VILLOPOTO BACK ON TRACK
More than 37,000 race fans were on hand to see reigning AMA supercross champion Ryan Villopoto finally get his title defence back on track at Anaheim on Saturday, the third round of 17 in this year’s series.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s Eli Tomac stayed perfect in Western Regional 250SX class title bid.
After a 16th-place finish to start the season and a runner-up effort a week ago, Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto emerged victorious for the first time this season.
Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer earned the holeshot to start the 20-lap 450SX class main event, with Honda team-mates Justin Barcia and Trey Canard close behind.
Villopoto came out of the first corner in sixth but quickly began to make his move forward.
After slipping past Barcia, Canard passed Weimer for the lead on the first lap and opened a small gap. Barcia asserted himself in second, but came up short off a triple, ultimately failing to finish the race. The misfortune allowed Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps and Villopoto to take over second and third, respectively. On lap four, Villopoto made the pass on Millsaps, the current championship points leader, for second and set his sights on Canard.
After quickly erasing his deficit, Villopoto positioned himself to make a pass for the lead and made an aggressive move on Canard on lap five just before the finish line. Once out front, Villopoto logged fast, consistent laps to open up a healthy lead and win by nearly seven seconds.
“The season didn’t start like we wanted it to,” said Villopoto, who ended a five-race winless streak – tying for the longest he’s had since capturing his first career win during the 2009 season. “I had a decent race in Phoenix and the team made good changes to the bike this week. We’ve finally got the ball going in the right direction and are digging ourselves out of the hole. Once I got into the lead, I was just trying to click of the laps and keep it consistent. The track was really slippery tonight, but I still tried to keep the pace up.”
Canard held on for his second runner-up finish this season, while Millsaps and TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed, of Australia, engaged in a captivating battle for third. A tip-over by Millsaps ultimately handed Reed his first podium result of the season, but Millsaps still maintains possession of the points lead after finishing fourth.
Millsaps holds a three-point lead over Canard in the 450SX Class standings, with Reed an additional four points back in third. Villopoto’s win helped move him into fourth, 11 points from the lead.
250cc class:
In the Western Regional 250SX class, Honda’s Tomac raced to his third consecutive victory to remain undefeated to start the season.
As the gate dropped on the Western Regional 250SX class main event, Honda’s Cole Seely grabbed the holeshot just ahead of Germany KTM rider Ken Roczen. Behind the duo, Yamaha’s Travis Baker and Tomac battled for the third spot.
Seely set a strong pace to start the 15-lap Main Event, but Roczen and Tomac stayed within striking distance, allowing the trio to open up a significant gap over the field. On lap eight, Roczen attempted to make a pass on Seely for the lead, but it allowed Tomac to take over the position and set his sights on the top spot. Just two laps later after closing to within a fender, Tomac made an impressive outside pass on Seely to move into the lead and carried it through to the finish for his 10th career win.
“I definitely started off slower [today],” commented Tomac, who has been under the weather. “I was good in one practice and struggled in the other, so it definitely made the race matter that much for the [win]. It was a great battle out there. The track was tough, so I had to keep my feet tight and the bike under control. From now on I just need to keep it on the podium.”
Roczen made a late pass to finish second, while Seely rounded out on the podium in third.
Tomac’s lead now stands at nine points over Roczen, who has finished second in all three races this season. Seely has possession of third, 17 points out of the lead.
Monster Energy Supercross will continue next Saturday night, January 26, in Oakland, California.
© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
450SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
3. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
9. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
450SX Class Points
1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 63
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 60
3. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 56
4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 52
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 48
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 47
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 41
8. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 40
9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 36
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha – 32
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
3. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
5. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
6. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
8. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki
9. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
10. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Points
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 75
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 66
3. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 58
4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda – 47
5. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda – 35
6. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki – 35
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 35
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 32
9. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Suzuki – 31
10. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki – 30