear he’s a serious challenger for the United States Supercross Championships 2014 by dominating the fifth round of the series inside Angel Stadium, Anaheim, at the weekend.

Kawasaki’s Reed led all 20 laps of the 450SX class main event to capture his second win of the season and his second straight in Anaheim.

Fellow Kawasaki rider and defending champion Ryan Villlopoto has also won two main events of the five thus far this season and the two men are now separated by just two points at the top of the standings.

Meanwhile, fellow Kawasaki rider Dean Wilson won his first race of the year in the Western Regional 250SX class.

Suzuki’s James Stewart grabbed the holeshot to begin the 450SX class main event, edging out series leader Villopoto, with Reed close behind in third. Villopoto made a quick move to take over the lead in the second turn, bringing Reed with him.

About halfway through the opening lap, Reed made his pass on Villopoto to begin a closely contested battle that spanned the entire main event.

KTM’s Ken Roczen asserted himself into third place, but pressured Villopoto on lap three to take over second. He would maintain the position throughout the race, often pressuring Reed but not able to gain enough ground to make a pass. Villopoto lurked in third place for the bulk of the main event, awaiting the opportunity to make a move if it presented itself, but ultimately settled into the final podium spot in the closing laps.

Reed fended off a last-lap charge by Roczen when a lapped rider got between the duo to secure his 43rd career victory and tie the all-time record at Angel Stadium with eight wins.

“It was a tough racetrack tonight,” said Reed. “It was about making smart choices and putting yourself in a good position to ride 20 solid laps. This win means more to me than the last one [on January 18] where I came from behind because it’s tougher to go out there and lead all 20 laps. We had our bike dialled in tonight and it was one of those nights where it felt one with me.”

“I tried to make one last push on the last lap but a lapper got in the way. I don’t know if it would have mattered because Reed was riding well,” said Roczen. “It was a fun race and I’m glad to come out in second. The track was really hard in the end, but it made for great racing.”

Reed moved to within two points of Villopoto in the 450SX class standings. Villopoto’s third-place finish was his third podium result of the season.

“The track was super tough,” said Villopoto. “I got a great start but Chad was able to get by me. Ken was running similar lap times and was able to get by as well, but to end up on the podium is always a good thing.”

Fellow title contenders Ryan Dungey (KTM) and James Stewart experienced misfortune in the main event. While battling with Dungey for the fourth position, Stewart went down in a turn and lost several positions. Just a lap later, Dungey lost control in the whoops and crashed out of the race. Stewart battled back to finish seventh, while Dungey finished in 20th.

Honda’s Cole Seely led the field of 22 riders through turn one with the holeshot in the Western Regional 250SX class main event. Wilson quickly moved into second place with Honda’s Jake Canada in third place.

KTM’s Jason Anderson, who came into the race with a six-point lead in the season standings, was working his way through the field when he collided with Honda’s Malcolm Stewart, who won his heat race earlier in the night, on lap two. Anderson dropped several positions and by lap eight, had moved into eighth place.

On lap 12, Seely ran into lapped traffic in a corner and crashed. This allowed Wilson to move into the lead and ride to victory. It was Wilson’s seventh win of his career and his first since last year’s season opening race of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship in Arlington, Texas.

“This win really means a lot to me,” said Wilson. “The race was shaping up to be exciting during those last few laps, but I received a break. This is really emotional for me. I gained some good points and we still have some races left. I am going to come out and do my best at those races.”

The third race in Anaheim also signified the beginning of the Toyota Triple Challenge, which will continue at Race 7 in Arlington, Texas, and concludes at Race 16 in East Rutherford, N.J.

With the win at the weekend, Reed is in line to win a brand new Toyota Tundra and is the only rider eligible to win $250,000 if he were to win all three Toyota Triple Challenge races.

Monster Energy Supercross heads to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium next Saturday, February 8.

Results and standings after round five:

 

250SX Class Results: Anaheim

1.      Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki

2.      Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda

3.      Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha

4.      Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki

5.      Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM

6.      Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda

7.      Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda

8.      Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda

9.      Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda

10.    Dakota Tedder, Surfside, Calif., Kawasaki

 

250SX Class Season Standings

1.      Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 109

2.      Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 109

3.      Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 97

4.      Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 85

5.      Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 82

6.      Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 69

7.      Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 69

8.      Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 61

9.      Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 55

10.    Dean Ferris, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 52

 

450SX Class Results: Anaheim

1.      Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki

2.      Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

3.      Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

4.      Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda

5.      Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki

6.      Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha

7.      James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki

8.      Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

9.      Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM

10.    Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

 

450SX Class Season Standings

1.      Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 104

2.      Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 102

3.      Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 97

4.      Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 86

5.      James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 80

6.      Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 76

7.      Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 74

8.      Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 61

9.      Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 52

10.    Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 50

 

Toyota Triple Challenge Standings

1.      Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 25

2.      Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 22

3.      Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 20

4.      Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 18

5.      Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 16

6.      Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 15

7.      James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 14

8.      Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 13

9.      Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM. 12

10.    Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 11

 

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge

1.      Lux Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., KTM

2.      Parker Ross, Galt, Calif., KTM

3.      Luke DeRoche Castle Rock, Colo., KTM

4.      Kayleb Persel, Bakersfield, Calif., KTM

5.      Luke Simpson, Aliso Viejo, Calif., KTM

6.      Hudson Romfo, Clear Lake, Minn., KTM

7.      Travis Long, Parachute, Colo., KTM

8.      Carter Cooper, Capistrano Beach, Calif., KTM

9.      Bryton Bluth, Mesa, Ariz., KTM

10.    Destry Lanza, Beaumont, Calif., KTM

11.    Cole Wagner, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM

12.    Kaden Clark, Marshall, Minn., KTM

13.    Taylor Mooney, Selah, Wash., KTM

14.    Triston Alverez, Pinon Hills, Calif., KTM

15.    Chad Fikstad, San Jacinto, Calif., KTM